Steelers Win The Super Bowl

Wow. That's really the best that I can muster right now after that once in a lifetime game last night. It's hard to say exactly where that game last night ranks in the history of Super Bowls, but it's safe to say it has to go down as one of the top few ever. The first 55 minutes or so were good, but it was the incredible last 3 minutes that made it great. You just knew that Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston weren't going to go down without a fight, and that's what those last few minutes were.

After that highly questionable holding call (in a night filled with highly questionable penalties) in the end zone that caused a safety and cut the lead to 20-16, I think everyone in Pittsburgh stopped breathing for a few minutes. I mean, after the Cardinals O finally looked like they were getting their swagger back (either that or they were stealing Ike Taylor's much alluded to swagger) on the previous drive, the last thing in the world we needed to see was that Cardinal O get the back again with a shot to take a lead. And of course they didn't disappoint, doing their part to set the stage with a bullet pass to Larry Fitz that the former Pitt legend housed with speed that I don't think anyone knew he had.

For a brief instant Steeler fans everywhere were hanging their heads. Not in defeat, of course, just in frustration and worry. But hope was not far off. Almost immediately after the score the camera shot to our two-time Super Bowl winning QB and he gave a look like, "Alright these idiots scored too soon, we're going out there and there is no god damned way they are going to stop us." That look gave me and everyone else who witnessed it a renewed sense of hope and confidence.

The work by Ben on that final drive was the stuff of legend. The pass to Santonio was one that only the most elite players can make. And I really believe that no other QB in football could have run that two minute drill as well given this personnel. No one could have bought time like that with his struggling offensive line. No one could have had the balls to check down to their third and fourth options with defenders closing in on him. Simply an amazing job in an amazing game by an amazing player.

Some random thoughts:
-Breakout game for Santonio. I know he's had games like this before, of course, but after stepping up like he did last night with Hines Ward struggling to get anything going because of his injury, I think the torch has at least partially been passed from Ward to Holmes.

-As great as Santonio was, that MVP trophy belonged to Ben Roethlisberger. Santonio had one of the 3 or 4 greatest games for a receiver in Super Bowl history, but like I said, no other player in football could have performed like Large Benjamin last night. His amazing improvisation, his ability to easily fend off blitzers, his big arm and pinpoint accuracy, and his ability to lead the best two-minute drill in football. The guy is the most unique QB I've ever seen and might be the most unique player I've ever seen.

-As far as the reason for the MVP goes, I think the award going to Santonio is another example of Ben being underappreciated. If that had been Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or Brett Favre (Peter King just genuflected at the mention of His name) we'd be subject to 4.3 million bland columns by geezer columnists the nation over about the legend of these guys. But Ben is such a different animal at QB that no one who doesn't watch the Steelers every week seems to understand Roethlisberger's importance. And even as people still sing the praises of Peyton "over-the-hill" Manning, Tom "the gimp" Brady, and Brett "I've been a terrible QB for 3 years now" Favre, Big Ben won't be able to hear them anyway because he has two Super Bowl rings plugging his ears.

-How about James Harrison? I mean are you kidding me? Santonio's catch figures to go down as the legendary moment of this game, but that only counted for 7 points. Harrison's counted for 14, because there's no way you can tell me that the Cardinals wouldn't have scored a TD from inside the 5 with the greatest red zone weapon in football at their disposal.

-Kurt Warner's a Hall of Famer. There, I said it. He's not gonna be a first ballot guy, but he deserve to go to Canton.

-I absolutely love this city. After the game we sat around and watched trophy presentation and what not and by the time we headed out to the streets of Oakland to celebrate the place was already absolutely insane. The streets were all closed off throughout Oakland, fires were everywhere, and thousands upon thousands of rowdy students were covering the streets. Just an amazing scene and it couldn't have been any more enjoyable. That's also the reason that there is no conceivable way I was going to make it my 9:30 class this morning as putting together this blog post starting at about 10:45 was the first thing I did all morning besides downing an energy drink to try and combat a hangover. College is the best.

-I absolutely love this franchise. Is there any question that the Rooneys are the best and most effective owners in all of sports? I can't see how that can be debated. The biggest test of owners like the Rooneys is there ability to develop a culture in their organization and to hire the right staff. No one's been better. Chuck Noll is one of the 3 best coaches in NFL history. Bill Cowher was the ultimate player's coach and is a definite Hall of Famer whenever he retires again from his next job. Mike Tomlin has cemented himself as the best young coach in the NFL, and is quickly making a case as the best game coach in all of football. He doesn't have the front office pull of a Belichick (yet) and he doesn't have the league-wide respect factor of a Dungy just yet (though he definitely will) but on game day I don't know that there is anyone better at pushing the right buttons and unleashing things at the right time, even if he may be too aggressive or rash at some times. Plus, the Rooneys are great because of that culture they have built. I don't think anyone these days can argue the Steelers are America's team. Jerry Jones and the Cowboys may have started the moniker for themselves, but as an organization they pale in comparison to the Steelers.-I don't think NBC had enough people covering this thing. Peter King, Jerome Bettis, Tiki Barber, Andrea Kramer, Dan Patrick, Keith Olbermann, Cris Collinsworth, Bob Costas, Matt Millen, (how are we supposed to take anything this guy says seriously?), Mike Holmgrem, Tony Dungy and the foxy newcomer Alex Flanagan. And then we had the two man booth of John Madden and Al Michaels. That's 14 people!!! And there's a definite chance that I forgot someone. Really, NBC, we don't need that many people. Give me more Costas, more Collinsworth, MORE Alex Flanagan, and more Peter King. Give me less Keith Olbermann, less Tiki Barber, and absolutely no Matt Millen and things would be a lot better. Although, if NBC takes Bill Simmons up on his suggestion of a Hollywood Squares style set, then I rescind my complaints.

-I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ben Roethlisberger is a better playcaller than Bruce Arians. Hey, I know the players (especially Ben) seem to love Arians and he may very well be a very good coach and teacher but I'd much rather see Big Ben out there calling plays in a no huddle offense than looking at the wrist band and taking sideline signals. I'm not saying the O should turn into an early 90's Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills style offense, but that no-huddle, hurry up is so damn effective I'd love to see it more.

