Well tomorrow will be Superbowl 43, with the Cards and Steelers playing for the Lombardi trophy. If you asked me when the playoffs started who I would see in this yr's Superbowl, my picks would have not been the Cards or the Steelers at all. I really saw maybe an Indy vs. G-men in the big game. I thought that could have been a real possibility, but no it didn't happen. Wouldn't it have been great for the two weeks leading to the game to hear ESPN newscaster talking 24/7 about the brother vs. brother subplot or what? It would've been good to market the game and maybe get great ratings from the viewers to tune in and watch, but no not this year. We saw Indy lose to the Chargers who I hate with a passion because of Rivers. Something about him makes me a little mad, but I will give him cred for keeping the team winning and going into the playoffs. Then the Giants lost to the red hot Eagles who were this yr's so called Giants from last yr, who got hot at the right time.
But we're here at what we have the Superbowl that is like “What they made it to the Superbowl" and I'm referring to the Cards. Nothing against them, but they were the team everyone ruled out from week one in the playoffs. I even picked the Falcons beating them in the first round, but they played great D and won the game with Warner and Fitz with a great running game from Edge who wasn't used in the season very properly. The next week they dismantled the Panthers, in an eye opening victory that told the world "we are good team and can win". Then they had to play the Eagles in the NFC Conference Championship game where they played well throughout the game and kind of lost focus in the second half, but prevailed to win the game to get a shot at playing for the Lombardi Trophy.
The Steelers are a solid team. There D is very solid with great playmakers on almost every position. Big Ben is your QB that doesn't really get you lots of fantasy pts, but he gets the job done to win the game for his team. The running game was unstable for them this yr with having three different backs playing due to injuries, but they have Parker back and better than ever. In the playoffs they beat the Chargers in a 35-24 game where the game itself was not close at all. Then they beat the Ravens23-14 with their Defense winning the game for the team.
Now both teams are in the Superbowl, who is gonna win? Well I say the Cards will beat the Steelers and it will be a close game. Why? I love the underdogs, but the Cards aren't playing like underdogs and I want Warner going to the Hall of Fame which would guarantee him a spot winning another ring. Well let me break it down by postions. In the QB battle we have Warner and Big Ben. Both of who have won a ring already, so they have experience in the big atmosphere of the game. Big Ben is a playmaker who can run around and find a WR open to keep the play alive, but what if Ben gets hit hard a few times in the game? Those shots will wear him down sooner or later in the game and could affect him in the game. Now Warner... Warner has that something about him. He's a vet who can found the open WR with the O-line giving him enough time as well. He can throw the deep ball well to Fitz and have a little chemistry going as well week in and week out. I here I pick Warner over Big Ben in the QB battle.
WR on both teams are very good. For the Steelers we have Hines Ward, Holmes, and the underrated Washington. If there was an X-factor in this position it would be Washington. He's the type of player that people lose focus of. Put him in the slot with Ward and Homes and boom, a big catch with him scoring a TD or big yardage. I can see that happening maybe once or twice if he's in the game. Also I’m unsure if Ward will be 100% healthy and ready to play so he could affect the team as well, but last time he was in the Superbowl. He played injured and was the MVP too.
With the Cards, they have a similar deal. They got Fitz, Boldin, and Breston. All of them are good WR and any one of them could break out in the game like Fitz has been in the playoffs. I could see Boldin being an X-factor for the Cards where the Steelers would put maybe two DB on Fitz losing focus on Boldin with one DB beating him deep. Also I can see Breston making an impact on the game as well too, so let's not count him out in the game. If I had to pick who would win the WR battle I would lean on the Steelers, but the Cards are right there in a 51:49 ratio. Both WR are very good and can make the big plays that are needed to win the game.
RB on both teams have a different story. The Steelers RB's have been fighting injuries in the entire season, but Willie Parker is back and better than ever with all his rest. Then there are the Cards who focused there attention to Hightower and giving him the ball with most of the snaps. Edge before the playoffs showed some heat to the Cards, and hoping to be with a new team after the season. But ever since the Falcons game, the old Edge is back and playing with a vengeance. Edge is a great hard runner where Hightower can bust out some yards on the sweeps and screens. So be aware of the one two punch. In the battle of the running backs, I have to give it to the Cards.
Now on defense. The Steelers D were hot and very good in the whole season beating great teams like New England, Giants, and Cowboys. They played very well with the play of Troy Polamalu and Harrison. I believe if anyone can change the game it would be Polamalu with his style of reading the play and being everywhere on the field. He’s like a spider monkey. Warner will need to pay attention where he will be on every play. Over with the Cards, there defense got hot with the start of the playoffs. There defense was very inconsistent but they starting playing well from their first playoff game. They have great DB's in Rolle and Rodgers-Cromartie with SS Adrian Wilson. I believe there DB's play could affect how well Big Ben will be able to find someone open while he's scrambling. If I had to pick a better D it would be the Steelers.
I can see the game going in the Cards favor in a score range in 24-21. That's why I pick the Card's to win. They are the little engine that could and with winning the trophy they will become the hot rod that could. But if I was a betting man. Which I am not. I would put my money on the Steelers to win because of their defense, but I’m not too sure about the health of Big Ben and Hines Ward, which kind of worries me to make them a lock to win the game for sure. That’s why I’m kind of leaning towards Arizona.
