Tonight we have the conference championship games which are effectively the semi-finals of the superbowl.
The NFL is made up of two conferences; American and National and the winners of those conferences meet at the superbowl which this year takes place at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas on February 6th starting at 11pm UK time which is 5pm local(Central) time.
Tonight’s first game is the Green Bay Packers at the Chicago Bears to decide the winners of the National conference. This game starts at 8pm UK time.
The American conference final starts 3 and a half hours later and sees the New York Jets visit Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
As ever we need your predictions.
So what is the difference between the American and National conferences? Are they just like two groups but with fancier names rather than A/B or 1/2?
(F1, Le Mans, UEFA Champions League, ALMS) > NFL. ;P :D
Go Bears!
They started off as two separate organisations but now there is no real difference. American sports don't like promotion or relegation so all teams are on the same level. There are 16 team in each conference and for reasons that make no sense each conference is split into 4 geographical divisions but teams don't just play teams in their own divsion
The whole thing is unfathomable
I... see. Those crazy Americans...
AFC (American Football Conference) "The American Football Conference originated as the American Football League (AFL), which joined with the NFL in the AFL–NFL merger of 1970. As such most of its teams originally played in the AFL, while three others were NFL teams that were added to the AFC to equalize the number of franchises, and another three are more recent expansion teams."
Fun fact: "Since the creation of the National Football League the NFC has collectively won 23 out of 44 Super Bowls"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Football_Conference
You would think that if there are 16 teams in a conference they would all play each other once so 15 games but no. Each team plays the others in its division twice which gives 6 games. They then play ten other games and who they play depends on how good they are. The better teams get harder games. So it is almost like a handicap system. Only in America
The NFC had a reputation for just being better, but yeah, the two conferences don't have a huge impact on the game to me.
Yeah, it's not too clear... boo.
Live stream at http://gtv-sports.webs.com/
Click the NFL tab under the screen
National Anthem being sung on the freezing Soldier Field in Chicago
Stream worked perfectly to the last word of the national anthem then froze
It IS cold there.
Thanks It is now unfrozed again.
Back up stream for now is http://viasattv1.blogspot.com/
Looks like there is not a lot of grip on that field
Didn't do predictions.
Bears for me
Nice start by the Packers. 2 plays 45 yards
I'll go with Bears, too, but the Packers are there to play, as they say.
The field conditions may even things up quite a bit. It looks to be in bad shape, as you said.
Not something I have ever really thought about but I guess bad underfoot conditions favour a passing games as rushers will find it hard to make the cuts they normally would
Nose tackle plays full back??
And Rodgers runs head first to get the TD? woo.
Great first drive
yeah
The first game doesn't really matter, but Steelers all the way for the second game (as she waits for the game to start wearing her Steelers sweatshirt covering her Steelers T-shirt). GO STEELERS!!!
Do you have a lump of cheese on your head?
Wrong team. oops
hehe
I guess out of context it's an odd question. hehe
Maybe a terrible towel nearby?
For anyone reading who thinks that was an odd comment GB Packers fans are known as cheeseheads because they wear cheese on their heads
http://www.countrymusicwi.com/cheesehead.jpg
Thank goodness you corrected yourself!!! There could have been some hard feelings.
:D
Terrible towel close by!
Cheese made in Wisconsin=Green Bay Packers from Green Bay, Wisconsin= Cheesehead
Seems like you are all set. Just 3 hours early
Quick shovel pass to get rid of it was caught.
Looked like Green Bay just kind of walked up to Cutler/Bears QB.
Bears defence has to shut down the Packers this time or they could be in for a tough night
Correctamundo
I'm making tea. Anyone want some?
Great idea
WOW. I thought Rodgers had hit his man there when the Bears blitzed
Bears defence shut down the Packers and forced them to punt
Cutler sacked
Ball goes back to Green Bay
Bears 3 and out plus a 5 yard penalty on 1st down for a false start. Must do better
Green Bay looks a lot better right now. Bears can't seem to get in a groove. Cutler needs better protection in the pocket
I don't understand the decision to go for a short run on 2nd down. There was no way they were ever going to get more than 5 yards so they were always going to have to pass on 3rd. Crazy
Rodgers sacked
Bears look bad in their endzone.
