The Packers kept turning the ball over against the Giants today and it’s almost impossible to win that way. Aaron Rodgers completed 26 of 46 passes for 264 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT. He also carried the ball 7 times for 66 yards (9.4 ypc) but he also lost a fumble. James Starks led the way for the Packers on the ground tonight with 43 yards rushing on 6 carries (7.2 ypc). He also caught 4 passes for 24 yards (6.0 avg) tonight. Ryan Grant carried the ball 8 times for 33 yards (4.1 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 7 yards, but he also lost a fumble that really hurt the Packers. John Kuhn only carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards and he lost a fumble on that carry. He also caught 1 pass and it went for an 8-yard TD. WR Donald Driver (3 rec, 45 yards, TD), WR Greg Jennings (4 rec, 40 yards) and TE Jermichael Finley (4 rec, 37 yards) led the way for the Packers in the passing game. The Packers finished up with 147 yards rushing on 23 carries (6.4 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 46 passes (56.5%) for 241 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:25.

The defense didn’t play too well for the Packers today either. Safety Charlie Peprah led the way for the Packers in this game on D with 9 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss. CB Tramon Williams (7 tackles) and safety Morgan Burnett (4 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception) also pitched in for the Packers on D in this game. The Giants finished up with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 33 passes (63.6%) for 325 yards. The Packers had an outstanding season but it ended with a thud tonight at Lambeau Field.

The Packers have been laying low lately but that will change on the field tomorrow. The Packers were 8-0 at Lambeau Field during the regular season. The Packers beat the Giants 38-35 just six weeks ago in New Jersey in one of the most exciting games of the year. The Giants have been talking a lot of smack, and they will get a chance to back it up on the field tomorrow. Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball: The Packers don’t change for anyone. They are going to spread the field and attack the Giants down the field with the passing game. The key for the Packers will be giving Aaron Rodgers enough time to throw the ball. To help the offensive line in this game, I look for Rodgers to get rid of the ball extremely quick on short passes. As soon as the Giants sneak up to take away the short pass, that’s when Rodgers will go over the top to WRs Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson. I also think that the Packers might run the ball a little more than usual to try to catch the Giants’ D sleeping. Ryan Grant and James Starks will likely split carries tomorrow.

When the Giants have the ball: The Packers are going to have to get a good pass rush on Eli Manning, as he was pretty damn good against them earlier in the year. He has an outstanding stable of WRs in Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks to throw to, but if he makes any mistakes….look for the Packers’ CBs to jump on them. The secret weapon of the Giants will likely be TE Jake Ballard as he has had a solid year. The Packers better also be ready to stop RBs Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw as they are both hard runners coming off outstanding games against the Falcons last weekend.

PREDICTION: PACKERS 41, GIANTS 34

The Packers’ offense shredded the Steelers’ secondary tonight and the defense made just enough big plays to help the Packers win the Super Bowl and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay where it rightfully belongs!  Aaron Rodgers was the MVP of the Super Bowl as he was magnificent in this game!  Rodgers completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs against the supposedly tough Steelers’ D!  James Starks pitched in with 52 yards rushing on 11 carries (4.7 ypc) as he had some nice runs in this game.  Jordy Nelson might have dropped some passes but he still made a lot of big plays as he caught 9 passes for 140 yards (15.6 avg) with a TD grab.  Greg Jennings also had a HUGE game with 4 catches for 64 yards (16.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs in this game.  James Jones pitched in with 5 grabs for 50 yards (10.0 avg).  The Packers only had possession of the ball for 26:35 in this game but they still rushed for 50 yards on 13 carries (3.8 ypc) and they completed 24 of 39 passes for 288 yards.

