By far, the biggest surprise of the postseason is the fact that NFL Draft experts across America have to wait one more week to see if the Cardinals will be picking last. Somehow, even after those wins over Atlanta, Carolina, and Philadelphia, it still seems surreal.
On the other hand, the Steelers, quite simply, are real. There are no astonished looks on the faces of the fans from Steel City. This is a team that expects to win it all, and often has.
It's a matchup of teams as opposite as Obama-McCain. It's a passing attack that has rejuvenated a stellar career versus a storied franchise that has rededicated itself to a brutal inside running game. It's a game that has somehow sparked the curiosity of the nation despite lacking a team from Dallas or New York or Boston.
But the real story lies below the surface of Steelers at Cardinals; it's in the individual matchups.
It all starts with Larry Fitzgerald. The guy is a beast. There's no better way to put it. Through the Cardinals' first three playoff games, Fitzgerald has been uncoverable, uncatchable, and unstoppable. Every week it's the same mantra from that poor majority that continues to doubt the Cards: we just have to stop Fitzgerald, we can stop Fitzgerald.
Well you can't.
A weak Falcons secondary couldn't handle him. Carolina, one of the better defensive teams in the NFC, had two weeks to prepare for this passing attack, not to mention the added advantage of having Anquan Boldin relegated to the sidelines, but Fitzgerald gained 161 yards and scored early to silence the Charlotte crowd. In the NFC Championship game Brian Dawkins was supposed to patrol the middle of the field like a rabid Cerberus, but once more the Cards came through. Fitzgerald again opened the scoring, and followed it up with perhaps the best game of his career. Nine catches for 152 yards and three scores is a pretty decent way to silence the critics.
Of course, the defense Arizona will face on Sunday is not normal. They aren't a hopeful group that relies on offensive production in order to feel comfortable. This is a tone-setting defense that recently out D-ed the most talked about tacklers of the decade. The Steelers didn't become the number one unit in the NFL by accident. They did so with plays like that Troy Polamalu pick-six that slammed the door to the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes in Joe Flacco's face. A guy like Polamalu is not normal.
Philly's Brian Dawkins is a world-class hitter. And Asante Samuel has a sixth sense for intercepting passes. But no one Arizona has faced combines both skills the way Polamalu does. Looking back at that Baltimore game, the Steeler's safety was often in position to make a play before the receivers were even out of their cuts.
Polamalu excels at reading the quarterback's eyes. Watch him in pass coverage and you'll see it every time. A rookie like Flacco had no chance. When Kurt Warner drops back he has to give false looks. Even if Warner knows he's going to Fitzgerald, he simply cannot show his hand. Polamalu is a five-time pro-bowler. Asked about that game-clinching interception against Baltimore, he stated without hesitation that Flacco was being forced to look underneath due to the Steelers' deep drops. That's what makes him so special. Not only do his flattening blows intimidate the receivers, not only does his ability to read make him dangerous, but his understanding of the game puts him on a level rivaled by no safeties the Cardinals have faced.
Of course, it helps to have such an impressive cast in front of him. NFL Defensive MVP James Harrison makes the secondary's job pretty easy. Harrison's ability to relentlessly pester opposing passers earned him 16 sacks this season, and he'll be coming after Warner more than a few times in Tampa. In fact, the Steelers were second in the NFL at getting to the quarterback. With that kind of pressure it should be difficult for Fitzgerald to find those deep openings that have sparked Arizona in their improbable run.
Unless Warner and the Cardinals' O line puts together another performance like the one against Philadelphia. That Eagles defense is the closest thing they have seen to what Pittsburgh will do and they handled it perfectly. Warner was on fire against the Eagles' blitz packages. Every time there was significant pressure he expertly placed the ball in Fitzgerald's hands or smartly dumped it off to a safety valve out of the backfield. That experience will be invaluable on Sunday.
Sure the Steelers were able to sit back more often that usual against Flacco, but Warner is a veteran with a Super Bowl ring. This is a guy with Doyle Brunson's poker face, not a first year kid who needed three and a half quarters to settle down. Polamalu will have to gamble in ways that weren't necessary against the Ravens. In fact, Warner's experience may be the edge the Cards need to pull off yet another upset, but it won't happen without some semblance of a running game.
Part of the credit for Warner's success is due to the resurgence of Edgerrin James and the rushing attack. The play action pass has opened up beautifully now that teams have been forced to respect the running backs. Gaining yards on the ground is no small task against the Steelers. Pittsburgh's front seven has been brilliant at forcing foes into one dimensional attacks. Think Flacco wouldn't have been more successful if the Ravens could have managed more than 73 yards on the ground. If Arizona wants to smile in the faces of their critics one last time, that cannot happen.
This is what the Super Bowl is all about. It's a chance to prove that winning three in a row after dropping four out of six is not a fluke. It's an opportunity to revitalize a dynasty with brute force. The Super Bowl is an unparalleled stage where the best earn that right against the best. Record breaking performances and highlight reel interceptions are mirages in the past. In Tampa, it's about winning the individual matchups so that an entire team can enjoy the shared camaraderie of a successful effort.
