In this episode of NFL Playoff Bracket Monday: CBS's lawyers make absolutely sure that they can't get the New York and Boston TV markets interested in a second consecutive New York Jets vs. New England Patriots matchup; the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears bring their signature combination of Midwestern politeness and football-related hatred to the NFC Championship stage; and the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves not gameplanning for Tom Brady after all.
↵The NFC Championship brings together two teams who, for all their long-term rivalry, have had very few chances to express their distaste for each other in the playoffs. Just as the Mike Martz-led Bears offense was starting to rumble to life the Packers dispatched an already-clinched Chicago squad 10-3 in Week 17, earning their own berth in the playoffs. Before they face Aaron Rodgers the Bears will need to figure out just how Matt Hasselbeck threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns in what might be his last game as the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback.
↵The Jets' victory over the Patriots involved pressuring the ostensibly unflappable Tom Brady. They'll have another chance to besmirch a quarterback's big-game reputation when they take on Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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