Superbowl Overview

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The Superbowl was a great game but it didn't start that way. The Packers came out of the gates ready to play. They went up 21-3 but the Steelers cut it to 21-10 by half. At one point in the third quarter, the Steelers had the ball down 21-17. They then fumbled, and the Packers proceeded to get a touchdown and a field goal. The Steelers could not score two touchdowns and lost 31-25. The Steelers had their chances but they just couldn't convert. The key for the Packers was that they put up 31 points against the Steelers. Their defense also came up big having 1 forced fumble and 2 interceptions, one for a touchdown. For their offense, Aaron Rodgers throwing for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns. James Starks had 11 rushes for 52 yards averaging almost 5 yards per carry. Receivers Greg Jennings and Jodi Nelson came up big combining for over 200 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Steelers forced 0 turnovers, and it looks like the Pack were just too much for the Steelers. Congrats to the Packers, a team I respect.

Green Bay Packers Defense

(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Packer's defense has surprised EVERYONE this postseason. Unquestionably, they have played the best defense out of all the teams. They had 6 interceptions and two returned for touchdowns. Tramon Williams had 3 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown, Sam Shields had 2 interceptions, and big man B.J. Raji  had 1 interception for a touchdown. The only bad was they let up 51 points. When people think about the Packers they always think about their offense. But they have two great cornerbacks and two great tackles. Charles Woodson is one of the top cornerbacks and Tramon Williams is an emerging star. They have an amazing young star in Clay Mathews and another big threat on the other side in B.J. Raji. B.J. Raji is even better because they have to have two guys block Clay Mathews which leaves B.J. Raji with one guy to block him. B.J. Raji can easily handle these match ups and gets through for the sack a lot. The way it works is simple: If the Packer's defense can hold the Steelers offense well they will win.

The Pro Bowl

The Pro Bowl has turned into a joke. NOBODY plays in it. Last year the two best quarterbacks didn't play in it. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. This year Tom Brady and many others aren't playing this year. Almost no one from the playoffs or people who were hurt at all at the end of the year don't play. I don't blame them, it's just not worth the risk. The only reason the NFL has the Pro Bowl anymore is because all other major sports have a successful all-star game. In my opinion, the Pro Bowl is the worst week of the NFL season, unless you count the pre-season. Bottom line: Nobody likes the Pro Bowl, the best players barely ever play in it.

Pittsburgh Steelers Offense

         

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)              (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

(Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Everybody knows the Steelers as a defensive team. Yes, they are, but people forget about their offense. They have a good offense and a great running game. Young Rashard Mendenhall has emerged as a star this year after becoming the starter last year when Willie Parker got hurt. He is only in his third year, yet, he had the seventh most yards at 1273 yards and the second most touchdowns at 13 touchdowns. He is a very talented back and is only going to get better. They have a good passing offense with a great young receiving core. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had 3200 yards, even though he missed four games, 17 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions. Another plus is he's changed. He's a better person and it's seriously helping his play. He is also built like a running back and doesn't fumble when he runs. They're receiving core is made up of young receivers and two veterans. They have old reliable Hines Ward, the speedy emerging star, Mike Wallace, smart Antwaan Randle El, and the two rookies, Emanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. They also have tight end Heath Miller. I have a feeling that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have good receivers for a LONG time. The Steeler's offense will be okay against Packer's defense but the Steelers are still a defensive team and will rely on their defense to do well. It works like this: If the Steeler's offense does well they have a good shot at winning.