On the other hand, the Steelers, quite simply, are real. There are no astonished looks on the faces of the fans from Steel City. This is a team that expects to win it all, and often has.
It's a matchup of teams as opposite as Obama-McCain. It's a passing attack that has rejuvenated a stellar career versus a storied franchise that has rededicated itself to a brutal inside running game. It's a game that has somehow sparked the curiosity of the nation despite lacking a team from Dallas or New York or Boston.
But the real story lies below the surface of Steelers at Cardinals; it's in the individual matchups.
It all starts with Larry Fitzgerald. The guy is a beast. There's no better way to put it. Through the Cardinals' first three playoff games, Fitzgerald has been uncoverable, uncatchable, and unstoppable. Every week it's the same mantra from that poor majority that continues to doubt the Cards: we just have to stop Fitzgerald, we can stop Fitzgerald.
Well you can't.
A weak Falcons secondary couldn't handle him. Carolina, one of the better defensive teams in the NFC, had two weeks to prepare for this passing attack, not to mention the added advantage of having Anquan Boldin relegated to the sidelines, but Fitzgerald gained 161 yards and scored early to silence the Charlotte crowd. In the NFC Championship game Brian Dawkins was supposed to patrol the middle of the field like a rabid Cerberus, but once more the Cards came through. Fitzgerald again opened the scoring, and followed it up with perhaps the best game of his career. Nine catches for 152 yards and three scores is a pretty decent way to silence the critics.
Of course, the defense Arizona will face on Sunday is not normal. They aren't a hopeful group that relies on offensive production in order to feel comfortable. This is a tone-setting defense that recently out D-ed the most talked about tacklers of the decade. The Steelers didn't become the number one unit in the NFL by accident. They did so with plays like that Troy Polamalu pick-six that slammed the door to the Ravens' Super Bowl hopes in Joe Flacco's face. A guy like Polamalu is not normal.
Philly's Brian Dawkins is a world-class hitter. And Asante Samuel has a sixth sense for intercepting passes. But no one Arizona has faced combines both skills the way Polamalu does. Looking back at that Baltimore game, the Steeler's safety was often in position to make a play before the receivers were even out of their cuts.
Polamalu excels at reading the quarterback's eyes. Watch him in pass coverage and you'll see it every time. A rookie like Flacco had no chance. When Kurt Warner drops back he has to give false looks. Even if Warner knows he's going to Fitzgerald, he simply cannot show his hand. Polamalu is a five-time pro-bowler. Asked about that game-clinching interception against Baltimore, he stated without hesitation that Flacco was being forced to look underneath due to the Steelers' deep drops. That's what makes him so special. Not only do his flattening blows intimidate the receivers, not only does his ability to read make him dangerous, but his understanding of the game puts him on a level rivaled by no safeties the Cardinals have faced.
Of course, it helps to have such an impressive cast in front of him. NFL Defensive MVP James Harrison makes the secondary's job pretty easy. Harrison's ability to relentlessly pester opposing passers earned him 16 sacks this season, and he'll be coming after Warner more than a few times in Tampa. In fact, the Steelers were second in the NFL at getting to the quarterback. With that kind of pressure it should be difficult for Fitzgerald to find those deep openings that have sparked Arizona in their improbable run.
Unless Warner and the Cardinals' O line puts together another performance like the one against Philadelphia. That Eagles defense is the closest thing they have seen to what Pittsburgh will do and they handled it perfectly. Warner was on fire against the Eagles' blitz packages. Every time there was significant pressure he expertly placed the ball in Fitzgerald's hands or smartly dumped it off to a safety valve out of the backfield. That experience will be invaluable on Sunday.
Sure the Steelers were able to sit back more often that usual against Flacco, but Warner is a veteran with a Super Bowl ring. This is a guy with Doyle Brunson's poker face, not a first year kid who needed three and a half quarters to settle down. Polamalu will have to gamble in ways that weren't necessary against the Ravens. In fact, Warner's experience may be the edge the Cards need to pull off yet another upset, but it won't happen without some semblance of a running game.
Part of the credit for Warner's success is due to the resurgence of Edgerrin James and the rushing attack. The play action pass has opened up beautifully now that teams have been forced to respect the running backs. Gaining yards on the ground is no small task against the Steelers. Pittsburgh's front seven has been brilliant at forcing foes into one dimensional attacks. Think Flacco wouldn't have been more successful if the Ravens could have managed more than 73 yards on the ground. If Arizona wants to smile in the faces of their critics one last time, that cannot happen.
This is what the Super Bowl is all about. It's a chance to prove that winning three in a row after dropping four out of six is not a fluke. It's an opportunity to revitalize a dynasty with brute force. The Super Bowl is an unparalleled stage where the best earn that right against the best. Record breaking performances and highlight reel interceptions are mirages in the past. In Tampa, it's about winning the individual matchups so that an entire team can enjoy the shared camaraderie of a successful effort.
By Guest Columnist Hunter Ansley
1 comment:
I think that the cardinals are going to get blown out i mean come on sure the beat the teams but the steelers played hard teams unlike the cardinals
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