by Alex Marvez

Super Bowl Central

Steelers 27, Cardinals 23 Recap | Box | Play-by-play

Inside the game:

• Kriegel: Holmes steals show from Fitz
• Marvez: Harrison cited for going 100
• Behrendt: Loss wins Cards respect
• Video: Online OT reviews SB XLIII
• Steelers celebrate 6th Super Bowl
• Big Ben rises to occasion
• Fitz breaks out too late
• Polamalu beaming after Super win
• Respected Rooneys bask in No. 6
• Kurt Warner mum on future

Outside the game:

• Vote on 10 best, worst ads
• Polls: Was this best SB ever?
• Boards: Tell us what you think
• Steeler fans rush to the streets
• President Obama 1-for-1 on SB picks
• Porn clip interrupts local broadcast
• Springsteen rocks Super halftime show

Super Bowl history:

• NFL on FOX Super Bowl reflections
• Best teams | Games | Performances
• Worst teams | Games | Performances
• Chokes | Scandals | Media day moments
• SUPER BOWL CENTRAL | VIDEO

Shopping:

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All four playoff games are rematches from the regular season. NFC East rivals Philadelphia and the New York Giants split games in 2008 and will be meeting for the third time.

The combined point differential in those Eagles-Giants contests as well as the three other prior match-ups of playoff teams (Baltimore-Tennessee, Arizona-Carolina and San Diego-Pittsburgh)? A scant 19 points.

OK, the margin in Pittsburgh's 11-10 victory over the Chargers in mid-November would have been greater had the officials not blown a call that nullified a Steelers touchdown on the game's final play. But lost amid the furor from enraged gamblers affected by the point spread: San Diego had one of its grittiest outings of the season on the road against the NFL's top-ranked defense.

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers was reminded of that after re-watching the loss as part of his preparation for Sunday's road game.

"There are things where you say, 'Golly, it could have been the difference in the game!'" Rivers told Chargers media. "It's a good tape."

Arizona's 27-23 loss to Carolina has gnawed at Cardinals cornerback Ralph Brown since late October. The Cardinals led 17-3 early in the third quarter before a defensive collapse that included two touchdown catches by Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith.

"We didn't finish," Brown said. "That was our problem in a few other games as well. We had the lead and jumped on them early, then Steve Smith does what he does best: make guys miss."

The Giants aren't bemoaning their 20-14 home loss to Philadelphia in early December. Not only did New York win against the Eagles in Week 10, the 2007 Giants avenged four regular-season losses to three different opponents (Dallas, Green Bay and New England) in the playoffs en route to winning Super Bowl XLII.

"The 2008 regular season is over with," New York linebacker Antonio Pierce told Giants media. "There is nothing we can do about it. It is not going to help us moving forward. We can look at film and study, but come Sunday, it is a totally different ballgame. I think we understand that."

The rematch longest in the making comes between Tennessee and visiting Baltimore. The two squads met in Week Five, with the Titans eking out a 13-10 road victory.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said the 97-day gap since that game tempers any advantage either team could gain from film study entering Saturday's contest.

"Both teams are different than they were back in early October," Fisher said.

How different? Here's a look at what has changed since the last time all of these playoff teams met:

Arizona (10-7) at Carolina (12-4)

DeAngelo Williams burned Arizona for 108 yards on the ground when they met in October. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)

Previous meeting: 27-23, Panthers.

Game summary: The Cardinals imploded in the second half with a missed extra point and three turnovers that Carolina converted into 17 points. Arizona QB Kurt Warner passed for 381 yards, but it was Carolina's rushing attack that allowed the Panthers to chew the final 5:57 off the fourth-quarter clock.

Subsequent records (including playoffs): Cardinals 6-4; Panthers 6-2.

What has changed for Carolina?: Carolina's offense began clicking, especially inside the red zone. The Panthers scored at least 28 points in their final seven games, a total reached only twice in the season's first nine weeks. A 108-yard outing against Arizona by RB DeAngelo Williams marked the first of his seven triple-digit rushing performances in Carolina's final nine contests.

What has changed for Arizona?: The Cardinals have rediscovered their running game with a combined 197 yards in their past two games. The timing for Edgerrin James' reemergence couldn't be better. WR Anquan Boldin, who had nine catches and a touchdown against Carolina, might not play in the rematch because of a hamstring injury.

Who's hotter?: Carolina. The Cardinals finally have some momentum again, winning consecutive games for the first time since early November. But Arizona was 0-5 in East Coast games during 2008 and now returns to Carolina, where the Panthers were undefeated in the regular season.

Baltimore (12-5) at Tennessee (13-3)

Previous meeting: 13-10, Titans.

