***** National Football League Playoff Game Capsules *****
(Sunday, January 18th)
Final Score: Arizona 32, Philadelphia 25
Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Tim Hightower powered into the end zone on an
eight-yard screen pass from Kurt Warner late in the fourth quarter and the
Arizona defense fended off Philadelphia's last-ditch efforts, as the Cardinals
advanced to an improbable Super Bowl berth behind a 32-25 victory over
the Eagles in an exciting NFC Championship Game. Arizona (12-7), which was
the first No. 4 seed to host a championship title game following a wild card
win against Atlanta and a 33-13 upset over Carolina in the divisional round,
was assumed to be the weakest of the division winners coming out of a light
NFC West -- but now finds itself in the franchise's first Super Bowl. Behind
the ageless Warner, who moved to 8-2 in the postseason and finished with
279 passing yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, and a three-
touchdown, 152-yard effort from Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals are looking
forward to February 1 and a date with AFC Champion Pittsburgh in Super Bowl
XLIII at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Steelers beat the
Baltimore Ravens, 23-14, in the AFC title game Sunday. Fitzgerald set the all-
time single postseason record with 419 yards receiving, passing Jerry Rice.
Donovan McNabb finished with 375 passing yards on 28-of-47 efficiency
with three touchdowns, an interception and a lost fumble in another early
exit for the franchise quarterback of the Eagles (11-7-1). Brian Westbrook
was held to 45 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Curtis and DeSean Jackson
logged 122 and 92 receiving yards, respectively, with Jackson hauling in a
go-ahead 62-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Brent Celek set a
franchise postseason record with 10 receptions for 83 yards and two TDs in
defeat.
Final Score: Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 14
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Troy Polamalu's 40-yard interception return
for a touchdown with 4:24 remaining in the fourth quarter sealed Pittsburgh's
23-14 AFC Championship Game win over Baltimore and catapulted the Steelers to
their seventh Super Bowl appearance. Ben Roethlisberger completed 16-of-33
passes for 255 yards and a score as the Steelers (14-4), moved ahead to
take on NFC champion Arizona February 1 in Tampa, Florida. The Cardinals
topped Philadelphia, 32-25, earlier Sunday in the NFC title game. Jeff Reed
kicked three field goals for Pittsburgh and Santonio Holmes scored on a 65-
yard catch-and-run play in the first half. Pittsburgh will face off against
the Cardinals and head coach Ken Whisenhunt next in Super Bowl XLIII.
Whisenhunt was the tight ends coach for Pittsburgh (2001-03) and the offensive
coordinator (2004-06) for the Steelers. The Steelers, who beat Seattle three
years ago in the Super Bowl, forced three turnovers in the final quarter
and managed to top the Ravens for the third time this season. Rookie
quarterback Joe Flacco finished 13-of-30 passing for 141 yards and three
interceptions for the Ravens (13-6). Willis McGahee ran 20 times or 60 yards
and a pair of touchdowns, but was carted off the field on a stretcher late
in the fourth quarter after a violent collision with Pittsburgh safety Ryan
Clark. The Steelers lost one of their main offensive weapons in the first
half, as wide receiver Hines Ward suffered a right knee injury. Pittsburgh,
going after its sixth Super Bowl title, will now face a team that will play
in its first Super Bowl contest. Also, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, age
36, is the youngest head coach to lead his team to a Super Bowl.
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