-Hines Ward, despite not getting much attention in the passing game, was his usual gritty self. It was apparent to anyone who has watched over the years that he was badly hurt. He is normally so effective because of the superb cuts he can make in his routes but I don't think I saw him make one of those trademark cuts yesterday. Still, he was blocking downfield on several plays, was constantly talking and being chippy and getting under Zona's skin, and did have a big play on the first drive of the game that helped get us 3 points.

That's all I can muster for now folks. I think I'm headed back to bed. Until next time, let's all revel in our franchise's record 6th Super Bowl Championship.

SB43 Preview

Who knew two weeks could take so long? Doesn't it feel like the AFC Championship was about 2 months ago? Maybe I just place a bit too much importance on the Steelers, but I've been a nervous wreck for two weeks now and its kinda weird to think that, no matter what happens in roughly 24 hours, that anxiety will be completely gone, replaced either with euphoria or fury. Anyway, here's my personal breakdown of this puppy, complete with some minor game predictions at the end.

Steelers Offense vs. Cardinals DefenseExpect the Steelers to start the game doing what they always do: Work hard to establish their running game. It's pretty tough to really guess as to how effectively this philosophy will work against the enigmatic Cardinals D. Many thought they'd have success running against the Chargers' mediocre bunch (and they did), and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion they would struggle mightily against the Ravens stingy D (and they did). But the Cards are a different animal altogether. They were susceptible to giving up big rushing totals at numerous different points in the season. The gave up 183 yards to the Patriots, 239 to the Vikings, and 185 to the Eagles, as well as allowing 4 other games with over 100 yards rushing. For that reason I'm sure the Steelers will work at the rushing game early to try and take advantage of a Cards D that I'm sure they still think is susceptible despite the last few games that indicate otherwise.

For their part, the Cards D-Line, as well as their very good linebacking corps, have really turned things around after spending much of the season resembling those old Indy Colts teams that had the dynamic O no D identity. Guys like Darnell Dockett, Antonio Smith, and Bertrand Berry have really turned around the team's season on the front lines and figure to be a very tough matchup for the much-maligned Steelers O-Line if their productive play continues.

In the passing game, there are a few potential X Factors. Hines Ward is the big question mark right now. I think we've all seen just how impotent the Steelers offense can get when Ward is out of the lineup, and that was certainly the case two weeks ago. Due to the injury, I definitely don't expect much in the way of stats posted by Ward, as I think we'll see him mainly as a decoy and on short routes. I'd venture something like 3 or 4 catches for 20-30 yards. Nothing too spectacular certainly, and he won't be adding a second MVP to his trophy case. With Ward likely being somewhat ineffective I think Santonio and Heath figure to be the ones to benefit the most. Santonio is my personal darkhorse pick for MVP. I think he gets 100 yards receiving and a TD and Heath may fill the role that Ward typically fills on third downs, at least somewhat. I've heard talk about Nate Washington, but I'm still no tremendous fan of his work, and while I think he is effective enough, I can't imagine him getting more than 1 or 2 catches and don't think he'll be able to bring in any long passes against the Cards' secondary, though he has become strangely good at drawing PI penalties.

Cardinals Offense vs. Steelers DefenseNow THIS is the matchup that everyone is fired up about. The Steelers' vaunted D is one more dominant performance away from gaining serious consideration as one of the best defenses in recent memory. The Cardinals offense has as much talent at the skill positions as any team in football and are just hitting their stride. They are of course led by the most dominant offensive player in football in the great Larry Fitzgerald. In case you've spent most of the past two weeks in some sort of a drunken stupor, the Steelers ability to handle Fitz and keep him in check has been one of the major subplots of the Super Bowl. The Cards also boast not one but two other 1,000 yard receivers from this season in the controversial Anquan Boldin and the underrated Steve Breaston. Its a safe bet that Ike Taylor will spend most of his night matched up with Fitz, and it remains to be seen how often the Steelers deploy their excellent safeties to double Fitz. But they can't sleep on Boldin, though, as there have been times in the past couple seasons when it was debatable who was the best receiver on Zona, and the talent in Boldin is still very much there despite Fitz's overshadowing of him.

The passing game for the Cards also will have another dynamic: The Steelers pass rush. NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and his counterpart LaMarr Woodley figure to get a ton of chances to rush Warner and how well the Cards hold block Harrison and Woodley will be a big factor in determining this game's outcome. As always, Dick LeBeau figures to bring the blitz from every conceivable angle and Kurt Warner's wisdom and skill will be an interesting match for LeBeau and company.

The Cardinals rush attack has at least partially developed over the past few games. However, the Steelers incredibly stout rush defense gives them the biggest advantage in this game. James Farrior and the other aforementioned linebackers team up with Troy Polamalu and the tough D-Line to stuff pretty much every rushing attack they've faced all season, many of which are much better than this Cards roster.

Final Predictions:
And now I will put my best sooth-saying effort forward and attempt to divine some things about tomorrow's game. Note that almost all of these things will probably be horribly, terribly wrong.

-Santonio Holmes goes over 100 yards and scores on a long TD pass from Big Ben.
-Ben also throws a TD toss to Heath Miller.
-The Cards keep it very close for much of the game on the backs of Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin. Boldin especially has a surprisingly big game for the Cards.
-The Steelers get to Warner several times but have very few sacks to show for it by game's end. However, the constant pressure does force him to get rid of the ball and prevents any killer deep balls to Fitzgerald.
-The Steelers win 24-17.
-Ben Roethlisberger wins Super Bowl MVP honors and throws for something like 240 yards.

Late Night Steeler Links

This is likely my last edition of SB43 links. But its Thursday Night/ Friday morning and its roughly 1 degree outside and since I'm not the least bit tired and am basically just killing time until Burn Notice comes on at 1 AM, I thought I'd piece together a few of the countless interesting stories/ links hanging around the web right now.

The Sports Guy is stopping by ESPN.com Friday for one of his delightful yet very rare marathon chats. The over/under is about 3.5 hours. I'm leaning towards the under.

James Farrior is in touch with the Trib on a daily basis for a little diary action.

