Tramon Williams

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP Who: Green Bay at Chicago. When: Today, noon PST, Ch. 11. Line: Packers by 3. Over/under: 43. Farmer's pick: The Packers' offensive tackles will be seriously tested, but no quarterback has been more effective throwing on the run than Aaron Rodgers. Watch for a big play from at least one of Green Bay's defensive playmakers ? Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson or Tramon Williams . PACKERS 28, BEARS 24 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP Who: N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh.

Steelers pass offense vs. Packers pass defense Each of these groups can do serious damage. The Steelers have cagey Hines Ward, sure-handed Heath Miller and three young speedsters. No quarterback is better at extending a play than Ben Roethlisberger. The Packers counter with an elite pass rusher, Clay Matthews, and two fantastic corners, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. EDGE: Packers? Steelers run offense vs. Packers run defense The Packers have done a better job against the run in the postseason (3.5 yards per carry)

What the Green Bay Packers need to do to defeat the Chicago Bears in Sunday's NFC championship game in Chicago (Noon PST; Channel 11): Keep No. 12 upright No quarterback has a hotter hand than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers , who's coming off a close-to-flawless performance at Atlanta. He's had some concussion problems, though, and the Bears sacked him twice in the regular-season finale. As well as backup Matt Flynn played in a near-upset of New England, the Packers need Rodgers at his best to make this final push.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP Who: Green Bay at Chicago. When: Today, noon PST, Ch. 11. Line: Packers by 3. Over/under: 43. Farmer's pick: The Packers' offensive tackles will be seriously tested, but no quarterback has been more effective throwing on the run than Aaron Rodgers. Watch for a big play from at least one of Green Bay's defensive playmakers ? Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson or Tramon Williams . PACKERS 28, BEARS 24 AFC CHAMPIONSHIP Who: N.Y. Jets at Pittsburgh.

What the Chicago Bears need to do to defeat the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC championship game (noon PST; Channel 11): Do more with less As usual, defense is the star of Chicago's show. The Bears will need to be at their best in that department, and that means rushing four players and dropping seven into coverage. They need to pressure Aaron Rodgers and get him out of rhythm. If Rodgers is feeling the heat on his five-step drops, the Bears are doing their job. Be like Mike The Bears need to rush Rodgers the way they contained Philadelphia's Michael Vick . That means guarding against over-running him. For the most part, when they're in their rushing lanes they don't want to run past him, unless it's a planned strategy to, say, loop speedy defensive end Julius Peppers around the back side.

Steelers pass offense vs. Packers pass defense Each of these groups can do serious damage. The Steelers have cagey Hines Ward, sure-handed Heath Miller and three young speedsters. No quarterback is better at extending a play than Ben Roethlisberger. The Packers counter with an elite pass rusher, Clay Matthews, and two fantastic corners, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. EDGE: Packers? Steelers run offense vs. Packers run defense The Packers have done a better job against the run in the postseason (3.5 yards per carry)

Brett who? Aaron Rodgers has turned these NFL playoffs into his own showcase. Carving up the NFC's top-seeded team, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Green Bay Packers to their second consecutive postseason road victory with a stunning 48-21 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night. The Packers (12-6) will have to win one more on the road to complete their improbable run from sixth seeding to the Super Bowl, but nothing looks out of the question the way Rodgers is playing.

One career playoff victory, and Aaron Rodgers already has his ring. That is to say, Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers have taken Philadelphia full circle. Green Bay beat the Eagles in their opener, then ended their season on the same field four months later, posting a 21-16 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday before a frigid fan base at Lincoln Financial Field. In the process, the Packers closed the book on the comeback season of Michael Vick, and started a new chapter of their own ?

Story line:  The last two Super Bowl winners meet for the fourth time in three seasons. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is surging (24 touchdowns) and the Packers have won six of their last seven games. New York's Eli Manning hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in three games. It might be best for Giants to lean on running back Ahmad Bradshaw. They're 6-0 when he rushes for 100 yards. Packers said: “It gives our offense a ton of confidence, knowing that we don't have to press thinking that we got to score just about every possession in order to win the game.

Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate's 68 receiving yards and two touchdowns in Monday night's game against the Green Bay Packers were both single-game career highs for the third-year player out of Notre Dame. But the best game of Tate's career was overshadowed by questions of the legitimacy of his game-winning touchdown reception as time expired. ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters asked Tate if he pushed off while quarterback Russell Wilson's Hail Mary pass was in flight.

What the Chicago Bears need to do to defeat the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC championship game (noon PST; Channel 11): Do more with less As usual, defense is the star of Chicago's show. The Bears will need to be at their best in that department, and that means rushing four players and dropping seven into coverage. They need to pressure Aaron Rodgers and get him out of rhythm. If Rodgers is feeling the heat on his five-step drops, the Bears are doing their job. Be like Mike The Bears need to rush Rodgers the way they contained Philadelphia's Michael Vick . That means guarding against over-running him. For the most part, when they're in their rushing lanes they don't want to run past him, unless it's a planned strategy to, say, loop speedy defensive end Julius Peppers around the back side.

What the Green Bay Packers need to do to defeat the Chicago Bears in Sunday's NFC championship game in Chicago (Noon PST; Channel 11): Keep No. 12 upright No quarterback has a hotter hand than Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers , who's coming off a close-to-flawless performance at Atlanta. He's had some concussion problems, though, and the Bears sacked him twice in the regular-season finale. As well as backup Matt Flynn played in a near-upset of New England, the Packers need Rodgers at his best to make this final push.

Brett who? Aaron Rodgers has turned these NFL playoffs into his own showcase. Carving up the NFC's top-seeded team, Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, ran for another score and led the Green Bay Packers to their second consecutive postseason road victory with a stunning 48-21 rout of the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday night. The Packers (12-6) will have to win one more on the road to complete their improbable run from sixth seeding to the Super Bowl, but nothing looks out of the question the way Rodgers is playing.

One career playoff victory, and Aaron Rodgers already has his ring. That is to say, Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers have taken Philadelphia full circle. Green Bay beat the Eagles in their opener, then ended their season on the same field four months later, posting a 21-16 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday before a frigid fan base at Lincoln Financial Field. In the process, the Packers closed the book on the comeback season of Michael Vick, and started a new chapter of their own ?

Trent Williams, rookie left tackle for the Washington Redskins, has already faced three elite pass rushers ? Houston's Mario Williams, Dallas' DeMarcus Ware and Green Bay's Clay Matthews. But Williams sees Sunday night's assignment ? keeping Indianapolis whirling dervish Dwight Freeney at bay ? as the most daunting test yet. "I don't know if anybody in the world can prepare you for Freeney," Williams told reporters last week. "He's just a different type of guy. He brings a load of different moves.

Because Ryan Moats refused to rest, No. 17-ranked Fresno State won't crack the bowl championship series. Moats scored his fourth touchdown with less than four minutes left and ran for 236 yards to lead Louisiana Tech to a 28-21 victory Saturday night. "I knew I had to carry the load," said Moats, who had 34 carries. "I know I just can't get tired, and I just want the team to keep giving me the ball."