Jets upset the Patriots, while Green Bay and Chicago will meet in first play-off encounter for 70 years
The form book was turned on its head in an enthralling play-off weekend, with the No1 seeds, the Patriots and the Falcons, going out and setting up an intriguing Championship Sunday.
The New York Jets upset the form guide ? and the game's early exchanges ? to beat the New England Patriots more comprehensively than the 28-21 scoreline suggested. When the Patriots attempted a second on-side kick in the dying minutes many among the home crowd had already left.
It's not the first time that the Patriots ? and quarterback Tom Brady ? had looked unbeatable during the regular season and yet stumbled in the knock-out stages. In 2007 the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season, only to be beaten by the Giants in the Super Bowl.
The Jets-Patriots game had been given added spice by New England's trouncing of the NY team 45-3 a month ago, and Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie last week telling the NY Daily News that Brady was an "ass****" (their asterisks. I would have to guess at the missing letters).
On Sunday night Brady threw his first interception in 335 attempts and looked discomfited by repeated Jets' blitzing.
The Jets will now meet the Pittsburgh Steelers, who overcame the Baltimore Ravens 31-24, in the AFC Championship game (Sunday 11.30pm GMT).
Even more intriguingly, Green Bay and Chicago will carry their fierce rivalry into the NFC championship game. But it has been a long time since they met in the play-offs. As Rick Lubbers in the Duluth News Tribune puts it:
Unless you are an NFL historian or old enough to remember the game, you probably didn't know the only other time the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears met in the play-offs was a week after Pearl Harbor was attacked ? Chicago beat Green Bay 33-14 to break a divisional tie on Dec. 14, 1941. No, Brett Favre didn't play in that game. He was still on the practice squad.
The Bears cruised to victory against the Seahawks after racing to a 21-0 half-time lead. Quarterback Jay Cutler made a dream play-off debut, throwing two touchdowns and running in two others himself.
The Packers set up the match-up by disposing of the number one rated Atlanta Falcons 48-21. As the NFL website reports:
Aaron Rodgers completed 31 of 36 passes and put up more yards than Brett Favre ? the guy he replaced in Green Bay ? ever threw for in a play-off game.
Join Paolo Bandini for his regular NFL talkboard preview of the Championship games on Friday.
Cameron Richardson Chandra West Kasey Chambers Megan Ewing Kristanna Loken
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