Studs and Duds, Conference Championship: Larry. Fitzgerald.

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.


Here's the Conference Championships at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Larry Fitzgerald, WR Arizona (9 catches, 149 yards, 3 TDs) -- Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to go to the game for FanHouse and cover what was unfolding. Basically, in the press area you have one rule -- no cheering. Yet Fitzgerald had people there gasping, awe-ing, and even, sayitain'tso, high-fiving.

The guy is a beast. He said after the game that the team "had a good game plan," but come on, you can't game plan ridiculous talent. He set a playoff record with receiving yards, surpassing Jerry Rice with one game to go, and might just be the best offensive player in football. Kurt Warner knows his role at this point -- get Fitz in one-on-one coverage and make sure you throw the ball as far and as high as possible. That dude will come down with it. I'm coining his new nickname by way -- Sticky. Sticky Fitz.

Troy Polamalu, S Pittsburgh (3 tackles, 1 interception for TD) -- You know, it really isn't fair to just pick one guy off the Steelers defense, but I guess you can give it to Locks. Vicious hit after vicious hit was the story yesterday. The coach of the best team in the AFC for most of the year, Mike Tomlin can tip his hat to Polamalu and the guys for wrapping this game up and exposing a young rookie quarterback. Speaking of that guy ...

Duds

Joe Flacco, QB Baltimore (13-for-30, 141 yards, 0 TDs, 3 INTs) -- The guy was in over his head from the start, plain and simple. Personally, I think you have to give credit to Flacco for a great season in which he was thrust into the spotlight, winning two playoff games on the road and proving that the Ravens defense is good enough to win games with a quarterback who can avoid throwing up on himself. But his game on Sunday was a stinker. He looked lost, and he couldn't find anyone when he had them. Solid rookie year? Yep. Nasty ending to it? Absolutely.

David Akers, K Philadelphia (Missed 47-yard field goal, missed extra point) -- It wasn't windy, cold, humid or rainy. It was Phoenix, for goodness sakes, and Akers just didn't have his touch. The missed field goal in the second quarter was huge, but the missed extra point made the Eagles change their game plan after scoring. He had connected on 19 straight postseason field goals before his miss from 47 yards, a costly one at a time when the momentum was checked in the Cardinals' favor. This was a game that the Eagles will look at for a while, and Akers struggled as much in the first half as Philly's secondary.

Near Studly -- Kurt Warner, Kevin Curtis and LaMarr Woodley.

Near Dudly -- Eagles secondary, Willie Parker and Ed Reed.