By Scott Burks
NFC
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona
Cardinals. The Eagles and the Cardinals -- the CARDINALS! --
will play for the right to go to the Super Bowl. This match-up
proves that this has been the wackiest NFL playoffs in recent memory.
This also marks the first time (aside from the 1987 strike-shortened
season) that two 9-win teams will play in a conference title game.
What's even more unbelievable is the Cardinals will have home-field
advantage in this game. At any rate, look for this to become an
aerial show. While both teams will be looking to run the football,
both teams make their living airing it out. Look for the Eagles to
do something the Panthers refused to do last weekend -- play man
coverage on WR Larry Fitzgerald and blitz QB Kurt Warner early and
often. The Cardinals' defense has been playing with an attitude
and will look to force McNabb into mistakes. While the Cardinals
are close to unbeatable at home, the Eagles are playing with house money
and will beat Warner into submission. Eagles 27, Cardinals 23.
AFC
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers.
The media hype machine has been on this game since the conclusion of the
Chargers-Steelers game last Sunday. "RAVENS-STEELERS III the
sequel. Stay tuned..." STOP IT! Here is a more
sane take: the Ravens come into this game a bruised, injured, and tired
team. While they beat the Tennessee Titans last Saturday, the
Ravens allowed the Titans to beat them up. The Ravens pass-rushing
stud Terrell Suggs left the game with a sprained shoulder. Their
CB Samari Rolle suffered an ankle injury. All-Pro safety Ed Reed
is nursing a knee injury, and WR Derrick Mason has been playing with one
shoulder. Meanwhile, other than SS Troy Polamalu's strained calf,
the Steelers have been at their healthiest since the beginning of the
season. As a Steelers fan, I admire the trash-talking
Ravens' hearts. They will certainly not use their injury list as
an excuse. In a game where physicality will be the call of the
day, a team cannot afford to be short-handed. The Steelers will
prevail on that reason alone. Steelers 17, Ravens 13.
