Timing, as they say, is everything. Last summer I spent a lot of time working on a Super Bowl-related post that seemed to fly under the radar. Perhaps it was because people weren't thinking about the Super Bowl in July? Just a guess. Now that the Super Bowl is actually approaching, I figured it was time for me to dig up this old post, make a few updates and post it again.

Few men have received the honor of being in the winning team's starting lineup for the Super Bowl. Many who have can rightfully be considered among the greatest players in NFL history, but what about the other end of the spectrum? If you were to rank all the players in that category someone would have to show up at the bottom. Who are some of these players though? I got curious and decided to find out for myself. Now that my research is complete, I can officially release my All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team (just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?).

It was fairly easy to choose offensive players. Quarterbacks, running backs and receivers have the most complete statistics kept for them, so determining the weakest player wasn't too hard. My criteria for tight ends were slightly different, as there have been a few tight ends who started the Super Bowl primarily as blockers in a two-tight end formation. I decided to consider those players "H-backs" rather than true tight ends, because their role in the offense didn't reflect the spirit of this list. Offensive linemen and defensive players are harder to evaluate by numbers alone, so the main things I looked at were length of career, years as a starter and number of Pro Bowls. Things like sacks and interceptions are also factored in for the defensive players. Even though they don't technically "start" the game I included kickers and punters too. Since the numbers at those positions have changed significantly over the years I had to use league averages to evaluate them. Of course, I also tried to find any additional information I could to determine if a player may have been better or worse than the numbers suggest.

You might ask what the point of this list is. Am I just trying to tear down these guys? Far from it! Many of the players on this list had productive careers and played their roles well despite not being great individual talents. The beauty of team sports is that they allow athletes of all different skill sets and ability levels to work in harmony together for a common goal. My purpose here is to celebrate the little guys. They may not have been stars, but their teams might not have won without them. People should know who they are.

Now that that's been said, let's have a look at the roster.

Offense

Quarterback: Trent Dilfer, 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Dilfer is the first name most people think of when the question of "worst quarterback to win a Super Bowl" arises. When I went to check the numbers I found out that Chase Stuart from pro-football-reference.com already did the math for me. Perhaps not surprisingly, he came up with Dilfer as having had the worst career of any Super Bowl-winning QB. When someone who devised an advanced statistic for figuring out an approximate career value for NFL players says Dilfer was the worst and popular opinion backs him up I think it's safe to give ol' Trent this spot.

Dilfer was originally taken by the Buccaneers with the 6th overall pick in the 1994 Draft. Like most young quarterbacks, it took a few years of growing pains before he finally found his NFL footing. In 1997 he led the Bucs to their first Playoff appearance in 15 seasons and earned himself a Pro Bowl selection. A broken collarbone in 1999 ended his season, and he could only watch as the Buccaneers made it to the NFC Championship Game behind rookie quarterback Shaun King. Tampa Bay let him go to the Ravens as a free agent that offseason. In his only year in Baltimore, he took over as starter midseason and rode the Ravens' incredible defense to a Super Bowl win while leading a conservative-but-adequate offense.

Dilfer's later stops included Seattle, Cleveland and San Francisco. Though he never became the franchise quarterback he was expected to be, he managed to be an effective "caretaker" during his 14 years as both a backup and a starter. He retired with career numbers of 20,518 passing yards, 113 touchdown passes, 129 interceptions and a 55.5 completion percentage. Upon his retirement he joined ESPN as an NFL analyst.

Tailback: Timmy Smith, 1987 Washington Redskins

Smith rushed for only 126 yards in seven games during his rookie year, but an injury to George Rogers earned him the starting nod when the Redskins made it to the Super Bowl. On a night when everything went right for Washington, Smith set a still-standing Super Bowl record with 204 rushing yards. In one evening the youngster went from obscurity to the limelight. With the opportunity to be a starter next year, he allowed himself to become overweight and rushed for only 470 yards in 14 games. The Redskins cut ties with him during the 1989 offseason and he failed to make the Chargers' roster that same year.

He attempted a comeback with the Cowboys in 1990, but he was waived after only one game. He finished his career with 602 rushing yards and 3.2 yards per rushing attempt over three seasons. He recently served a two-year jail sentence for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer.

Fullback: Tom Nowatzke, 1970 Baltimore Colts

Nowatzke didn't have much speed, but he was a tough, reliable power runner. An All-American at Indiana, he was the Lions' first round pick in 1965. He didn't become a regular until his second year, but he led that 1966 team in rushing yards and was second in receptions. Nowatzke's playing time decreased over the next few seasons, mainly due to the emergence of speedier backs like Mel Farr. In 1969 the Lions attempted to move Nowatzke to linebacker, but he sustained a neck injury in training camp that limited him to special teams duty most of the year. In next season's training camp the Lions waived him.