Green Bay Packers Offense

Many people questioned the Packers when they said that if Brett Favre came back he would be the back-up quarterback. Now look. Aaron Rodgers is a top quarterback and Brett Favre is going to retire after having a terrible season. He could single-handedly win the Packers the superbowl. Rodgers can do something Brett Favre couldn't, too- He can run. He ran for a touchdown last game and has 10 yards and gets touchdowns when they're needed in a game. The Packers have a dynamic passing offense and everybody knows it. With Rodgers at the helm and many talented wide receivers such as Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, and James Jones they have, in my mind, the best passing offense in the league. And now for the first time this season they have a good running game. With star running-back Ryan Grant out for the season they needed another back. Brandon Jackson wasn't consistent, and John Kuhn couldn't be a regular back. They now have James Starks who is a big play threat and makes their passing offense better, too. Last game, their were no passing touchdowns, just two rushing and a defensive. I think the Packers proved they have a solid running game. Now you may have some questions about the Steelers defense and if the Packers can beat them. The Packer's passing offense will do well against the Steelers defense. Rodgers is a smart quarterback and he can handle them. The real question is their running game. Nobody knows how Starks will do. If he does well the Packers will win. The Packers have one of the best offenses in the league and it's still improving.

Cut Cutler some slack

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

In the Chicago Bears loss to the Green bay Packers 21-14, Jay Cutler was injured in the last series of the second quarter. He played the first series of the third quarter but then came out and didn't return. He stood on the sidelines and watched Todd Collins play awfully and their third string quarterback Caleb Hanie come in. Key word there: STOOD. If he was in so much pain why wouldn't he be sitting down or in the locker room? At the end of the half he was just 6/13 with 80 yards and had thrown an interception. Did he come out because he was doing so badly? I doubt it, but as many have said, you would have to fight me to get me to come out of the NFC championship when my backup is Todd Collins. The worst thing for Cutler was probably the backlash he got from current and retired sports players. Maurice Jones-Drew tweeted "the urban meyer rule is in effect right now... When the going gets tough........QUIT." Then after he found out Jay Cutler was actually hurt he said he was just joking. There should be no controversy about if he's hurt or not because we all know he has a grade 2 strained MCL. I am okay with Cutler coming out. Maybe Caleb Hanie is a better option than a hurt Jay Cutler. Cutler was already having a bad game and it would of just gotten worse. The one criticism I have for Cutler is he should of been right there with Hanie the entire game, helping him. It was a smart move because he could of sustained a career-ending injury if he hadn't come out. Everybody, Cut Jay Cutler some slack, he really was hurt and it really wouldn't of made a difference in the game if he had stayed in unless it was bad.

The Heat performing

If you look at the Miami Heat''s record you think "Hey, that's good." You look at their roster and think "They should have the best record in the NBA". But fact is they don't, Spurs do. Yeah, the same Spurs who have an aging Tim Duncan, the second year Dejuan Blair, with no NBA experience, starting at center, and a Tony Parker who seemed out of his prime at the end of last year. But no, Tony Parker looks as good as ever averaging 17.5 points per game and almost 7 assists. Tim Duncan is averaging almost a double-double and Dejuan Blair is averaging 7.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. Also, Manu Ginobli is averaging almost 20 points per game. Why can't the Heat spread out the scoring like that? Once the big three came to South Beach many people thought the Heat would win the championship. This is likely because they have 2 of the 3 best performers under pressure in the NBA. They're only missing Kobe. The Heat have a good record at 30-13 but are on a four-game skid. I wouldn't really worry about the skid because in each of these games at least one of the big three has been hurt. The only game I would be worried about is the game against the Nuggets where they let up 130 points. BAD DEFENSE. But their defense this season has been good so I think this was just a bad game. The Heat will have a shot at the title soon enough and they might just deliver.

