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Sports
Jan. 12, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Steelers, Eagles favored to meet in Super Bowl

By MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

EAGLES VS. CARDINALS

WHEN: noon Sunday

WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TV: Fox (5)

LINE: Eagles -31/2; total 48


AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

RAVENS VS. STEELERS

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh

TV: CBS (8)

LINE: Steelers -51/2; total 33


Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws a pass during the first quarter of an NFL divisional playoff game against San Diego on Sunday.
Photo by The Associated Press

Two weeks after suffering a concussion, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger accomplished the improbable Sunday. He led his team to victory as a home team in the NFL playoffs.

Overcoming the head injury was the easy part.

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    • The top two seeds in the NFC, the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, and the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the Tennessee Titans, all were victims of upsets. But the Steelers finished out the weekend by beating the trend.

    Pittsburgh, a 61/2-point home favorite, defeated the San Diego Chargers 35-24 to reach the AFC Championship Game.

    The NFL has an unlikely final four lined up for Sunday. The Steelers opened as 51/2-point home favorites over the Baltimore Ravens, and the Philadelphia Eagles are 31/2-point road favorites over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game.

    "I think an Arizona-Pittsburgh matchup in the Super Bowl would be interesting for us," MGM Mirage sports book director Jay Rood said. "There are still some interesting combinations out there. Nothing classic."

    The biggest potential Super Bowl draw for the sports books was a Giants-Steelers matchup. But the defending champions were knocked out Sunday.

    The sixth-seeded Eagles, 4-point underdogs, won their second consecutive road playoff game and eliminated the Giants 23-11 as quarterback Donovan McNabb accounted for two touchdowns.

    The Las Vegas Hilton posted Pittsburgh as the new Super Bowl favorite at 8-5 odds, followed by Philadelphia (11-5), Baltimore (3-1) and Arizona (5-1).

    After the Eagles' victory, Rood said the MGM Mirage was put in a position of needing the Steelers to win the late game because of several parlays connecting the four underdogs.

    "The bettors have not been jumping on the favorites with blind ambition," Rood said. "The public is more sophisticated than in years past, and they're starting to realize how valuable the points are in these games."

    The points did not matter, however, as Pittsburgh covered comfortably and Arizona, Baltimore and Philadelphia won outright as underdogs. It was the first time since 1971 that three road teams won during a playoff weekend.

    Also for the first time, none of the top three seeds in the NFC reached the conference championship.

    Roethlisberger passed for 181 yards and one touchdown, but Willie Parker carried the Steelers by rushing for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

    The result was a relief for Rood, who said "about 40 people bet" the Chargers to win the Super Bowl at 500-1 in early December after they dropped to 4-8 and seemed destined to miss the postseason.

    After opening the Eagles as 3-point favorites over the Cardinals, Rood said all the early action was on Philadelphia.

    "I'm kind of at a loss as to which direction this line is going to go," he said. "I could see hanging 21/2 but I figured we'll put it at 3. I think the Cardinals are becoming a good public team."

    Arizona, 7-2 at home this season, was blown out by the Eagles 48-20 on Thanksgiving night at Philadelphia.

    The total for the Eagles-Cardinals game opened at 48. The Ravens-Steelers total opened much lower at 33.

    Pittsburgh defeated Baltimore 23-20 at home and 13-9 on the road, and now Roethlisberger must overcome one of the most tired clichés in sports: It's tough to beat a team three times in one season.

    Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory three years ago.

    The Hilton posted the AFC as a 3-point favorite over the NFC in Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 at Tampa, Fla.

    Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.

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    GOSTEELERS wrote on January 12, 2009 02:21 PM: Hey Diane,
    How many superbowls have the ravens won??? Daaaaa....Steelers rock......


    Tony wrote on January 12, 2009 12:43 PM: Hey John,
    Just to let you know just because someone doesn't play Division 1 football does not mean he didn't play in a championship game. Flacco the Baltimore quarterback played in the Division 1-AA or FCS championship game against Appalachain St. which beat Michigan at home. Flacco lost the game but it was a close game. Plus he knows he only has to manage the game and not have to win it which should take some of the pressure off. We are also talking about a team which won a super bowl with Trent Dilfer as quarterback.


    John wrote on January 12, 2009 09:17 AM: I agree with Mike. As I look at the matchups it's anyone's game. It's been a weird post season.

    The Steelers haven't been able to put up many points against quality defenses. Big Ben has so many partially healed injuries, one good hit takes him out & that's it.

    McNabb & Warner are inconsistent. That's reflected by the season W-L record. One game they play like MVP's, the next you wonder how they can be in pro football. During the season, both were benched for lousy performance. Saturday, Jake the Snake showed what a bad day at QB can mean in the playoffs.

    Baltimore has a rookie QB that has never been in a big championship game even in college. Will he hold up to the pressure & media attention?

    Going in, I think they're all even. One game will be very close, the other not. The team that wins the closest game wins the Super Bowl. Bet on that!


    Mike wrote on January 12, 2009 08:27 AM: How many "favorites" didn't make it this year? Start with those supposed to be in the playoffs. Like Dallas, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cleveland, New England.
    Who predicted Miami, Arizona ..? Nobody.

    In the playoffs, how many "favorites" have won? The best bet has been to go with the underdog. Not only getting the points, they're winning outright.

    I would view all 4 as equally likely. At this stage, defense rules. It only takes one bad play to change the outcome.


    homas wrote on January 12, 2009 07:56 AM: WHAT UP NOW? SUPERCHARGERS SUPER SUCKED.


    Diane wrote on January 12, 2009 07:00 AM: Blah wrote on January 12, 2009 03:40 AM:
    Can't wait to watch the Ravens eliminate the Steelers. Steeler fans are the biggest front runners in all the major sports.


    No Blah, Can't wait to see the Ravens go down! Proud to be a Steelers Fan!
    GO STEELERS!!


    Chuck wrote on January 12, 2009 06:54 AM: That will be the sickest anticipated superbowl matchup in quite sometime. Yes, last years superbowl was the best of all-time, but before the bowl everyone knew that the pats were SUPPOSE to win. Thats why it was the biggest upset in bowl history. This year will be a toss up either way. It will be hard for Ben to to beat the ravens, and extremely hard for mcnabb to win in arizona....but it should happen. Flacco has no shot at scoring against pittsburghs D, and the Eagles D will committ a HUGE turnover and win the game by a thread...at least thats what I think but these 2 championship games will be nailbiters. HERE WE GO STEELERS! HERE WE GO!


    Iron Curtain wrote on January 12, 2009 06:32 AM: HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO!!!


    ....Temujin..Khan..of..the..Yakk..Mongols... wrote on January 12, 2009 05:17 AM: .
    ..
    ...Trivia Question Lads and Lassies...

    ...Who was the first N.F.L. President(not called Commissioner at that time.)

    ...America's Greatest Athlete

    ...Carlise's Indian School..Jim Thorpe.


    ...Temujin...Khan..of..the..Yakka..Mongols... wrote on January 12, 2009 05:00 AM: .
    ..
    ...Everyone remembers great quarterbacks and I remember the great John Unitas with the Colts.

    ... Bobby Lane, who was one of the last to play without a face mack, with the Steelers, Norm Van Brocklin of the Eagles, who smoked Camels on the Sideline, and Eddy Lebaron, Redskins, and the bubbly Sonny Jurgenson with the Eagles and later years with the Redskins..


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