There are rumors circulating all over the place that our beloved Large Benjamin had some X-Rays on his ribs and that he may be more hurt than he or the team have been letting on. However, Peter King is saying that, even if Ben has a little bit of the ouchies he still looks damned good. In typical King fashion, he also puts together 10 things he thinks he might think about thinking. Or something like that.

Some random news stories: Tomlin's the Coach of the Year, Heinz Field is still the worst, and Dick LeBeau is coming back.

I'm not entirely sure how I should feel about this yet, but the Super Bowl has gone Twitter. For the life of me, I'm not sure I'll ever really figure out the appeal of Twitter. I mean, giving constant updates on what's happening in your life? I guess I can see it for events like the Super Bowl (though it'd be infinitely better if someone like Deadspin had a Twitter account at the Super Bowl and could say whatever they want...but I guess they'd just do that on their blog if they wanted to...all this internet stuff just criss-crosses with each other) Like I alluded to, the NFL is sponsoring the Twitter account, so its mostly the standard company line, promoting the Super Bowl stuff. A bit of a Yawner, but if you really want detail on today's Radio Row and stuff like that, this is certainly the spot for you.

The leader of the free world is pulling for our beloved Steelers.

Does this mean the Secret Service will let us borrow their ultra-super-secret spy stuff to gain an advantage in SB43? I mean it's not like this would be the first time such equipment has been used, right Mr. Belichick?
Sorry to any Boston fans, I just absolutely positively could not resist. It's in my DNA.

Joe Posnanski, who I have previously mentioned as being in my mind the top sportswriter in America and a guy I have a bit of a man-crush on, does a very good job capturing the Steeler essence in this column. I have been meaning to link to this for so long that he actually put up a follow up post on his personal blog because of the Burgh attention he's gotten for it. This post actually kinda jarred me. I mean it's definitely a very good column and all, but people crying over it? Uhmm...I can't see it. Maybe I just have no soul. Not sure.

If you are a fan of the spectacular D.J. Gallo, then you simply must be checking out his daily blogs from about SB43. Gallo also looks at some Steeler bars around the world. And if you aren't a fan of D.J. Gallo, well then I'm not sure we can be friends. In fact, if you aren't down with D.J., kindly hit the olllld back button on your browser and return to whatever page you came from.

As much as I love the fine folks at Holy Taco, don't they know that Steeler fans are already second on the NFL's ranking of fat fan bases? I mean we'll never catch Green Bay, that'd be like someone catching the Canadiens in Stanley Cup titles, but good lord this Super Bowl snack item they are pimping out nearly gave me a heart attack just from looking at it. If there are any dramatic moments in the game, we're going to have a few hundred cases like this one because of this artery-destroyer. This is going to be on your conscience Holy Taco.

Bill Belichick and a few other NFL coaches give some scouting insight on the game. Worth a quick read.

For our final Steeler link, here is some very irritating news that is circulating only in rumor form for now: That there may NOT be a parade if the Steelers win the Super Bowl. There might only be a celebration. Uhmm... what the hell? Are Dan Onorato and Luke Ravenstahl and whoever else new to the city? Are they not aware of how seriously we take our Steelers and how much we revere and worship them? A "celebration" or whatever the hell else ain't going to cut it. Especially because it would mean that everyone who wants to celebrate will have to congregate in the same area. Where in Pittsburgh do you suggest that can happen unless they are going to be lame and hold at Heinz Field or something and have it be completely impersonal and dull. The beauty of the parade is that it spreads people out like crazy so that everyone isn't piled into one big mess of people. Granted there is always a stopping point where people congregate but not everyone goes there. Trust me, Pittsburgh leaders, have the damn parade. If finances are a little tight, how 'bout Mayor Steelerstahl covers the cost with some of his excess campaign funds being that he has enough cash to bring him and his peeps to the game.
And then some Non-Steeler stuff too, because after all there are a few other teams in this town, though you wouldn't know it by looking at the Post-Gazette and Trib's sports pages:

The Pensblog takes Dan Potash to task for a...uhmm... suggestive question. Nothing gets by the Pensblog, and a good Potash bashing is always A-Ok by me.

Neal Huntington waited until he was absolutely, positively certain that no one in the entire city was paying attention to him...and then he makes not one but two competent moves (more than he'd made all offseason mind you) in the same day. This sucker probably could've had better timing, but signing Paul Maholm to a 3 year extension is a smart move even though I think he ends up a 3 or 4 starter. The Eric Hinske deal ain't exactly a franchise-altering signing, but its smart and gives us an excellent bench piece. It also signifies the end of the Dirty Doug Mientkiewicz Era in the Burgh. Whatever. Doug was a good clubhouse guy and I'm sure the crazies at the PBC Blog are storming PNC Park with pitchforks and torches, but Hinske's the far superior option to Doug in my mind. I already touched on this previously.

5 Key Matchups for SB43

1. Larry Fitzgerald vs. The Steelers Secondary
Above all else, Fitzgerald is the reason that the Cardinals are in the Super Bowl this season. He has been basically unstoppable as he torched defense after defense during the playoffs. If the Cards are going to win this game it will be because of Larry's incredible abilities. So naturally, he is priority numero uno for the Steelers spectacular defense. I expect to see a fair amount of Ike Taylor going against Fitz, but even with the Steelers top corner shadowing Larry, I still think we'll see double coverage for much of the day. Also, the Steelers often go to something of a zone when they blitz heavy, as most teams do, but against Fitz, we've seen all postseason you absolutely, positively cannot go zone. It will be interesting to see how Dick LeBeau plays against this unbelievable talent.

2. Ben Roethlisberger vs. The Cardinals Pass Rush
The Cards defense has really stepped up their game the past few weeks. Because of this, Big Ben is going to need to play mistake-free ball and neutralize their superb playmakers. Roethlisberger has been excellent at that for the past several games, but every Steeler fan has seen how nasty things can get when Ben starts struggling and trying to do too much. Roethlisberger is one of the most unique QB's in football and his way of fending off blitzers and keeping plays alive can alter games in both extremely positive and negative ways. Its probably a pretty fair bet that we will see at least instance of each in this game. Just how positive and negative those plays are will go a long toward determining this puppy.

3. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley vs. The Cardinals O-Line
One of these days the refs may start calling more of the dozens of holdings of James Harrison that occur every single freaking game. It's absolutely insane the way he is blatantly held, and with the Cardinals mediocre tackles I expect that trend to continue, and if we even get one holding call our way I will be pleased. Even with the holding and the double teams Harrison often seems to rise to the occasion and there is certainly no bigger occasion that this one. I have a hard time imagining him not producing at least a couple big time plays.

4. Dick LeBeau and Mike Tomlin vs. Ken Whisenhunt and Todd Haley
This is sort of a poetic type matchup. Tomlin, of course, is a defensive coach and the best coach on his staff is the defensive coordinator. Whiz, as we all know, is an offensive master and his top lieutenant is the very promising Haley. And not coincidentally, these are the top units for the respective squads. As we always saw in the Burgh, Whiz loves to throw out trick plays in big games, and I fully expect to see something crazy in this game. How LeBeau and company handle any gadgers will be a key to success for both squads. And all this is even without discussing the incredibly intimate knowledge that Whiz and LeBeau have of each other's schemes. It's safe to say that's going to be a huge factor, too.

5. Kurt Warner vs. Troy Polamalu
On one side we have one of the most experienced, most intelligent, and right now, one of the best quarterbacks in football. On the other hand there is the most disruptive defender in football who doubles as quite possibly the single most athletic player in the league as well. Should be a truly fascinating matchup. Warner is one of the few QB's who might (and I stress might) be able to neutralize or maybe even take advantage of Polamalu's play. I certainly don't think that Troy will be able to wreak havoc all day long, but the key will be whether or not he's able to make a few monster plays (like the INT or the 4th down line jump against Baltimore) that alter this game.

Wednesday Links From Around the Confluence

Some very good links floating about:
-The Sports Guy breaks down the Super Bowl on the B.S. Report with his usual entourage of NFL experts plus Cousin Sal. I'd be just fine if he took Sal out of that equation and just had Schatz and Lombardi on, but whatever. It's quite long, but if you have a shade over an hour to kill, I'd recommend it. UPDATE: Better yet, if you have one second under an hour, check out the just posted BS Report with Pittsburgh Steeler fan Dave Dameshek.

-Speaking of Lombardi, he puts together a 5 Things Each Team Must Do to win little ditty. As always, it's the usual superb stuff from Lombardi.

-ESPN is putting together another all day chat on the Super Bowl with roughly 1,000 different guests making appearances. Much like the B.S. Report, if you have a spare hour to kill to read all the different crap, it's worth it.

-ESPN writer David Fleming has oddly been around for much of the Steelers last decade-and-a-half run of excellence. He re-hashes quite a few uncomfortable and irritating moments, but it is a definitely cool walk down memory lane if you are up for it.

-If you feel like wetting yourself from laughing, the Pensblog has an epic feature on ways to turn the team's season around. The Sidney Crosby/ The Rock comparisons are simply amazing.

-Joe Posnanski, possibly the best sportswriter in America, takes The Boss to task for playing the Super Bowl Halftime Show. It's never a dull topic when Pos is writing about it.

-Pitt football got another verbal commitment this morning in 3-star Shane Gordon. Gordon is a 3-star guy that is a middle linebacker much like recent commit Dan Mason. This just about rounds out the Pitt class. There will probably be one or two more commits, but nothing worth getting all fired up over. There are plenty of 3 stars and some 4 stars in this class, but we haven't seen any Shayne Hale, Jonathan Baldwin, Shady McCoy types in this class. Kind of surprising being that this is our most successful Pitt team under Wanny yet. Not sure what the reasoning for this would be.

-The Pirates are very actively pursuing Eric Hinske. This is certainly better than the reports that came slightly earlier in the day about the team going after Luis Gonzalez. I like Hinske as a backup outfielder/ corner infielder. Here's his baseball reference page. This would put to rest the Doug Mientkiewicz drama, I would assume. And although I know Mientkiewicz makes certain Pirate fans swoon at the very mention of his name, or his grit, or his clubhouse leadership, I think Hinske is a much better pickup for this roster than Dirty Doug. Hinske has serious pop in his bat, and while the Pirates don't want him anyway near everyday duty, the jury is still very much out on the likes of Andy LaRoche and Nyjer Morgan and who knows what to expect from Brandon Moss. He apparently took the whole Pirate thing a little too seriously being that he's going to be hobbling around on a peg leg in the outfield.

-A fascinating list of the Top 60 Plays in Pittsburgh sports history. Obviously its incredibly debatable the order but its hard to argue with a lot of it, as there are so many incredible plays that this town has witnessed over the years. A couple quick qualms, though: Lynn Swann's juggling catch against the Cowboys in Super Bowl X should be higher than 23. I've long thought it might be the greatest play in Super Bowl history. Personally I'd rank it third on that list. Also, how is Norm Johnson's onside Super Bowl Kick really 33rd? I mean, come on, I remember everything about that play and I don't think it would crack my top 100. There's not as much emphasis on spectacular plays so much as there is on context of the plays. Troy Polamalu's unbelievable pick earlier this year against San Diego doesn't make the list but a double play in the 90 NLCS, Dave Parker's outfield assists in the All-Star Game, and a few important but not game-altering picks in the Super Bowls do make it. But in all honesty, a very, very good job by Dameshek here.

-Lastly, a very good piece by ESPN's Dana O'Neill on the REAL Mayor of Pittsburgh, DeJuan Blair. I don't think there's any question which youngster would win if Pitt's big man ran against Luke Steelerstahl Ravenstahl.

SB 43: My MVP Odds

No, these aren't the Vegas odds for the Super Bowl MVP, these are my own personal odds. I broke it down by team.

If the Cardinals Win
Kurt Warner 35%
Larry Fitzgerald 25%
Anquan Boldin 10%
Steve Breaston 9%
Edgerrin James 6%
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie 6%
Karlos Dansby 3%
Adrian Wilson 2%
Tim Hightower 2%
Roderick Hood 1%
Anybody Else 1%
My Explanation: Many might expect Fitz to be the favorite here, but unless he makes just absolutely sick catches (a distinct possibility) any stats that Fitz gets will reflect just as positively on Warner. Anquan Boldin, with two weeks to heal, figures to be a likely player to have a big game with so much to prove, but he's been a definite distraction and that will hurt him. He has the same issue that Fitz has in that Warner will accumulate any stats that Boldin has, too. And people like Warner a lot more than Boldin, the same can't be said as a negative against Fitz. My real dark horse is Steve Breaston. The Steelers kick and punt coverage teams are decent but are nothing spectacular and could be vulnerable to a dangerous player like Breaston. He's definitely capable of a Desmond Howard type of performance, which scares the daylights out of me. Between Edge James and Tim Hightower either one could rush in a TD or two each if things break in their particular direction, and while I don't see how either one goes for many yards, 2 TDs from a yard or two out could be enough to sway some votes. The Arizona defense has been terrific at making plays this postseason, especially their secondary, and any one of them could certainly step up and have a big day.

