Steelrs get one for the other thumbBy Dave CareyThe most successful franchise in NFL history? Look no further than Pittsburgh.The Steelers will surpass the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers with their record sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy when they beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.And why will they win?One word: Defense.Pittsburgh finished the regular season with the league’s top-ranked defense, yielding just 237.2 yards per game. The strength of the unit is pass defense, as it allowed just 156.9 aerial yards per game. The pass defense is anchored by linebacker James Harrison (101 tackles, 16 sacks), the Defensive Player of the Year, and Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu (73 tackles, 7 interceptions).But Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner can’t focus all his attention on them: He has to worry about linebacker LaMarr Woodley, one of the game’s most underrated pass rushers. Woodley finished the regular season with 11.5 sacks and has been nearly unblockable in the playoffs, recording at least two sacks in each of the past two games. The Steelers have 58 sacks through 18 games.And don’t expect Arizona’s defense to give its offense many short fields.The Cardinals defense has looked good this postseason, forcing 12 turnovers. But it has allowed at least 24 points twice and the majority of those turnovers were against Carolina’s Jake Delhomme (6). Arizona’s recipe for success has been shutting down an opponents’ running game and making them win with the deep ball — something the Steelers have no problem doing with receivers Nate Washington (631 yards, 3 TDs) and Santonio Holmes (821 yards, 5 TDs). Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward (1,043 yards, 7 TDs) also is expected to play with a sprained knee. The Steelers’ biggest strength is an early lead: They have scored on the opening drive in nine straight games.In the past 10 Super Bowls, the losing team has scored more than 21 points only once — New England’s 32-29 win over Carolina in 2004.That trend continues this year, as Warner will get battered into retirement, receiver Anquan Bolden again blows up on the sideline and Ravens fans hate the Steelers even more after they hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Baltimore, get ready for Ben Roethlisberger to go to Disneyland.I hope the commercials are entertaining, because this game won’t be — Steelers, 31-17.
Defense wins championships: Cards exception to the rule?By John KeimHere’s what I believe to be true: defense trumps everything when it comes to championship games. Period. End of sentence.So Pittsburgh will win Sunday.I have little doubt in my mind that this is the case; history proves this time and time again. Tampa Bay was the hot story in baseball, until facing a team that was better and had deeper pitching. Defense won.However, Arizona is different. The Cardinals can be the exception to whatever rule exists about title games. There’s not much that’s impressive about their defense.“They don’t have anyone that scares you,” one veteran offensive player told me this week.No, they don’t. But their results have been what matters most. Pittsburgh has struggled this season when facing blitzes and Arizona has done well this postseason in using that strategy. Yes, Pittsburgh’s line has improved but the Steelers remain susceptible.And Ben Roethlisberger loves hanging onto the ball for a long time, which can be risky once the pressure breaks through. And ask Donovan McNabb if it can break through.The Cardinals have a rookie corner who is growing better by the game in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. He can handle the deep threats of Pittsburgh. They have a safety in Adrian Wilson who is one of the most unappreciated players at his position (by the public, that is). Wilson is a fierce player; he’s not Troy Polamalu but he’s played at a high level in the postseason.The trick for Arizona is keeping alive its penchant for causing turnovers. The Cardinals have an explosive offense and a defense that keeps giving it more chances and in great field position. But can they play good D and stop a team without causing turnovers? We’ll find out. Maybe we won’t have to considering Roethlisberger is not immune from silly decisions in the pocket.But, really, we’re talking offense when it comes to Arizona. Kurt Warner has one a ring already and is playing at a high level. He has multiple threats to play with and the Cards showed vs. Philadelphia that they can run the ball when necessary, using two tight ends and one receiver.All they must do is maintain the threat of the run and they can hurt Pittsburgh’s offense enough to win. The Steelers have not faced many offenses as explosive as Arizona’s. If they want, the Cards can spread Pittsburgh and negate some of its ability to dominate with the front seven.The Steelers, history says, should be the decided favorite. But in a year where we just inaugurated our first black president, does history really matter?
