NFL Conference Championship Predictions: Eagles, Steelers Both Look Super

I know I usually post this on Thursday, but after my death match with Angel Navedo next week, I needed a couple of days off. I was going to wait until Monday to pick this weekend’s games, but my bookie wouldn’t let me.

Better late than never…

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

I’m a big fan of great defense.

All of my favorite non-Patriots teams of all time have been great defensive teams. The 1985 Bears. The 2000 Baltimore Ravens. The 1990 New York Giants.

I love it when a defense is so good that it just demolishes the opposing offense. Not one of those boring bend-but-don’t-break defenses. I’m talking the beat-you-until-you-can’t-get-up-anymore type defenses.

Both the Ravens and the Steelers have those types of defenses.

This game is going to be fantastic. But like any game between two great defenses, it’s going to come down to the offenses.

The Baltimore Ravens’ offense features a rookie quarterback playing on the road against a great defense in an AFC Championship game.

There are so many gambling no-no’s here it’s mind boggling.

Meanwhile, Ben Roethlisberger is a certified big game quarterback who seems to have shaken off any ill effects from his week 17 concussion. Willie Parker, the other key part of the Steelers offense, is looking better now than he has all year long.

I love the 2008 Ravens. I’m just not IN love with them.

Prediction: Steelers 24, Ravens 10

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

I’m stunned that the Cardinals have made it this far. Two weeks ago, I called them the worst playoff team in the history of the NFL.

I’m still not convinced that I’m wrong.

I saw the Cardinals play in the month of December. They were terrible. They weren’t just losing, they were embarrassing.

I’m just not buying the Arizona Cardinals. Still.

The way I see it, their first playoff game was just the perfect storm of a rookie opposing quarterback and a pumped up home team that felt insulted by everyone picking against them.

Their second playoff game was given to them by Jake Delhomme, who had the worst game I’ve ever seen a quarterback not named Brett Favre have in the playoffs.

The Eagles, on the other hand, have been impressive against much better competition. They beat the Vikings, who admittedly have quarterback situations of their own but do feature the best running back in the game.

Then they took out the defending Super Bowl champions.

They’ve won both games convincingly. Donovan McNabb might be playing the best football of his career. The defense is playing out of its mind, and Asante Samuel is good for a pick-6 in every playoff game he plays in (or at least it seems that way).

The Eagles have momentum and are the better of the two teams. Bet the farm on this one. The Eagles are going to the Super Bowl.

Prediction: Eagles 41, Cardinals 17

Sean Crowe covers the New England Patriots for Examiner.com and writes a bi-weekly column for Sports-Central.org.

He is a Senior Writer and an NFL Community Leader at Bleacher Report. You can email him at [e-mail].