NFC Championship Game 2011 NFL Football Playoffs |Green Bay Packers-Chicago Bears

The NFL Football 2011 NFC Conference Championship Game will be played between two NFC North division teams. The Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship at Soldier Field and a Super Bowl XLV berth. The Championship game is scheduled for January 23rd, Sunday 3 pm ET kickoff on the FOX TV Network.

The Chicago Bears won the NFC North Division title and a 1st round bye in the NFL playoffs as the conference #2 seed. The Bears defeated the NFC West Champions Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional round to advance to the NFC Championship game.

The Green Bay Packers were 2nd in the NFC North and the NFL wild card 6th seed. The Packers defeated the #3 seed Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round and the #1 seed Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional round to advance to meet the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game.

Chicago and Green Bay split their division games this season. Chicago won the first meeting of the year at Soldier Stadium 20-17. The Green Bay Packers won in week 17 of this season to earn a spot in the NFL playoffs. The teams will meet for the third time to see who will represent the NFC Conference in Super Bowl XLV (45) on February 6th, 2011.

The Green Bay-Chicago winner will face the AFC Championship Game winner of the New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl Game.

NFL Football’s longest rivalry will face off for the biggest game in this meeting between the Bears and Packers. The rivalry began in November of 1921.

The Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers have met in 181 football games.The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was 1941.

Chicago and Green Bay split their division games this season. The Green Bay Packers won in week 17 of this season to earn a spot in the NFL playoffs.

The NFC Championship Game

Green Bay Packers

Chicago Bears

Green Bay-Chicago Preview | Match-Up

NFC championship Game Prediction

Green Bay began the 2010-2011 NFL football season as the early favorite Super Bowl contenders. Then injuries hit the team with key players on offense and defense. Head Coach Mike McCarthy has done an amazing job keeping this team together and filling in roster positions as the injuries piled up.

Starting running back Ryan Grant went down in game one with an ankle injury that ended his season. The running game was ranked 22nd for the season, but QB Aaron Rodgers led the team with the 5th ranked passing game.

The Packers started the season 3-3 and the injuries seem to have taken it toil on the team. The Packers then won 7 of their last 10 games. The Packers team has come together at the right time of the year entering the playoffs. James Starks has emerged as the team’s best running back in the playoffs with John Kuhn the short yardage carrier.

The Packers passing game has been near unstoppable of late with the play of Aaron Rodgers and his multiple choice of receivers. After Jermichael Finley went down with a season ending injury, Jordy Nelson and James Jones stepped up to add to the receiving group of Greg Jennings and Donald Driver to make the passing game even more explosive.

The Green Bay defense was overshadowed by the high powered offense, but the Packer defense was dominate at times in games. The Defense finished in the Top 10 in the league. The pass defense was one of the league best by the year’s end ranking 5th. Charles Woodson and Clay Matthews have been dominating on defense and Tramon Williams.

The Chicago Bears won the NFC North division with an 11-5 record and the #2 seed in the NFC Playoffs. The Bears made a load of coaching staff changes after the disappointing 2009 season. The changes have paid off as the Bears went from 7-9 to 11-5.

The Addition of Mike Martz as the offensive coordinator and Mike Tice as offensive line coach have made a huge change in the play of quarterback Jay Cutler this season.

The Bears opened the 2011 NFL football season with a 3-0 start. The Bears then lost 3 of 4 to stand at 4-3 at the team Bye week. The Bears were demolished by the New York Giants giving up 9 quarterback sacks in the first half of the game.

The Chicago Bears made adjustments, especially to the offensive line during the bye week. The offense was more balanced between the pass and rush game. Jay Cutler has better pass protection and Matt Forte became a major threat as an offensive weapon as a running back as well as a receiver out of the backfield.

The Bears won their next 5 games and 7 of 8 before losing the season finale against the Green Bay Packers in a game that made no significance to the playoff seeding.

The Chicago Bears promoted Rod Marinelli as Defensive Coordinator to begin the season and acquired Julius Peppers to shore up the defense. The Bears had the #2 rushing defense and were #9 in total defense in the league.The Bears have had outstanding play for defensive players, Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman and Chris Harris.

1. Aaron Rodgers vs Bears Pass Coverage- Aaron Rodgers is a mobile quarterback that can make plays outside the pocket and with running the ball. Rodgers has been playing exceptionally well in the postseason and the Bears will need to get hits on Rodgers and the secondary needs to find a way to cover the talented group of wide receivers.

The receivers will make catches, but the yards after catch must be limited of the Packers offense will move the ball at will.The Packers receivers are great at breaking tackles and the yardage made after catching the ball.

2. Jay Cutler vs Pass Rush- Clay Matthews is a monster attacking quarterbacks. Jay Cutler will need to avoid the sacks and make smart throws. The check-down passes and screen plays can help to back off the blitzes of the Packers. The Packers defense will look to force Cutler to make rushed decisions which could lead to turnovers.

Greg Olsen and Rashied Davis made key catches in last week's game down the field and could be a difference maker against the Packers. Cutler needs to find Johnny Knox and let him use his speed for big plays.

3. Packers Run Game vs Bears Defense- The Packers running game has to be able to make plays to keep the Bears from sending the all out blitz after Rodgers. James Starks has been tremendous in the postseason and will need the same type of play to allow Rodgers and the passing game to get on track.

4. Bears Run Game vs Packers Defense- Matt Forte must get involved early in the game to set up the pass option play. The Bears need the run game to slow the game down and keep Aaron Rodgers off the field and manage the game clock.

5. Special Teams- Devin Hester could be the Key player for the Chicago Bears on punt returns and kickoffs. Hester is a threat to score on any given play. The field will be sloppy and the kicking game may determine the winner in the match-up.

The Packers made the playoffs by beating the Bears in week 17 of the regular season at Lambeau Field. The Bears defense was able to hold in check the Packers offense. The Packers defense recorded 6 sacks of Jay Cutler in that game. The game was tied at 3-3 in the 4th quarter before the Green Bay Packers won the game 10-3.

The Chicago Bears will run the ball and use the short passing game to control the game pace and the clock. The Packers will struggle to run and will have to make post and slant passes to get the offense in rhythm. Aaron Rodgers will make key runs to keep drives alive.

After a close 1st half of play, look for the Packers to pull out the victory in a close game late in the 4th quarter.

Prediction:  Green Bay Packers-20___Chicago Bears-17