NFC Champions!!!

GO PACK GO!!!

 What a win by the Pack in Chicago to give them a spot in Super Bowl XLV! I almost lost my voice while screaming in celebratory fashion over this play (start at the 1:04 mark). O joyous day! Who would have thought that the Packers' defense would have saved the day and won the game? If you read my last post, you probably would have thought that Rodgers and the offense might have played that role. Don't worry, I thought so, too.
While Aaron didn't play a great game, he was still more than effective, especially with that gorgeous bootleg/fake-handoff-to-Kuuuuhhhhhnnnnn-TD-run in the first quarter. (What a play call by McCarthy!) While he didn't throw a touchdown, he still made an impact, distributing the ball (he hit 7 receivers, and Quarless should have had three catches, which would have brought the total to 8; also, Tom Crabtree was targeted at least once) and making things happen on the run (39 yards rushing and a TD). The two INTs wasn't too glorious, although I'll only blame half of the first one on Rodgers, as it went off Driver's fingertips and into the gut of Lance Briggs. But it was a poor, low throw, and Driver couldn't haul it in. So half and half on the blame there.
James Starks had a better day than I thought he would. I didn't think he'd score his first career NFL touchdown, but he did just that in the second quarter to give the Packers a 14-0 lead. I think I called 18+ carries and 60+ yards. Starks finished with 22 carries for 74 yards and a TD. While that's only a 3.4 yard-per-carry average, 22 carries (plus another 10 combined between Rodgers, Jackson and Kuhn) really helped to keep the Bears' defense honest. I think I remember saying 25-30 total rushes or more would mean a Packers victory... or something like that. It's not necessarily the yards you get in the running game; it's the running plays that really make the difference. Even if the opponent is stopping the run well, you're still keeping them honest and opening up the passing game.
Two more offensive points before I get to the best defense in the NFL:
Greg Jennings continued to rip shit up with 8 catches for 130 yards. He was as great as ever, making plays after the catch and not dropping a single pass. Jordy Nelson also played well, with 4 catches for 67 yards. He's the next Wes Welker, in my opinion. He's not a small guy like Welker, but he's a tough white guy who exceeds over the middle. Those kinda guys are hard to come by these days.
The Packers' defense was really the MVP of the game. And Tim Masthay. Eight punts for a 41.8-yard average and 5 inside the 20 (1 touchback that was inches from being downed at the 1, raising the total to 6). And he got enough air on the punts to not give Devin Hester much of a chance in the return game (3 returns for 16 yards). And on his only kick return, Hester gained 24 yards. Easy to say he was kept more than in check all game long. But a helluva game by Masthay. Punters don't get enough credit most of the time. Give credit where credit is due, I say.
But back to the defense. The defense played a great game overall, I think. Granted, they let up 301 total yards of offense, but Caleb Hanie threw for 153 of those yards. The Bears gained 107 yards in the fourth quarter, I think due mainly to a heavy dose of the three-man rush Dom Capers sends out to accompany a prevent-style defense. While I don't like this style of defense, and have been bitching about it all season long, the defense bends and bends, but they don't break under it. Still, it's too close for comfort for my liking.
But turnovers were the big factor in this game. B.J. Raji's interception returned for a TD was off the charts! I recall yelling, "B.J. fucking Raji!" and almost spilling my beer, while he rumbled toward the endzone. Tack on Sam Shields' second interception of the game to seal the deal with 37 seconds left, and the Packers come out on top of the turnover battle, 3-2. Defense and takeaways win ballgames. As cliche as the saying is, it's entirely, 120% true.
Now onto the Bears. Ready?
Oh man. There are some bad things to say about the way the Bears' offense played. Their defense played great, but their offense... not so much. Let's start with the offense:
Jay Cutler is a pussy. There. I said it. Have you read the "hate mail" he's gotten on Twitter? My favorite quote is probably that of Mark Schlereth, whom I follow on Twitter, a former offensive lineman for the Redskins and Broncos (1989-2000): "As a guy who had 20 knee surgeries, you'd have to drag me out on a stretcher to leave a championship game!" In my opinion, Cutler deserves all the crap he gets from media, players, former players, and even fans. Word has it that it's a sprained MCL. But still, it's the NFC Championship. It's do or die, life or death. There's no quitting... except if you're Jay Cutler. If not for Caleb Hanie almost pulling a miracle out of his ass, Cutler would be cast in such a darker and more hateful light, fittingly so.
On top of his injury, Cutler played like shit (6/14 for 80 yards and 1 INT). He had one good scramble for 10 yards. He overthrew Hester at least three times by my count; one was a for-sure touchdown. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket the entire time, and I didn't see him set his feet much when he threw the ball.
But there was one big bright spot in the Bears' offense: Matt Forte. If I recall correctly (I'm too lazy to look), I called him to get 60+ rushing yards, 25+ receiving yards, and 1 TD. Forte finished the day with 70 yards on 17 rushes (4.1 average) and 90 yards on 10 receptions (9.0 average), but no TDs. So I called 85+ yards total, with a mental number around 100, and 1 TD. Instead, he compiled 160 yards without an endzone celebration. He was open all day in the flat and over the middle in the passing game, and he was making good cuts and seeing the lanes well in the running game.
Caleb Hanie played a great game, considering the circumstances. I don't know how he missed B.J. "The Freezer" Raji on his INT to him (I mean, he's only 6'2" and 337 pounds), but you never really expect a nose tackle to drop back in coverage. And his interception to Shields at the end was a desperation move on fourth down. You can't expect a third-string QB to come into a championship game and be cool as a cucumber and not get rattled. He went 13/20 for 153 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. That's pretty damn good, in my opinion. He only played for a quarter and a half.
Hanie would have had a chance to tie the game had the Bears (presumably Mike Martz) not called the worst play in NFC Championship history: That stupid end-around to Bennett on 3rd and 1 before the fourth-down interception by Shields that was the proverbial dagger. I mean, seriously, what...the...fuck? Why the hell would you try a trick play with the game on the line with a minute to go?! It's 3rd and 1! Run the damn ball up the middle or do a QB sneak! Horrendous and dumbshit play call.
There was lots of talk about the Bears' special teams and return game being a big factor in this game. Well, they were, but not in a good way. They only had 63 yards on 4 kick returns (15.75 average) and 38 yards on 4 punt returns (9.5 average). So, 101 total return yards on 8 returns. That's no bueno. The Packers' biggest weakness has been the return game defensively, and they really stepped it up in this one.
All in all, I think both teams' performances underwhelmed their fans and critics. But a W is a W, and the Packers came out on top with a berth in Super Bowl XLV to face the Steelers. That should be a really good game, and I can't wait! I'll have a preview for you in a week and a half or so. But until then, you get to read me talking about my boring life. Have fun! And...


GO PACK GO!!!