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Super Bowl XLV – UK Time
Feb 2nd
With just days to go your Sunday night plans should be pretty much set by now. But in case you were wondering, the Kick-Off for the big game is 11:30pm UK time.
Obviously tune in before that for anthems and pre-game shenanigans but at the very latest be settled in with supplies at 11:30.
Polamalu Edges Out Matthews for Defensive Player of the Year
Feb 1st
Taking 17 votes to Clay Matthews’ 15 Troy Polamalu has been named the NFL’s 2010 Defensive Player of the Year. Fellow Steeler James Harrison was 3rd with 8 votes in a result that truly shows of the defensive strength that has defined these two teams’ seasons and will play such a big part in the coming Super Bowl.
Troy Polamalu, 2010 DPOTY
Both Polamalu and Matthews have been real game-changers. Matthews has got in the backfield a lot and caused troubles, as his 13.5 sacks shows. Both have made a lot of tackles, Polamalu doing so from deeper on the field with his aggressive yet intelligent play. He’s also a hightlight-reel favourite, frequently seen diving over the lines to make tackles and generally being a nuisance to the opposition offence.
It’s easy to concentrate on the offence of a team, and both the Steelers and the Packers are strong on that side of the ball too, but the old adage that “Defence wins Championships” may prove true this weekend. Either way, we’re looking forward to it.
Super Bowl XLV: Madden 2011 Recreation
Jan 27th
Super Bowl XLV: The Last Time These Teams Met…
Jan 26th
These are two teams that have not played each other much over the years. Even if we go back two games, we’re looking at Brett Favre and Charlie Batch as the starting QBs and to get 5 previous games we have to go back nearly 20 years. That includes a 7 year gap between 1998 and 2005 where these teams did not play each other. With the current scheduling all teams play at least once every four years and apart from this Super Bowl, the next scheduled match between them won’t be until the 2013 season.
Dallas Stadium, site of Super Bowl 45
So there is probably not much we can read into previous matchups, as 4 years is an eternity for an NFL team. But let’s take a look at the last time these two teams met, just over a year ago as the 2009 season was drawing to a close.
Week 15, 2009: Green Bay 36 – 37 Pittsburgh
This was a fantastic game and there will be no complaints from any quarter if Super Bowl 45 plays out as this game did. More >
So It’s The Packers and The Steelers
Jan 24th
Dallas Stadium. Arlington, Texas
With two Championship games that were intriguing but not brilliant, we now know that it’ll be the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers who’ll head to Arlington for Super Bowl 45 on the 6th February.
These are two historic teams that have played great defensive football and that both have a strong offensive game too.
With nearly the full two weeks to go, the Packers are early favourites with the bookmakers giving them a 3 point edge. If it’s that close on the night, we could be in for a treat. But either way, it’s an exciting time for these two teams.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the news and build-up and back early next week with our thoughts for the big game.
Image Credit: Dallas Stadium – Amber Marie
NFL 2010 AFC Championship
Jan 19th
New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday 23rd January, 11:30pm UK Time
It seems like a long time ago that Rex Ryan announced shortly into the first episode of Hard Knocks that the Jets were going to win the Super Bowl; that they were the best and this was the year. Now, going into the conference championship for the second consecutive season they’ll be hoping to get past the hurdle they fell at last year.
The Steelers started this season under a cloud of controversy and talk of their starting QB being traded. Coach Mike Tomlin kept the ship steady and really it’s no surprise to see the Steelers competing – again – in the Championship game.
Heinz Field
Apart from the game this season, these teams hadn’t met since 2007. A lot has happened since then, like the Steelers winning the Super Bowl in 2008 and the resurgence of the Jets under Rex Ryan. Let’s take a look at the last few meetings
Singletary And McDaniels, Back In Work
Jan 19th
As you probably know the coaches of the two teams that met at Wembley this year were both fired before the end of the season. Well, they’re now both back in work.
Mike Singletary is the new Linebackers coach at the Minnesota Vikings and Josh McDaniels is the new OC for the St. Louis Rams. These are good moves for both players. Big Mike will be able to do what he does best; work with – and improve – the linebackers and McDaniels gets to concentrate on offensive play without that pesky defence or game management clouding his view. Here’s wishing them the best for 2011.
Although there are plenty of stories still to watch with these two teams (such as the quarterback position for both teams) this will probably close out our NFL International Series coverage for the 2010 season, it’s been a great season and despite the fate of these two teams (and their coaches!) we had a good game to remember. Here’s hoping 2011 sees a game coming our way too… in fact, here’s hoping 2011 sees any games.
NFL 2010 NFC Championship
Jan 18th
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Sunday 23rd, 8:00pm UK Time
When these teams both from the same division there is a lot of history and many stories to draw on. It also means that they know each other very well and this one will mean even more than you’d imagine a Conference Championship will.
These two teams have only met once before in the post-season and that was back in December 1941 (7 days after the attack on Pearl Harbour). But with 182 previous meetings between these teams, this is the NFL’s longest rivalry. Chicago currently leads the series 92–83–6, but Green Bay have had the edge in recent meetings.
Soldier Field
Let’s take a quick look at the last two years: More >
NFL Conference Championships. It’s 2 and 6
Jan 17th
Yes, it sounds like something Nan would have said but with the divisional round gone we have the same situation in both conferences with the number 6 seed travelling to the number 2. And after four great matches on divisional weekend, we have two more mouth-watering match-ups heading our way.
Both Conference Championships are on Sunday and at different times to usual.
So at 8pm (UK time) the NFC will be settled : Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
And then at 11:30pm, it’s the AFC’s turn: New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers
We’ll be back later this week to take a look at these matchups and make our predictions.
NFL 2010 Divisional Weekend: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Jan 14th
So the wildcard weekend has been and gone and we’re now left with 8 teams who are looking to make it all the way to the Superbowl. We’ve got some tasty matches to look forward to this weekend, and today I’ll be looking at one of them. It’s one of the most physical rivalries in the NFL and a contest which more often than not is pretty close in all aspects. On Saturday 15th January the Baltimore Ravens travel to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Looking into this game there are literally hundreds of stats I could reel off. These 2 teams are well accustomed with each other and, playing in the same division, face off at least twice a season and have done since 1996 when the Ravens were established as a franchise. So there is a long history there, many games and many scores, many records and many talking points. So instead of waffling on I’ll just note some of the stats that I’ve seen about this lately. More >