It started with 32 teams. Fans from all over the country have been chanting that this is their year, that their team will go all the way.
The 30 teams that fell short feel disappointed because they did not reach the pinnacle of greatness in the NFL.
As for the other two teams, one game stands between making history or being a Jeopardy question under the category, "We're No. 2."
While one team may have been expected to reach Super Bowl XLIII, the other could be the biggest underdog to ever win the whole thing.
Congrats to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals for making this year's big game.
To say the Arizona Cardinals would represent the NFC in the Super Bowl before the season started may have been your ticket to the crazy home. I wouldn't even be surprised if there were people in Phoenix who didn't give their team a shot.
Yet, there they are, just two weeks away from playing the biggest game of their lives.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on top of their game, for the most part, since the beginning of the season. They were the only playoff team with a bye week represented in the championship round, which goes to show you how hungry the wild card teams were this year.
They knew exactly what they needed to get through a tough AFC schedule for a chance to become the first team in history to win six Super Bowls.
Can it happen?
Here's my breakdown of the teams, and I will make my pick on who I think will win.
Defense
In the regular season, the Arizona Cardinals were ranked No. 19 in defense and Pittsburgh was No. 1. But after a stunning postseason for the Cardinals, which included eight interceptions, this defense has been impressive.
After picking off Carolina five times, you can't fall asleep on them. Although they were inconsistent the entire regular season, they have been able to keep it together in the postseason.
Pittsburgh maintains its threat as a defensive juggernaut, with four interceptions and eight sacks in two games, but can the Steelers' offense solve the mystery that is the Arizona defense?
Advantage: Push (I don't know which Cardinals defense will show up)
The Running Game
It's simple for the Cardinals: They don't have one, at least they didn't in the regular season. Averaging a less-than-stellar 73.6 yards per game, they have stepped it up with Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower in the postseason.
However, going against a defense that only allows 80.3 yards per game, they are going to have their work cut out for them.
As for the Steelers, the running game is solid and Willie Parker is healthy. Although the Cardinals have shown that their secondary defense is something to watch, their rush defense has a lot to leave to the imagination.
Advantage: Pittsburgh (If Parker is healthy, Arizona is in trouble)
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