The Colts immediately picked up Nowatzke, and Baltimore's grind-it-out running game was perfect for his style. He worked his way into the starting lineup and led all Colt running backs with 3.4 yards per attempt that year. He later delivered a heroic Super Bowl moment when he scored the game-tying touchdown halfway through the 4th Quarter. The Colts would go on to win. Nowatzke's role would be diminished over the next two seasons, and he played his last NFL game in 1972. Over eight seasons he played in 96 games, with totals of 1,249 rushing yards and 605 receiving yards.

Left Wide Receiver: Alvin Garrett, 1982 Washington Redskins

Garrett was a small guy, standing only 5'7" and weighing only 178 lbs. He started his career with the Giants in 1980 and was primarily used as a return man. He was waived by the Giants and picked up by the Redskins during the 1981 season. In Washington he teamed with fellow sub-6-footers Charlie Brown and Virgil Seay to form a receiving corps known as the "Smurfs." Garrett was pressed into starting duty when star wide receiver Art Monk went down with an injury before the Playoffs. Though he had caught only six passes in his entire career up to that point, Garrett surprised everyone by scoring three touchdowns on 110 yards in the first round against the Lions. His solid play continued for the rest of the Playoffs as the Redskins eventually captured the Lombardi Trophy.

Garrett was the center of controversy next season when Howard Cosell referred to Garrett, who is black, as a "little monkey" during a "Monday Night Football" telecast. Cosell said he meant it in an affectionate way, and Garrett himself said he wasn't offended by it, but the remark stuck with Cosell for the rest of his life.

Garrett never played again after sustaining an ankle injury in 1984. His five-year career totals were 412 receiving yards, two touchdowns, 12.9 yards per reception, 8.0 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kick return.

Right Wide Receiver: Stacy Robinson, 1986 New York Giants

Speedy Division II star Robinson missed most of his rookie year because of a broken hand, but he started most of his sophomore season, when he had a career-best 494 receiving yards. That year was 1986, when the Giants won their first Super Bowl. Robinson didn't have any receptions in the Divisional Playoff or NFC Championship Games, but he led the Giants with 62 receiving yards in the Super Bowl. He began the next season as a starter but went down with an injury after five games. The next three seasons would be a roller coaster ride, as the Giants waived him in training camp and re-signed him midseason each time.

Robinson won a second Super Bowl ring with the Giants as a reserve on the 1990 team. He retired after that rather than go through the revolving door again. He finished his six-year career with 48 receptions for 749 yards in 43 games, 14 of which he started. Since 1995 he has served as the NFL Players Association's Director of Player Development.

Tight End: John Frank, 1988 San Francisco 49ers

Frank started his career in 1984 playing behind star tight end Russ Francis. He was impressive on special teams his rookie year and earned a reputation for aggressive blocking and all-around toughness. The 49ers groomed him to become their eventual starter, but he struggled with inconsistency and a tendency to draw penalties for his first few years. Frank finally got his chance to shine when Francis was waived halfway through the 1987 season.

In April 1989, fresh off a Super Bowl win and at the peak of his production, Frank announced his retirement from the NFL after five years to focus on medical school. His career numbers include 662 receiving yards and 10.2 yards per reception. He earned his medical degree from Ohio State in 1992 and is currently a cosmetic surgeon.

Left Tackle: Dan Audick, 1981 San Francisco 49ers

Audick was a guard who played for both the Cardinals and Chargers before the 49ers acquired him in the 1981 preseason. Because of a hole at left tackle, Audick started all 16 games there in 1981. Audick wasn't a long-term solution due to his lack of size, but he gave it a strong effort and helped the upstart 49ers win the Super Bowl. He lost his starting job next season, and in 1983 he returned to the Cardinals, where he spent the last two years of his career.

Over eight NFL seasons Audick played in 76 games, starting 33 of them. After football Audick returned to school, receiving an MBA from San Diego State in 1986, a Master's in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix in 1996 and a Doctorate of Education in Human Performance from USC in 2004.

Left Guard: Russ Hochstein, 2003 New England Patriots

Hochstein was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2001, but he spent his would-be rookie year on injured reserve and only played one game for them in 2002 before being waived. In 2003 he made the Patriots' roster as a full-time backup and moved into the starting lineup after an injury to Damien Woody in the Playoffs. He stayed there all the way through the Patriots' Super Bowl victory and would get a second Super Bowl ring when the Patriots repeated next year.

Though Hochstein has never been a full-time starter, he has proved to be a valuable and versatile reserve for the Patriots over the years. He's lined up at fullback, tight end and every offensive line position in addition to contributing on special teams. In 2005 he gained notoriety as one of the five "metaphors" in a national Visa commercial with his famous line "Why can't I be the director?" Through seven seasons so far he's played in 92 games and started 20 of them.