The defense gave up a lot of yards but they also had some game altering plays.  Safety Nick Collins only had 4 tackles and 1 pass defensed but he also got a pick six when he returned a Roethlisberger pickoff 37 yards for a TD!  Back up cornerback Jarrett Bush also had a big game with 5 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  Safety Charlie Peprah (10 tackles), LB Desmond Bishop (8 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and 1 fumble recovery) and LB Frank Zombo (5 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 1 QB hit) also had solid games for the Packers in this game.  The Steelers finished up with 126 yards rushing on 23 carries (5.5 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 40 passes for 261 yards.  The Packers are now the WORLD CHAMPIONS for the 13th time in franshise history.  This was their 4th Super Bowl win.

This could be an epic battle this Sunday.  The Steelers are 2-0 at home during the post season while the Packers were 3-0 on the road.  That lends to the field possibly favoring the Packers along with the fact that the people that live in the MetroPlex (Dallas, Irving, Ft. Worth and Arlington) hate the Steelers.  The Steelers do have more Super Bowl experience on the roster which should even things out a little bit.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Packers have the ball:  The big key for the Packers in this game is going to be the play of the OTs.  If Chad Clifton and Bryan Bulaga can handle LaMarr Woodley & James Harrison and keep them out of the backfield, Aaron Rodgers and his WRs are going to have big games.  The last time Rodgers played against the Steelers he completed 26 of 48 passes for 383 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 22 yards (7.3 ypc) with a TD run in the last meeting.  If the Packers split out Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson…..the Steelers don’t have the corners to deal with them.  I look for John Kuhn to play a lot more in this game than he has in the first three games in the playoffs because he knows the Steelers’ D from playing with them for a couple years.  His blocking will be important in this game.  Rookie James Starks might also have a big game if he is the lone RB with the Packers spreading out the field.

When the Steelers have the ball:  Ben Roethlisberger had a monster game last year against the Packers.  He completed 29 of 46 passes for 503 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  I don’t think he’ll be so lucky this time around because of the awful offensive line in front of him.  The Packers will try to stop Rashard Mendenhall early in this game and force the Steelers to pass against them.  CBs Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams and Sam Shields will be up to the challenge this Sunday as long as the Packers are getting good pressure on Roehlisberger.  Clay Matthews is going to be living in the Steelers’ backfield this Sunday and there is nothing they will be able to do to slow him down.  I also think that NT B.J. Raji is going to have a huge game pushing backup center Doug Legursky around all day long!

PREDICTION:  PACKERS 31, STEELERS 20

Vince Lombardi became the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for nine seasons (1958-67) in which he won 5 NFL Championships which is downright amazing!  He led the Packers to three NFL Championships (before the Super Bowl was played) and he led the Packers to wins in the first two Super Bowls.  The Packers were 89-29-4 (75.4%) during the regular seasons in Lombardi’s nine years in charge and they were an amazing 9-1 (90%) during the post season.  Lombardi’s motivational speeches were legendary and my favorite was quote was, “Winning Isn’t Everything, It’s the Only Thing!”  I have used that many times coaching young kids trying to get them riled up.

It seems as though the Packers were under some kind of curse after Lombardi left until Mike Holmgren took over.  Phil Bengston (20-21, .488), Dan Devine (25-27-4, .481), Bart Starr (52-76-3, .406), Forrest Gregg (25-37-1, .403) and Lindy Infante (24-40, .375) all had issues coaching the Packers.  So for the 24 years between Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren, the Packers went 146-201-8 (42.1%) during the regular season and 1-2 in the post season.  With that in mind the Packers should bask in the glow of being one of the best organizations in football right now because their are no guarantees of long term success in the NFL.  They do have a nice trio though with Mike McCarthy, Ted Thompson and Aaron Rodgers.

