Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Bound!

I couldn't have happened against a better team, it was a battle between two of the best defenses in the NFL and teams that just didn't like each other at all.

Coming into this AFC Championship game it was all about the suffocating defenses of the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams have great leaders on defense with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed leading the way for Baltimore and James Harrison and Troy Polamalu as the core to the reborn Steel Curtain. Both the Steelers and Ravens also had pretty good offenses with quarterbacks that could get the job down with Big Ben Roethlisberger and rookie Joe Flacco, but in the end it was the Steelers who just simply wanted it more.

It wasn't the fact that the Ravens weren't worthy of another trip to the Super Bowl, but it came down to the fact that you had the best defense in the NFL going up against a rookie quarterback with absolutely no experience in post season play. It was a situation that you should never ask a rookie quarterback to overcome, but what choice did the Ravens have.

With 3 interceptions, no touchdowns and being sacked 3 times Joe Flacco never got it going like he did in the games during the regular season. I got to give the kid credit by getting this far, but there was no way the Steelers defense was going to let rookie quarterback and a mediocre offense destroy their hopes for another Super Bowl appearance.

Although the Steelers are favored to win yet another Super Bowl for their franchise in Tampa, they will have their work cut out for them against a high powered offense and MVP caliber quarterback in Kurt Warner. Granted the Arizona Cardinals haven't really faced a suffocating defense like the Steelers', but they have proved everyone wrong thus far in the playoffs so by no means will this be an easy victory against a motivated Cardinals team lead by Warner.

LT Injury Update: Doubtful for Sunday's Game Against Steelers

Good news for the Steelers! San Diego Chargers superstar running back LaDainian Tomlinson is doubtful for Sunday's game in Pittsburgh do to a torn tendon in his groin. Even if he does get some carries he probably won't be very effective just from seeing how much his groin was bothering him against the Colts. LT did score a TD against Indianapolis, but was obvious pain when carrying the football.

After seeing how he performed in limited action last weekend against the Indianapolis Colts this looked like a possible out come. Not like the Chargers really needed him in the game anyway with Darren Sproles running all over the Colts, but having a TD machine like LT on the field is always a plus for the Chargers.

Even though this definitely improves the Steelers chances of advancing you got to feel for LT since he hasn't been able to really contribute in the playoffs for the last couple seasons. If you remember seeing LT with his helmet on and coat only being able to watch as the New England Patriots advance to the Super Bowl against the New York Giants.

James Harrison Wins Defensive Player of the Year

The Pittsburgh Steelers this season have had arguably the best defense in the NFL and a way for the league to give the Steelers the recognition they deserve on the defensive side of the football they have awarded James Harrison with the Defensive Player of the Year.

Steelers defense has been suffocating, almost inpenatrable at times and a huge contributor to Pittsburgh being so dominant on defense besides Troy Polamalu has been the inspired play of James Harrison. With 16 sacks (Steelers record), 7 forced fumbles, 101 tackles and an interception Harrison has by far been the biggest defensive force on the gridiron this year.

Harrison beat out Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware by getting 22 votes to Ware's 13. Ware was amazing this season as well, but Harrison was definitely the right choice for Defensive Player of the Year.

The Steelers will need Harrison's defensive presence come this weekend when Pittsburgh squares off against Phillip Rivers and red hot San Diego Chargers who beat the Indianapolis Colts in a overtime thriller in the AFC Wildcard game.

Big Ben is Ready for Chargers

It is no secret that Big Ben Roethlisberger can take a hit and after hearing what he said about playing in the up coming AFC playoff game against the red hot San Diego Chargers you will think he is even tougher and ready to go.

Even though I believe that the Pittsburgh Steelers are a much better team than the Chargers right now, Big Ben always plays a big role in the Steelers success and without a healthy Big Ben Pittsburgh's offense might suffer against a defense that was able to stop Peyton Manning in overtime last weekend in the AFC Wildcard game.

"If I get hit, I get hit," said Roethlisberger about the game against the Chargers.

I love that! Reminds me of Brett Favre's kind of toughness playing quarterback. Big Ben isn't scared of taking one on the chin next weekend against the Chargers saying that when you try to avoid getting injured, you usually do.

I would assume that the Steelers are favorites in this game with their suffocating defense, but with the way the Chargers are playing lately they are out to prove something and if they play like they did against the Colts with Darren Sproles running all over the place they will be tough to beat.