Thought that was going to be a safety
Me too
"one the lighter guys at 300lbs"?!
And they wonder why injuries are worse now
And think when Perry was playing everyone thought he was enormous yet the team called him Biscuit because he was a biscuit under 300
Im impressed they can even get up off the bench more than once a day.
TD Packers.
Maybe not. Bears have to challenge it
But they don't. hm. That was a questionable TD on replay, for sure.
Their offence isn't challenging and now their coach isn't either
:)
Fist down Bears. At last
I hope the Bears can get some momentum going.
Another first down. The offence has woken up
Cutler looks like he is trying to get too much power into his passes and is losing accuracy
Maybe he's freakin' out a little bit. Or the ball is frozen.
Bears get some momentum then lose 10 yards for holding just as they got a 1st down
This doesn't bode well for the Bears.
Cutler is DIY'ing it.
Cutler just made a ridiculous decision. No way was he ever going to run for 11 yards. He should have sat back and looked for a pass
Second playoff game ever between the Bears and the Packers. How is that possible?
I have no idea. That seems impossible.
Evening everyone. I was idly looking on a bookie's site today, looking at the odds for a possible little wager on Button for the driver's championship next year. They were only offering 12 to 1, which I think wasn't a great price.
Anyway, after looking at F1 I had a shuftie at the NFL odds and they had the Packers as a narrow favourite for the Superbowl and the Bears as outsiders. So far I'm not seeing anything to argue against that...
Hi Jon.
Yeah, the Packers look really strong so far.
Interesting as the Bears had the better record this season and a lot of people are tipping them for this game
As you said before, though, the schedule isn't the same for each team. I don't mind it though, because it (quite deliberately) makes for more even games. Unless the Bills are playing.
That is true. The Packers certainly look the better team so far. Unless the Bears offence improves dramatically they are going no further
By the way, Jaime Alguersuari is 200/1 - that's where the value is :->
He will never win the superbowl
hehe!
Cutler sacked, loses the football, but Bears recover it.
Sounds like they just invented another rule. Because we are inside two minutes only the fumbling player can recover the ball???? That is insane enough for Max to have thought of it
Yeah, I've never heard that.
Quarterbacks are still the leading rushers for their teams? Wassup with that?
Just looking at some stats
Total offence Bears 86 yards Packers 230
First downs Bears 5 Packers 15
Not literally, just that they are the ones getting yardage.
Weird
Bears get a turnover. Didn't really force it
THe turnover has been turned over
Half time 14-0 Packers.
My prediction is not looking so good especially as the Bears have never overturned a deficit of more than 7 in a playoff match
It's what is known as a whoopin' :->
The AFC game should be closer. My prediction: I predict I won't be able to stay awake for the whole thing...
Odds? :)
Given I'm just finishing my second Guinness, I'd say slim to none.
Cutler has knee and elbow injuries.
Aaaah! Pam Oliver. NFL's answer to Eddie Jordan
So... has Sidepodcast Towers got it's big telly yet, ready for BernieVision?
3rd and 8 and the Bears give them 22
Green Bay just looks a lot better, and now Cutler may be out with a knee? :(
Great time for a back up to make his name. He would not get blamed if they lose because they are already behind but if he can get some points and belief in the offence...
Bears must hold them to 3 here
Definitely
True. Time to get out there and use the opportunity.
or, you know, do that
Kept them to 0. Even better
hehe!
I would love to see Urlacher and Polamalu play in the same team
False start again!!!!!!
No interception
This could get entertaining.
Chances are, I'm afraid, the opposite. Not a very close game.
Time to go and make a cup of random tea. Mrs. Jon accidentally mixed up all the Earl Grey tea bags with the normal ones yesterday...
Once you get to the bottom of the pile they will probably all taste half and half
Turns out you're right. I was hoping things would go all whack-a-doo with more turnovers as everyone freaks out about not making it to the Superbowl or realizing that they are going. Oh well.
