Thoughts about the AFC and NFC Championship games:
PITTSBURGH 23, BALTIMORE 14
When a team plays at a high level on a consistent basis, it is easy to take for granted how good that team in. This just in: The Pittsburgh Steelers are really good.
They battled past the Ravens to get to another Super Bowl. And they looked good in the process.
Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was in complete control against a tough Ravens’ defense. The Steelers’ offense put 16 points on the board. They had some success running the ball, no small feat against the Ravens, and Big Ben made some big plays. He also knew when to cut his losses and avoid making the big mistake, preferring to let his defense protect field position.
In addition, Roethlisberger showed how tough he is by taking some fierce hits. He never seems to put up great stats, but Roethlisberger is a winner. He is in complete control of that offense. He plays hurt. He personifies a gritty Steelers’ team.
And let’s not forget that Roethlisberger gets a lot of help from a rugged Pittsburgh defense. Seriously, is there a better defense in the NFL? They held Ravens’ rookie quarterback Joe Flacco to 13 completions in 30 attempts for just 146 yards.
With Pittsburgh up 16-14 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens had the ball with a trip to the Super Bowl in the balance. Steelers’ safety Troy Polamalu intercepted Flacco and returned it for the game-clinching touchdown. Polamalu was also huge in helping to stop Flacco on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches earlier in the game.
The Steelers more than showed they belong in the Super Bowl. In the process, they probably showed they are the team to beat.
ARIZONA 32, PHILADELPHIA 25
Great stories never get old in sports. That’s why it is hard to root against the Cardinals. Even diehard Eagles fans have to acknowledge that what the Cardinals have done in getting to their first Super Bowl is at least a really good story.
Was that really Kurt Warner engineering a 72 yard game-winning touchdown drive for the Cardinals? This was the same team that limped to a 9-7 record and got into the playoffs thanks in part by playing in a weak division.
Yet here they are in Super Bowl XLIII after an impressive performance against Philadelphia.
Warner, the former Arena Football League quarterback who once stocked grocery shelves to help pay the bills, wears a different uniform and has a different supporting cast than he did when he led the Greatest Show On Turf to a Super Bowl title with the Rams.
Warner has persevered and is playing really well. He has two big-time receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals have enough of a running game to usually keep a defense honest. And Arizona’s defense has been tough in the playoffs, save for a stretch in the second half when the Eagles overcame a 24-6 deficit.
No one player is usually responsible for a football team’s success. Such is the case with Warner and the Cardinals. It is also tough to say any one person represents the best story.
But in my opinion, it’s tough to find a better one for the Cardinals than Warner, the been-there, done that quarterback who gets another shot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Deep down, I find it virtually impossible to root against this guy.
What stood out for you in the conference championship games? Thanks for reading and posting your thoughts.
Best,
Mike
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Your right Mike Kurt Warner and The Cardinals remind me of John Elway and The Broncos when they snuck in as the wild card and took The Lombardi Trophy from The Green Bay Packers. It will be ineresting how this match up plays out, I think Pittsburg is better than Those Green Bay Packers.
can we please quit making blogs and talking about the playoffs and superbowl stuff and actually let us know whats going on with the DENVER BRONCOS. People go to ESPN or NFL.com for the superbowl stuff, not here!
Great to see the Cardinals in there….been rooting for them for the super bowl since they were winning their division during the season….wanted to see a broncos-cardinals superbowl but sadly that didnt happen. reason i was rooting for them so much is cuz they remind me of the 08 broncos in some ways, great qb, great tandem WR, insane passing game, ok running game and a suspect defense that shows up when they feel like it lol….
Called the pitts and cardinals for superbowl since playoffs teams were decided…..not a pitts fan(for obvious reasons) but they are a great team with a greatt defense and a productive enough offense and i respect tha tbut still want them to get creamed by the cardinals this superbow
….This will be a good one and hopefully we are the ones in the superbowl next year….GO BRONCOS!!!
PS: I understand the frustration Bronc fan in WA….They should know we as fans want to know every little deveopment…keeps us sane especially when the season is over
Mike,
Great games yesterday. Warner & Fitzgerald made some great plays. Cardinals found a way to win during the playoffs. They had a nice run as everyone had them counted out, even before first game against the Falcons. The last time they played for a championship was late ’40s – wow.
Steelers are definitely the Team to beat with #1 Defense in the league. Big Ben can have turnovers and it has no impact on the game with the league leading defense in his corner. It will be interesting to see Cardinals game plan unfold as Coach Whisenhunt was the Steelers former Offensive Coordinator, and knew their defensive schemes well. Should make for interesting matchup.
What a job Kurt Warner and the Cardinals have done this postseason. Warner is such an inspirational story and I can’t help but root for him (unless he is playing Denver) because I respect his perseverence. It just goes to show what can happen when a team buys in to the coaching and just believes. Also, it once again shows that it doesn’t matter how a team plays all season. Anything can happen when you make the playoffs. The last couple years it has been frustrating to see us get a great start and not continue on that path. It’s great to win early, but I hope next season we can finish strong and make a run when it matters most. If we can get the defense turned around then we could be the best team in the league. I know that it’s not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is. I have faith that we can.