If the Steelers Win:
Ben Roethlisberger 25%
Hines Ward 20%
Willie Parker 15%
Troy Polamalu 12%
James Harrison 10%
Santonio Holmes 8%
Ike Taylor 3%
Nate Washington 3%
LaMarr Woodley 2%
James Farrior 1%
Anyone else 1%
My Explanation: Roethlisberger has to be the odds-on favorite here. He has played well this post-season in taking care of the ball and making the necessary plays. And we all know that the QB always gets more credit or blame for his team's performance. If Roethlisberger struggles then Hines becomes the next logical pick. He has the courageously-fighting-through-an-injury angle going for him and a TD or two, 100 yards again, and some vicious blocking will gain him serious consideration. The Zona defense, despite a renaissance these past few games, is still potentially vulnerable, and would anyone really be that surprised to see Willie go off on them for 100+ yards? I know I wouldn't. The team's two dynamic defenders, Polamalu and Harrison, should be treated as being pretty close to equal. Polamalu gets a slight edge because of his ability to get in the end zone if he can get his hands on the ball. However, no one is going to bat an eyelash if Harrison sacks Warner 2 or more times and forces a fumble or two that shifts the game. The guy is just unbelievably ferocious and I can't picture him having a big game. Santonio is the Steve Breaston of the Steelers. He could easily house another punt return, or at least have a big return, and is the most likely person on the team to catch a long TD or long pass anyway. Nate gets mention because he figures to at least get 1 or 2 deep balls tossed his way, and LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior are lurking as ultra-dark horse figures here.

Positional Breakdowns for SB43

Quarterback
Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger
This is one of the more interesting matchups of the game in my opinion. Warner's come back for like the millionth time. The guy may technically be older, but he doesn't have the typical mileage of a 37 year old QB. Meanwhile, Big Ben has (at least in my mind) taken over the mantle of the best QB under age 30 this season. You can argue for others, sure, but really it all comes down to the W's, and if Big Ben wins this one, I don't see how you can even make an argument for anyone else.
The Edge: Steelers

Starting Running Back
Willie Parker vs. Edgerrin James
Fast Willie had a dynamo game against the Chargers but was predictably held in check against the Baltimore Birdies. This will be an interesting game for him because the Cards were gouged at times this year but they have been crazy good the last few games. Edge James may be playing better in the postseason than he has since he left Peyton Manning's side, but he hasn't played a defense with teeth like the Steelers.
The Edge: Steelers

Backup Running Backs/ Fullbacks
Carey Davis, Mewelde Moore, and Gary Russell vs. Tim Hightower, Terrelle Smith, and J.J. Arrington
Mewelde put in some workmanlike efforts this season in spelling the injured/ineffective Parker but hasn't been given much to do offensively in the postseason. I'd say J.J. Arrington has been kind of similarly doesn't touch the ball much and likely won't play a role in the game. Carey Davis is a solid enough blocker when he gets the chance but don't ask him to do much with the ball. Terrelle Smith is the same way. Tim Hightower is the deciding factor for the Cards here. Gary Russell may have developed a so-so nose for the goal line, but Hightower has turned into a pretty effective player for Zona.
The Edge: Cardinals

Wide Receiving Corps
Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Nate Washington, and Limas Sweed vs. Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, and Jerheme Urban
I think you probably have a pretty good idea where this one is going. Fitz has developed into without doubt the best receiver in football, and may even be the best offensive player now, too. Boldin has had his issues of late, but with two weeks to ready himself for the biggest game of his career, it's safe to say he'll be ready and focused. Breaston had a breakout year for the Cards, too and is probably the best third receiver in football, and Urban is a dangerous 4th option. The Steelers corps is effective but can't match up with that excellence. Ward is a gritty player and Holmes is developing into a playmaker anytime he touches the ball. Washington will still drive you absolutely insane with his inconsistencies but has still become a legit downfield threat. I don't even want to talk about Sweed...
The Edge: Cardinals

Tight End
Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth vs. Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick
Heath Miller may be one of the most underappreciated tight ends in football. I'd love to see him get more attention in the passing game, but you can't underestimate his mad blocking skills, either. Don't forget the monstrous Matt Spaeth, either. The Cards mostly ignore their tight ends with just 3 completions their way in 3 playoff games.
The Edge: Steelers

Offensive Tackle
Willie Colon and Max Starks vs. Mike Gandy and Levi Brown
Why aren't more people talking about Max Starks right now? The guy may not be a latter day Orlando Pace or anything, but he has been damned good on the left side of the line since Marvel Smith was put out to pasture and I think has been the best player on the line for some time now. Unfortunately, he is bookended by Willie Colon. I'm not saying Colon will never be a good O-lineman, as I think he could still be a halfway decent guard, but he is, at his very best, a mediocre tackle. The Cards linemen have been steady if not spectacular for them. Levi Brown has turned into a pretty good player and Mike Gandy has been okay. This was a tough one to decide in the end, though, as I think Starks has been better than both Cardinals though.
The Edge: Push

Interior Offensive Line
Chris Kemoeautu, Justin Hartwig, and Darnell Stapleton vs. Reggie Wells, Lyle Sendlein, and Deuce Lutui
Darnell Stapleton has no business starting in a Super Bowl, and he terrifies the living hell out of me on every snap. Hartwig has been average at center, but isn't doing much to further the legacy of Steelers centers. Kemoeautu has been a disappointment, as I thought he was going to be a breakout player this season. For Zona, Reggie Wells and Deuce Lutui both turned in good seasons and are steady linemen.
The Edge: Cardinals

