The NFL's final four are set. We're left with a two, a four, and two sixes. The four is actually more surprising than the sixes. I would guess that very few people had the Arizona Cardinals hosting the NFC Championship. I certainly didn't and I even managed to go four-of-five in my picks last week (five-of-six if you count Utah over Florida, which I'll give myself the benefit of a doubt since the BCS leaves us with nothing but doubt). The Cards got over the hump by winning on the other side of the Mississippi River. Sure, Jake Delhomme was awful, setting all kinds of records for turnovers (6) and interceptions (5), but the Cardinals fell behind 7-0 quickly and responded just as quickly. They could have gotten down on themselves while trailing on the road, but they fought back and blew out the Panthers instead. Hell, they even had a running game for the first time in weeks. That likely won't be the case against the Eagles, but they may not need it as they look to have Anquan Boldin back. When Kurt Warner is right, he's one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league. With Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, they have two of the biggest deep threats in the league, so they have a chance against any defense, even one as good as the Eagles have been lately.
As for the Eagles, they have already beaten the Cards 48-20 this season in what was probably the team's worst game outside of the 48-7 blasting they took from the Patriots in snowy Foxborough. Philly is putting together a run that mimics that of last year's Giants and the Steelers of 2005 in which both teams won three games on the road before winning the Super Bowl. Donovan McNabb is playing as well as he has in perhaps is entire career and the defense is crushing opponents, allowing just 25 points total during the first two weeks of the playoffs. If the Eagles can blitz Warner early and often, they should be able to slow down the Cards' offense. If he has time in the pocket, it's over as there's no reason to believe he won't pick apart the Philly secondary with possibly the league's best receiving corps. The Eagles' biggest question is the health of running back Brian Westbrook. He practiced on Friday and is now listed as probable. However, if he's not himself, the Eagles will have a hard time scoring. Arizona's defense has been much better lately, shutting down Atlanta's Michael Turner during the wild card round and readily accepting all of Delhomme's gifts in the divisional round. The Vikings kept the Eagles close until Westbrook broke loose for a 71-yard screen for a score, so the Cards should have a chance if they can avoid giving up the big play to #36.
The second game on Sunday should be football at it's finest. Hard hits will be coming from both the Steelers' and Ravens' defenses. Both teams despise each other and will thoroughly be looking for every opportunity to drill a player on the other side. The weather looks like it will be similar to last week's game against the Chargers, mid-20's and snowing, so the run will be incredibly important. Both of Baltimore's top backs, Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee, are banged up. Pittsburgh's Willie Parker looked fresh and dangerous against San Diego, so this aspect of the game certainly looks to favor the Steelers. As for stopping the run, Baltimore's best linebacker Terrell Suggs is banged up as well.
Passing the ball has to favor Pittsburgh too, with Ben Roethelisberger showing no signs of being bothered by a concussion last week and the Raven's best cover cornerback Samari Rolle doubtful to play as well. The Ravens have to depend on a rookie
quarterback, Joe Flacco (we could see this look a lot from him on Sunday), to win a third straight road playoff game. He might be called upon to make a drive in the two-minute drill to beat the Steelers just like Ben did to knock of the Ravens in Baltimore earlier this year. I just don't think Flacco has the experience to make that kind of a run, especially against the league's best defense. He threw two picks and fumbled three times (losing one) in the first two meetings this year, so it's just hard to believe that he'll be able to play mistake free football against the Steelers like he did against the Titans last week. Oh yeah and Troy Polamalu's going to play too, so there will be some picks forced in this one. I guarantee it.
Picks
Eagles 31 - Cardinals 24
Steelers 27 - Ravens 17
