OUR SUPER BOWL PICKS
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By ROCK HOFFMAN
STRENGTHS – Defense – obviously – they were ranked first in the league in total, passing and scoring defense and second in rushing defense and sacks. They did not allow a 300-yard passer or a 100-yard rusher all season. They have the Defensive Player of the Year in linebacker James Harrison, who recorded 16 sacks. Safety Troy Polamalu dominated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game and sealed the win with an interception return for a touchdown.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has shown the knack for making the big play when his team needs it most.
WEAKNESSES – The Steelers might not take the Cardinals seriously. Let’s face it nobody else has, it has been said that the Cardinals won a weak division, were the only team in the playoffs with no shot of making the Super Bowl, couldn’t win on the East Coast and Arizona was just a pit stop where the Eagles would pick up the George Halas Trophy on their way to Tampa. Not playing their best against the Cardinals could mean the Steelers won’t be taking the organization’s sixth Lombardi Trophy back to
Roethlisberger has made key mistakes too. In the Steelers four losses, he’s thrown 10 of his 15 interceptions.
KEY PLAYER -Willie Parker. Controlling the high-powered Cardinals offense with just their defense could be hard even for the Steelers. So why not some old fashioned Steelers Football and control the clock with Parker and the running game.
PICK – There hasn’t been a real blowout in the Super Bowl in six years when
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By AL THOMPSON
STRENGTHS – No brainer here. The Cardinals can score points like most people breathe. They have the best receiver – some say best player – in the game in Larry Fitzgerald, who can make a Hall of Fame defender look like a practice squad player.
Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston compliment Fitzgerald like no other receiving corps in the NFL.
Quarterback Kurt Warner is lighter on his feet thanks to a new training regime and can pick apart any defense as he did in the NFC title game against the great Jim Johnson’s blitz schemes.
The Cardinals went back to their bench and dusted off an angry Edgerrin James, who has been outstanding in the playoffs. He will keep the Steelers vaunted defense honest.
Until they win it, no one, I mean no one, believes in these guys. That may be their biggest weapon of all.
WEAKNESSES – No brainer again. The Cardinals defense was the lowest ranked in the playoffs. In their three playoff wins the Cardinals have allowed a total of 62 points – not good – but an improvement over the regular season.
They have however come up with the No. 1 ingredient for success in the playoffs – turnovers. The Cardinals have eight interceptions and four fumble recoveries in their three playoff wins which is outstanding.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been known to throw an interception or two. If defensive backs Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle can get to Big Ben early, they could be OK.
KEY PLAYER – The Cardinals offensive line. This group makes last year’s no-name offensive line of the Giants seem like superstars. They have played well enough so far. They have no real tight end to speak of, so if they can somehow find a way to keep the Steelers off Warner just long enough, their incredible skill players can win the game.
PICK – Warner and his weapons shock the world by outscoring the Steelers 41-35 in a classic offensive shootout.