Game summary:Titans QB Kerry Collins capped the winning 80-yard drive with a touchdown pass to TE Alge Crumpler with 1:56 remaining. Tennessee was held to 47 yards rushing, which is 90 yards lower than its season average, but Baltimore's offense didn't advance beyond the Titans 37-yard line for the final 1½ quarters.

Subsequent records: Ravens 10-3; Titans 8-3.

What has changed for Baltimore?: Joe Flacco grew up. The rookie quarterback was making only his fourth NFL start against Tennessee and it showed. He tossed two interceptions and finished with his second-lowest quarterback rating (50.4) in the past 13 games. FS Ed Reed also has caught fire. He has 10 interceptions in the past seven games, an unprecedented total from any NFL player in at least a decade.

What has changed for Tennessee?: From a success standpoint, not too much. While falling short of an undefeated season, the Titans clinched the AFC South in early December and secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a Week 16 victory over Pittsburgh.

Who's hotter?: Baltimore. The Ravens are 6-3 on the road, including last Sunday's playoff rout of Miami, and their defense is playing at a Super Bowl level. A bye week has helped Tennessee's two best defensive linemen (Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch) recover from injuries, but C Kevin Mawae (elbow) isn't expected to play.

Philadelphia (10-6-1) vs. New York Giants (12-4)

The Giants had no answer for Brian Westbrook when these rivals squared off just a few weeks ago. (Al Bello / Getty Images)

Previous meetings: 36-31, Giants; 20-14, Eagles.

Game summaries: Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (126 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and QB Eli Manning (2 TD passes) paced a 36-31 road victory in Week 10. The Eagles rebounded in Week 14 with a 20-14 win that wasn't as close as the score indicated. The host Giants had no answer for Eagles RB Brian Westbrook, who tallied 203 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.

Subsequent records: Philadelphia — 5-2-1 since the first game, 3-1 since the second; New York — 4-3 since the first game, 1-2 since the second.

What has changed for Philadelphia?: The Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb drama that peaked with the latter's mid-game benching in Week 12 is over. Philadelphia's coach and quarterback both have job security for next season with the Eagles winning five of their past six games. Philadelphia's run defense also has greatly improved, finishing the regular season with a No. 4 ranking after standing 10 slots lower entering the first Eagles-Giants game. New York rushed for 219 yards in that contest and just 88 in the rematch.

What has changed for New York?: WR Plaxico Burress — who had scored or posted 100-plus receiving yards against Philadelphia in six consecutive match-ups — suffered a season-ending leg injury during a nightclub shooting prior to the second Giants-Eagles game. His presence was sorely missed, as the Eagles didn't have to roll a safety in Burress' direction to help in coverage. Without Burress drawing double teams, Philadelphia successfully crowded the box to stuff the run and manhandled New York's other wide receivers.

Who's hotter?: Philadelphia. The Eagles have won five of their past six games, handing New York its only home loss during that stretch. Because of the Burress fallout and the pressure inherent in being defending Super Bowl champion, New York looked like a tired team during a 1-3 December. The Giants hope the rest provided by a first-round bye and the ability to bench starters for a meaningless regular-season finale at Minnesota allows players to sufficiently recharge their batteries for another postseason run.

San Diego (9-8) at Pittsburgh (12-4)

Previous meeting: 11-10, Steelers.

Game summary:Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked four times, but Rivers had it far worse. Rivers finished with his lowest quarterback rating of the season (44.4) in a two-interception effort. Despite almost doubling San Diego in yardage (410 to 213), Pittsburgh needed a 32-yard Jeff Reed field goal with 11 seconds remaining to win.

Subsequent records: San Diego 5-2. Pittsburgh 5-1.

What has changed for San Diego?: Just like last season, the Chargers caught fire in December and claimed a third consecutive AFC West title. San Diego's defense is gelling better now that Ron Rivera has settled in at defensive coordinator after a midseason promotion. The Chargers, though, will probably have to play Sunday without rushing leader LaDainian Tomlinson (groin).

What has changed for Pittsburgh?: Nothing from a defensive standpoint, as Pittsburgh continued to dominate with the exception of a 31-14 loss at Tennessee. Roethlisberger suffered a concussion in the season-finale shutout of Cleveland but will start Sunday. RB Willie Parker may have regained his burst. Parker gained 116 yards against the Browns, which exceeded his combined rushing total from Pittsburgh's previous three games.

Who's hotter?: San Diego — at least until Sunday with intermittent snow showers and temperatures in the mid-20s forecast at kickoff. The Chargers' five-game winning streak is the longest of any playoff team.

Alex Marvez interviewed Ralph Brown during a Tuesday night hosting shift on Sirius NFL Radio 124.