And Then There were 2...

Fans of the NFL, we got a rare treat yesterday, 4 football games rolled into 2 in the Conference Championships. Divided by halfs, both Chicago/Green Bay and Pittsburgh/New York were a tale of two games in one and a reminder that it's a 60 minute enterprise, leads at halftime in this league are never safe and to win you have to play it out until the final gun goes. Credit due to the champions of both conferences who will meet in Dallas February 6th for as eagerly anticipated a game as I can remember. Compared to last year's games, the 2011 version of the Conference finals were sloppy, at times boring and wanting for some real tension and drama. The hopes that we would have the entire day salvaged by a kid named Caleb and the Jets completing a comeback of huge proportions were dashed by an interception, shoddy play calling and poor clock management.
The way the NFC game began, I had edge of the seat excitement about the possibility of a good old fashioned shoot-out to start the day. That quickly diminished with a defensive brawl that resulted in injury to Jay Cutler, Todd Collins and a massive hit to Aaron Rodgers compliments of Julius Peppers that is still resonating around Soldier Field. Had Caleb Hanie been able to bring the Bears a victory, what that would have meant in NFL lore- A Star is Born. I will not speculate on Cutler's injury only to say I am stunned at the venom this guy elicits from fans, media, players alike. Green Bay gave the Bears way to much oxygen all game long, unable to put the boot on their neck and finish the task. The 7-0 halftime lead felt like a blowout but as Hanie and the Bears showed, the scoreboard tells the tale.The Steelers will feast on that if the similar circumstance presents itself in Texas. For Green Bay, different players rose to their circumstance as Rodgers floundered, displaying that there are many ways to win. When a punter is one of your keys to victory, you know you have something special.

It looked like the Jets had left it all in Foxboro, a lack of maturity, resolve and intensity that manifest itself with a resounding Steeler performance and a death grip after 30 minutes- So long Rex and crew, been nice. And....then the second half. I am one who believes that the Jets should have won this game. The Steelers goal line stand was aided and abetted by a Jets Offensive coaching staff that could not get plays in quickly, had no sense of urgency and played as if goal line situations had never been contemplated, let alone practised. Are you kidding me? Could Sanchez not have called 2 plays in the huddle, could you not get Tomlinson up over the pile, could you not go at a winded Steeler D? The Steelers do one thing when necessary- make plays. The Jets did not. That's the ballgame. You have to love how battle hardened and tough this group from PA is, led by that defense and a quarterback that knows no surrender. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, the saying goes- The Jets should be the strongest kids in the AFC. Lesson learned: 60 minute game and the "steel" required to win.

And so we begin the march to Dallas. This game should be a monstrous success for FOX. These teams have legions of fans well beyond their markets and that bodes well for TV. The story lines will be fleshed out the next 13 days, with new nicknames like "Hittsburgh" and "The Freezer" becoming part of our Super Bowl lexicon. Let's hope these 2 legendary programs leave it all on the field in Texas, 60 minutes, hard fought. The league and its fans are entitled to just that.