Which teams will meet in Super Bowl XLV?

Packers and Jets

Sam Farmer

Los Angeles Times

Many of us have been proved wrong repeatedly by the four remaining teams, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the championship games go either way.

But I like the Jets in the AFC because of the way they covered the Patriots' receivers and got after Tom Brady. We've seen what can happen when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger holds on to the ball too long, which is pretty frequent.

In the NFC, I like the Packers because of the way Aaron Rodgers and their defense are playing. Jay Cutler is coming off a great game too, but the Bears are 1-3 against the Packers with him at quarterback. He has four touchdown passes and nine interceptions in those games, and the Packers sacked him 14 times.

Rodgers will outplay Cutler. I'm predicting a green Super Bowl — Jets versus Packers.

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Packers and Steelers

Dan Pompei

Chicago Tribune

When you get to this point of the season, quarterbacks are more important than ever. That's why the Packers and Steelers will meet in the Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers is playing the position as well as anyone. He is so confident, poised and well-prepared that if he has a significant role in deciding the outcome of the NFC championship game against the Bears, it's difficult to envision anything but a Packers victory.

One qualifier: Rodgers has not looked like the player he was against the Falcons in games against the Bears defense.

As for the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger is a seasoned quarterback who has played and won on the big stage before. He can win even when a defense does everything right against him.

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Bears and Jets

Kevin Van Valkenburg

Baltimore Sun

Much of the world seems to believe it's a virtual lock that the Packers and Steelers will meet in the Super Bowl, and for that reason — among others — I predict it will be the Bears versus the Jets.

Why not? The most unpredictable season in a decade needs a fitting ending, and the thought of watching Rex Ryan and Jay Cutler on Super Bowl media day fills me with glee.

I love that Ryan and the Jets' outward bravado drives uptight fans and observers a little bit bonkers. I love that Cutler is kind of an antisocial weirdo at a position where every pundit insists leadership is the most important attribute.

If the labor situation doesn't get sorted out and this is truly the last NFL season for 18 months, then I want it to have the wackiest ending possible. That means Ryan's Jets and Cutler's Bears.

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Packers and Jets

Mike Berardino

Sun Sentinel

If these playoffs have proved anything, it's that the concept of seeding and home-field advantage is vastly overrated.

Road teams are 5-3 through the first two weekends, and I see little reason not to roll a pair of sixes (seed-wise) now.

The Packers are peaking at the perfect time after sneaking into the postseason off an injury-plagued regular season. They beat the Bears to get in, and they should beat them again to reach their first Super Bowl in 13 years.

In the AFC, the Jets have shown a winning playoff formula for two years running. The Steelers have serious offensive line issues and a history of blowing AFC title games at home.

For the first time since Joe Willie's guarantee, the Jets reach the Super Bowl.

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