Check out the standings at

www.espn.com/nba/standings

Packers vs. Bears

If I had told you at the start of the season that the Chicago Bears would make it to the NFC championship and play no other than there rival the Green Bay Packers what would you say?I know what I would say. No way. But here we are just four days away from the NFC championship waiting for the game of the two rivals. Bears vs. Packers. This game could either be a blowout or a close game. Either way,the Packers will win. The Packers have an explosive offense and everyplay there is the risk of Aaron Rodgers throwing for a long touchdown because he has such good accuracy. The one trouble the Packers have had this season is the run threat because Ryan Grant got put on injury reserve after the first game. They have been trying to find a reliable back and Brandon Jackson was anything but consistent, John Kuhn couldn't be a regular back, so why don't we try James Starks who was hurt last year? They probably should of played him earlier in the season but he came just in time for when it matters. He has dominated so far in the playoffs having 189 yards on 48 carries averaging almost 4.0 yards per carry. Another problem the Packers have had is protecting Rodgers in the pocket. A couple of times last week people would get through to him and have a clear path to him but he spins away. Not only does he avoid the sack he gets off a throw for a first down. Last game he was only sacked twice. Rodgers can take care of himself. The Packers defense hasn't been very good this season but they have been able to get the stops when they need them. Now to Chicago. Yeah, Jay Cutler did well last week against the Seahawks but really it was the Seahawks. The Bears defense has been okay this season but inconsisten and they certainly can't stop the Packers offense. Jay Cutler has been good this season but he still hasn't gotten ridden of the interception bug and Matt Forte is the same hit or miss guy he was last year. I think the Bears might be able to stay in this game with a couple of big plays, but I think there chance of winning is between 0-5%.

Jets vs. Steelers

This is going to be a great game. But before the game even starts there is going to be A LOT of trash-talking. These teams talk it up before every game especially the Jets. Last week they were trash-talking Brady and the Patriots saying the Jets would win. Bill Bellichik was a little more mature and made a public statement telling his team not to fight back. And look how that worked out for the Patriots? Yeah, that's what I thought. They lost. Maybe trash-talking isn't so bad. Now, about the game itself. Both teams have great defenses, both run and pass and rely on that mostly. Neither team has a GREAT passing offense but they're both OK the Steeler's is probably a little better but it's very close. Both teams have a good running offense but I don't think either team has the advantage. Mendenhall is more talented but he just doesn't have an offensive line like the Jets' but he's always solid and I count on him to do well against the Jets. But I don't think either run game will do well because both teams have top run defenses but if either team CAN run it successfully they will win. I think the Steelers will win because they have more playoff experience. I still think it will be very close and the Jets have a good chance.

Signing Vick was the best thing the Eagles ever did

The Eagles signed Michael Vick to a 1-year 1.6 million dollar contract with a team option for the next year. The Eagles signed him once he got out of jail after NOBODY wanted to sign him. The Eagles kept him for 2010 and good thing too, because Kevin Kolb got hurt early in the season and was out for a couple of games. Vick did amazing while Kolb was gone and was named starter. He put up top numbers and he didn't even play five games and played half of another. He might win MVP this year with the only thing holding him back is his injury. The Eagles are now looking to resign him for a long-term contract and Vick says he wants to stay with the Eagles. You know why he's gonna stay loyal to the Eagles for a LONG time? Because the Eagles were the only team that would take a chance on him, the team that helped him get out of bankruptcy and back into the NFL. Now teams, salivate even thinking about having Vick in a long term deal but in 2009? No.

Sad year for the Saints

The Saints came into the playoffs hot after beating the Falcons in week 16. They held star running-back Michael Turner to just 48 yards on 17 rushes and "Matty ice" to 148 yards going 15/29 and a touchdown. And even better, coming into the playoffs they would be playing the Seahawks who had made the playoffs with a 7-9 record just beating the Rams. All the Saints and there fans were expecting a win. And guess who they would play in the second-round? The Falcons! The Saints went into the game with high confidence and came out with stunned looks. They lost to the Seahawks 41-36 having to watch Marshawn Lynch break tackle after tackle   for a 67-yard touchdown with three minutes to go that put away the game.

Blake Griffin continues to dominate

Blake Griffin scored 47 points against the Pacers leading the Clippers to victory. He continues to put up Lebron-like numbers. Also, have you seen this guy dunk?? He is already one of the best dunkers in the league and he's only in his second year and he was hurt his first year! But the thing that really sticks out to me is he can score from all over the floor. He's averaging 22.5 points per game,  12.8 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game. The one thing Griffin has had trouble with is free-throws where he is shooting 60%. Guess how he did against the Pacers in free-throws? 9-11! This guy can do it all.