This could get interesting
Ineligible man downfield. Who doesn't know that they should not be there?
hehe. That guy, apparently. :)
Urlacher again
And he was out with an injury last year? wow
So the first time the Bears get any yards on a punt return is the first time someone other than Devon Hester got the ball
hmmm. *rubs chin*
Bears on to their third QB. Collins didn't get much time to prove himself and most of his problems were lousy protection
What's the score btw?
Packers 14 Bears 0
Bears are lucky to have 0
That is another rule they have invented. The other QBs can't come back???
Insanity
NOW we may have a game!
Packers must have a nice long drive. They don't even have to get in, just run out the clock.
Packers 14 Bears 7
12 minutes to go
Hehe
It's just to drive you crazy. :)
Old round ball football comment
There is absolutley no reason for these rules. It's like the 2 minute challenge having to come from the booth. I don't understand why one minute of a game is different to any other
I like it a lot.
Ooh. Ta
Helmet to helmet with the QB. Stupid
The Bears can't keep getting penalties like this.
Well, actually, they can, they just need to pack up and go home after the game.
24 yard punt.
Welp, that's it for the Bears.
G A M E O V E R....................................................
Wow.
338 pounds. How can a QB not see him?
Maybe he mistook Raji for a wall.
Packers 21 Bears 7
6 minutes to go
Aaron Rodgers has a QB rating in the 50s for this game and they are dominating.
This is one weird game
TD Bears
I agree. Very disjointed.
Looks like I have picked up a delay somewhere. I am 30 seconds behind.
Great play but probably too late.
Packers 21 Bears 14
4:43 to go
ooh. Sorry.
Yeah, 4:43 for me kickoff
No problem. I switched to my back up feed and didn't realise it had fallen so far behind. I should be OK now
This has got to be one of the most bizarre games I've ever seen. The Bears were dead and buried!
How many teams can possibly have won a game being so far behind and been down to their third QB
4th and 3 and you have to go for it
okay, so is that finally it for the Bears?
Packers can just take a knee
Game over now. Can't blame the QB for that because he had to try and make a play
Packers go to the superbowl
Well, that was...odd. And it's one of those games where the score doesn't really reflect how one-sided it was overall. I can't believe the Bears scored 14. It doesn't seem like it.
The defences were dominant yet there were 35 points scored
Good point. It seemed to go nowhere, but it was a regular scoring, not low scoring, game. Go figure.
Time for the Jets. I hope it's a good game.
Prediction time again.
New York Jets or Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers
I want the Jets to keep winning, being the underdogs.
But I really like Polamalu.
But I really dislike Roethlisberger.
But I've liked the Steelers since I was a kid.
Oh boy. I'm conflicted.
I didn't know the NFC trophy was called the George Halas trophy. How much more motivation do the Bears need
I agree with those
Did you see the Twitchange thing that Polamalu was doing this week? He gave away 2 tickets to this game. To register for the giveaway people had to get involved with a veteran's charity.
Didn't see that. Great idea
@tpolamalu
I don't spend much time on twitter
Me neither, but here is the link to what he's doing.
http://TwitChange.com/
Looks a touch chilly in Pittsburgh
http://socerroom.blogspot.com/
Those spectators must be cccccold.
It was 20F or so and at least it was a day game so there was sun, but I was still under 2 huge blankets with crazy amounts of layers and handwarmers and footwarmers. I can't imagine how cold it would be sitting there at 5F with the wind chill. brrrrr
Troy! :)
No flypast for this game? It's nice and dark so they could have done a fuel dump then lit the afterburners
I mean one of the games I went to...
I was expecting it too when the camera panned up. I guess that's in a couple of weeks.
So you haven't just gon crazy then?
The earlier game had one
hehehe
I have. I'm trying to cover my tracks....
Delay of game
Stupid thing to get a penalty for this early
Hopefully there won't be a lot of that and it's just jitters.
Wow, dangerous throw into the middle.
Add that to the delay and you wonder if he has his game head on or just needs time to settle
So are you going for the Steelers this game?
I am conflicted like you but I think so
What do you think of these commentators? (if you have Jim Nance and Phil Simms)
I want Troy's Steelers, and if Ben comes with the package, well, not much I can do about that.
