eSports - http://www.e-sports.com
A look at the NFL conference championship weekend
http://www.e-sports.com/articles/315/1/A-look-at-the-NFL-conference-championship-weekend/Page1.html
Anthony Goegan
Anthony Goegan is currently an employee at Fletcher Tire and Auto, where he mainly changes oil and busts tires. His plan is to learn as much about the automotive industry as possible, so that he can some day own his own independent full-service shop. Outside of that, his main hobby is sports. A few years ago he was an internet sports writer for several sites, incluindg e-Sports. 
By Anthony Goegan
Published on 01/19/2005
 

With only four teams left in the NFL playoffs and the season winding down fast, here's a look at how the conference championship games should play out this weekend.


Which two teams will be heading for the Super Bowl after this weekend?

The NFL conference championships are here, and by the looks of it, there could be two good battles taking place this Sunday between the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for the AFC title, and the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons for the NFC title.

 

The New England Patriots will take their impressive victory over the Indianapolis Colts to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers at Hines Field, where they were dominated earlier this season.

 

The Patriots, however, were without Corey Dillon in that first meeting, and rushed the ball only five times for six yards.

 

This weekend Dillon will be ready to go, giving the Patriots the rushing attack they need to play their style of game, which is controlling the clock.

 

On defense, the Patriots will be fired up the way they were against Indianapolis.

 

Bill Belichick and his staff won?t allow the New England to lose to the same team twice in a season and will have plenty of schemes to throw at Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

 

They will be prepared to shut down the highly potent Steelers running game and make Roethlisberger beat them through the air.

 

Roethlisberger played terrible in his first playoff game against the New York Jets, and the only reason the Steelers won is because New York literally handed them the game on numerous occasions.

 

Look for the Patriots defense to make Roethlisberger look like the rookie he truly is and make critical mistakes that cost his team a shot at the Super Bowl.

 

In no way can I see Pittsburgh winning this game. A rookie quarterback, a non-deserving win last week against the Jets, and a Patriots team that proves time and time again that they are a dynasty destined to pave their way into history as one of the greatest teams ever.

 

That just simply doesn?t look good if you?re Steelers fan. But, Pittsburgh is 16-1 and haven?t come this far to allow the Patriots to take over early.

 

They will be ready to roll as well, and should put up a great effort against a great New England team.

 

However, in the end, the Patriots will be on their way to Jacksonville to play for their third Super Bowl in four years.

 

In the NFC game, the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons game should be a very interesting one.

 

You?ve got Philadelphia?s Donovan McNabb vs. Atlanta?s Michael Vick.

 

The question everyone will finally have answered is which of these quarterbacks will come through and lead their team to the big game.

 

Last week, both teams dominated their opponents. Those opponents (Minnesota and St Louis), however, didn?t belong in the playoffs and proved so last weekend, and both Atlanta and Philadelphia looked like they were just tuning up for the NFC championship game.

 

The Falcons ran all over St Louis in the divisional round and you can expect them to attempt to do so in Philadelphia.

 

Atlanta is leads the NFL in rushing and should be able to run the ball well against the solid Eagles defense.

 

The Eagles run defense has always been labeled their weak point, but ever since Jeremiah Trotter took over as middle linebacker, they have improved.

 

Still, the speed of Warrick Dunn and Michael Vick, and the power of T.J. Duckett, should take a toll on the Eagles defense.

 

Look for this to be a game decided by three points or less, as both teams are fairly evenly matched.

 

This could be an NFC championship game for the ages, and in the end, I see Atlanta winning the game on a couple big runs by Dunn and Vick.