2009 AFC WILD CARD PLAYOFFS RESULTS

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers
Saturday Jan 3, 2009

This is the 2008 San Diego Chargers we're talking about. They were the only team in NFL history to qualify for the playoffs after starting 4-8 and the first 8-8 division winner in 23 years.

The Chargers are used to doing it the hard way.

"We belong, we belong," San Diego linebacker Stephen Cooper bellowed after the Chargers beat the Colts 23-17 in overtime Saturday night. "I don't think there are any more doubts."

There have been doubts about Darren Sproles his entire career. Before this season, he said nobody thought he belonged way back in his pee-wee playing days when he was even more of a pee-wee than the rest of the players.

Sproles is as big as anyone in San Diego right now after scoring on a 22-yard touchdown run in overtime to put the Chargers in the divisional playoffs. San Diego has won five straight games.

With future Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson sidelined in the second half, it was Sproles who shouldered the load for San Diego. Known as a terrific change-of-pace back and a premier return man, Sproles took the role of bell-cow back in the most crucial time of the season. Sproles accounted for 328 all-purpose yards, the third most in NFL playoff history.

Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins
January 4, 2009

MIAMI -- The Baltimore Ravens went into Dolphin Stadium and conquered Miami 27-9 on Sunday afternoon. But despite all the beautiful scenery and sunny beaches surrounding them, the Ravens couldn't help but think about the home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Nashville is the destination for Baltimore's divisional-round clash with the Tennessee Titans (13-3). The Ravens (12-5) lost the first meeting Oct. 5 13-10 on the Titans' final drive, which included a controversial personal-foul penalty that helped lead to Tennessee's winning touchdown.

Now these conference powers meet again with the season on the line. Call it "The Titanic Rematch."

"That's how fate has it lined up," Ravens offensive tackle Willie Anderson said. "We said that we probably would see each of these teams again. Those are some great teams, and as fate would have it, we have to go through them again."

2009 AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS RESULTS

Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans
January 10, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A cynic could find so many excuses why the Baltimore Ravens won Saturday.

Lucky plays. Iffy officiating. Not having to face a game-breaker for most of the afternoon.

The Ravens aren't interested in justifying their 13-10 AFC divisional playoffs victory over the Tennessee Titans. For the second straight week, they went on the road and hammered a divisional champion into submission.

The wild-card Ravens are headed to the AFC Championship Game, and they're not one bit apologetic about it.

"Our guys just found a way to get them stopped when they had to," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "There is nobody to blame on that."

San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers
January 11, 2009

PITTSBURGH -- Steelers tailback Willie Parker always had a soft spot for Jerome Bettis.

As former teammates, the future Hall of Famer took undrafted free agent Parker under his wing. In turn, Parker credited Bettis numerous times for his success at the professional level.

When Bettis returned to Heinz Field on Sunday as an honorary guest for Pittsburgh's AFC divisional playoff game against the San Diego Chargers, Parker didn't disappoint. He ran for a season-high 146 yards and two touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh to a 35-24 victory over the Chargers.

The Steelers will play host to division rival Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game here next Sunday.

Before this game against the Chargers, Parker had a good talk with Bettis and then produced one of the biggest performances of his career. It was evident from the first several carries that Parker was determined to be the catalyst of Pittsburgh's offense.

"He heard and he read all week long how I was healthy and he just wanted me to show him," Parker said of Bettis. "I just looked him in his eyes and put my hand over my heart, and that symbolizes that I feel you. I didn't have to say anything really. He understood what I meant.

AFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Baltimor Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- Experts say he holds the football too long.

Some say he doesn't post the gaudy statistics needed to be considered an elite passer.

He was the third quarterback taken in his draft class behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, and it seems he rarely receives the same credit.

Yet, only two starting quarterbacks remain in this postseason, and one of them answers to the name Ben Roethlisberger.

It is time to appreciate the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback for being a consummate winner, and quit bashing Roethlisberger for not being a conventional quarterback.

Roethlisberger, playing in his third AFC Championship Game in five years, led the Steelers to a 23-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday to earn a trip to Super Bowl XLIII. He did it his way -- unconventionally -- buying time with his feet and making the most of broken plays to throw for 255 yards and one touchdown.

On a frozen Heinz Field, Roethlisberger went toe-to-toe with the NFL's second-rated defense and never blinked. He was sacked four times and hit many more. He played the second half without his prime target Hines Ward, the wide receiver who sat out the final 30 minutes because of a right knee injury.

But in the end, Roethlisberger beat Baltimore's defense three times in a season -- a feat few quarterbacks could accomplish.

NFC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald had just finished a news conference when he pulled offensive coordinator Todd Haley aside following their team's 32-25 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

Fitzgerald didn't want to talk much about the specifics of that victory, though. Instead, he wanted to express his gratitude. "Larry just said he wanted to thank me for keeping my foot on his throat over the last two years," Haley said.

What Fitzgerald knew is something that we're all realizing during this postseason: It's not an accident that he's taken his game to a frightening level. It took plenty of pushing and prodding from coaches like Haley. It took Fitzgerald's acceptance that his 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame and explosive leaping ability weren't going to be enough to make him the receiver he wanted to become. And it also required the considerable opportunities he's been given during the Cardinals' improbable Super Bowl run.

2010 AFC Playoffs Schedule.

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