Yes I have them. I haven't really been paying much attention to them. I think I learned with Legard to filter out commentary but take in the information from it
Oh, the Legard Commentator Filtering Course. Good. :)
I think that catch was good
me too
#gosteelers
I don't like that call
Incomplete???? No.
Roethlisberger looks like his right ankle is taped up
Yeah, it does. He had that bootie made for his injury a while back, if I remember correctly.
ooh no, that looks really bad for Pouncy.
TD
TD Pitt
Jets 0 Steelers 7
5 penalties already
Jets offence looks like the Bears early in the game
yeah. Boo.
Kids, don't lip read Rex Ryan. :)
:D
Terrible punt by Jets
You know you are having a bad day when you can't even punt the ball away properly. Still it's only 7-0. Still time
Can't believe the receiver overran that pass
hehe
My guess is it's only gonna get worse
I hope not. I hope it's a good game, not a blow out either way.
Not that you are in any way biased :)
hehe :)
Born and raised in Pittsburgh...I've never not been a Steelers fan. Don't live there now, but my daughter is at graduate school there.
I guess you are never going to change now then
Ha ha...don't think so, especially since I was a fan before they started winning Super Bowls in the '70s. They were pretty terrible for a long time.
I was a huge fan during that time as my dad was really into them - Franco Harris, Mean Joe Green, Lynn Swann, Lambert. That was so much fun. I hope they do well for you tonight. :)
I wonder how many fans are getting hit in the face with terrible towels tonight. hehe
Health and safety :)
TD Steelers
:)
TD Steelers
Jets 0 Steelers 17
Time for the Jets to go to their third choice QB
First downs Jets 3 Steelers16
Total offence Jets 25 yards Steelers 232
Sanchez sacked
That cost them 7 of their 25 yards offence
I feel like I'm on UK time 'cause it's only 8pm here, but it feels like 1am.
Where do you start with that?
Sanchez hurt, man.
Just think how much more sleep you will get than you expect to get
Sack, fumble, recovery, TD, injured QB and who knows what else
True.
Soon you'll have Sunday nights back.
I was only joking about the Jets needing to go to their 3rd QB
TD
hehe
Maybe not!
#mystic
And I will need to find something to fill them
Jets 0 Steelers 24
The Jets are making the Bears look good
:lol:
Jets 3 Steelers 24
That kick didn't look like it was going to make it.
Considering how shorta distance it was the kick was terrible
42 yards, I thought? That's not super short, I don't think. But yeah, he's not kicking with confidence. :)
Further than I thought
Jets can't even recover a kick off
TD Jets
TD Jets
Right down to the second :)
Sanchez threw that from his own half of the field
Jets 10 Steelers 24
Are they just brawling out there now?
intercepted by the Jets.
Interception
This game has turned on its head
The Steelers look like a better team tonight, but who knows. The Jets usually start slow, don't they?
This was the situation about an hour ago
First downs Jets 3 Steelers16
Total offence Jets 25 yards Steelers 232
and this is now
First downs Jets 8 Steelers18
Total offence Jets 140 yards Steelers 252
The Steelers looked like they had the game won. I am sure when we saw the Jets before they started slowly
Wow.
Roethlisberger sacked
It feels like a close game again.
Looks like we could have another game come alive in the 4th quarter
With another sack. The Jets are even ripping his name off his jersey.
Roethlisberger sacked again and the Steelers never got the ball out of their back field on all three downs
Topsy turvy
Those second half stats on each team were really something: Pitt -3
Quite incredible
you guys have passed 250 comments. i had no idea nfl was so popular? most f1 practice sessions don't see this much discussion.
2 games, 6+ hours :)
Two games is about 6 or 7 hours though. These haven't been remotely controversial or even close games either or we would have doubled that comment count.
We had a good comment count when we did the superbowl last year
that is true.
am loving reading through the comments.
Jets make 4th and 1
That's a big play
Are they making any sense?
Yes it is. I feel like they are on the verge...maybe...
It's going to be a one score game very soon.
yup. qb, td, punt, sack.
i know it's cold there and the game is close. perfect :)
4th down and goal
You got all that info just from comments? No need to watch the game when you get that level of detail
Jets DO NOT get in!!!!
That's huge....
