Cardinals

AFC championship

Jan. 18 vs. Baltimore Ravens

W, 23-14

Ravens070714

Steelers673723

Troy Polamalu's 40-yard interception return for a touchdown with 4:24 remaining allowed the Steelers to beat the Ravens for the third time this season and ended an 0-2 jinx in conference championship games at Heinz Field. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 255 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown to Santonio Holmes, and the Steelers defense registered three sacks and three interceptions against rookie QB Joe Flacco.

The

ROAD

to Tampa

AFC divisional playoff

Jan. 11 vs. San Diego Chargers

W, 35-24

Chargers7301424

Steelers7771435

After the Chargers took a 7-0 lead on the opening possession, the Steelers stormed back with the help of a 67-yard punt return for a touchdown by Santonio Holmes to advance to their fourth AFC championship game since 2001. Willie Parker rushed for 146 yards and two scores, and the defense held the Chargers to a franchise postseason-record 15 yards rushing.

NFC wild card playoff

Jan. 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons

W, 30-24

Falcons0170724

Cardinals7714230

Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner opened with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals defense intercepted Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan twice in the franchise's first home playoff game since 1947.

Super franchise

The Steelers are going to their seventh Super Bowl, the second-most appearances by a team behind the Dallas Cowboys:

TeamAppearancesRecord

Dallas Cowboys85-3

Steelers75-1

Denver Broncos03-4

New England Patriots63-3

NFC divisional round

Jan. 10 vs. Carolina Panthers

W, 33-13

Cardinals14133333

Panthers700613

Entering the game as 10-point underdogs, Kurt Warner threw two touchdown passes, Larry Fitzgerald had 166 yards receiving and the Cardinals pounced on Panthers QB Jake Delhomme's six turnovers in Charlotte, N.C.

NFC championship

Jan. 18 vs. Philadelphia Eagles

W, 32-25

Eagles3313625

Cardinals7170832

Before these playoffs, the Cardinals had won only two postseason games in franchise history. Now they're at Super Bowl XLIII thanks to Larry Fitzgerald's three first-half TDs and Kurt Warner's winning drive with 2:53 left.

Edgerrin

James

Running back

6-0, 220

10th season

College:

Miami