Pittsburgh Steelers

THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS: PART IV

The last in a four-part series of comprehensive looks at each of the teams in Sunday’s NFC and AFC championship games.

PIVOTAL PLAYER

* Receiver Hines Ward. More of a possession receiver than a deep threat, Ward is the unofficial captain of the Steeler receivers. He’s a fantastic blocker who has a big role in the success of the running game. Although he hasn’t reached the end zone often lately -- he scored two of his four touchdowns in the first three games -- he helps make the offense go. He’s also a former college quarterback who understands that position, which helps rookie Ben Roethlisberger.

FUTURE LOS ANGELES EXPANSION PICK

* Safety Troy Polamalu. In his second NFL season, the former USC standout has established himself as an excellent run stopper whose coverage skills are improving with each game. He intercepted a pass against the Jets and ran over Curtis Martin. That rekindled memories of his running over Carson Palmer, his college roommate, at the goal line.

WHY THE STEELERS WILL WIN

* They’ve got a great running game, one bolstered by a sound Duce Staley. Jerome Bettis proved there’s life after 30, and Pittsburgh’s offensive line was among the league’s best, even though it lost standout guard Kendall Simmons before the season started.

WHY THE STEELERS WILL LOSE

* Roethlisberger has struggled lately, overthrowing his receivers and making some risky decisions. He looked like a rookie against the Jets, and he’ll need to do better than that. He can’t rely on the Steeler defense to bail him out in consecutive playoff games.

X-FACTOR

* Running back Verron Haynes. He doesn’t make a lot of plays, but he always seems to come through with a couple in big games. The barrel-chested ex-fullback converted a key third down in the Steelers’ overtime victory over the Jets and could pull off an encore this week.

BREAKOUT OFFENSIVE PLAYER

* Center Jeff Hartings. In his ninth season, Hartings not only made his first Pro Bowl but was named All-Pro. He’s a leader on the line, a guy who keeps everyone under control, and he’s done a great job of keeping his rookie quarterback calm.

BREAKOUT DEFENSIVE PLAYER

* Cornerback DeShea Townsend. His name hardly ever comes up during a game, and that’s a good thing for a cornerback. Quarterbacks often avoid throwing to his side of the field. He became a starter halfway through last season and is the team’s best cover corner, even playing with a cast on his right hand as he is now.

GOAT IN WAITING

* Kevin Spencer, assistant coach. He oversees the Pittsburgh special teams, which frequently make costly errors in the playoffs. In their AFC championship game loss to New England two years ago, the Steelers gave up two touchdowns on special teams -- on a blocked field-goal attempt and a returned punt. In the divisional-round victory over the Jets, Pittsburgh gave up a punt return for a touchdown.

UNDER THIS COACHING REGIME

* Bill Cowher is in his 13th season, the longest run with one team of any NFL coach. For the fifth time in 11 years, his Steelers will play host to the AFC championship game. They’re 1-3 in those games.

-- Sam Farmer