May 25, 2012
  • 1/15/09

    pittsburgh steelers

    By Max J. Dickstein

    All-Pennsylvania Super Bowl? Steelers and Eagles have conference championship edge

    Photo credit: Game Face

    Photo by Getty

    By amNewYork

    The thought of a Giants-Jets Super Bowl matchup is now just a foolish memory. Instead, this conference championship weekend, we face the prospect of a Super Bowl matchup that would divide Pennsylvania’s loyalties. Here are our picks:

    Eagles at Cardinals

    Sunday, 3 p.m., FOX

    The Cardinals’ all-around efforts earned convincing postseason victories over Atlanta (30-24) and Carolina (33-13). In both games, the Arizona ‘D’ coaxed turnovers from two usually steady quarterbacks and neutralized two elite rushing offenses.

    Philadelphia, however, conquered the Giants 23-11 last week by presenting insurmountable problems. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Donovan McNabb is in a groove, and his running back, Brian Westbrook, is as much a threat in the passing game as on the ground. It’s too much of a task for Arizona’s overachieving defense, even if the Cardinals’ vaunted aerial game has a big day at home.

    Philadelphia 31, Arizona 24

    Ravens at Steelers

    Sunday, 6:30 p.m, CBS

    If you love defense, this clash between the league’s top two defenses has all the makings of a classic. The Steelers won both regular-season meetings between the AFC North rivals — although the second win came after a controversial call on a game-winning touchdown.

    The Ravens’ defense should contain resurgent running back Willie Parker, meaning that neither team is expected to produce a 100-yard rusher. But Pittsburgh’s passing attack — with Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and formidable receivers Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington — has an edge over rookie Joe Flacco and his stable of unimpressive wideouts.

    Pittsburgh 20, Baltimore 17

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