Center: Mike Gruttadauria, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Undrafted out of college and cut by the Cowboys in the 1995 preseason, the undersized Gruttadauria beat out veteran center Bern Brostek for the Rams' starting job in 1996. Brostek reclaimed his starting center spot when Gruttadauria was injured early in the season, but Gruttadauria would start on and off (while still battling injuries) the next few years, earning the job permanently in time for the Rams' surprising 1999 season. The Cardinals signed him to a four-year deal the offseason after that, and his injury struggles would continue in Arizona. His first season in the desert ended after eight games due to a career-threatening neck injury, but Gruttadauria fought back to start 15 games next year. The Cardinals released Gruttadauria after another injury-shortened season in 2002, closing the book on his career.

Gruttadauria was blessed with exceptional artistic abilities and has devoted his post-football career to sculpting. Overall, he played 81 NFL games in seven seasons, starting 67 of them.

Right Guard: Bruce Collie, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Collie was one of two 49er draft picks to make the team in 1985, the other being Jerry Rice. He was versatile enough to play both tackle and guard, but he constantly had to compete for a starting spot with San Francisco. In 1989 he started a career-high 15 games and the 49ers won the Super Bowl, but he was waived during the next preseason. The Eagles picked him up and he saw time mostly as a backup during his first year with Philadelphia. He moved into the starting lineup for his second year in Philly, but a knee injury would end his season after only five games and signal the end of his career.

Collie was praised for his dedication to weight training while with the 49ers, but he later revealed that he'd used steroids since college. In 1990 he made the decision to stop the partying and drug use that had been a big part of his lifestyle and became a Christian. Today he owns the Cedar Grove Steakhouse in Texas and is an occasional speaker for former NFL player Bill Glass' Champions For Life ministry. Over his seven-year career he played in 91 games, starting 40.

Right Tackle: Greg Robinson-Randall, 2001 New England Patriots

Robinson-Randall was a training camp surprise at right tackle his rookie year. He appeared to have earned the starting job going into the season opener, but it was given to veteran Grant Williams at the eleventh hour. Robinson-Randall started getting more playing time in December when New England was out of the race, and next season he started all 16 games as the Patriots won their first Super Bowl. He was starting to look like a fixture on the line, but a failed conditioning test lost him his starting job in training camp next year. In November 2002 Robinson-Randall officially dropped the "Robinson" from his name and became simply "Greg Randall." The Patriots traded Randall to the Texans in the 2003 offseason, where he started all 16 games his only year there.

Randall had tryouts with the 49ers, Rams and Browns over the next few years, but he never got into a regular-season game for any of them. He currently plays for the Arena Football League's New York Dragons. He started 39 of the 51 games he played during his four-year NFL career.


Defense

Left Defensive End: Mat Mendenhall, 1982 Washington Redskins

Mendenhall was drafted by the Redskins in 1980 but spent his rookie year on injured reserve with intestinal problems. He finally made his NFL debut the next year, but injuries limited his effectiveness. He started every game for the Redskins during their Super Bowl-winning season of 1982, but he only played on rushing downs.

In training camp next year Mendenhall found out that he'd lost his starting job to a youngster named Todd Liebenstein. Upon hearing the news, Mendenhall walked out of camp and didn't play at all in 1983. He attempted to come back in 1984, but in training camp he was lost for the season because of bone chips in his elbow. Three weeks after being placed on injured reserve he was charged with drunken driving. He never played in the NFL again.

Mendenhall finished his career with one official sack in 23 games, 20 of which he started.

Left Defensive Tackle: Brandon Mitchell, 2001 New England Patriots

The Patriots drafted Mitchell as a defensive end for his quickness and potential as a pash-rusher. He became a starter in his third NFL season, but after the first four years of his career many considered him a disappointment. In 2001 he was moved to defensive tackle, where he succeeded as a run stopper and helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Mitchell signed with the Seahawks in the offseason hoping to play defensive end again. His first year in Seattle was plagued by injuries, but he started six games his second year and served as a versatile backup his third.

The Seahawks let Mitchell go after the 2004 season, and his career ended when he failed to make the Falcons' roster in training camp next year. He played 96 NFL games over eight years, starting 45 of them and accumulating 11 sacks.

Right Defensive Tackle: Bob Heinz, 1972, 1973 Miami Dolphins

Heinz earned a full-time starter's job in the middle of his third NFL season, 1971. The Dolphins would make it to their first Super Bowl (and lose) that same season, but Heinz would start in the big game twice more when the Dolphins won Super Bowls the following two years. Though Heinz was the most obscure of the Dolphins' defensive linemen, there are a few odds and ends he's known for. For instance, Heinz was the player replaced by Bob Matheson when the Dolphins went to their famous "53" defense, which in modern terms would be the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 formation. More humorously, before Garo Yepremian's now-famous pass attempt in Super Bowl VII, the failed kick actually bounced off Heinz' helmet rather than being blocked by a defender, as is commonly believed.

