SPORT
Superbowl XLIII Preview: The Cards in Tampa?
/ Adam Underhill
01.29.09
Now, about those Steelers.
I already wrote plenty about the Pittsburgh Steelers in the run up to Super Bowl XL in early 2006. Suffice to say that it’s a franchise whose history might offer some hope to long-suffering Cardinal fans (although the Cardinals never seem to stick around one town long enough for the fans to be considered “long-suffering”). Prior to the 1970s, the Steelers, like the Cardinals - and, during WWII, WITH the Cardinals - totally sucked. They weren’t even lucky enough to win a title by default. All of that changed, of course, with the hiring of Chuck Noll and the assembling of one of the greatest teams ever to play football. Since the early ‘70s, the Steelers are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports. They’ve won five Super Bowls in six tries. They churn out Pro Bowlers like Oscar Mayer makes hot dogs. They’re on only their third coach (Mike Tomlin) in nearly 40 years. Their fans follow them to every road game in huge numbers. They’re as consistently successful as the Cowboys, only far less hated outside their division.
The Steelers of 2008 are much better than that wild card team from three years ago. The defense, in particular, will give Arizona’s coaches cold sweats: First in points allowed, first against the pass, second against the run. The AFC Championship Game against hard-hitting Baltimore looked like the Battle of Verdun. The Ravens “Verdun,” indeed, as Pittsburgh held them to just 198 yards of offense and delivered one punishing blow after another. When the smoke cleared, and poor Willis McGahee was carted off the field (he’s okay), the Steelers were bloodied and exhausted 23-14 victors. In Arizona, they’ll face an aerial assault, but Pittsburgh’s defense had 20 interceptions in the regular season (led by safety Troy Polamalu’s 7). It allowed just 12 touchdowns through the air, and seven on the ground.
In fact, based on their 2008 performances, Pittsburgh has an advantage in passing defense, rush defense, rushing offense, and special teams. Arizona has the advantage in the passing offense. I’d put coaching at about even (Whisenhunt versus Tomlin, both 2nd year men in their first head coaching gigs).
If I had to pick an advantage in intangibles (and we love intangibles, don’t we?), then I’d give that to Arizona, the underdog on the hot streak. Going into Charlotte and beating the Panthers in particular seems to have these Cardinals showing their plumage. All Whisenhunt has to do on Saturday night is show his team the NFL Films tape of Giants 17, Patriots 14 to get them foaming at the mouth. Fitzgerald can catch a ball on his helmet, Warner can win the MVP and retire, Cris Collinsworth can blow his cerebral cortex from over-praising the team and be carted out of the studio, Springsteen can attach himself to one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, and the beleaguered citizens of the Grand Canyon State can enjoy a little ray of sunshine to get them through their brutal, unforgiving winter. It could be a storybook end to an unlikely journey.
Can it happen?
Sure.
Will it?
Doubtful.
Pittsburgh by 7.
I already wrote plenty about the Pittsburgh Steelers in the run up to Super Bowl XL in early 2006. Suffice to say that it’s a franchise whose history might offer some hope to long-suffering Cardinal fans (although the Cardinals never seem to stick around one town long enough for the fans to be considered “long-suffering”). Prior to the 1970s, the Steelers, like the Cardinals - and, during WWII, WITH the Cardinals - totally sucked. They weren’t even lucky enough to win a title by default. All of that changed, of course, with the hiring of Chuck Noll and the assembling of one of the greatest teams ever to play football. Since the early ‘70s, the Steelers are one of the most successful franchises in all of sports. They’ve won five Super Bowls in six tries. They churn out Pro Bowlers like Oscar Mayer makes hot dogs. They’re on only their third coach (Mike Tomlin) in nearly 40 years. Their fans follow them to every road game in huge numbers. They’re as consistently successful as the Cowboys, only far less hated outside their division.
The Steelers of 2008 are much better than that wild card team from three years ago. The defense, in particular, will give Arizona’s coaches cold sweats: First in points allowed, first against the pass, second against the run. The AFC Championship Game against hard-hitting Baltimore looked like the Battle of Verdun. The Ravens “Verdun,” indeed, as Pittsburgh held them to just 198 yards of offense and delivered one punishing blow after another. When the smoke cleared, and poor Willis McGahee was carted off the field (he’s okay), the Steelers were bloodied and exhausted 23-14 victors. In Arizona, they’ll face an aerial assault, but Pittsburgh’s defense had 20 interceptions in the regular season (led by safety Troy Polamalu’s 7). It allowed just 12 touchdowns through the air, and seven on the ground.
In fact, based on their 2008 performances, Pittsburgh has an advantage in passing defense, rush defense, rushing offense, and special teams. Arizona has the advantage in the passing offense. I’d put coaching at about even (Whisenhunt versus Tomlin, both 2nd year men in their first head coaching gigs).
If I had to pick an advantage in intangibles (and we love intangibles, don’t we?), then I’d give that to Arizona, the underdog on the hot streak. Going into Charlotte and beating the Panthers in particular seems to have these Cardinals showing their plumage. All Whisenhunt has to do on Saturday night is show his team the NFL Films tape of Giants 17, Patriots 14 to get them foaming at the mouth. Fitzgerald can catch a ball on his helmet, Warner can win the MVP and retire, Cris Collinsworth can blow his cerebral cortex from over-praising the team and be carted out of the studio, Springsteen can attach himself to one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, and the beleaguered citizens of the Grand Canyon State can enjoy a little ray of sunshine to get them through their brutal, unforgiving winter. It could be a storybook end to an unlikely journey.
Can it happen?
Sure.
Will it?
Doubtful.
Pittsburgh by 7.
