NFL Championship Weekend: Our Picks

NFC Match-up: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals, the basis for the current Deadspin Civil War.

Arizona Cardinals: Typing the words “Arizona Cardinals” just now was one of the more surreal moments of my life. For years we’ve known there was talent on the Arizona roster, with the Dynamic Duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin catching passes from an aging, but still serviceable Kurt Warner. The problem had been a lack of defense and a solid running game, the latter of which was NOT solved by Edge James, but they have found a decent enough stable of running backs to keep defenses on their heels enough for the passing game to flourish. And while the defense isn’t going to set the world on fire, guys like Bertrand Berry, Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie-Smithington-James III are all defensive playmakers that have stepped up so far in the playoffs (just ask Jake Delhomme). Throw Steve Breaston (do you realize he had over 1,000 receiving yards? One of 3 receivers on this squad that reached that number) and his kick-return prowess and this is a dangerous team that can score a lot of points really fast.