Heinz' last year as a full-time starter was 1974. He lost all of 1975 to injury, then spent two subsequent years with Miami as a backup. He played two games for the Redskins in 1978, his ninth and final NFL season. He started 55 of his 111 career games, recording 10.5 unofficial sacks.

Right Defensive End: Dave Browning, 1980 Oakland Raiders

Browning was a speed-rushing defensive end drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 1978. He started seven games his rookie year, then started every Raider game for the next three seasons, including the Raiders' Super Bowl XV victory. He began 1982 in his usual spot, but he lost his job midseason to a second-year player named Howie Long. The Raiders traded him to the Buccaneers in the offseason, where he was cut after a month and picked up by the Patriots, for whom he played only one year. He spent his last two seasons in pro football playing for the USFL's Oakland Invaders.

Overall, Browning played 77 NFL games in six seasons, starting 59 of them and registering three official sacks.

Left Linebacker: Reggie Torbor, 2007 New York Giants

Torbor was drafted by the Giants for his athleticism and pass-rushing skills, and he was versatile enough to play both defensive end and linebacker. Some expected him to develop into a full-time starter, but he was used mainly as a situational player and special-teamer during his time in New York. He moved into the Giants' starting lineup when linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka was injured during the 2007 season, the same year they pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history.

Torbor signed a four-year deal with the Dolphins after that Super Bowl, and he spent his first year in Miami as a backup. In 78 career games so far, he's started 19 and recorded 5.5 sacks.

Middle Linebacker: Ron Cox, 1996 Green Bay Packers

Cox was an outside linebacker drafted by the Bears in 1990 for his pass-rushing ability. He showed promise early on, but after several trials in the starting lineup he failed to stick there. In 1995 he finally held onto the starting job, but the Bears decided to let him go to the Packers as a free agent in the offseason. The Packers wanted Cox to fill their hole at middle linebacker, a position he was unfamiliar with. His play there in training camp didn't warrant the starting job, so the Packers moved veteran outside linebacker George Koonce into the middle. Cox backed him up all year, and he filled in ably enough to help Green Bay win the Super Bowl when Koonce was injured in the Playoffs.

The Packers released Cox after that season, and he returned to Chicago to play one final year before being released again. He finished his eight-year career with eight sacks in 113 games, 35 of which he started.

Right Linebacker: Loren Toews, 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Yes, a member of the famed "Steel Curtain" defense actually made this list. I wasn't expecting it, but right linebacker was a surprisingly strong position.

Toews was an eighth-round draft pick by the Steelers of whom not much was expected, but he made the team with his surprising play in training camp. He was stuck behind seven-time Pro Bowler Andy Russell at right linebacker for his first few years, but he contributed with solid play as a backup and special teamer. Toews made it into the starting lineup after Russell retired, but two years later he lost his starting job to share time with Robin Cole. In 1982 the Steelers switched to a 3-4 defense, which allowed Toews to return to the starting lineup full-time as the left inside linebacker. He played there his last two seasons before retiring.

He finished his career with 2.5 official sacks, four interceptions and 149 games played in 11 seasons.

Free Safety: Herb Welch, 1986 New York Giants

Welch was picked in the 12th and final round of the 1985 NFL Draft, but he managed to make the Giants as a versatile backup. He took over as starting free safety near the end of his second year when Terry Kinard went down with an injury, and he held the spot all the way to the Super Bowl. He returned to backup duty next year, but he missed the entire 1988 season with a knee injury. After the Giants waived him he spent his last three NFL seasons with the Redskins and Lions. He also played for the World League of American Football's Sacramento Surge and Barcelona Dragons in 1992.

In six NFL seasons Welch played in 79 games, starting eight and making seven interceptions.

Strong Safety: Billy Jenkins, 1999 St. Louis Rams

Jenkins joined the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and his strong play on special teams garnered him attention as a rookie. He started at strong safety the next two years, where he was known for his hard hitting, run-stopping and blitzing. The biggest knock on him was weak coverage skills. The Broncos traded for Jenkins the offseason after the Rams' Super Bowl victory. They signed him to a seven-year deal, but he could only hold a starting job for one year. In October 2001 the Broncos waived him, and he had stops in Green Bay and Buffalo before his career ended after the 2002 season.

Jenkins played in 91 games over six seasons, starting 48. He finished with eight career interceptions and four career sacks. In January 2009, Jenkins pled not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide.

Incidentally, I found out in the course of my research that Jenkins and Trent Dilfer had a small feud back in their playing days. Jenkins led several Ram players in taunting the Buccaneers' bench after the 1999 NFC Championship Game, and Dilfer, then a Buc, was involved in the ensuing row. In next year's Playoffs, Jenkins (by then a Bronco) was fined $7500 for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Dilfer (by then a Raven). If this team were real, I think it's a safe bet that the quarterback and strong safety wouldn't have lockers next to each other.

