By Eric Zeugschmidt
This Sunday the NFC''s fighting underdogs, the Arizona Cardinals, and the AFC''s hardest hitters, the Pittsburgh Steelers, will face off at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. in Super Bowl XLIII.
Before many jump on the Steeler bandwagon due to ignorance, or maybe even just because of a fickle-found alliance with 'Big Ben' or Troy Polamalu, just hear me out, and keep those 'Terrible Towels' still as I open your eyes to the truth.
Statistically speaking, you might find it surprising that the Cardinals have the advantage in three of four offensive categories. They have more first down completions, more total offensive yards and more total passing yards. The only offensive advantage the Steelers have is in their running game, but even that isn''t anything to write home about. Any Arizona fan will graciously accept this defeat, as they are 32nd in the league in rushing.
The Cardinals are coached by the offensive genius of Ken Whisenhunt, who by the way used to be the Steelers offensive coordinator. This man knows Pittsburgh''s offensive playcalls and is now going to use this deadly information to his team''s advantage. Whisenhunt has taken this fairly quiet, mostly underestimated team, to contend for the highest honor in the NFL in just two short seasons. In addition, he has something to prove now, as he faces the very team that passed him up for the head-coaching job. Meanwhile, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is still riding the coattails of Bill Cowher''s success.
Let us not forget about the NFL''s 'rags to riches' boy Kurt Warner. Here is a guy who bagged groceries and played arena football and in the NFL European League before his big break in 1999 with the St. Louis Rams.
But in Super Bowl XLIII, Warner has proved that it takes a man, not a boy, to get the job done. He has shown that he is still at the top of his game 10 years after his debut with the Rams. He has once again taken a no-name team in a fairly poor division, to the top. Now you answer this: What''s not to love about Kurt Warner?
Warner is the second-most accurate quarterback in NFL history, behind Chad Pennington, with a 65.7 completion percentage and has the third-best all-time passer rating QB behind Steve Young and Peyton Manning. Warner also is ranked third in post-season winning percentage.
Warner is great in the pocket and thrives on quick-release slant routes and screen passes. The Cards'' offensive line only allowed three postseason sacks against the Panthers and top ranked pass rushing Eagles defense. This front seven will be crucial against the Steelers and their notoriously aggressive defense. If anyone can pull this off, it will be Kurt Warner.
The Cardinals boast two offensive weapons in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald has yet to be shut down this entire season, and both are crucial in this soon-to-be Arizona victory. Fitzgerald currently has a postseason reception record with 419 yards, and his piece de resistance will be his performance in the Super Bowl. Fitzgerald is undoubtedly one of the league''s best - if not the best - receivers with 1,431 yards in the regular season on 96 receptions. Boldin had over 1,000 yards as well. Try to stop that, Polumalu!