Super Bowl Packages are still a possibility for some unlikely teams. The divisional playoffs are in the books and we are no down to four teams. The final four NFL teams still alive for Super Bowl XLIII are the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Arizona Cardinals.
This was the weekend of the visiting teams. Three of the four visiting teams were victorious. On Saturday, Baltimore knocked off the AFC number one seed, Tennessee Titans. And the Arizona Cardinals went into Charlotte, NC and convincingly upset the Carolina Panthers. On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the defending Super Bowl Champions, and top NFC seed New York Giants. The only seed to hold service this weekend was the Pittsburgh Steelers as they defeated the San Diego Chargers.
Making plans for Super Bowl packages will become a reality for either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens, as representatives of the AFC, and either the Philadelphia Eagles or the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC.
On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens went in to Tennessee and defeated the Titans 13-10 on a Matt Stover field goal in the final minute of the game. The Titans dominated the game statistically, but the opportunistic Ravens forced three Titan turnovers. Tennessee out gained Baltimore by a nearly 2 to 1 margin, yardage-wise, but turnovers, especially in the playoffs are critical. The number six seeded, Baltimore Ravens, now move on to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers for the right to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLIII. Tennessee had an excellent regular season, but gets eliminated in the first round.
On Saturday evening, the Arizona Cardinals entered their match up with the Carolina Panthers as heavy underdogs. The Panthers, the number two seed in the NFC, were the only team in the entire NFL to win all of their home games this season. Arizona had a losing record playing against teams outside of the weak NFC West, and had lost their previous five games playing in the east this season. Just before the kickoff, star wide receiver Anquoan Boldin was scratched. To top it off, it was Panthers quarterback, Jake Delhomme's birthday. Everything seemed set up for a Panther's victory. Three minutes into the game, Carolina scored a touchdown to take 7-0 lead, but Arizona stormed back. Kurt Warner connected with star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald eight times for 166 yards and a touchdown. Jake Delhomme committed six turnovers and the Cardinals shocked the Panthers 33 - 13. The Cardinals victory, combined with the Eagles victory on Sunday over the Giants means that the Cardinals will host the NFC Championship game. The winner of that game will be making plans for their Super Bowl packages to head for Tampa for Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009. No team has ever actually been the host of the Super Bowl -- it was close twice when the LA Raiders played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and when the San Francisco 49ers played at Stanford University in Palo Alto. If Arizona wins next week, and advances to the big game, they will have been one year too late as Super Bowl XLII was held in University of Phoenix Stadium, their home field.
On Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles became the third visiting team this weekend to emerge victorious. The Eagles eliminated the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants 23 -11. The game was played in a strong, steady wind making it very difficult for either team to pass. The sixth seed Eagles, who needed everything to break their way on the final day of the season won for the second consecutive weekend on the road. Next weekend, they try to make it three straight road wins by traveling to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. The 23 -11 final score was an NFL oddity -- never before in NFL history had an NFL game, regular season or post season finished with that final score.
The only home team to win this weekend was the Pittsburgh Steelers who
easily handled the San Diego Chargers 35- 24. The game was close at halftime with the Steelers leading 14 - 10. However Pittsburgh dominated the third quarter holding the ball for all but one offensive play and for more than 14 minutes of game time. Early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers scored a touchdown to take a commanding 28 -10 lead and never looked back.
So there are no number one seeds remaining. There is a single number two seed, the Pittsburgh Steelers; a number four seed, the Arizona Cardinals; and two number six seeds, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens and the Eagles certainly have an excellent chance of making it to the Super Bowl. The Arizona Cardinals have never played in the conference championship game, and there, of course, have also never played in the Super Bowl.
Planning for Super Bowl packages will get determined next weekend. Will it be an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl? Will the Kurt Warner return to the Super Bowl and lead the Cardinals there for the first time ever? Will the Ravens, led by rookie quarterback Joe Flaco and the tough Ravens defense avenge their two earlier losses to the Steelers and make it to the big game? We shall find out next week.
