Three Point Stance 1.17.09: A Look At The Conference Championship Match Ups!

Posted by Cody Dalton on 01.17.2009

411mania’s Cody Dalton previews Sunday's AFC and NFC Conference Championship games and awards divisional round honors in this latest edition of the Three Point Stance!



Thanks for joining me again on the newest edition of the TPS! Last week, I took a look at the divisional games that took place. This week, I'm going to delve into the strangely interesting, but exciting conference championship games and we'll start with the first game of the day…

A GAME FOR THE BIRDS



NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME –
#6 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES VS. #4 ARIZONA CARDINALS
SUNDAY AT 3 P.M. ON FOX

At the beginning of the season, no man, expert, or fan of the game could have ever predicted this match up. The Philadelphia Eagles going to Arizona to play the Cardinals with the winner heading to Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII to represent the National Football Conference.

I'm not sure what was more impressive last week – the Cardinals defense dissection of the Panthers on the road or the Eagles ability to overcome the defending champions and division rivals to advance to yet another NFC Championship game. In a season when the Eagles looked hopeless, had quarterback issues, and even issues as to whether Andy Reid would return as coach or McNabb would return to Philadelphia, the Eagles thrived. They had to have everything go right to get in. It did. They had to beat the Vikings on the road. They did. They had to beat the defending champions on the road. They did. Now, destiny or defeat awaits them in Arizona.

The Cardinals have a similar story. Everyone picked Atlanta to beat them at home and that didn't happen. The same thing happened for their game at Carolina. No one would have ever predicted them to host the NFC Championship game, but it will happen. Behind a resurgent veteran quarterback in Kurt Warner, a restored running back in Edgerrin James, two great wide receivers in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, and a defense that has held teams at bay, the Cardinals are just a step away from their first Super Bowl appearance.

Only one thing is certain in this game. One Cinderella story comes to a close, while the other heads to Tampa Bay to continue and possibly end happily.

Probable starting lineups:

Arizona Cardinals (11-7):

QB: Kurt Warner
RB: Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower
FB: Terrelle Smith
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin
TE: Jerame Tuman
T: Levi Brown, Mike Gandy
G: Deuce Lutui, Reggie Wells
C: Lyle Sendlein

DE: Antonio Smith, Travis LaBoy
DT: Bryan Robinson, Darnell Dockett
OLB: Chike Okeafor, Karlos Dansby
MLB: Gerald Hayes
CB: Roderick Hood, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
SS: Adrian Wilson
FS: Antrel Rolle

K: Neil Rackers
P: Dirk Johnson

Philadelphia Eagles (10-7-1):

QB: Donovan McNabb
RB: Brian Westbrook, Correll Buckhalter
FB: Dan Klecko
WR: DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis
TE: L.J. Smith
T: Jon Runyan, Tra Thomas
G: Shawn Andrews, Todd Herremans
C: Jamaal Jackson

DE: Juqua Parker, Trent Cole
DT: Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley
OLB: Chris Gocong, Akeen Jordan
MLB: Stewart Bradley
CB: Sheldon Brown, Asante Samuel
SS: Quintin Mikell
FS: Brian Dawkins

K: David Akers
P: Sav Rocca

Match up of the game: Larry Fitzgerald vs. Brian Dawkins

This is an epic match up for the NFC Championship Game. I'm sure Mr. Dawkins has taken notice of how well Fitzgerald has been playing and I look for him to key on him. If Dawkins can shut down Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner may not have many options and the Cardinals will make key mistakes.

Prediction: Eagles 24, Cardinals 20

Eagles shut down the Cardinals with their defense and force many mistakes. I look for Warner to at least have 1 interception and for the Arizona running game to commit a fumble. I look for Philadelphia to advance to Super Bowl XLIII.

ALL SIGNS POINT NORTH



AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME –
#6 BALTIMORE RAVENS VS. #2 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
SUNDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ON CBS

Another interesting match up that many experts couldn't have predicted features AFC North foes Pittsburgh and Baltimore locking it up for one final time this season. The Steelers have gotten the best of the Ravens in both match ups this year, including a 23-20 win at home in Week 4 and a 13-9 win in Week 15 on the road. However, the records are reset in essence to 0-0 and this game is the only one that counts. One of these two teams is headed to Tampa Bay to represent the AFC as the conferences champion.

This game has all the building of a storyline. Early in the season, it was discovered that Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis were involved in a potential bounty over Steelers players Hines Ward and Rashard Mendenhall. However, those rumors could not be proven. On top of that, the Steelers beat the Ravens on a controversial touchdown catch in their second match up. The Ravens certainly have a lot to prove and the Steelers are looking to maintain their home-field advantage.


Probable starting lineups:

Baltimore Ravens (13-5):

QB: Joe Flacco
RB: Willis McGahee
FB: Le'Ron McClain
WR: Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton
TE: Todd Heap
T: Jared Gaither, Adam Terry
G: Ben Grubbs, Chris Chester
C: Jason Brown

DE: Justin Bannan, Trevor Pryce
DT: Haloti Ngata
OLB: Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson
MLB: Bart Scott, Ray Lewis
CB: Samari Rolle, Fabian Washington
FS: Jim Leonhard
SS: Ed Reed

K: Matt Stover
P: Sam Koch


Pittsburgh Steelers (13-4):

QB: Ben Roethlisberger
RB: Willie Parker
FB: Carey Davis
WR: Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward
TE: Heath Miller
T: Willie Colon, Max Starks
G: Chris Kemoeatu, Darnell Stapleton
C: Justin Hartwig

DE: Brad Keisel, Aaron Smith
DT: Chris Hampton
OLB: James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley
ILB: Larry Foote, James Farrior
CB: Deshea Townsend, Ike Taylor
FS: Ryan Clark
SS: Troy Polamalu

K: Jeff Reed
P: Mitch Berger

Match up of the game: Joe Flacco vs. Troy Polamalu

Flacco has been tested this post-season and he will certainly have his greatest test this Sunday in Pittsburgh. Polamalu has been known to make outstanding plays in the secondary and force turnovers. If he can shut down Flacco and create those turnovers, the Steelers can hold the Ravens at bay. However, if Flacco gets the better of Polamalu, then the Ravens may be in for their second ever Super Bowl.

Prediction: Steelers 17, Ravens 13

It's going to be another knockdown, drag out war between two hard-nosed AFC North rivals. I expect this game to be contained with defense, but one big play will win the game. The Steelers will advance to Super Bowl XLIII and face their Pennsylvania brethren in Philadelphia.

TPS PLAYERS OF THE DIVISIONALS


OFFENSIVE: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals



Fitzgerald went psycho against the Panthers on the road. He caught 8 balls for 166 yards and a touchdown. He had the majority of Kurt Warner's passing yards (166 of 220) and helped make up the ground left when receiving counterpart Anquan Boldin could not play. He certainly proved to be a key player, as the Cardinals advance and host an NFC Championship Game for the first time ever.


DEFENSIVE: Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens



Lewis led the Ravens defense to an upset win over the top-seeded Titans. Certainly, the Ravens are riding high on their defensive effort and it's a big reason that Baltimore is winning their games. Lewis had 11 tackles, which led his team, and a key forced fumble, not to mention a HUGE hit on Titans fullback Ahmard Hall.

Well folks, I'll be back next week after the conference championship games are finished and look ahead towards the biggest spectacular in the NFL – Super Bowl XLIII! Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week!

Until then…



Cody Dalton's book on sale now! "Sideline Warriors: The Greatest Sports Coaches and Managers of All Time" – http://www.lulu.com/content/2003212