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.

Santa Claus and Tomlin Don't See Eye to Eye

It has been a tradition of the years, in which ex-Steelers coach Bill Cowher used to go along with, that sports announcer Bill DiFabio would dress up as Santa and have some fun at a press conference before Christmas.

Well, Bill Cowher ain't the coach of the Steelers anymore and current coach Mike Tomlin didn't think it was all that funny.

At first, Tomlin seemed like he was cool with it and willing to go along with the little comedy skit, but that didn't last long as Santa (DiFabio) began to get on his nerves.

"What have you got for me, Santa?" said Tomlin just before he invited Santa to come up the table in the front of the room and sit next to the head coach.

After over five minutes of hearing DiFabio go on and on Tomlin had enough. After offering to toss a football to DiFabio, Tomlin just said:

"If that will get you out of here,".

Needless to say, the loss to the Tennessee Titans in week 16 really got under his skin and for good reason.

To end the news conference Tomlin said that he is not treating the Steelers final regular season game against the Cleveland Browns as an exbition or a game with no importance which it is.

Cincinnati Bengals Look to Get Revenge on Hines Ward

It was only few week ago in week 7 when Hines Ward broke Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers' jaw on a crushing hit which sent him straight to the hospital and the Bengals definitely haven't forgotten.

In week 12 the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals will face off again and you better believe that the Bengals cross hairs will be pointed straight at Hines Ward's back to invoke some form of revenge for the hit on Keith Rivers.

Hines Ward is arguably one of the hardest hitters in the NFL today, hard to believe at times that he is actually a wide receiver. I don't think anyone on offense hits as hard as Ward, in fact I can't even think of any offensive player that hits with the force that Ward can. The guy could easily play linebacker.

Although almost anyone would be worried about an entire professional football team out to put a lick on then, Ward just says:

"I always keep my head on a swivel," Ward said. "It's football. ... Their heads should be on a swivel."

"I continue seeing those blocks, they've been going on the entire age of football," Ward said. "There's nothing cheap about it. ... If I really was trying to hurt Rivers, I would have gone low on him and tried to take out his knee."

Needless to say, even though the Steelers will be heavily favored, the Steelers vs. Bengals rematch will be one to watch just to see if they go after Ward or if he delivers another crushing blow to one of the Bengals.

HINES WARD'S HIT ON KEITH RIVERS IN WEEK 7

Steelers Sign Cornerback Roy Lewis

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers have had some injury trouble at cornerback with both Deshea Townsend out with a hamstring injury and Bryant McFadden out of action due to his broken arm, Pittsburgh decided to take a chance on rookie cornerback Roy Lewis.

Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden will miss his fourth consecutive game in week 11 against the San Diego Chargers, but the cornerback is hopeful that he can return when the Steelers take on arch rival Cincinnati Bengals on November 20th at Heinz Field.

McFadden had the cast on his broken forearm taken off two weeks ago.

"It's been very, very tough not being able to contribute," says McFadden, "Regardless of when I get back out there, I have to pad it up. If I'm not 100 percent, it's something I have to deal with."

To make some room for the rookie Lewis, the Steelers had to cut wide receiver Dallas Baker who played in eight games this season, but only caught one pass for 6 yards.