Left Cornerback: Elvis Patterson, 1986 New York Giants

Patterson was an undrafted rookie with the Giants in 1984 when Bill Parcells gave him the nickname "Toast" due to his tendency to get burned on big plays. Despite its unflattering origins, Patterson embraced the nickname because it could be interpreted as "toast of the town" if he played well. In his second season he replaced All-Pro holdout Mark Haynes as the starting left cornerback and led the team with six interceptions. Patterson was challenged by rookie Mark Collins next year, but he kept his starting job when Collins was injured late in the season. He ended up making the only interception in that year's Super Bowl. The Giants waived him one game into the 1987 season (allegedly because he spent too much time partying) and he later signed with the Chargers as a replacement player during the strike. He kept the starting job that year after the union players returned.

Patterson signed with the Raiders in 1990 and became a star on special teams. He was named a Pro Bowl alternate in 1991, but he almost didn't return the next year after he bodyslammed assistant coach Jack Stanton in training camp. Head coach Art Shell gave him a second chance, but Patterson's continued behavioral problems got him traded to Dallas in the middle of the 1993 season, with whom he won a second Super Bowl ring. The Cowboys opted not to re-sign him after that, and he never played in the NFL again.

Patterson finished his ten-year career with 12 interceptions in 151 games, 44 of which he started.

Right Cornerback: Dwayne O'Steen, 1980 Oakland Raiders

O'Steen began his NFL career with the Rams in 1978. He started 12 games for them in 1979 because of injuries to regular cornerbacks Rod Perry and Pat Thomas, but by the time the Playoffs came around he was back on the bench. The Rams made it to their only Super Bowl of the 1970's that season, eventually losing to the powerhouse Steelers. The Raiders picked him up off the scrap heap that offseason, and he took over as a starter in November when former All-Pro Monte Jackson struggled. The Raiders would become the first Wild Card team to win the Super Bowl that year. O'Steen went through his own struggles next season, which cost him the starting job and gave it back to Jackson.

He bounced around to the Colts, Buccaneers and Packers his last three seasons, mostly playing as a backup and special teamer. In seven NFL seasons O'Steen played 77 games, starting 26 of them and recording eight interceptions. He passed away in 2001.


Special Teams

Kicker: Mike Cofer, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers had some great teams in the 80's, but those back-to-back Super Bowl winners at the end of the decade didn't excel in the special teams category. The misfortune they had to play in windy Candlestick Park surely didn't help their cause.

After being cut as a Saints replacement player during the 1987 strike, Cofer beat out longtime 49ers kicker Ray Wersching in 1988's training camp. He had the best year of his career in 1989, making 80.6% of his field goals and being named to the Pro Bowl. He would struggle the rest of his four seasons in San Francisco before finally being let go after the 1993 season. His final NFL gig was in 1995 with the Colts, who cut him after four games.

He finished his career having made 66.2% of his field goals and 97.1% of his extra point attempts in eight seasons. His career record for most extra points in Super Bowl play was broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2005, and he still shares the record for most in one game with seven. After football he had some moderate success as a NASCAR driver.

Punter: Barry Helton, 1988, 1989 San Francisco 49ers

Like Cofer, Helton had to replace a veteran, Max Runager, his first year in San Francisco. Runager originally opened the 1988 season as the 49ers' punter when Helton struggled under the pressure of training camp. After an unimpressive showing in Week 1, the 49ers waived Runager and gave Helton the job. Helton performed sufficiently his first two years, but he struggled greatly in 1990. The 49ers kept him on the inactive roster in 1991 before releasing him in October. He caught on briefly with the Rams that season and his career ended when they cut him in training camp next year.

In four seasons Helton punted 213 times for 8,285 yards, an average of 38.9. 52 of his punts landed inside the 20, 21 were touchbacks, 116 were returned and four were blocked. His career net yardage was 31.3. He's still fairly well-known today in his native Colorado. He was the first of four straight University of Colorado punters to be named All-American, with Keith English, Tom Rouen and Mitch Berger following him. In 1995 the Big Eight Conference named him to their all-time team.


Closing Statement

While most of these players currently live in infamy or obscurity, no one can ever take away the special distinction they each hold. It's hard to make it in the NFL, but these guys were just good (or in some cases lucky) enough to have the experience every football player dreams about. They may not ever be immortalized in Canton, but they'll always have a spot on the first All-Weakest Super Bowl-Winning Starter Team. Here's to them.


A special shout-out to my resources:

Pro-Football-Reference.com
The Football Database
San Francisco 49ers: Where Have You Gone? By Matt Maiocco
Google News
Pro Football Researchers Association

In a recent post I talked about why I hate the Pittsburgh Steelers. I hate most teams that have as many rings as they do, but one of the things that really irked me was the way the media acted as if they were the only team playing in Super Bowl XL three years ago. You remember that, right? All they could talk about for two weeks was the Steelers. Jerome Bettis (an overrated player, to be sure) needed a ring. Bill Cowher (owner of the world's greatest jaw) was suddenly an elite coach instead of a guy who couldn't win the big one. Jerramy Stevens was a total punk for publicly suggesting that the Seahawks would win. You get the idea. The coverage seemed to be a celebration of all things Steeler. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who temporarily became a Seahawk diehard that weekend (I think "temporary diehard" is an oxymoron, but whatever).

