The 2010-2011 N.F.L. season is coming to a close, and four teams out of 32 remain for a chance at Super Bowl XLV. There are the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets in the AFC and the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC. 

“I think these teams deserve to be in the championship games; they played tough teams to get there,” said freshman John Holty. 

The Pittsburg Steelers had a first round bye and then had to play the Baltimore Ravens. The New York Jets had to play Peyton Manning and the Colts, and then Tom Brady and the number one team, the New England Patriots–and they had to do it on the road.

“I was really happy to see the Jets beat the Patriots, they’re in the playoffs too often,” said junior Scott Acor.

The Chicago Bears were the two seed and got a first round bye then met the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. The Bears took care of the Seahawks to advance to the NFC championship game. The Green Bay Packers are the sixth seed and had to play two games on road to get to the championship game–the third seed Eagles and the top seed Atlanta Falcons. The Packers manhandled the Falcons with a 48-21 beat down.

“I was very happy that the Packers won so we get to face the Bears,” said freshman Dalton Shaw.

The playoffs are usually exciting anyway, but this year there have been some rival games in the divisional round. The Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburg Steelers played each other for the third time when they met in the playoffs, which was a huge game for both teams. The New England Patriots and New York Jets played for the third time and there was mutual hatred for the teams. The Packers and the Bears will play for the third time for the right to go to the Super Bowl.

“I didn’t like all of the rival games, it was not as cool as all of the hype,” said Holty.

There has been a lot of predictions about who will get the right to play in Super Bowl XLV. Sports Illustrated said that the Packers and Patriots would square up in the Super Bowl, but since the Patriots got knocked out of the playoff, their prediction was wrong.

“I am hoping for a Jets/Packers Super Bowl, with the Packers winning it all,” said Acor.

ESPN at the beginning of the season said the Packers would face the Steelers for the Lombardi trophy. There prediction might be right.

“I think a Packer/Steeler Super Bowl would be sweet with the Packers winning it,” said Holty.

With the Super Bowl coming fast, it will be a dog fight to the trophy.