For the second straight week, all of the NFL’s contests are rematches. Who are the ad wizards that are responsible for this? I smell a fix! (I kid, I kid.) After my two favorite football weekends of the year, this Sunday is without question the best singular day of action. I’ve got you covered with all the details in the penultimate edition of the Opening Drive.
Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals, Fox, 3:00 PM (ET)
Are Cardinal fans appropriately freaked out yet? Your former “trash heap of the NFL” franchise has won two playoff games they had no chance of winning against two of the better squads in the NFC and now they’re HOSTING the NFC Championship! Kurt Warner is a victory away from returning to the Super Bowl and what could be a Hall of Fame seal of approval. As well as Warner has performed in this post-season, the reason the Cardinals are fighting for the NFC title is the shocking improvement of their defense. They have shut down two of the best running attacks in the league in Carolina and Atlanta, and have forced nine turnovers in those two outings. This Sunday they get a rematch with a physical Eagle defensive unit that will hope to put major pressure on Warner and his offensive line. Eagle corner Asante Samuel will have his hands full with receiver Larry Fitzgerald for most of the afternoon with a lot of help over-the-top from a safety. That is, if Fitzgerald’s teammate Anquan Boldin misses his second straight game. The injured wide-out has been suffering from a sore hamstring since his touchdown reception against the Falcons. If he is able to play even a few snaps, that will allow Fitzgerald to get open down the field and make the freak athletic plays we’ve seen from him in the playoffs. If he has another explosive day, it will be hard for the Eagles to keep up. Philly’s offense must take it to the Cardinals early, and their running game must be the focal point. Brian Westbrook needs to have a better day than he did against the Giants, where he couldn’t eclipse 50 all-purpose yards. McNabb can’t commit the costly turnovers that got him benched the week before Thanksgiving game, or he will miss a golden opportunity to win his first Super Bowl. Reid’s Eagles can’t trust the outcome of their Thanksgiving Day thrashing of the Cardinals either, since Arizona was playing on four days of rest and traveling to the East coast. Ken Wisenhunt has his team fired up for a charge to Tampa, and another stand-out game by Warner could get them there.
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, CBS, 6:30 PM (ET)
For John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens, the third time better be the charm. When they kick off Sunday evening for the AFC Championship, it will be the third time these division rivals have faced-off this season. The Steelers won both of the previous meetings by a combined seven points, so expect another close one at Heinz Field. “Big Ben” Roethlisberger and “Fast” Willie Parker (totally creative nicknames, right?) will lead the offensive charge against the second ranked defense in the NFL, second only to, you guessed it, the Steelers. Points will be a premium with these great defenses, and turnovers will be the best way to set up scores. Each team places a strong emphasis on establishing the run, so whatever offense line can impose their will on the opposing front seven will aid their title aspirations tremendously. However, in this writer’s humble opinion, it will be a play or two downfield to a wide receiver that ultimately decides what team continues their march. Each defense is tremendously aggressive because they have ball-hawking safeties to protect against the deep ball. Baltimore’s Ed Reed and Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu are the best safeties in the league, but even they are susceptible to a deep throw one or twice a game. Reed led the league in interceptions, so accuracy will be integral to any throw in his area, as will the pre-snap reads to determine where he’ll be. Polamalu, on the other hand, may not be his quickest with a strained calf muscle. Beating him deep with a double move or a speedy fly route could put seven points on the board if it begins with a play action fake. Rookie Joe Flacco has a big enough arm, but he’ll need one of his receivers to make it happen. Flacco hasn’t been asked to do much in the playoffs, despite Baltimore-loyal proclaiming his greatness. I suspect he’ll be kept under 20 attempts if the game is kept close on the scoreboard. Roethlisberger will get more of a chance to dissect the Ravens secondary, but only if he’s protected sufficiently by his offensive line. An upright and mobile Roethlisberger has the ability to win any game at any time, so Tomlin better keep him that way. Watch for a field goal in the last few minutes of regulation to decide who heads to Tampa.
Have a fantastic Conference Championship Sunday!