Defensive Ends
Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, and Travis Kirschke vs. Antonio Smith, Travis LaBoy, and Bertrand Berry
It gets a little tougher to compare the linebacker and D-Line positions because of the different schemes, but we'll plow ahead anyway. The Cardinals ends may play in a 4-3, but no one really expects them to generate a ton of heat on the QB. Berry is a solid pass rush specialist, but with LaBoy injured he figures to get more snaps than he should and could be exploited. The Steelers have one of the most underrated ends in football in Aaron Smith. Despite being in the 3-4, Smith registered 5.5 sacks, a number which would have led the Cardinals entire team. And to the fact that he and Keisel are spectacular run stoppers and this one's no contest.
The Edge Steelers

Defensive Tackles
Casey Hampton and Chris Hoke vs. Darnell Dockett, Bryan Robinson, and Calais Campbell
Again, the comparisons are a bit tough here. Dockett has had a very, very good postseason and Robinson and Campbell have played well also. AFter watching a few games in person this season, my opinion of Casey Hampton has gone way down after watching him barely make it to the sidelines. Literally I don't think the guy can run 5 yards. His role as a gap-stuffer is a bit overrated in my mind.
The Edge Cardinals

Outside Linebackers
James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley vs. Chike Okeafor and Karlos Dansby
Against most teams the Cards stack up pretty well at OLB. Dansby is a very good young linebacker and may even be a slightly better all-around player than Woodley. However, the Steelers have a force of nature in James Harrison opposite Woodley.
The Edge Steelers

Inside Linebackers
James Farrior, Larry Foote, and Lawrence Timmons vs. Gerald Hayes
Farrior had a renaissance season, and is probably a hair better than Gerald Hayes, a young emerging tackle machine for the Cards. The Steelers other weapon here, and I'm talking about Timmons not the badly aging Foote, makes the difference for the Steelers. Timmons can cover anyone on the Cards roster except Fitz and can also bring the pressure up the middle like few others can.
The Edge Steelers

Starting Cornerbacks
Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden vs. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Roderick Hood
It's arguable who really starts opposite Taylor as it seems like Deshea and Bryant pretty much play the same amount. Anyway, Taylor is having a great season and it will be fascinating watching him match against Fitzgerald. However, Rodgers-Cromartie has turned into a fantastic ball hawk and Roderick Hood has been equally good as a cover man. These two make me quite nervous.
The Edge: Cardinals

Safeties
Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark vs. Antrel Rolle and Adrian Wilson
Again, the Cards would have an edge against a lot of teams, but not the Steelers. Rolle is a very good young safety and Wilson is one of the better all-around strong safeties in the NFL. Unfortunately, they are being compared to the best strong safety and one of the 3 or 4 best free safetys in all of football here. Polamalu and Clark are perfect complements and will give the Cardinals fantastic passing game a real challenge.
The Edge: Steelers

Other Defensive Backs
William Gay and Deshea Townsend vs. Aaron Francisco and Ralph Brown
I felt this needed to be included because we are likely to see a fair amount of nickel and dime packages in this game. And this is a spot where I think the Steelers have a big edge which could play a definite role in at least containing the Cards passing game. Townsend is a long-time starter who now has lost a lot of snaps to Bryant McFadden, but he is still a tremendous football player. William Gay showed a ton of promise I think this season, and figures to be given a shot to play for a starting job sometime in the future. Francisco and Brown are nice enough players, but they don't compare.
The Edge: Steelers

Kicker/ Punter
Jeff Reed and Mitch Berger vs. Neil Rackers and Ben Graham
This one gave me some problems deciding. Neither punter is really any good. Berger has been better this season than he's been given credit for and has outperformed Graham on most statistical levels. Still, he's Mitch Berger and is never too far away from shanking a 25 yard punt. Jeff Reed may be a very good cold weather kicker, but this wasn't his best season, even if he was very solid all year. His leg also doesn't compare to the cannon that Neil Rackers walks around with.
The Edge: Cardinals

Return Men
J.J. Arrington and Steve Breaston vs. Santonio Holmes, Mewelde Moore, and Gary Russell
Santonio may have housed that huge punt return in the San Diego game, but this one isn't really a contest.
The Edge: Cardinals

CoachesMike Tomlin, Dick LeBeau, and Bruce Arians vs. Ken Whisenhunt, Russ Grimm, Todd Haley, and Clancy Pendergast
This one left me debating back and forth for quite a while. Few would argue that Tomlin was the right choice for the Steelers considering the results, but Whiz and Grimm are going to be plenty motivated. The Todd Haley- Dick LeBeau matchup should be fascinating to watch, as Haley is one of the brighter young coordinators in football and LeBeau may be one of the 2 or 3 best defensive coordinators in NFL history. On the other side, Bruce Arians can leave you a little frustrated and irritated at times, but the same can be side for the Cards' overly aggressive Clancy Pendergast. I really, really want to pick the Steelers, but this is just too close to call.
The Edge: Push

Some Super Bowl Links

Here we are folks, just 9 days away from Super Bowl XLIII, and because there is already a crazy amount of coverage out there, and not a whole lot else is happening right now in the sports world these days, I thought I'd link to some of the better/more interesting coverage around.

-The Arizona Republic says the Cardinals D knows its up against a major challenge when they took on our own Big Ben Roethlisberger next weekend. I about soiled myself with laughter when I read the line about the Cards using Brian St. Pierre to simulate Ben. Uhmm... yeah I think that's just a bit off. I watched St. Pierre stink the joint out in too many exhibitions over the years. If thats their best bet for prepping for Roethlisberger, I like our chances a whole lot more than originally.

-The Sporting News has 10 different angles of the Steelers/ Cardinals matchup.

-The National Football Post doesn't seem to think there are many storylines in the Super Bowl. I guess the numerous Pittsburgh connections and the Tomlin/Whiz/Grimm storyline isn't appetizing enough for them. I tend to agree, but it's still early, and storylines can still emerge.

-The Post also examines a little bit of the long-rumored Roethlisberger/ Whisenhunt feud. I must say, I'm a little surprised this hasn't gotten more play, as it is definitely a pretty good storyline and is interesting, at least to me.

