It's just a matter of guys just understanding it's time to make plays. Those opportunities in the past, when we had them, we didn't make the plays when we needed to, and this time we did. That's the difference.

Mr. Allen saved this franchise. I was on the team in 1996 when we had basically packed our bags and moved down to Anaheim [California]. He stepped in when approached by city officials to put a bid up to purchase the team and take us in a different direction. That's exactly what he has done.

You have to be nuts to do what I do. It's not necessarily a glamorous position. You have to really love the game because most guys don't want to play it.

We're all sort of like deer in the headlights, a little bit shocked and in awe, but at the same time we know we have to accomplish a mission.

This will probably be one of the most physical football games that has ever been. Pittsburgh's reputation speaks for itself, and people seemingly don't know a whole lot about us, but we're a pretty physical team as well.

You know, we've been an underdog all year long. And that's fine. I don't worry about the odds-makers and all that stuff. Nobody even gave us a chance near the end of the season, after we ran off 11 straight games, that we would even play for the NFC Championship, let alone the Super Bowl.