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CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar reviews the Conference title games.
| Championship Game Recaps |
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New England 24 |
at Pittsburgh |
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Pittsburgh 17 |
• Recap
• Game Summary
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| Key Stat |
1-3 -- Steelers' record in four home AFC Championship Games under Bill Cowher, getting outscored 81-71 in those games. |
Player of
the Game |
Troy Brown, WR, New England: Caught eight passes for 121 yards and had a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter that put the Pats up 7-0. |
| Breakdown |
The Patriots used a brilliant gameplan and impeccable execution to upset the Steelers and win the Lamar Hunt Trophy as AFC champs. Drew Bledsoe completed 10 of 21 for 102 yards and one touchdown after coming off the sideline late in the second quarter to replace the injured Tom Brady, who had hit on 12 of 18 for 115 yards up to that point. New England loaded up against the run and held Jerome Bettis to nine carries for eight yards and one touchdown. The Pats held the Steelers, the NFL's leading rushing team in the regular season, to a season-low 58 yards on 22 carries. Kordell Stewart and the Steelers' passing game couldn't solve Patriots cornerbacks Ty Law and Otis Smith, who each played well. Stewart completed just 24 of 42 for 255 yards and three interceptions. New England didn't turn the ball over while Pittsburgh committed four turnovers. |
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St. Louis 29 |
at St. Louis |
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Philadelphia 24 |
• Recap
• Game Summary
|
| Key Stat |
1,856 -- Postseason passing yards (309.3 per game) for Kurt Warner in six games. |
Player of
the Game |
Marshall Faulk, RB, St. Louis: Rushed 31 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns against an Eagles defense that gave up only 114.8 rushing yards per game this season. |
| Breakdown |
The Rams are back in the Super Bowl for the second time in three years thanks to a gritty, atypical St. Louis victory. The Eagles hung tough and had chances in the second half before faltering late in the fourth quarter. Warner completed 22 of 33 for 212 yards and one touchdown to complement Faulk's rushing prowess. Leonard Little made two tackles and had two sacks, giving him say 16.5 sacks in the regular season and postseason combined. Aeneas Williams had eight total tackles and picked off Donovan McNabb with 1:55 left to seal the victory. |
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