-Bodog provides a list of some of the prop bets for the Super Bowl. Always a fun thing to read and think over. I definitely like the over on the "Big Ben" bet. I don't think 5 is enough. As for which NBC show will get the most promos, I think it has to be "30 Rock" right? Everyone knows how much that network is in love with Tina Fey and her award-winning, yet under-watched TV show. I think Jay Leno has a chance, too, and I disagree with their bet that "The Office" is the favorite. Though I think there's a chance 30 Rock and The Office could be paired together in promos.

-We're the Greatest! At least according to Page 2's David Fleming, we are. And by we, I of course mean the Steelers. The greatest franchise in sports, folks, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Also, some good observations at the bottom about the Steelers. I especially liked the second one, involving LaMarr Woodley and his psychotic look last week.

-Scouts Inc. ranks the players in the Super Bowl. I disagree with a fair amount of this assessment, but its at least worth a read. I think sometimes the numbers guys get a bit too into the numbers and aren't able to incorporate non-quantifiable aspects into their calculations. I do agree with their top 3, though after that it gets a bit murky. How can an injured and cancerous player like Anquan Boldin be considered the 6th best player in this game?

-NFL.com breaks down who's better position-by-position. The Steelers get the overall edge in this matchup, though its very slight.

-Limas Sweed is eager to get another shot and thinks that he can come through this time for the Steelers, he just hopes to get a shot. Limas, no offense buddy. I mean I like you and think you can definitely turn into a half-decent receiver, but will be praying you don't see the field in the Super Bowl. I just can't possibly trust you.

-ESPN tries to get a story on Chuck Noll, the man who is most responsible for turning the Steelers into THE NFL franchise of all NFL franchises. Not a bad one, but the man still likes his privacy and probably just wants to be left alone.

-The Terrible Blog looks at the weird complaints Steelers fans seem to have of Ben Roethlisberger. I don't know that I would use the word hate like he does, but I do agree that the constant bitching about Ben has to end. It all seems to go back to the fact that he is far from a prototypical NFL QB. But you know what? That's fine with me. I mean, it's one thing to yell at your TV in the middle of the game because he held onto the ball too long or because he took another hit in the pocket or something like that, I mean everyone does that no matter who the player is. But the crazy, yapping yinzers who call up talk shows (though not now that the Steelers are in XLIII, of course) are just downright annoying. Ben is very, very effective at what he does even if it isn't always the prettiest or most normal way of doing it. Winning is winning, and that's what should always be most important to us.

-Peter King examines the Sean Morey angle for this Super Bowl. King is right when he says, "Rarely do you hear a player so affectionate for a team he left." Morey truely loved his time in Pittsburgh, and I wouldn't have minded seeing him hang around here a while longer to ply his trade, but I'd say things worked out pretty well this way, too.

Recapping the AFC Conference Steel(er) Cage Match

As promised, some thoughts and links from what was essentially a no-holds-barred, steel cage match last night on the frozen tundra of Heinz Field.

Some Links:
-ESPN is doing an all-day chat thing over at their site. Not worth reading up on all the different parts of the chat, as it would take all day, but it's worth it if you have a few interesting questions you'd like the "experts" at the WWL to answer.

-The Professor, John Clayton, puts together the big questions of this Super Bowl for right now. As always, its good stuff by Clayton.

-James Walker tells the critics of Ben Roethlisberger to shut their collective yaps. And yes, that includes the many yinzers who spent large portions of this season screaming at him to get rid of the ball. Does he drive people (including myself) crazy at times? Absolutely. But this is who he is, and the best one-word description of him as a football player is: Winner. And that's fine by me. Peyton and Tom can have their records, I'll take Roethlisberger any day of the week.

-Peter King's MMQB, a must-read no matter what football team you like, spends a good deal of the column discussing the Steelers-Ravens game.

-As always, Mondesi's House does a great job breaking down the game.

-Gene Collier writes about Heinz Field no longer be an AFC Championship curse. This had definitely gone through my mind more than once before the game, but it's a different situation with our new coach, Mike Tomlin, I suppose. Ron Cook says that, despite the stats that claim otherwise, the title of best defense in football was on the line last night, and the Steelers proved once and for all they are the best D in the league.

Random Thoughts
-I don't think I have ever seen a more physical game with players who just no regard whatsoever for their own personal well-being. Just ridiculous. Thank god they give the teams a bye week before the Super Bowl, because there is no way this Steeler team would be ready if they had to play again in six days. I mean, Ryan Clark's entire body probably feels like he was in a severe traffic accident yesterday, Hines Ward probably can't do much more than jog, Mewelde Moore is iffy and anything that hurts his quickness pretty much negates any value he has, the offensive and defensive lines were hitting all day long, and of course, Ben Roethlisberger took his usual lumps, including what I thought was a definite late hit from Haruki Nakamura that I couldn't believe wasn't flagged.

-I liked that Bruce Arians tried very hard to establish the run early on, but I thought that he stuck to it a little too long. Parker was unable to get anything going against that stout Baltimore defense, and I think we would have been better served giving Mewelde a few more snaps early in the game and sending a few short passes his way. Worst case they are equally as effective, getting 2 or 3 yards a pop, and best case Mewelde catches one in some space and is able to make a play or two.

-Ben Roethlisberger just does it. That's all there is too it. He wins games, he plays smart when he has to, and he's going to his second Super Bowl with a 7-2 playoff record at the age of 26. Just an amazing job yet again by our franchise QB. Right now, I'd take him ahead of any QB in football, and I really mean that. Think about it: Who knows what is going to happen with Tom Brady's knee? He may never be the same. Peyton Manning came on real strong at the end of the season, but Ben has already had much more postseason success than Manning and doesn't require 30+ passes per game to get in a rhythm at the end of a game like Peyton. Phillip Rivers put together a great season, but has leadership and character issues and his game record pales in comparison. Eli looked a little too much like the old Eli down the stretch, and I'm still not sold on him. Kurt Warner, in my opinion, has been the beneficiary of having two of the best receiving corps in recent NFL history at his disposal with the current Zona group and the Greatest Show on Turf group with the Rams. Plus, he's old. Drew Brees can sling it as well as anyone, but I can't take him seriously until he picks up a few January W's. He can keep his 5000 yard, video-game offense season, thanks but no thanks.

