The NFL may not have been able to script this week’s two divisional championship games if they did it in advance. One game features the Chicago Bears hosting the Green Bay Packers in another renewal of pro football’s oldest rivalry. The other matches Super Bowl savvy Pittsburgh against the team many love to hate – the New York Jets.

Perhaps it is a surprise that all four are still alive – considering much that slowed, delayed or otherwise hampered their march to this championship set of matchups.

The Bears did not have many believers after a 4-3 start, but they simply kept winning and locked up the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The Packers were slowed by an injury to Aaron Rodgers, then had to defeat Philadelphia and top-seed Atlanta, both on the road, to get here.

Pittsburgh, with Ben Roethlisberger serving early season suspension for offseason antics, nonetheless posted a 12-4 regular-season mark before defeating Baltimore last weekend. The Jets, with mouthy and arrogant Rex Ryan at the helm, had to beat Payton Manning and Tom Brady on successive weekends to reach this final round of the playoffs.

Let’s take a look at the championship matchups.

CHICAGO BEARS vs. GREEN BAY PACKERS
It’s the rubber match of the season as the teams split regular-season games – both being decided by 7 points. These two know each other well – they have posted a 92-83-6 record over the years in what is the longest rivalry in the NFL. But the Pack has won four of the last six.

Jay Cutler, taken two years ago from Denver, is playing the best quarterback of his career at the moment – a good omen for the Bears. Cutler has thrown for 3,274 yards, including 23 TDs (16 interceptions). But Aaron Rodgers has made the Packer crazies quickly forget Brett Favre. Rodgers has thrown for 3,922 yards, 28 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions.

Both teams feature hard-nosed, aggressive defenses. The Bears have had some weak moments on "D" during the season, however, allowing 36 points to New England, 34 points to the New York Jets, 24 to Seattle in last week’s playoff victory over the Seahawks and 26 earlier to Philadelphia.

Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers hold the key to Bear’s fortunes in what is sure to be a cold and windy Soldier Field on Sunday. Look for kicker Robbie Gould (25 out 30 field goals this season) to be a key intangible – along with the league’s best kick returner – Devin Hester.

Yet Green Bay loves its defense, the unit that has held opponents to 10 points or fewer six times this season. Charles Woodson is a big-play, big-game guy, and A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews give the Pack a linebacking duo that can match the Bears.

Mike McCarthy and Lovie Smith know each other’s game plans well – so execution is likely to be the key this Sunday.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS vs. NEW YORK JETS
All season long Rex Ryan has mouthed that the New York Jets are a Super-Bowl worthy team. And now his squad is one more tough game away from reaching that goal. The Jets have just completed one of the most improbable playoff runs – defeating Payton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, then Tom Brady and AFC No. 1 seed New England – in successive weeks on the road.

A confusing man-to-man defense, with plenty of pressure up front has paid dividends for the Jets, who six times this fall held opponents to 10 points or less (but two of those were losses).

Second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez has minimized his mistakes, and is heading to Pittsburgh having thrown for 3,291 yards, with 17 TDs and 13 interceptions. The running game of New York has been bruising – with a rejuvenated LaDainian Tomlinson leading the way. Taken after San Diego released him, Tomlinson leads the Jets with 914 yards rushing. But Shonn Greene gives the Jets depth and versatility at running back. Green has added 766 yards to the New York attack.

Of course, when you speak of defense, you better mention the Steelers. Always physical, Pittsburgh has limited opponents to 11 points or fewer an amazing 10 times this fall. And Pittsburgh is still smarting from a 22-17 loss at home to New York on Dec. 19.

Veteran Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers offensively, as always. In the 2010 campaign, Big Ben has thrown for 3,200 years with 17 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Rashard Mendenhall is the key to the running game. Mendenhall has piled up 1,273 yards and 13 TDs for Pittsburgh. Mike Wallace is Roethlisberger’s favorite target. Wallace has caught 60 passes for 1,257 yards and 10 TDs.
 

(TonyK) 3G-Sports - ALL SPORTS Thru the MLB-All-Star Break Ranked #1 in NET PROFIT over the past 5 years combined. *** Get everything Directly from the SOURCE! Our Last 7 years have just been Money Making Seasons and our record speaks for itself. Take advantage of this SPECIAL LOW PRICE NOW! Its just $699. The NBA Regular Season + Playoffs. MLB and NHL PLAYOFFS thru JULY 11th, 2023. Get full detailed picks with a WRITE-UP on ALL TOP PLAYS! Now that's personalized hassle free service from the Documented #1 Documented Champion Handicapper and Vegas Expert. TRUE PERSONALIZED SERVICE!!

Click here to view all of today's premium picks.