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ESPNTheMag.Com Presents: All-World Power Rankings

by Ted Bauer

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Here come Fitzgerald and (maybe) Boldin.

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER/COACH FROM ALL FOUR TEAMS THIS WEEKEND? WE'LL TAKE BRIAN DAWKINS

[Ed's note: Not sure what All-World Power Rankings is? Please click here.]

Four teams lock it up this Sunday, but only two can make the Super Bowl. All the teams are obviously playing hot—they got here, right?—so chances are one (or both) game turns on a few key plays. Who are the individuals who will most be in the spotlight? Caveat: this defines "inexact science." Did you think Darren Sproles would be the star of the first wild card Saturday? Doubtful. How about Jake Delhomme handing a home game to the Cardinals? Let's attempt some guesses about this Sunday.

TOP 5
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
1 (14) BRIAN DAWKINS After stifling the G-Men, Dawkins said this was the best defense he's played on in Philly. Them's big words, so a letdown against the offense-happy Cardinals would be bad. Read this for a rather frank assessment of Dawkins' skills at age 35. Asante Samuel, who picks off passes in the postseason with the frequency some people change socks, factors into this discussion, but if Warner exploits Dawkins deep, it could be a long day in Glendale for the Iggles.
2 (410) LAMARR WOODLEY Everyone knows about James Harrison (Defensive POY) and Troy Polamalu (been doing it better than most for a long time), but Woodley is a key cog in the Dick LeBeau scheme. If he can get at Joe Flacco and offer another angle of frustration, the Steel City crowd will be super into it.
3 (21) DONOVAN MCNABB We thought we could get lower than No. 3 without mentioning one of the QBs, but here goes. McNabb needs this game. To be 1-4 in NFC Title games is a moderately depressing legacy, even for a great one. The Cardinals' defense has been shutting down good run teams, but D-Mac still has the weapons to confound 'em.
4 (127) LARRY FITZGERALD More than anything else, we just think he needs to make an iconic, two-guys-draped-near-him-and-him-in-the-air catch. It's worked twice so far.
5 (899) THE PITTSBURGH OFFENSIVE LINE We're not going to single out one of them. They played well as a collective against San Diego: Big Ben's strike to Hines Ward, which changed the game, came as a result of him having a ton of time. The Ravens are super physical. Big Ben had a concussion a few weeks ago. You don't want him getting knocked around by Lewis, Suggs, Ngata and company.

HONORABLE MENTION
RANK (YESTERDAY) WHAT WHY
18 (144) JOE FLACCO He seems (cue Stuart Scott) "as cool as the other side of the pillow," but starting an AFC Title Game in Pittsburgh wearing a Ravens uniform can't be easy. Dude needs to keep it all under control.
28 (701) ED REED AND RAY LEWIS Hard to seperate these guys, although we mean no disrespect to Suggs, Ngata, Scott and company when we do so. Here's the real question: do you agree with this post?

RISING AND FALLING
MOVEMENT WHAT
DARNELL DOCKET (Read the link. He's an important dude on AZ's defense.)
BEN ROETHLISBERGER (He will be very important. We just don't think the game will be completely decided by his performance.)


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