MAX CRANSTON
Sports Writer

Halfway through the NFL post-season stretch, Super Bowl XLV is quickly approaching. Set to unfold in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 6, the Sheaf recaps what has happened thus far in the NFL playoffs and also previews the remaining four post-season clashes.

AFC

New York Jets vs. Indianapolis Colts recap
Jets won this nail biter over the Colts 17-16 on Jan. 8. Perennial NFL heavyweights, the Indianapolis Colts were beaten by the New York Jets. The inability of the guys in Blue and White to score weighed heavily as this post-season bout progressed. Quarterback Peyton Manning was relavitely ineffective at putting points up compared to the Colts’ season average of 27 points per game. All it boils down to is that the Jets defence makes their presence felt in the playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs recap
The Ravens laid a heavy beating on the Chiefs on Jan. 9 by a score of 30-7. The Ravens forced five turnovers in their trouncing of the Chiefs, who are not an elite team yet. The Chiefs are young and inexperienced, but look forward to building a contending unit in the upcoming season. Backed by suberb coaching, this squad will only grow stronger with more time. Ravens make a statement and go on to face longtime rivals Pittsburgh Steelers.

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers recap
Big Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers emerged triumphant in their playoff clashing with the Ravens on Jan. 15 by a score of 31-24. Two early Steelers turnovers led to quick points in first half and a solid Ravens lead. Pittsburgh bounced back to concoct a comeback to score 24 points in second half to eliminate the Ravens. Defensive breakdowns that led to three turnovers in a brutal third quarter greatly contributed to the demise of the Ravens season.

New York Jets vs. New England Patriots recap
Led by quarterback Tom Brady, the Patriots failed at staging a last-minute charge in the dying seconds of the fourth quarter against the New York Jets on Jan. 16. Jets ran away with a 28-21 victory. The Jets defence gave them the edge in this tilt against the best offence in the NFL. Effective scoring by Jets, coupled with a stifling defence led to both an upset and a really entertaining game.

One of the keys to the Jets success was their ability to commit minimal mistakes. After the game Brady lamented, “They didn’t make any mistakes, they didn’t have any penalties, they didn’t have any turnovers, they didn’t give up big plays.” This post-game philosophy paid obvious tribute to Jets’ head coach Rex Ryan’s leadership, which has been proven effective in previous years and once again has produced a Super Bowl berth.

New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers preview
The Jets-Steelers match is slated to unfold on Jan. 23 and will be a defensive struggle for the ages. Watch for Roethlisberger’s ability (or inability) to break apart the Jets defence. As always, hope rests on the shoulders of Stalwart Polamalu in the backfield. Roethlisberger’s inconsistency, coupled with the loss of Santonio Holmes weighs on the Steelers. Holmes’ catch this year with Jets was a flashback to his year with the Steelers in 2008. The Jets came into the game playing incredible football and have knocked off the Colts and Patriots in back-to-back games. Jets are 4-1 in the playoffs with second-year quarterback Mark Sanchez.

NFC

New Orleans Saints vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks came away with a 41-36 win after thumping the New Orleans Saints 41-36 on Jan. 16. Home advantage only added to the intensity of this opening night game. Seattle ousted the defending Superbowl champs with gunslinger Matt Hasselbeck throwing one of the best games of his already prominent career. The Saints were ineffective in carrying out big plays on both ends of the field.

Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
It was a tight game throughout the Packers-Eagles meeting on Jan. 15 but Greenbay prevailed with a 21-16 win. After an impeccable comeback year, quarterback Michael Vick could not build on his 2010-11 season successes as the dominant Packers defence toppled the Eagles. The Eagles averaged over 27 points per game, third best in the NFL, but as the old adage goes: defence wins championships.

Green Bay Packers vs. Atlanta Falcons
Total dominance by Green Bay in this 48-21 smacking around of the Falcons. This marks Green Bay as a favourite going down the road. Atlanta entered the contest as one of the hottest home teams in the playoffs, finishing with a 7-1 home record second only to the Patriots.

Seattle Seahawks vs Chicago Bears
Seattle found themselves out-matched against the heavily favoured Bears who sailed past the Seahawks by a score of 35-24. Though Seattle made it close late second half — in reality the game was not a close finish. The Bears had the advantage throughout and will now prepare for the beast that is the Packers.

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Green Bay will attempt to build on the most post-season success they’ve encountered since the Brett Favre era. The Bears need to shut down Packers effective offence at any cost. They not as offensively talented as Green Bay but they do have an edge on special teams with players like Devin Hester. However, the gritty Packers defence has shut down opponents thus far.