Super Bowl XLIII is nearly upon us. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Arizona Cardinals. Watch more than the commercials, folks, this one will be interesting (disclaimer: I could be totally wrong even by halftime, but that is why we watch).
Pittsburgh, or Blitzburgh, as it is sometimes called, carries the hard-knocks, smashmouth, hit-em-in-the-mouth mentality on defense AND offense. The defense ranks up there with the 85 Bears and 00 Ravens as one of the best units ever. Then, on offense, there's "Big Ben" Roethlisberger, a quarterback with the size and toughness of a small lineman, and Hines Ward, a wide receiver who plays like a linebacker. "Fast Willie" Parker carries the ball along with Mewelde Moore, who joined the team after Parker was hurt and has contributed much. Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington provide the speed on the outside and TE Heath Miller is as good at finding the seam as anyone, and has great hands to boot.
On the other side of the ball, Pitt's 3-4 is just plain insane. I pity quarterbacks who have to play this squad. Led by D-Coordinator Dick LeBeau, "The Steel Curtain" features four outstanding linebackers: James Harrison, Larry Foote, James Farrior, and LaMarr Woodley. Nose tackle Casey Hampton is harder to move than a congressional bill, and don't even get me started on safety Troy Polamalu. The dude with the long black hair is like a ghost or Nightcrawler from the X-Men: he'll line up on the left side of the line, then all of a sudden be in the right flat or deep middle; and this guy doesn't miss tackles often.
So, Pittsburgh's pretttttty good.
Arizona was the league doormat for ..... ever. Even this year's team didn't get a lot of respect, but they deserve some credit. Sure, they played in one of the league's worst divisions, but they've got the skills to pay the bills. Kurt Warner... need I say more? Aside from being a little fragile at times (his age is catching up with him, and sometimes he can't hang onto the ball), Warner could be the best dissector of defenses. At running back, there is the three-pronged attack of Edgerrin James, Tim Hightower, and J.J. Arrington. James was benched this year because of low numbers but has since regained his mojo, Hightower is a rookie with a lot of power and potential, and Arrington is a midget of a man who is very elusive in the open field. Receiver is the Cards' strong point. Larry Fitzgerald was good when he entered the league, but this year he turned the dial up to FLIPPIN AMAZING. He can catch like nobody's business, he's got speed, quickness, agility, and this dude knows the game inside and out. And THEN there's Anquan Boldin, a beast of a dude who BROKE HIS FACE earlier this year and was playing three weeks later. He's the most difficult receiver to tackle in the NFL, so the YAC rack up with him. Steve Breaston is the speed guy who always seems to get open.
The Arizona defense isn't anything fancy, but don't you dare underestimate them. S Adrian Wilson, DT Darnell Dockett, LB Karlos Dansby, and CBs Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie aren't household names, but they will be making some big plays on Sunday.
My gut is to go with Pittsburgh- it's so hard to beat a team with a defense like that- but you can tell the Cardinals want it badly. All I know is, the commercials will be funny, but I'll be glued to the couch when the game's going.
Fun Facts:
If Arizona wins, they will have won their first Super Bowl. If Pittsburgh wins, they will have won their NFL-record sixth. They are currently tied (5-1) with Dallas (5-3) and San Francisco (5-0).
Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt, offensive line coach Russ Grimm, linebackers Clark Haggans and Sean Morey, and tight end Jerame Tuman were all part of Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL-winning team in 2006.
Larry Fitzgerald and linebacker Gerald Hayes went to Pitt Univeristy.
Byron Leftwich, the Steelers' backup QB, suffered an ankle injury against the Cards in 2005 while a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. After the hit by Adrian Wilson, his career has never been the same.
Arizona won the last meeting between teams 21-14 on Sept. 30, 2007 on a Steve Breaston punt return.
Kurt Warner, in his 3rd Super Bowl, can become the first QB to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
Edgerrin James left the Colts the year before they won the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh has three defensive Pro Bowlers (Harrison, Farrior, and Polamalu), and Arizona has three offensive Pro Bowlers (Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin), as well as one defensive player (Wilson) and one special teamer (Morey).
you should be writing for some sports magazine!
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