As I rode to school in my truck Tuesday afternoon, I switched on my radio.
It was already tuned to 1630 AM. ESPN radio, a channel that I listen to quite frequently. OK I listen to it all the time. But back to the point.
The Dan Patrick Show was just underway. He was discussing the AFC Championship game this weekend between the Pittsburgh Steelers (16-1) and the New England Patriots (15-2).
I usually check the lines on the games every Monday, but I had forgotten. I almost went into shock when I heard him say the Steelers were the underdog.
An underdog? It can’t be. I thought I was just misunderstanding him, so I turned my radio up louder. But I wasn’t misunderstanding anything at all.
The American Football Conference regular season champion Pittsburgh Steelers, in fact, were the underdog. Not by a point or two, but by three points.
This is a team, in Pittsburgh, that is playing at home for a chance to go to the Super Bowl for the first time in nine years. They beat Super Bowl favorite New England 34-20 in the regular season on the same field that Sunday’s game will be played, and their only loss was five months ago in the second week of the season versus Baltimore, which was the last game Tommy Maddox started at quarterback for Pittsburgh.
Since then rookie sensation Ben Roethlisberger has been at the helm, compiling a 15-0 record. Roethlisberger has a 98.1 quarterback passer rating (3rd in the NFL) on the season and has thrown 17 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions. Not too shabby for a rookie QB out of Miami (OH).
Roethlisberger went from playing teams like Bowling Green, Ball State and Central Florida to playing NFL powerhouses in the Patriots, Eagles and Jaguars and winning 15 straight.
This is not the first time the Steelers have been home dogs this season. In back-to-back weeks, they were home underdogs to the Patriots and to Philadelphia, who they drilled 27-3.
The Steelers lead the league in total defense and are second in rushing offense.
You know what they say, “defense wins championships,” along with a good running game, of course. And the Steelers have both.
They only allow 258 yards per game while the “mighty” New England defense allows 310. And they average 154 rushing yards to the Patriots’ 133.
Going back to his days with Cleveland, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is 4-7 against the Steelers’ Bill Cowher, who is making his ninth postseason appearance in 13 years with Pittsburgh.
I just can’t understand how this team is an underdog.
Now don’t get me wrong. I definitely feel that the defending Super Bowl Pats can win the game. If they can shut down the Steelers’ running game, which is comprised of Jerome “the Bus” Bettis and Duce Staley, and make Roethlisberger throw, they will have a chance to beat the Steelers.
They do, however, have to score on a defense that only gives up a league leading 15 points a game.
And yes, I know the Steelers didn’t look very good in last week’s game against the Jets, but maybe the Jets are better than we thought.
Maybe they were underrated.
Dan Patrick wholeheartedly agreed with me. The Steelers should win the game and should be favored.
Steelers 20, Pats 17
Since we’re on the subject, why not take a look at the NFC Championship game as well?
As most NFL followers know, the Philadelphia Eagles will host their third straight NFC Championship game. They’ve lost the last two.
Actually, the Eagles have lost their last three championship games dating back to their 2002 loss at St. Louis.
So, can they get it done against Atlanta this weekend?
That all depends on Donovan McNabb and Philadelphia’s ability to stop the No. 1 rushing team in the NFL.
The Falcons, led by quarterback Michael Vick, average an outstanding 167 ground yards a game. Vick leads the NFL in average rushing yards per play with 7.5, but 20 other quarterbacks have a better passer rating than Vick’s 78.1. He has 14 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions on the season.
There’s no doubt in my mind the Falcons are going to have to rush the ball to beat Philadelphia, who ranks 16th in the NFL in rushing defense.
On the other hand, the Eagles are more geared toward the pass. McNabb has to have a good game, something he hasn’t done in any of the three NFC Championship games the Eagles have lost.
The former Syracuse star has thrown one touchdown pass to five interceptions in those three championship game losses combined.
Although Atlanta’s defense impressed me in their whooping of the Rams last week, I just don’t see Philadelphia losing a third straight home championship game.
McNabb has a great game against the 24th ranked passing defense in the NFL, and the Eagles finally win the NFC.
Eagles 28, Falcons 17
Ross Dellenger can be reached [email protected].