If you picked the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers to play in the Super Bowl when the playoffs began, nice work. Hardly anyone could have foreseen the rise of the Cardinals, who many considered undeserving of a playoff spot after a 9-7 season. They will face a favored Steelers team which was among the AFC favorites since Day 1, and appear to be peaking at the perfect time behind a rejuvenated Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback and an elite defense.
The Cardinals are a team that can attest to that. Just a few weeks ago, they were being called the “worst playoff team in NFL history” after losing four of their final six games to close the regular season. But the Cards surprised everyone in the playoffs, as their defense and running game rose to the occasion to make them a truly dangerous team. Now, after a hard-fought 32-25 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship, they are one win away from becoming one of the more improbable Super Bowl Champions in NFL history.
While the Cardinals only recently showed the ability to win the NFC, the Steelers have been at the top of the list of contenders in the AFC. They rolled through the playoffs with a victory over upstart San Diego in the divisional round, and overcame the intimidating defense of the Baltimore Ravens in a 23-14 win last Sunday in the AFC Championship.
ARIZONA
Offense: The ‘Zona offense has been unstoppable throughout the playoffs. With the steady hand of Kurt Warner guiding them, the Cardinals are one of the league’s most explosive units. Larry Fitzgerald, likely the best wideout in the league, leads the way behind his 419 yards over the postseason, an NFL record. But Arizona’s offense was always a flawed one over the regular season because of a non-existent running game. That changed in the playoffs, as Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower have provided a formidable 1-2 punch, giving the Cards a new dimension not just offensively but as a football team altogether.
Defense: The defense’s awful close to the regular season earned the unit its fair share of criticism, but the players reverted back to their early-season form—and then some—this postseason. With playmakers like Antrel Rolle and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the secondary and Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby heading up the front seven, they have created 12 turnovers during their three postseason victories. They contained the Atlanta Falcons’ vaunted offense in the Wild Card Round, and then completely shut down the Carolina Panthers’ top-ranked run game to reach the NFC Championship game.
Overall: The matchup with a Pittsburgh team that appears to be firing on all cylinders is a tough one. The Steelers excel at pressuring the quarterback, which could potentially throw off the Cardinals’ gameplan. But if Arizona can maintain the level that they have played at over the postseason, there is no reason not to believe they will have some success. When it was all said and done, this was the best team in the NFC. They rose to the occasion when it mattered most, and have been a dominant football team during much of the playoffs. This is no doubt a dangerous team that certainly has what it takes to come out of Tampa with a victory, and they have been proving analysts wrong all postseason long.
PITTSBURGH
Offense: Ben Roethlisberger was banged up early in the season after taking some big hits, but the offensive line steadily improved, helping Roethlisberger and the rest of the offense find themselves down the stretch of the season. They continued that improvement into the playoffs. Pittsburgh’s physical unit will try to beat up on the Cardinals defense and wear them down with the finally-healthy Willie Parker in the run game. But they can make plays in the passing game too with the speedy Santonio Holmes and bruising Hines Ward at wideout. Ward hurt his knee in the Baltimore win and didn’t return, but it’s hard to foresee the injury being serious enough to keep him out of the Super Bowl.
Defense: This is where Pittsburgh’s bread is buttered. The Steelers defense has been one of the league’s best, giving up just under 14 points per game over the season. Their dominance was on display in the win over the Ravens, where they gave up less than 200 yards and forced three Joe Flacco turnovers, his only giveaways of the entire postseason. AP Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison is a thorn in opposing offense’s sides at linebacker. But the catalyst for the unit is safety Troy Polamalu, a five-time Pro Bowler who has a knack for making plays at the most important of times, such as his interception return for a touchdown to ice the AFC Championship Game in the fourth quarter.
Overall: The Steelers will be favored, and they should be. Their defense sparks memories of the old Steel Curtain units, and they will be licking their chops at the prospect of facing the immobile Warner. But what has really made a difference is the offense, which has to come together over the past few weeks. If Pittsburgh can be efficient offensively and avoid turning the ball over, they should be able to move the ball well enough against an Arizona defense that will give up yards. One thing is for sure: all of the pressure in this game will be on the Steelers. If they can handle, it they should come out on top.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 21, Arizona 13
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