NFL Conference Champships - Analysis - What team looks like recent champ?
This is the first time that I have to admit to being completely wrong *cough* on something but the last round of the playoffs, boy did I suck harder than Bum Joe Don and his stink-sucking job on Mad TV. That’s right, I went a drastic “O-fer” and absolutely none of my picks were right. Sure, the Titan’s definitely should have won their game and the Panthers will probably not have another game that bad for 10 years but that doesn’t matter.
Let’s move on to this weekend now, shall we? The match ups in these two games are very interesting with at least one team reminding me (almost eerily) of a recent Super Bowl Champion. Find out why…
Ravens at Steelers
I really think this game is going to be obscenely interesting or the most boring game on Earth. I’m leaning towards the interesting side of that since both teams have been so vocal about hating each other. Bart Scott has admitted to “threatening” Hines Ward. Pittsburgh’s kicker, the KICKER, has come out and voiced his “love” after he believes he was spit in by a Ravens player. You know a rivalry is ripe when the frackin’ kicker gets involved. For the record, their punter has stated he just “Wants to focus on preparation” so the Ravens can sleep a little easier without Mitch Berger trying to slaughter them.
All of this is only interesting because both of these teams are so similar in style. They both have hard hitting, game changing, defenses with actual great players all over the field. Most announcers want to call everyone down to the water-boy “great” for a play here or there but the Ravens and Steelers defenses are genuinely star studded. If I were to pick one side over the other, though, I’d be picking the Steelers because of the amount of talented linebackers they have. Farrior, Woodley, and Harrison are a trio that are about as good as it gets. Sure, the Ravens have Lewis, Scott, and then hybrid Suggs but the Steelers LB’s just flat out make plays. Ed Reed is a difference maker but so is Troy Polamalu. It’s too bad we won’t see just the Defenses play each other.
Offense with both of these teams has been up and down all year but at this point, with a healthy Willie Parker, the Steelers again get my nod. Parker is going to have some of the most fresh legs on the field and it looks like his offensive line is finally up to block for him. Last weekend the Steelers put on a clinic of how to setup the play-action pass and I expect a lot more of that with some deep shots down field this week. After watching Chris Johnson against the Ravens I think Willie Parker has a chance for a 150 on the ground type of game and to wrap up another Super Bowl trip.
Flacco or Roethlisberger? I’m not sure why people are even asking this question, honestly. It’s Big Ben a million times over. Don’t get me wrong, I like the look of Flacco so far, but Roethlisberger is slinging the ball pretty good when he’s asked and I’m not so sure Flacco is going to be able to run slants and outs all day against the Steelers D. There is the question of Roethlisbeger’s health but let’s just see what he does on the field.
So, who will it be? I really have no idea as already stated. As the “great” Dan Dierdorf once said, “Whoever scores the most points will win the game!” Thanks, Dan!
Eagles at Cardinals
First thing here, the fracking Cardinals are hosting the Eagles for the NFC Championship?!?! Are you kidding me? Well, I do have a serious man crush on Kurt Warner and was one of the few people still supporting the guy while he was (stupidly) playing through a broken finger on his throwing hand. I really thought the Cardinals had a shot at the playoffs this year but this is totally flooring. I, also, didn’t think the Eagles would be anywhere near the playoffs but a Cowboys meltdown certainly helped them along.
The Cardinals are looking a LOT like the 2006 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. Take a look here…
Team Defense Regular Season
- 2008 Cardinals: 19th overall giving up 331 YDS/game
- 2006 Colts: 21st overall giving up 332 YDS/game
Team Defense Post-Season
- 2008 Cardinals: 2nd overall giving up 259 YDS/game
- 2006 Colts: 1st overall giving up 238 YDS/game
Team Offense Regular Season
- 2008 Cardinals: 4th overall gaining 365 YDS/game and scoring 26.7 points a game
- 2006 Colts: 3rd overall gaining 379 YDS/game and scoring 26.7 points a game
Team Offense Post-Season
- 2008 Cardinals: 3rd overall gaining 358 YDS/game and scoring 31.5 points a game
- 2006 Colts: 2nd Overall gaining 395 YDS/game and scoring 26.2 points a game
Further comparison…
The Colts won at home, then on the road, and then at home again to make it to the Super Bowl.
The Cardinals won at home, then on the road, and will play the Eagles at home.
It’s almost freaky how similar these two teams are even in their playing styles. The Defensive line has come to life for the Cardinals since the post-season which is exactly what happened in Indy that year. Kurt Warner is playing out of his mind and we all know that Peyton Manning doesn’t even have a mind just a whole body that was designed by Vince Lombardi and Jim Thorpe to play football. Neither team has/had a great running game but one that was “effective enough” come playoff time to keep their astounding passing games churning.
I think that’s really all I want to say about this game. The Eagles are favored in this game and I still haven’t heard anyone pick the Cardinals who wasn’t just disagreeing with his on-air co-host. Also, unlike most, I think this year’s Super Bowl could be an excellent game no matter what two teams get in of the four.
Over and out.
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5 Responses to “NFL Conference Champships - Analysis - What team looks like recent champ?”
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January 15th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Screw the Cardinals. I lost all respect for that team after they gave up against the Patriots when those two last met. They don’t deserve to win NFC Championship, let alone the Super Bowl.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
They were getting killed in a meaningless game! I almost lost it when Whisenhunt still had the starters in the game.
January 16th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
HERE WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!
January 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Cardinals Vs Ravens. Ravens win the Super Bowl.
January 17th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Hate to say it, but you made some good points with stats between the Cards and the 06 Colts. One of the things that the Colts have had for the last decade has really been the the intangible quality of “never” really being dead. The Cards have had no history or rep of being a team that could explode and come back from virtually any deficit. We’ve seen time and time again over the years that that a Payton Manning lead offense was capable of going nuclear at virtually any moment and snatch a sure victory out of your hands and turn it into a stunning defeat.
Gotta root for the underdog though. Go Cards, if for no other reason that it makes a great story…even if it makes shitty Superbowl ratings.