AFC Championship2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs 6. Baltimore Ravens
A good ole fashioned AFC North rivalry is featured in the AFC Title game. Whenever Pittsburgh and Baltimore meet it is always a defensive struggle. If you love hard-hitting and defense this is your game. It is at Heinz Field so the weather could make the game even more interesting. We know one thing, it will be cold. The Steelers swept the season series including a controversial win th! e last time they met. Baltimore is adamant that they are the best team now and no one can stop them. They have the loudmouths in Ray Lewis, Terrelle Suggs, and Bart Scott, but Suggs along with corner Samari Rolle are banged up. In fact, Rolle is unlikely to play. These injuries could hurt this defense. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have the #1 and #2 ranked defenses, so lets call it a wash between the two. The difference to me will happen on the offensive side of the ball. Ben Roethlisberger vs Joe Flacco. Although Flacco has proven he can lead thi
s team, I am still liking Big Ben more. He has Hines Ward, ! Santanio Holmes, and Willie Parker to work with, a better supporting cast than Flacco. Derrick Mason has proven he is one of the NFL's toughest players. He has played the entire postseason with a seperated shoulder (yeah that's right LT some guys play injured). Mason has still managed to shine and I am certain he will in this game as well. But will it be enough? Not in my mind. Baltimore needs their run game to carry them and Pittsburgh stifles the run. LeRon McLain is banged up and Willis McGahee has lost a step. I know it is hard to beat a team three times, but Pittsburgh will win this game. Expect it to be ugly. The Steelers are the pick in a slobber-knocker.NFC Championship
#4 Arizona Cardinals vs #6 Philadelphia Eagles
Take a double take because no one expected this matchup in the NFC Championship game. Arizona hosting? You kidding me? The Cardinals stumbled down the stretch, including taking a bashing from these Eagles on Thanksgiving Day. Arizona stepped it up though when it counted knocking out Atlanta and Carolina. The Eagles got hot after the Donovan McNabb benching and then soared their way into the playoffs destroying Dallas 44-6 in week 17. Philly then beat both Minnesota and the NY Giants on the road. McNabb has proven he is one of the best QBs in the NFL when healthy and has strapped this team on his back. The Philly defense has been phenomenal as well lead by S Brian ! Dawkins. Now Philly must win another road game in sunny Arizon! a to mak e it to Tampa Bay for the Super Bowl. Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald has shown he is one of the best, if not the best WR in football. QB Kurt Warner has proven he is not washed up and is once again on a Super Bowl run. This game looks like a great one. If Eagles RB Brian Westbrook can control this game Philly wins, but if he is ineffective Arizona
will be advancing. The Cardinals' fans are loud and proud of their birds and it will not be an easy atmosphere for Philadelphia. Hey Eagles fans you think you guys have been without a championship for a while? We! ll before this postseason Arizona had not hosted a playoff game since 1947. They are hungry for a Super Bowl birth and they will show it. DE Bertrand Berry does not allow Donovan McNabb to extend the play and the Cards D stifles the run. Warner and Fittzgerald put on a show and lead Arizona to the promised land. The Cardinals continue their miracle run to the Super Bowl.
