2009 AFC and NFC Championship Game Predictions

What a Sunday this will be. In the NFC you have two feel-good stories in the Cardinals and the Eagles, while the AFC features a pair of teams you'll have a hard time rooting against in the Ravens and the Steelers.

The NFC game features two teams that two weeks ago, no one expected to be alive and kicking, yet the Cardinals (9-7) pounded the Panthers last week while the Eagles (9-6-1) shocked the football world by taking care of the Giants (12-4). The Cardinals have no running game, finishing dead last in rushing yards in the NFL. But boy can they throw. They ranked second in the league in pass yards, and have shown throughout the postseason that receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston are no flukes. The problem for them is that the Eagles excel at pass defense. They're pretty good at stopping the run, although a team with good backs will exploit them, as the Giants did last week. This will not be the case with the Cardinals, who have no threat out of the backfield, so they will come in relying on their passing game, which the Eagles will be prepared for. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals are not particularly effective stopping either the passing or rushing game. Do not be fooled by the five interceptions against the Panthers. That was one game. The Cardinals' defense picked off 13 balls during the entire regular season. The Eagles' offense ranks in the top ten in points, total yards, and passing yards. Their plan will be to have running back Brian Westbrook pound the ball, and if he succeeds, they will keep giving it to him. If he gets stuffed, they'll throw. Quarterback Donavan McNabb was impressive this year, hurling 23 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. The Cardinals had a nice run, and I picked them these last two weeks, but the Eagles will do enough to get by and give McNabb a chance for a ring. EAGLES 24 CARDINALS 14.

In the AFC the Steelers (12-4) and Ravens (11-5) are eerily similar in that their defenses give up nothing, while their offenses are pedestrian. The Steelers are unimpressive in both offensive categories. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger three 17 touchdowns and 15 picks. They were 17^th in passing yards and 23^rd in rushing. Their running backs do not scare anyone, but they have veteran Hines Ward as a wide receiver, one of the best in the business. In these teams' previous two meetings, the Ravens allowed 23 and 13 points. Sure, it was enough to win both times, but it's not as if the Steelers dominated. Speaking of the Ravens, they have a much better offense than in seasons past, ranking 11^th in points, fourth in rushing yards, but 28^th in passing yards. Like their counterparts, nobody scares you in the running game, although Willis McGahee has the occasional breakout game, but wide receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are impressive. Obviously they will have their work cut out for them against the Steel Curtain, but if the Ravens defense keeps things close, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, who has shown no fear whatsoever thus far, will prevail. RAVENS 20 STEELERS 10.