Doesn't come any bigger.
Steelers offence just has to kill the clock now
Steelers defense is so strong in every way.
Haven't heard a lot from Polamalu, but to me that just shows how strong their whole team is, even without Pouncy, the Pro-Bowler, out with that injured hammy.
Safety
A safety?? I can't remember the last time I saw a safety scored.
hehe
This is fun.
Can't ever remember hearing so little about Polamalu
yup, tis actually really interesting to follow. if i had a water cooler conversation about this tomorrow, i could totally blag my way through it :)
Glad to be of service
*bows*
hehe
I have been playing an online NFL game and if you have 4th and goal from less than 5 yards it is better to go for the TD than the field goal because if you don't make it you send an all out blitz and generally get a safety and get the ball back
Coach Roy says "Go for it!"
Two different kinds of football making up your Monday morning conversation. That's unusual
oh wait, no. Coach Roy says "I've done all the coaching I can do, now it's up to the boys to play."
#european
Sometimes though the QB leads the blitz and you give up a 100 yard touchdown which doesn;t look so good
:lol;
"doesn't look so good"
Nothing I can do once they cross the white line
:lol:
I see Sanchez took out his own lineman there. Ouchy.
I don't think I have ever seen two Centres injured in the one game
Are you getting this Fergie Dr. Pepper commercial? How embarrassing.
I haven't.
Didn't see it but I popped out for a minute so I would not have seen it
Jets down by 12 with 4 minutes to go....
It's not good when you think a song is a joke, but it's a real song.
and now they have more offence than the Steelers
TD Jets
TD Jets
Jets have scored 18 unanswered points?? woo wee
Interesting choice not to go for two
Yeah. I guess they went for the solid 1 than the risky 2, but with their kicker....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG0of3hLLWM
oh.
"ain't nobody tawlkin' like me"
What? Are you serious? I laughed out loud when that rap part started.
Either you don't get much in the can or that really was an awful fake effect
Jets down by 5 with 2:28 to play. Steeler have the ball.
I pick B
Me too. Either way it doesn;t make great marketing
The Jets can't let the rushers have 2 or 3 chances to find a place to run. TACKLE.
#rootingforJetsnow
and it contains cheery stalks.
The beginning is what it is, but the rap and the dumb effect made me embarrassed for her. But she can be embarrassed all the way to the bank.
:lol:
It's a bit late in the game to change sides. They need to stop the Steelers getting near a first down
Probably the only part of the cherry tree that has been near it
Yeah, but....um....well...
yeah
Why throw a pass?
No WAY.
What a catch!
and they didn't
Get the camera off of Rex Ryan in a jiff, there folks, after he throws his headset.
No they didn't. And that's it for them. oh well....
Two very similar and very strange games tonight
Steelers win 24 - 19
So the Superbowl is Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
Phew...what a relief
So Superbowl XLV will be contested by the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers
As predicted :D
You must have been working your towel hard in the second half
i shall join you for that. i assume i oughta book the following day off?
Congrats!
That must have been scary for a while. eek! But they pulled it off. :)
When?
:lol:
Or plan a very late, late shift
:D
A couple of days ago when I asked who was playing this weekend
It is an 11 o'clock start so should finish around 3am
My husband's hair is standing on end...that's the way you can tell it's been a tight game.
who's the half time entertainment? usually i sleep after that, but i'll try and make it to the end this year.
Well done
Must be bad when the hair gets tense
HUGE sigh of relief then, and hair can go back to usual altitude.
They mentioned that last week but I can remember. The only name in the back of my mind is the Red Hot Chilli Peppers but I could be wrong
http://sidepodcast.com/post/daily-22nd-january-2011#comment-1008458
Close. Black Eyed Peas
Black Eyed Peas! hehehehe! oh no.
*shudders*
fergielicious!
Well, there was a colour and a vegetable ;)
That's why we have that horrible Dr Pepper commercial with Fergie. hehe
:lol:
:) :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_halftime_shows
So there is some kind of logic still working in my brain
Yep
Jerry Jones will be happy these two teams got through. THey both have big travelling supports so he will sell loads of tickets for his car park screen
Good for him and hi$ ca$h flow.