Championship Weekend 2011

New York Jets (13-5) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4)

They key to the AFC Championship has not been in the headlines or national discussion. Who will be playing LT and RT for the Pittsburgh Steelers? They said it a thousand times during the in-game broadcast. Pittsburgh has both starting tackles on injured reserve, their two back ups were knocked out of the game against Baltimore.The Pittsburgh offensive line will be the key to the game. How will they hold back (or know who to hold back) against the Rex Ryan blitzes?

Meanwhile, the Jets O-line has been playing well and taking the pressure off of QB Mark Sanchez. This is their biggest test. LB James Harrison is unlike anybody they have yet faced and if Pittsburgh returns DE Aaron Smith, things could get ugly. With the Jets, they are always ugly. Sanchez may have had pretty stats in New England, but it was WR Santonio Holmes and WR Braylon Edwards making plays. They need to do it in Pittsburgh too.

KEYS FOR NYJ: The key for New York never changes. RB Shonn Greene and RB LaDanian Tomlinson need to be involved. If they get down early, Sanchez is far, far out of his league. In a way, New York is somewhat like Baltimore in their big-name playmakers but reputation for 'grinding, pounding the ball'. Translation: this is not an elite offense. The offense is key, but if the defense, for whatever reason, can't keep  up it's fantastic play it won't matter what the offense does.

KEYS FOR PITT: Their running game, their passing game, getting the D off on 3rd downs... does any of this matter if they have to play a whole game with 3rd-string tackles? Baltimore was putting on pressure, and it took some miraculous throws (and an inept Baltimore offense) to win that game. The main consolation is that  QB Ben Rothlisberger is the best in the league (besides possibly Vick) after the pocket breaks down.

Green Bay Packers (12-6) @ Chicago Bears (12-5)

CB Charles Tillman dropped an interception that turned into a Seattle TD. The Bears laid down flat while Seattle drove 70 yards in 2 plays for another TD. That is not prevent defense, that is zero defense. If 4th quarter Seattle can do it, what lead is safe in Chicago against the red-hot QB Aaron Rodgers? The Bears heads are held high, which is a plus, but there are seeds of doubt that a few Green Bay TDs could water, infecting the Chicago brains with small doubt-trees.

QB Jay Cutler had a marvelous divisional round but it was just three weeks ago that he was made to look like a fool against this very Green Bay defense.Why #6 seed Green Bay is favored is not just the masses seeing the pretty throws from Rodgers, it's the experts who know Rodgers is backed up with a threatening D. LB Clay Matthews, CB Tramon Williams and especially the ring-hungry veteran CB Charles Woodson aren't going to allow 28 unanswered.

KEYS FOR GB: WR Greg Jennings, WR Donald Driver, WR James Jones must be in-sync all game with Rodgers, the passing game must take over.Yes, RB James Starks is a nice playoff storyline but let's be realistic about his impact. The passing game will need to be on top of its game early. There is blood in the water, the Bears are who Dennis Green thought they were. Don't let them off the hook.

KEYS FOR CHI: Chicago has made turnovers, defense, special teams a priority for so long. The reason is for this very type of game; to win the big games against the hot hands. RB Matt Forte should be featured. There was no need for him last week (though he had a solid game) but this week there is a rougher grain to go against. If Chicago is to defeat the red-hot Rodgers, they need turnovers, defense and special teams.