Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII is just two days away and that means its prediction/comment time for me. I have thought long and hard about this game and I have decided on my pick. The Pittsburgh Steelers have been phenomenal on defense all year long. The Arizona Cardinal have been phenomenal on offense all year long. Those two statements are what makes this Super Bowl so dramatic. You have opposites and that causes drama. The Steelers will become the all-time leader in Super Bowl wins if they can win this one with 6. Only the Dallas Cowboys and the 49er's are in company with those numbers . . . both have 5 like the Steelers.

The Arizona Cardinals were the highest scoring team in the National Football League this season. The 20 times that the highest scoring team has made it to the Super Bowl, they have won 9 times and lost 11. When you factor in the Steelers case, being that they were the defense that allowed the fewest points in the National Football League this season  - - - The teams who made it to the Super Bowl who allowed the fewest points are 12-4. Listen people, both teams have had 2 weeks off. Plenty of time to prepare, plenty of time to rehab, and plenty of time to get focused. If the Cardinals can get to "BIG BEN" and I think they will, then the Cards have a tremendous shot at winning this football game. Their front 7 is so under rated. They have been playing extremely well throughout this post season. Not to mention their first round draft pick, Cornerback Rogers-Cramarte (Tennessee State), who has just been outstanding. Going back to Arizona's front 7 . . . let me mention that they have only given up 107 rushing yards in the entire post season...  now thats serious. Hines Ward will be shut down because Cramarte won't let anything by him so that means Nate Washington and tight end, Heath Miller will have to step up. "BIG BEN" is not a rhythm quarterback . . . the Cards cannot let him scramble out of the pocket on third downs because he will hurt you. 

Can we all agree that this is a tension Super Bowl? So much drama and anticipation. Cardinals Quarterback, Kurt Warner has astounded the nation this season but he will have to be aware of the Steelers front 7 and pretty much their entire defense . . . what makes Pittsburgh's secondary so good is the fact that they just do their assignments. They are in sync at all times and that is what makes them tough to beat. However, I would be extremely careful if I were the Steelers defense because you do not want to blitz Kurt Warner. He is extremely good against the blitz. In fact, Warner was the 6th best verse the blitz this season. He can get rid of the ball fast and he is accurate when he throws it. Not to mention he has three receivers who have caught for over 1,000 yards a piece. 

For example, The Philadelphia Eagles 15 out of the 30 pass plays. Kurt Warner was 10 of 15 with no picks and 181 yards with the Eagles blitzing him. Now the Steelers defense has been prolific for the most part. They only allowed 10 catches for 92 yards combined against T.O., Plaxico, and Randy Moss . . . oh yeah and just 1 touchdown...that came week 14 (T.O.). 

That being said, I love Dick Lambeau just as everyone else does but I am not picking the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. Ike Taylor and the Steelers defense will be so focused on Larry Fitzgerald that Anquan Boldin is going to have a terrific game. I'll take Kurt Warner as MVP and Boldin a close second if not a "sharing MVP."               SCORE >>>>

Steelers-19

Cardinals-26