Glad to see others concerned with the lack of DENVER BRONCO information on this website. man i really wanna know every single move even if its just small things. something bronco’s tho, damn. well talk about a hard hitting game. man those two teams killed each other last night. brutal. those guys are gonna stay in ice tubs til wednesday. and i think i will be pulling for Warner and the cards too. i have always liked the cards and i cant believe they’re in the superbowl. but pittsburgh is gonna be tough. real tough. i think they can do it though. i say cards win a close one. or i hope they do anyway. maybe after the superbowl we’ll start reading about the Broncos here at good ol’ denverbroncos.com. wouldn’t that be awesome!!!
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Okay, so we haven’t been informed on every detail YET, but get some patience people, geez!!
Its the most obvious thing that since we haven’t been informed on everything, nothing’s been officially confirmed by the Broncos… common sense people, common sense! I’m dying to know what the heck’s been going on just as much as the next person around here but we’ll know soon enough.
And some football is better than nothing… yeah yeah yeah, I know we all would rather have no football over not having the Broncos in this post-season but this isn’t going to kill you. And I hope the Steelers win it again, although when the underdog wins like we did 10 & 11 years ago… it was pretty sweet!!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
Hopefully, the Cardinals beat the Steelers, but in any case it should be a good game.
I’m sorry 07elway, but the last press release on The Broncos web site was 1-13-09 about Casey Weigmann makeing The Pro Bowl, all though it was a great release it’s not 6day’s worth, with the changes going on around here that’s slow.
I know it’s the “off season” but this is not a normal off season get it together.
I totally agree with all of you who feels like our web site is way out of touch. I see other teams sites already have the 2009 schedule up, and up to date stories and info. I think milesdesign should be in charge of our site.
monodono – I hear ya, its been forever since we’ve had any real updates and I’m there in frustration with everyone else, believe me… I’m getting very annoyed by the lack of updates but just have patience, this can’t possibly kill anyone. We’re ALL just frustrated… and with good reason to be. This is very unusual for this website to be so slow on updates but we’ll live… its gonna be A-ok.
Don’t worry, be happy!!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
Well, we got some updates from McD himself… he’s got some new staff.
Mike McCoy – OC
Ed Donatell – Secondary Coach
Wayne Nunnely – DLC
Adam Gase – WRC
Mike Priefer – ST Coordinator
To be brutally honest, don’t know much about any of them other than what I’ve read on this site. Hopefully, they can make a positive impact on our players & get some decent defensive players.
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ‘09!!!!
AGREED, I don’t know much about them either I think there should’ve been an individual press release for each assistant with Bio’s for each. you can go to wakpedia and get more info than that. I want to know my new Coaches and I want to know The Broncos know them too.
Where are the others? Nolan, Turner, and Dennison.
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
07elway I just read some news. Josh McDaniels may have signed Don Martindale LB Coach from The Raiders!
Josh McDaniels HC
Mike McCoy OC/QB
Rick Dennison OLC
Bobby Turne RBC
Adam Gase Rec.C
Mike Nolan DC
Wayne Nunnely DLC
Don Martindale LBC ?
Ed Donatell Sec.C
Mike Priefer STC
Rich Tuten Str. & Con.
John Lynch Yoga C
Bill Romanowski manager of the Shake machine
What do you think?
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
Everything looks good…
But that last one, I don’t know. Not sure I want Romo in charge of the shakes. But since he ranted & raved about how awesome they would be in his 30 page Powerpoint, he could be worth a look for that. Either way its funny to think about.
Oh and he did sign that guy from the Raiders… one colorful team we’re going to have next season. We got some coach from just about every other team in the league except our own!!! HA, imagine that.
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ’09!!!!
Dennison, Turner, and Tuten were retained. your right I’m not sure I would trust what Bill would put in the shakes.
funny comment about Romo+Lynch…wouldn’t trust Romo in charge of the shakes. who knows what pills pop up in there. punches n bunches.
what stood out is that D wins championships. end of discussion. look @ the Steelers+ravens. Killer defense. Eagles. Killer defense w/jim johnson. Now…the wild card is AZ, but even their D (Adrian Wilson, docket, Okefor-went to high school w/that kid, rolle) all played better. If our D can be consistenly b/n 10-15 in points allowed+yardage then I’m Positive (because our O can light it up) Broncos will always go to 2nd season. no joke. I’m not asking for #1 D, but it HAS to be in the top half of the league….how many QB sacks did we get last year?! handfull? need an edge rusher. Not sold on Jarvis Moss+Boss+Crowder+Elvis (great player, but maybe too small in 3-4 D)…either scheme blitzes or get better personal…am I right or am I right?! punches n bunches