Packers Vs. Bears: 2011 NFC Championship Predictions & TV Time

The 2011 NFC championship game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears (host) is set for Sunday January 23 (3 PM EST) at Soldier Field. FOX channel will provide TV coverage for this game. Green Bay earns a spot in the championship game by beating Philadelphia and Atlanta on the road; Chicago reaches the NFC final after easily dispatching Seattle. This article offers TV time and predictions for the 2011 Packers-Bears NFC championship game.

1) Packers-Bears Head to Head

The 2011 NFC championship game will feature the NFL's longest rivalry in the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. The first meeting between the rivals took place almost 90 years ago. Since 2000, the two teams have met 22 times with the Packers enjoying a 13-9 advantage. Although Green Bay dominated in the first half of the last decade, the Bears have become increasingly competitive recently. The last time the two teams met was on the final day of the 2010-11 regular season; the Packers narrowly won that game at home 10-3.

2) Aaron Rodgers vs. Jay Cutler

Sunday's game pits two star quarterbacks against one another. Both QBs have thus far played a critical role in their teams' postseason success. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers threw for 366 yards with 4 total TDs in his team's victory against the Atlanta Falcons. Jay Cutler's 4 combined TDs helped put away the game for Chicago against lackluster Seattle. Statistically speaking, Rodgers has a slight edge over Cutler. For the season, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has accumulated 3922 passing yards, 28 TDs, and a QB rating of 101. Jay Cutler, on the other hand, has not been as explosive. The Bears starter has to date amassed 3274 passing yards, 23 TDs, and a QB rating of 86.

3) Mike McCarthy vs. Lovie Smith

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In a postseason that is not short of storylines, the match-up between old rivals Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears takes it to an even higher level. Fans of both teams have been waiting for a long time for the Packers and Bears to once again renew their rivalry, in a high-stake setting like the NFC championship. The fact that the winner will earn a trip to the Super Bowl certainly adds more spices to an already intense rivalry. While this game may very well turn out to be an error-prone fest, the intricacies involved make for truly must-see TV.

The Green Bay Packers have been on an improbable run no one has foreseen. Mike McCarthy's team is currently riding on a 4-game winning streak that includes wins over highly rated teams like New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. More impressively, the Packers' two playoff wins are on the road against teams with a terrific home record. The team's great success can be attributed to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the outstanding defensive unit. Rodgers has arguably been the best quarterback in this postseason, amassing 7 TDs and a QB rating of 130. However, the team's MVP this season is unquestionably its defense which ranks #2 overall. The defensive unit has also been impressive in the playoffs, limiting offensive-minded Eagles and Falcons to less than 22 points a game.

No other team in the NFL relies more on its defense to win games than the Chicago Bears. This is due to the fact that Lovie Smith's offense is among the NFL's worst. While QB Jay Cutler was impressive in the team's victory against lowly Seattle, it is important to point out that the Bears' defense held the Seahawks to only 3 points after 3 quarters of play. Also, most of Seattle's 24 points came as a result of mistakes by the Chicago's offense. Against a strong Green Bay's defense, Jay Cutler's effectiveness will once again come into question.

My prediction for the 2011 NFC championship game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears: the Packers win a low scoring game. Kickoff time for the game is 3 PM EST. The game will be played at Soldier Field, and will be broadcast by FOX channel.

Reference:
ESPN.COM