It's now Steeler fans' turn to see what it's like. The team's core is mostly the same one that won it three years ago. These guys already have their rings, so seeing them all get another is like watching a rerun. As the #2 seed in the AFC, there's no "surprising run" angle that the #6-seeded 2005 team had. If you want a compelling story, look no further than the Steelers' opponent.

The football world is still in some degree of shock that the Cardinals, the Arizona Cardinals, will be playing in the Super Bowl. The last time the Cardinals played in a championship game was 1948, when they were still based in the Windy City. They went 9-7 this season to win a weak division, and a lot of people thought they'd lose to the Falcons in the Wild Card Round. Kurt Warner, famous for his grocery store-to-NFL feelgood story back in 1999, is now going to start in his third Super Bowl. He'll join Craig Morton on the short list of quarterbacks to start the big game for two different franchises. Steeler fans are excited about their team, but the rest of the country is enthralled by the Cardinals.

I know the Steelers are going to win the Super Bowl. They're simply the better team, and besides, the Cardinals winning would be too great a story for it ever to happen. No one will care about "one for the other hand" though. The Steelers are yesterday's news, and most of America will be backing the team in red on Super Bowl Sunday.

Hey there, FOX Sports community! I've got some great news! I recently got a gig writing for a website called The Love of Sports! I'm really excited about this opportunity. Don't think this means I'm leaving the FOX blogs though. While I do plan to put up links to my articles, there'll probably be some stuff I post here that doesn't get published on TLOS (Talkin' Baseball, postgame rants, articles that aren't right for the site, etc.).

With that said, I invite you to check out my first article, called Ten Unlikely Conference Title Teams. Inspired by the Cardinals, it's about teams that made it to an NFL conference championship game despite not looking like they belonged there on paper. I hope you enjoy it!

This is it. Four teams left. Two will make it to the biggest spectacle in sports. Two will be remembered only by diehards. Two games next Sunday will decide each team's fate. You want my take? Well, you've come to the right place!

AFC

I figured I'd get this conference out of the way first, since neither team particularly excites me. Both have already won Super Bowls this decade, and neither has a whole lot of charisma. I root for the Chargers in the AFC, so when the Steelers beat them yesterday I knew I'd be rooting for an NFC team in the Super Bowl. What do we know about these teams?

Baltimore Ravens

Record: 11-5 (6th seed)
Passing Offense: 2808 yds (28th in NFL)
Passing Defense: 2875 yds (2nd in NFL)
Rushing Offense: 2376 yds (4th in NFL)
Rushing Defense: 1302 yds (3rd in NFL)
Total Offense: 5184 yds (18th in NFL), 385 points (11th in NFL)
Total Defense: 4177 yds (2nd in NFL), 244 points (3rd in NFL)
LTRP (Longest-Tenured Ringless Player): FB Lorenzo Neal (16th year)
Franchise's Last Title: 2000
Players Remaining From Last Title: LB Ray Lewis, CB Chris McAlister (IR), K Matt Stover

The Ravens, in their relatively brief history, have already established defense as one of their franchise's core values. In fact, their current team is constructed in much the same way as the 2000 Super Bowl Champs: stingy defense, strong running game and caretaker under center. Their starting quarterback is Joe Flacco, who's trying to become the first rookie to start at QB in the Super Bowl. John Harbaugh is in his first year as an NFL head coach, and he hopes to be the fifth rookie coach to take a team to the Super Bowl.

The Ravens have always been one of those teams that doesn't get much media attention. Tough defense wins games, but it's not the stuff most kids copy on the playground. It would seem that the biggest story pertaining to the Ravens this year is Flacco. I can understand why: rookie quarterback from a small school suddenly finds himself starting for a contending team? Yeah, there's plenty of article material there. As you can see above though, the Ravens' passing game is hardly a key weapon in their attack. Flacco's a decent player who's done what he's been asked to do, but that hasn't been much. If you plan to be an NFL quarterback, you'd better know how to handle the spotlight, because you'll end up there no matter how little you figure into the offense.

