making the call

after reading a lot & watching some more, i've decided why i think it will be the Steelers & the Panthers in Detroit for the Super Bowl.

as far as Pittsburgh playing in Denver, i think you have an unbelievably well-matched game. you've got seasoned coaches, who are no strangers to the post season: wash. Denver has home-field advantage & has not lost a game at home this season...but this is against a team that has only lost 3 road games in 2 years, 2 of the 3 Big Ben did not play, and last week's preparations for Indy included making sure crowd noise was not a factor: wash. both teams have a very strong running game with Bettis/Parker combining size & speed to move the ball for yellow & black; Anderson/Bell packing a punch for navy & orange: wash. both teams are aces at *stopping* the run with Champ Bailey & John Lynch posing threats at forced turnovers & relentless sacks; a group of productive physical linebackers & wildcard Troy Polamalu popping up all over the place like an unpredictable wildcard as crazy as his mane of black hair: wash. you've got 2 QBs who have been consistent all year, who have strong arms, the ability to move around & sheer size in their favor: wash. my prediction as the one key to the outcome of this game? Plummer will be forced into several 3rd-and-long situations where the running game gets factored out & he has no choice but to throw, old demons that appeared to be laid to rest for hime finally the 2005 season will resurface & Pittsburgh will successfully put Plummer in the same hotseat Peyton Manning found himself in last week with an uncontrolled passing game leading to turnovers (have we forgotten that Jake is prone to interceptions of epic proportion?) & blitzing being disguised well enough that it goes undetected, leading to sacks.

on to the Seahawks hosting the Panthers in Seattle. i don't have a well-define breakdown like the AFC game. i think this comes down to one thing: Delhomme to Smith. i just don't see the same fire in Seattle's passing game, have no real confidence in Hasselbeck yet, and if you're predictable to run the ball with Alexander, how do you win against a team who has been to the Super Bowl before and can focus on taking away your running game? even if Foster sits this one out for Carolina, their #3 guy Goings has been strong & tough & reliable any time they have used him as the go-to man. the one key for Carolina is Peppers, who finally practiced on Friday & John Fox won't say whether or not he'll be present in Sunday's line up. but really now...what player is sitting out the Conference Championship game unless he absolutely has no other choice? my vote stays with the Panthers, even on the road, as long as they play the same ball they've been playing throughout the last few weeks.