Last week each of the road teams were favorites. Each of the 6th seeds advanced while the number 4 seeds, both who pundits said didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs, won their home games.
When the 2nd week began each of the home teams were the favorites and other than Pittsburgh each of the other home teams lost. The Tennessee Titans was the home loser to have a good game. If not for the mistakes they would have won. Or as they say ‘turn about fair play’ since they won the earlier meeting against the Ravens, who out played them that entire game. The Raven’s last minute field goal put them ahead 13-10.
San Diego and Pittsburgh played one another during the season to play the only 11-10 final score game in league history. San Diego once again ventured into the wilds of Pittsburgh. Snow fell throughout the game. But when you only get one offensive snap in the third quarter as San Diego did, it’s hard to win. Final score 35-24.
The two NFC teams that looked as if they didn’t deserve to be in the playoffs during the last few weeks of the season now have made the finals.
Arizona, many people felt, lucked into the playoffs because they were the best team in a weak division. Now that the playoff bell have rung they are fighting like winners. Other than the first series Carolina looked like a number 6 seed and not the top seed winning 33-13
The Philadelphia Eagles was a team in turmoil after their tie with the Cincinnati Bengals and their lost to the Baltimore Ravens. Since then, other than a bad game against the Washington Redskins, they have look like a championship team. They made their second trip to New York to play the Giants during this streak and once again they outplayed the Giants. The second one knocked them out of the playoffs with the final score of 23-11.
This weekend these two teams will be facing each other for the NFC Championship and a shot at winning the Super Bowl.
And now for the predictions.
Arizona played the Eagles on Thanksgiving night. That game was played in Philadelphia and on short rest. The Eagles needed that game much more than Arizona and the outcome showed it.
The NFC Championship game will be played in Arizona, the first time in team history that it has been played in Arizona. The Cardinals last played for the Championship in 1948 and last won in 1947. However they do have history on their side since no number 6 seeded team has won the NFC Championship.
Arizona would appear to be now peaking at the right time and they will go to their first Super Bowl.
Baltimore Ravens and their rookie Quarterback Joe Flacco has already done what has never been done before by winning their first two playoff games on the road. Not only do they have a rookie Quarterback with Flacco, the Ravens have a rookie coach in John Harbaugh. They also have not lost to a team this season with less than 12 wins.
But the Pittsburgh Steelers is one of those teams and the Ravens was on the losing end of both of the games that the two already played this year. Both of them were games that the Ravens could have won and in ways you could say they should have won them.
At the end of the weekend the Baltimore Ravens will be playing the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII.
