We have the privilege of watching a classic David and Goliath story here with the Arizona Cardinals facing off against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Football enthusiasts counted the Cardinals out immediately. I mean their last playoff win was in 1947, and they have never been to a Super Bowl in franchise history. No one had any hope for them, and a lot of the hype was focused on the Panthers and Giants going into the playoffs. The Cardinals were considered the underdogs in every play off game, but they surprised everyone by beating the Falcons, dismantling the Panthers, and then finishing off the Eagles for an all expense payed trip to Tampa Bay, Florida. But now their oppenent happens to be one of the winningest football programs in the history of the NFL. The Steelers are bloodthirsty for their second Super Bowl win in four years. They are led by "Big Ben" and Willie Parker on the offensive side of the ball and the defensive side is one of the most ominous and intimidating sights in the league. With Troy Polamalu controlling the secondary with his gorgeous flowing hair and the defensive player of the year, James Harrison, stopping the run...one has to wonder, who can move the ball against this team? Can Warner and Fitzgerald? Can the Steelers defense apply the much needed pressure on Kurt Warner to stop the all powerful Cardinals passing game?
Lately I have been reading endless articles on who will win this close matchup. With my research and personal bias, I have painted a picture of the way this game is going to go. Of course, both teams are going to lay everything on the line, so energy and desire is not an issue. It is all going to come down to Warner and Steeler's blitz scheme. If the Steelers find a way to pierce a very good Cardinals offensive line and lay some strong hits on Warner, they will greatly slow the Cardinals high octane offense. But, Kurt Warner has the best Quarterback rating against the pass, and with Fitzgerald and Boldin streaming down the sideline, all he has to do is chuck and pray. And Fitzgerald has been unstoppable in the playoffs, shattering receiver records for receptions and touchdowns. So I think his momentum will continue and he will raise hell for the Steeler's Secondary. So at the end of the game, the Arizona Cardinals will have won their first Super Bowl for the franchise. The final score will read Steelers: 17, Cardinals: 28, and they once again, will shock the nation.
