NFL Picks: Conference title games are here

Published 11:28 pm Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Well it’s time for the best weekend of football of the year. The last games that have real fans in the stands and the last games that are played without the pressure of the Super Bowl deflating performances.

Here are the picks:

Green Bay at Chicago

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Packers 20, Bears 10

The Packers special teams are starting to come around and that’s really all they need to beat Chicago. If they can keep Devin Hester in check, Jay Cutler will eventually force some throws that end up being turnovers and the Packers should also get a good pass rush.

The one player who could make or break this game for Green Bay is James Jones. In the last few weeks, he’s made two big TD catches but he also dropped a score that nearly cost Green Bay the game at Philadelphia. He also had an unforgivable fumble on the sideline in a regular season loss to the Bears.

Jones is the most frustrating weapon the Packers have. When he’s on, he’s great, when he’s off, he’ll cost you big time.

If he’s on, this one won’t be close.

New York Jets at Pittsburgh

Steelers 27, Jets 16

It comes down to quarterback play and the Steeler defense is a lot tougher than the Pats defense that Mark Sanchez played last week.

Ben Roethlisberger has been here before and he usually comes through.

The Steelers should control the clock and the game.

Playoffs: 4-4