While the Ravens' 2376 rushing yards are 4th in the NFL, their 4.0 yards per carry is 22nd. With the most rushing attempts in the league, they rack up those yards by continually pounding the ball. Their defense leads the NFL in interceptions and turnovers, which probably explains the discrepancy in their total points ranking and their total yardage ranking.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 12-4 (2nd seed)
Passing Offense: 3301 yds (17th in NFL)
Passing Defense: 2511 yds (1st in NFL)
Rushing Offense: 1690 yds (23rd in NFL)
Rushing Defense: 1284 yds (2nd in NFL)
Total Offense: 4991 yds (22nd in NFL), 347 points (20th in NFL)
Total Defense: 3795 yds (1st in NFL), 223 points (1st in NFL)
LTRP: P Mitch Berger (15th year)
Franchise's Last Title: 2005
Players Remaining From Last Title: QB Charlie Batch (IR), S Tyrone Carter, T Trai Essex, LB James Farrior, LB Larry Foote, LB Andre Frazier, NT Casey Hampton, LB Arnold Harrison (IR), LB James Harrison, NT Chris Hoke, DE Brett Keisel, G Chris Kemoeatu, DE Travis Kirschke, CB Bryant McFadden, TE Heath Miller, RB Willie Parker, S Troy Polamalu, K Jeff Reed, QB Ben Roethlisberger, G Kendall Simmons (IR), DE Aaron Smith, T Marvel Smith (IR), T Max Starks, CB Ike Taylor, CB Deshea Townsend, WR Hines Ward, LS Greg Warren (IR), WR Nate Washington

I'm going to start out by confessing that I hate the Steelers. Hate 'em. They're both the franchise and the game overdog* next weekend, and I've had a bit of extra resentment for them ever since Super Bowl XL. Remember that? There were two teams playing, but you wouldn't know it based on the media coverage it got. For two weeks it was all "Steelers! Jerome Bettis! Terrible Towels! Diehard fans! One for the thumb! Iron City Beer! Cowher power! Winning tradition that doesn't predate the 70's!" You'd have thought the Seahawks were only there for ceremonial purposes. Then there was the game. Ugh. So many questionable calls went against the Seahawks that it felt like the whole thing was fixed (I'm not saying it was, just that it felt that way). When the Steelers won, the media and their legions of hype-followers rejoiced. Oh, it was sickening. Ever since then, the Steelers have had a permanent place on my crap list.

*- The way I see it, there are two types of overdogs. A game overdog is simply the favorite for a particular game. A franchise overdog is one where the team has enough winning in its history that coming up short shouldn't be a huge deal. It is possible for a franchise overdog to become a franchise underdog, but only if it reaches a point where the years of losing have effectively negated the years of winning for the average member of the fanbase. For instance, the Cleveland Browns were one of the most dominant teams ever during the '40's and '50's, but since the '70's they've had very little sustained success. The Browns are now a franchise underdog compared to most teams, because the average fan probably doesn't remember the last time they won a title. Now that I'm done ripping off Joe Posnanski's style (hey, if you're going to copy, copy from the best), I return you to your regularly scheduled post.

The Steelers were the clear favorites in the AFC North this year, and they lived up to the billing. Like the Ravens, they have an outstanding defense (the league's best), and like to run the ball, but they use the passing game more. Their defense doesn't force as many turnovers, but it is above average in that department.

Final Analysis

This game is probably going to be a close, low-scoring affair. The Steelers have an incredible run defense, so the Ravens' offensive attack will be hindered. Though the Steelers' offense is more balanced, it wasn't quite as productive as the Ravens' was, and they'll be facing a pretty tough defense themselves. This game may come down to whoever makes the fewest mistakes, since both these teams make their opponents pay for mental lapses. The Steelers beat the Ravens twice this season, but by margins of three and four points. The Steelers' four losses came against the Eagles, Giants, Colts and Titans. After those two losses to the Steelers, the Ravens' other three losses came against (get this) the Giants, Colts and Titans. They beat the Eagles when they played them.

Whew, this such a close call. The Steelers look like they have a slight edge on paper, but I really don't think the Ravens are that far behind. It reminds me of my World Series prediction in October. I went with the Rays because they were the safe pick, but I had this feeling about the Phillies. I guess I'll do the same thing here. I'm going to pick the Steelers to win, but with the qualifier that I'm in no way counting out the Ravens.

NFC

Now this is where it gets exciting. Neither team has won a championship in more than 45 years, so I know I'll be backing one of these two in the Super Bowl. The 1979 NFC Championship Game between the 10-6 Buccaneers and the 9-7 Rams has been dethroned. This game will feature the two worst teams record-wise in conference championship history. I don't mind though, because they're likable, doggone it. Let's look at the facts about our fine, feathered adversaries.

Philadelphia Eagles

Record: 9-6-1 (6th seed)
Passing Offense: 3911 yds (6th in NFL)
Passing Defense: 2913 yds (3rd in NFL)
Rushing Offense: 1697 yds (22nd in NFL)
Rushing Defense: 1476 yds (4th in NFL)
Total Offense: 5608 yds (9th in NFL), 416 points (6th in NFL)
Total Defense: 4389 yds (3rd in NFL), 289 points (4th in NFL)
LTRP: S Brian Dawkins, T Jon Runyan (13th year for both)
Franchise's Last Title: 1960
Players Remaining From Last Title: (Jim Mora voice) "You kiddin' me?"