Anyone who watched the Steelers play the Jets in the AFC Championship saw that the Steelers gameplan was to run the ball with Rashard Mendenhall.  He is a very physical inside runner so inside linebackers A.J. Hawk & Desmond Bishop are going to be challenged a lot in the Super Bowl.  27-year old A.J. Hawk played in all 16 games for the Packers this year and he had 111 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1/2 sack, 10 passes defensed, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.  He has 11 tackles in his first 3 playoff games but he hasn’t made any really big plays.  The Packers need him to step up in the Super Bowl.  After Nick Barnett was injured early this year, 26-year old Desmond Bishop moved into the starting lineup and he played well.  Bishop played in 15 games during the regular season for the Packers and he had 103 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 3 sacks, 8 passes defensed, 1 interception (he returned it 32 yards for a TD) and 2 forced fumbles.  Bishop has 15 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery during the Packers first three post season games.  Hawk & Bishop are big keys to stopping Rashard Mendenhall and forcing the Steelers to pass.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be without Pro Bowl rookie center Maurkice Pouncey for the Super Bowl due to injury.  They will be starting 24-year old Doug Legursky who has played in 24 games in his first two years for the Steelers but he has only started 4 games.  This sets up 24-year old NT B.J. Raji to have another big game in the Super Bowl.  The 6’2″, 337 pound Raji will likely be a bully in the middle of the D for the Packers opening up A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop to make plays.  Raji has 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed and a interception (which he returned 18 yards for a TD).  He played in 16 games during the regular season for the Packers and he had 39 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks and 3 passes defensed.  Mark it down, B.J. Raji is going to have a big game this Sunday in the Super Bowl.

24-year old outside linebacker Clay Matthews has been a force to reckon with for opposing offenses since the day he arrived in the NFL.  He has played in 3 games so far during the playoffs and he has 13 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery.  The Steelers have big time problems with pass protection setting up Matthews for a huge game against the team his dad hates.  His dad was a long time linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, arch enemy of the Steelers.  Clay Matthews Sr. never got to the Super Bowl but I’m sure he’s not jealous of his son.  Jr. also had a great regular season for the Packers as he had 60 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, 4 passes defensed, 1 interception (he returned it 62 yards for a TD) and he forced 2 fumbles.  He is going to be in Ben Roethlisberger’s face all day next Sunday and “Big Ben” won’t be able to break one of his tackles.

The Steelers have an outstanding run defense but they are vulnerable in the secondary, especially with multiple WR sets.  That is great news for the Packers as they have the receivers to both exploit the Steelers’ weakness and make them pay dearly for blitzing.  Greg Jennings (17 rec, 239 yards), Jordy Nelson (12 rec, 146 yards, TD), Donald Driver (12 rec, 141 yards) and James Jones (6 rec, 94 yards, 2 TD grabs) have all been very productive so far this post-season.  Look for Aaron Rodgers to get rid of the ball quickly trying to hit on short passes and let his receivers do the hard work.

The Packers played a solid all around game to beat the Bears yesterday in the NFC Championship Game.  Aaron Rodgers completed 17 of 30 passes for 244 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 INTs.  His best play might have been a tackle when he stopped Brian Urlacher with only the goal line between the men.  Rodgers also carried the ball 7 times for 39 yards (5.6 ypc) with 1 TD run yesterday.  Rookie RB James Starks had another workmanlike day with 74 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.4 ypc) with a TD run.  WRs Greg Jennings (8 rec, 130 yards) and Jordy Nelson (4 rec, 67 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Packers yesterday.  The Packers finished up with 120 yards rushing on 32 carries (3.8 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 30 passes for 236 yards as they had possession of the ball for 34:04.

The defense made huge plays in this game at critical times.  NT B.J. Raji picked off a Caleb Hanie pass in the 4th quarter and he returned it 18 yards for a TD!  Rookie CB Sam Shields finished up with 4 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed and 2 interceptions (0ne sealed the win late in the 4th quarter also off Caleb Hanie).  LB Desmond Bishop (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and safety Nick Collins (7 tackles) also had solid games for the Packers yesterday.  The Bears finished up with 83 yards rushing on 24 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 19 of 38 passes for 218 yards in this game.

The Packers have won the NFC and they will travel to Dallas in two weeks to play in the SUPER BOWL against the Pittsburgh Steelers!