-Troy Polamalu vs. Ed Reed just got a whole lot more interesting. I know I said yesterday that I thought Reed was ahead of Polamalu as a safety and was one of the best in league history, but I found myself now thinking I may have underestimated our spectacular number 43. Polamalu was the best player on the field yesterday, while Reed pretty much disappeared for large chunks of the game. I guess that might have something to do with the play of the respective QB's, but I think this debate is very much alive and well.

-I don't know that I've ever seen a game quite like the one Limas Sweed had yesterday. Sweed, of course, was headed for infamy after dropping a sure-fire TD that Roethlisberger delivered precisely into his hands. He did end up hauling in a pair of passes by the end, and didn't make anymore awful mistakes. He also leveled a Hines Ward-esque block on unsuspecting Corey Ivy, knocking him clear into next week. Just a weird game for him, and I pray that Hines Ward is 100% healthy and that Limas doesn't have to set foot on the field against Arizona.

-Dick LeBeau continues to prove he's the best defensive coordinator in all of football. All we heard in the first two rounds and all through the regular season was that Joe Flacco was Joe Cool, that he was unflappable, and made plays in the biggest moments because you couldn't get into his head. Yeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh so much for that thought process, eh? Flacco was definitely flappable yesterday and LeBeau flapped him again and again. Big sacks, two bad interceptions, the last one pretty much sealing the game for the Steelers. Don't get me wrong, I like Flacco a lot and think he could definitely develop into Roethlisberger Lite and be a very good QB in the NFL, but somehow everyone forgot that he didn't do anything against the Steelers in the regular season and is still a rookie QB in the playoffs. And LeBeau knew just how to rattle his cage.

-That said, I will be VERY interested to see LeBeau's game plan against the Cardinals and Kurt Warner. Warner is notoriously great at taking advantage of blitzing teams and getting the ball out in a hurry. That's not to say that I think LeBeau will abandon the blitz, as that would never happen in a billion years, but I do think some of the more exotic schemes, like bringing Polamalu and Timmons may be put on hold.

-I'm happy for the Cards and for Ken Whiz, Russ Grimm, Larry Fitz, and Gerry Hayes, but for the next 13 days, they are public enemy number 1 in my book. My old Larry Fitzgerald Pitt jersey? It's been removed from my closet where it sat next to the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Sidney Crosby, and Willie Stargell and shoved underneath my bed where it won't see the light of day again until February 2nd.
-Too many Super Bowls lately have come down to last minute scoring drives, and after watching Jeff Reed yesterday at the Heinz Field tundra, I have the fullest confidence in him to have a big game if necessary in Super Bowl XLIII.

-I was pleased, shocked, elated, and surprised to see the refs call a holding call yesterday in favor of James Harrison. Of course, he was held a minimum 15-20 times yesterday and only one was called, but at least its a start.

-Another nice day for the Steelers' secondary yesterday. Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, Deshea Townsend, and William Gay played extremely well from their cornerback spots, and I think it mostly goes without saying that Polamalu, Clark, and Ty Carter did a super job at safety. Just a great performance all around. And that is huge for the Steelers because the Cardinals offense will revolve around Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner. If the Steelers can contain Fitz (there is no stopping the guy) the Cards offense is not going to be able to hang in the game.

-People have been talking a lot about the Whisenhunt connection and how it gives him an advantage because of how well he knows the Steelers personnel and all... but do you really think that doesn't go the other way, too? Mike Tomlin may not know Whiz, but Dick LeBeau worked against Whisenhunt's offense in practice countless times and, as Whisenhunt openly admits, LeBeau more than once helped him adjust to defensive schemes. Do we really think LeBeau doesn't know every wrinkle of Whiz's offense. And do we really think the Steelers aren't fully aware of countless Whisenhunt gadget plays. I see this intimate knowledge being a wash in the end.

-The Steelers O-Line had some issues with Baltimore pass rush and did take some penalties (looking squarely at Chris Kemoeautu and his incredibly stupid personal foul), but they handled that Ravens rush pretty darn well I thought. Sure they couldn't open up holes for an ant to even run through, but no one can do that against the Ravens. You can't blame them too much for that, and they managed to buy Ben at least some time. And the Cardinals D, however well they may be playing right now, is no Ravens squad.

-I expect to see another crowd heavy in Steelers support down in Tampa Bay. Florida has so many transplants or retirees from Pittsburgh it's downright absurd. This might be even more Steeler heavy than the Detroit Super Bowl XL crowd of 3 years ago. And considering the game is against the Cardinals, who probably have one of the least-established fan bases in the sport, and we could be looking at like a 85/15 or 90/10 split for this puppy. Tampa Bay will be turned into Terrible Towel city. Should be exciting.

STEELERS ARE AFC CHAMPS

After yet another too-close-for-comfort, gnawing-on-your-fingernails, edge-of-your seat game against the hated Baltimore Ravens, our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are officially heading to Tampa Bay for Super Bowl XLIII to take on the Arizona (Pittsburgh West) Cardinals for the right to call themselves the World Champions. After spending the past couple years running amok in Oakland, I figured I'd put together a quick post here, followed by a full-on post at some point tomorrow.

It's a pretty safe bet that much will be made of the numerous Pittsburgh connections in this game, but none more so than the Ken Whisenhunt-Mike Tomlin dynamic. I'll take a little more of a look at this later on, but the subplots are so numerous that I'm having a hard time even coming up with an exact number right now (of course that could also be because I'm about 10 beers in right now, and working surprisingly efficiently I might add).

I'm not about to offer any analysis as its waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too early for that kind of talk and we have two weeks to dissect that. For now, just enjoy the thought of being AFC Champs and playing in yet another Super Bowl. As football fans, we are truely spoiled.

One final note before I part:Friends don't let friends buy AFC Championship gear. I never understood the point of this. I mean in two weeks, this stuff is obsolete because either A) The Steelers will have a sixth Super Bowl and will be pumping out more Super Bowl Champion gear than you could possibly imagine, or B) You'll be so pissed at losing that you won't want to ever remember being there and will likely ignite any AFC Championship gear you have. We're Steeler fans folks, we've been here too many times to waste our money on this kind of nonsense. Let the Cardinal fans eat this stuff up, we're too classy for it.