How many people were aware that the Eagles' defense was so good? I wasn't aware myself until I looked up these numbers. After the way they handled the Giants on Sunday, I probably shouldn't be so surprised. They rely more on the passing game than I realized too. DeSean Jackson's 912 receiving yards led the team, but nine Eagles had between 247 and 440 receiving yards.

This has been one crazy year for Donovan McNabb. He was briefly benched mid-season and he faced public ridicule for revealing that he was unaware of ties in the NFL. Many observers thought the Eagles were finished when their early struggles coincided with strong starts by the Redskins and Cowboys, and there were talks of ending the McNabb-Reid era in Philadelphia. Now he finds himself on the verge of leading the Eagles to another Super Bowl. McNabb always seems to be an overcriticized and underappreciated player, but he's in his fifth NFC Championship Game. I think he deserves a little bit of credit.

The Eagles have played each of the other three remaining teams during the regular season, beating the Cardinals and Steelers and losing to the Ravens.

The Phillies have already broken the City of Brotherly Love's quarter-century championship drought, but considering it's been almost 50 years since the Eagles last won it, I wouldn't mind seeing Philly get another title, this time in football.

Arizona Cardinals

Record: 9-7 (4th seed)
Passing Offense: 4674 yds (2nd in NFL)
Passing Defense: 3540 yds (22nd in NFL)
Rushing Offense: 1178 yds (32nd in NFL)
Rushing Defense: 1764 yds (16th in NFL)
Total Offense: 5852 yds (4th in NFL), 427 points (3rd in NFL)
Total Defense: 5304 yds (19th in NFL), 426 points (28th in NFL)
LTRP: NT Bryan Robinson (12th year)
Franchise's Last Title: 1947
Players Remaining From Last Title: The question is not how many are still with the team, but how many are still alive.

This team, as you can see, really only did one thing especially well during the regular season: pass the ball. Much of the credit for that belongs to Kurt Warner, who's trying to become the second quarterback to start the Super Bowl with two different franchises (can you name the first?). They were last in the NFL in rushing attempts, but an interesting stat to note is that the Cardinals were 7-1 when they rushed for more than 50 yards, and 2-6 when they rushed for 50 or fewer. They rushed for 86 and 145 in their Playoff wins. Coincidence?

The defense has also stepped it up big time, allowing only 250 and 269 total yards in their two Playoff victories. They allowed fewer than that only three times this season, against the Rams, Seahawks and Dolphins. The Dolphins game proves that they can do it against Playoff-caliber competition, but the fact that they struggled to do it most of the season makes you wonder if this current run is a fluke or if something changed.

I'm still trying to process the idea that the Arizona Cardinals are one win away from the Super Bowl. For a long time they've been nothing more than that team that could surprise us, and this year they finally got around to doing it. The Cardinals make us think of several things. The Bidwill family's long and ineffective ownership. Dennis Green's postgame rant after losing to the Bears. Pat Tillman's untimely death. Moving from Chicago to St. Louis to Phoenix, then later changing their official location to "Arizona". All these things somehow tie into the idea of losing, whether it be games, local fanbases or life itself. Perhaps we're seeing the beginning of a new era, one where we associate the Cardinals with winning.

Final Analysis

The AFC gives us two defense-first teams that like to run and the NFC gives us two pass-oriented teams. The biggest difference in the NFC is that one has a terrific defense and the other has a defense that's looked significantly better in the Playoffs than it did in the regular season. When these two teams met in Week 13, the Eagles won 48-20. Though the Cardinals have home-field advantage this time, I'm not sure that'll be enough to overcome the difference in talent.

While the idea of the Arizona Cardinals playing in the Super Bowl is certainly improbable enough for me to root for it, I think the Eagles are going to win this game. The Cardinals have done well for themselves to get this far, but the Eagles' defense is much better than the Falcons' or Panthers'.

With the Steelers the only remaining non-avian team, I'm hoping for an all-bird Super Bowl. My official prediction though, is an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl. Whatever happens, Sunday should be exciting.

Rarely do we get to see a quarterback play like Jake Delhomme did in tonight's game against the Cardinals: 17 for 34 passing, 205 yards, one too-little-too-late touchdown pass, a fumble and five interceptions. All this and John Fox kept marching him out on the field.

He reminded me of a future Hall of Famer out there!

You gotta watch out for those quarterbacks born near the Gulf of Mexico.

In all seriousness though, congratulations to the Cardinals. I was sort of rooting for the Panthers, since I thought they had a better chance of knocking off the Giants in the next round (I hate the Giants), but if the Cardinals keep playing the way they have the past two games they'll be tough for anyone to beat. Hopefully the Eagles will take care of the Giants tomorrow and I can be happy for whichever team wins the NFC.