Aikman won't say underdog Cardinals are fan favorite

Fox Sports analyst Troy Aikman has seen more of the NFC than any other broadcast team this season.

He knows America loves an underdog - especially when the stakes are high - but he isn't ready to proclaim the Arizona Cardinals as the people's champion in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.

"Well, I don't know that [the Cardinals] are a sentimental favorite," Aikman said with a laugh during a conference call with reporters. Aikman will call the game with play-by-play announcer Joe Buck. "It has been fascinating to watch, they have been pretty remarkable in these last few weeks."

For some reason, the three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and articulate announcer likened this year's Cardinals to last year's Giants, though they don't bear much semblance.

"I know that a lot of people have been talking about the Eagles being like last year's Giants," Aikman said, "but I think that the Cardinals are a lot like the Giants. No one gave them any chance.

"They aren't running the ball any better, but they continue to create turnovers. That is what wins football games."

Wouldn't the Eagles be more like the defending champion Giants? If anyone, Fox Sports analyst Michael Strahan would know. He was the Giants' starting defensive end on last year's Super Bowl team, and had a 15-year career with the Giants.

Strahan has been impressed by the Eagles' dominant play of late, but he couldn't say that he was surprised by their run to the championship game. Strahan, now a commentator on Fox's pregame show with Curt Menefee, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Terry Bradshaw, was just surprised with their destination.

"I have a healthy curiosity with this game," Strahan said. "Philadelphia finished strong, so I am not surprised by their success. But Arizona was on the decline at the end of the year.

"Plus they are not a mainstream team, if that makes sense. They don't have a big following. I am intrigued to see if they are for real."

Both commentators were quick to point out that while much has been made about the running game of both teams, neither has been all that successful.

"With the Eagles, there has been a lot of talk about how Brian Westbrook needs to carry the offense," Aikman said. "Aside from his fourth quarter touchdown against Minnesota, he really hasn't been that effective.

"They [the Eagles] have got to do what they have been doing defensively. The key for them will be [Cardinals receiver] Anquan Boldin and his health. If he isn't able to play, they will be able to key on Larry Fitzgerald."

Said Strahan: "The Eagles have done a great job of pressuring defensively. Asante Samuel will need to challenge Larry Fitzgerald.

"But the Cardinals offense, they are under the same notion that they're running the ball better. They're actually not. Not even as well as the regular season. It's their defense that has been the real difference. They have been really good against the run."

As for a prediction, Aikman and Strahan didn't have a real hunch. Or at least they weren't tipping their hand. They have both seen each of these teams numerous times, they just don't know what they're going to get on Sunday.

"Arizona needs to not get overwhelmed," Strahan said. "They need to start fast. It is easy in a game of this magnitude to get carried away. If they don't keep it close early, they could be in trouble."

"The Eagles have a lot of veterans on this team," Aikman explained. "It is a big game and they have been in this situation before. They just need to come out and play well from the start.

"I think it will be a heck of a ballgame." *