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Tomorrow's games

Steelers at Colts

1 p.m., CBS, Global

After a physical battle in Cincinnati a week ago, the Steelers now must return to Indy -- where they were beaten soundly in late November -- to play a rested Colts team that is heavily favoured.

As impressive as the Colts were in their 14-2 regular season, however, remember that quarterback Peyton Manning is just 5-8 in career post-season games.
In the Colts' most recent playoff losses, both at New England, Manning threw five interceptions and only one TD.



The skinny: In their regular-season clash, a 26-7 Colts win in Indy, the Steelers had just 86 rushing yards . . . The Steelers have more playoff wins versus the Colts than any opponent (four) . . . The Colts are making an NFL-best fourth playoff appearance in a row and sixth in the last seven years . . . The Steelers allowed just eight TDs on the road, an NFL best . . . The Colts rolled to 366 yards of total offence in first meeting.

For Steelers to win: Somehow they must weather the Colts surge early and not get behind.
The Steelers are far and away at their best with a lead, when they can let the running game dictate the flow and control the clock.

Used judiciously, the Steelers have as much success as any team in the league with gadget plays. Second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is looking more poised than he did last post-season and can't get rattled by the din in the dome and speedy attack of the Colts defence.
For Colts to win: The AFC's top seed must make sure there is no rust from a month without a meaningful game, then just do their thing.

With an explosive yet balanced offence, the Colts like to get their opponent in a hole early. Though he has struggled on the road in the post-season, Manning has been stellar at home.
The extra ace this time is an enhanced defence that makes a comeback next to impossible should Indy sprint out to an early lead.

Bottom line: On paper and according to the oddsmakers, the Colts are the clear standout. Though the Steelers were the top seed in last year's playoffs, it's hard to imagine them keeping this one close.

Panthers at Bears

4:30 p.m., Fox, Global

Defence anyone? When the over-under line comes out at about 30, you know not to expect the scoreboard to light up.

That's fine with Bears fans, who are celebrating the latest incarnation of the Monsters of the Midway defence. Led by NFL defensive player of the year linebacker Brian Urlacher, the Bears begin their quest to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1988.

The Panthers reached the big game two years ago. They were dominant in a shutout road win over the Giants last week.

The skinny: With a win, the Panthers would lay claim to the best winning percentage in NFL playoff history (6-2, .750) . . . The Bears allowed the least points at home since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978 (61 points, 7.6 a game) . . . The Panthers are 3-0 on the road in the post-season since 2003 . . . Key stat: The Bears rushed for 122 yards in their first meeting . . . The Bears scored just 22 offensive TDs in the regular season . . . Carolina's defence was ranked No. 2, Chicago's No. 3 . . . The Panthers catch a break in that unseasonably mild temperatures are expected tomorrow in Chicago.

For Panthers to win: A repeat of last week's performance against the Giants wouldn't hurt. Now that DeShaun Foster has established himself as the feature back, the run game is to be feared.
More and more quarterback Jake Delhomme is looking like a big-game player, though he will have to avoid his tendency to throw interceptions.

For Bears to win: The Bears had eight sacks in their 13-3 regular-season win over the Panthers and need to bring that dominance again. But they still will need to score.

Even though he has played just one game this season, quarterback Rex Grossman brings at least a threat of the passing game.

Bottom line: If the Panthers can match the Bears on defence, they have enough of an edge on offence to prevail, but it won't be pretty.
source:lfpress.ca

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