Packers (10-6) (3-5 road) v Bears (11-5) (5-3 home) line opened at -3 in favor of the Packers and has moved to -3.5 Pete Prisco on the game These two rivals split two low-scoring games in the regular season, each winning on their home field. The thing that stands out from those two games is how well the Bears defense played. They really slowed it down by playing a lot of Cover 2. But this Packers offense is on fire. Aaron Rodgers lit up the Falcons last week. He has a passer rating of 134.5. That's unreal. He will have a tougher time outside in the elements against a good defense, but I can't see the Bears stopping him, even with little help from the run game. The Packers are clicking. That will put pressure on Jay Cutler and his offense to keep up. Cutler has the tools to do so. But he has been inconsistent at times. I think it will be great watching Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz match wits with Dom Capers, the Packers defensive coordinator. They are two of the best. If the Bears can get the running game going, it will really help take the pressure off of Cutler. The Packers struggled with yards-per-carry on defense this season. That could mean some opportunities for Matt Forte. But in the end, I think the Packers' ability to cover the receivers with their great corners will be the difference. I think Rodgers will keep on rolling, even on a bad field in bad conditions. Packers go to the Super Bowl. GB 23 Bears 14
Jets (11-5) (6-2 road) v Steelers (12-4) (5-3 home) line is -4 in favor of the Steelers Pete Prisco In the first meeting between these two, the Jets jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a kickoff return by Brad Smith. The Steelers outplayed them the rest of the way, but had a pass fall incomplete in the end zone on the final play for the loss. There's only been one team to beat the Steelers twice at their place in a season, that being the 2007 Jacksonville Jaguars. There won't be a second here. The Jets have played well in the first playoff games, limiting two great passers, but I don't think they do enough on offense to win three games on the road. At some point, that will factor. I think this is that game. Ben Roethlisberger is outstanding at scrambling outside the pocket and making throws. That helps eliminate some of the great coverage and schemes that Rex Ryan can employ. It becomes like a pickup game when that happens. Roethlisberger is at his best in those moments. Mark Sanchez has played well in the playoffs, but this Pittsburgh defense is great at choking off the run and making the quarterbacks win games. Look what it did to Joe Flacco and his passing game last week when they tried to win it. The same will happen here. All that brash talk the Jets throw around won't have any impact on the Steelers. They're too seasoned for that. The Steelers go for another ring in two weeks on the strength of a suffocating defense and two big touchdown throws by Roethlisberger. Jets 13 Steelers 21
maybe the cold up there in chicago has affected your reading comprehension skills but those are in fact the picks of one Pete Prisco. I have yet to provide my picks but when I do I will post them so you guys can all hedge accordingly.