Based in Atlanta, GA - Rick Limpert is an award-winning writer, a best-selling author, and a featured sports travel writer.
Named the No. 1 Sports Technology writer in the U.S. on Oct 1, 2014.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 10:18AM Give it a look.
AJC, Atlanta, Georgia Dome, NFC Championship, stabbing in Atlanta, Events, Football, News Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 9:39AM The Packers vs. Bears and Jets at Steelers.
Two huge games today. The four teams playing the best at the end of the season meet in cold weather in Chicago and Pittsburgh to decide who will be playing in this years Super Bowl.
NFC Pick: Packers and Over
The game is in Chicago, but it doesn't matter. These two teams haven't played a game this big since the 1940's. What the Packers have is the hottest quarterback in the land and the best team defense. Those two factors will win you a championship.
The Packers are 3.5 point favorites heading into the game, they also are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
The Pack is also 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall, and I've been impressed, but I'm not totally sold on Bear's quarterback Jay Cutler yet.
The Bears also are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games as an underdog of 3.5-10.0.
This game could be real close heading to the 4th quarter, but that's when I love Aaron Rodgers. Take Green Bay, give the 3.5.
The total in this game is 42.5. Conventional wisdom may say with the weather being cold and good defenses, take the under. I think both of these teams and move the ball, and at least one of them will score a lot. Take the OVER.
AFC Pick: Steelers and Under
Oh those Steelers and Jets. It is a even matchup through and through. Except for one thing, many Steelers have been here before and experience matters in a game like this.
The line currently has the Steelers giving 4. I think that is about right, but I like Pittsburgh by a razor thin margin.
Both teams have trends in their favor, but here are two to chew on. The Steelers are 9-0 ATS in their last 9 games in January and are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 playoff home games. Strong trends and a strong team. I like Big Ben, Hines Ward and the Steelers D. Take the Steelers, give the 4.
The total here is 38. Kind of low, but you should expect low with these teams. In this series, the under is the play, with the under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings between these teams. Take the UNDER and enjoy the football today.
AFC, NFC Championship, Packers, Steelers, Super Bowl in Football, Picks, Sports Friday, January 21, 2011 at 6:50AM After splitting two meetings this season the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will square off in a rubber match this Sunday afternoon that will also determine which NFC will make a little trip to Dallas for a game called the Super Bowl.
While the Packers feature the best quarterback this postseason in Aaron Rodgers along with four dangerous wideouts, the Bears counter with a stingy defense looking to put pressure on Rodgers at every opportunity. The Bears have a capable quarterback of their own in Jay Cutler who will face Clay Matthews Jr., Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams and the rest of the Packer defense.
The one area where the Bears have an advantage through and through is special teams. The Packers rank 24th against punt returns, and Bears return specialist Devin Hester broke one 62 yards for a critical late TD in the Bears’ 20-17 win at Soldier Field. The Packers ranked 13th against kickoffs but allowed a 102-yard return to Atlanta’s Eric Weems last week. Hester set an NFL season record for highest average on punt returns (17.1), so Packers punter Tim Masthay likely will take aim at the sidelines.
All this makes a Packer fan nervous. What are the Packer's special teams to do?
1. Kick away from Hester. Or at the very least a high punt angled to the corner will give the Packer's gunners a chance to surround Hester or force a fair-catch.
2. Mason Crosby. Is it just me or have other Packer fans lost a little confidence in the big legged Crosby? He needs to make his field goals, and that is a tough task at Soldier Field.
3. Make tackles. Can't afford to miss tackles.
4. Take away the lanes. They need to be disciplined and take away the running lanes from the Bear returners.
Will they do all of this? Not sure, but they need to be better than they have been in other big games this season. At the very least if the Packers do 3 out of the 4, they should be able polka on down to "Big D" and try to win a 4th Super Bowl.
Bears, NFC Championship, Packers, devin hester, mason crosby, special teams in Football, Sports Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 3:25PM 
It will all be on the line next Sunday in Chicago.
Quite possibly, a Packers vs. Bears game has never been more important. A trip to the Super Bowl is on the line as these two bitter rivals meet for a third time this season.
The Packers won two weeks ago, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing at a stratospheric level. The Bears play hard-nosed football and rarely make mistakes. What a great game for the to decide the NFC representative for the Super Bowl.
Despite these team's long and storied histories, they have met only once before now in the postseason.
Way back in 1941.
Bears 33, Packers 14 (December 14, 1941) – Until now, it has been the only playoff meeting between these two rivals, the Bears defeated the Packers 33–14 in a one-game-playoff to determine the Western Division championship. After the Packers, the Bears defeated the New York Giants en route to their fourth NFL title.
I expect a close game that was played back in 1941 and hopefully a different result.
