When the 2008 NFL playoffs began, few would have guessed that the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers would be the teams to meet in Super Bowl XLII. However, both teams enter the biggest football game of the year playing at a very high level. As always, expect the ratings to be high, the commercials to be memorable and the game to be intense.
The biggest surprise of the Super Bowl is the presence of the Cardinals. Although they began the regular season 7-3, Arizona struggled mightily down the stretch. In a five game span at the end of the regular season, they lose four games. In those four games, the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots beat the Cardinals by an average of 24.3 points per contest.
The beginning of Arizona’s turnaround came in the final game of the regular season. Playing against the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals had a good showing on both sides of the field and won 34-21. The momentum from that game carried into the 2008 NFL Playoffs for the Cardinals.
In wildcard round, the Cardinals were able to beat an Atlanta Falcons team that many picked to advance. Trailing 17-14 at halftime, the Cardinals got two key touchdowns and a safety to take the lead and never look back on their way to a 30-24 victory.
The divisional round saw the Cardinals travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers. Although the Panthers were heavily favored, the Cardinals proved the betting world wrong by cruising to victory. Arizona came out of the gates on fire and simply crushed Carolina by the final score of 33-13.
In the NFC championship, the Cardinals were again the underdogs. The Eagles were playing extremely well and seemingly had the better defense and the more balanced offense. But Arizona shocked the world by breaking out to a 24-6 halftime lead before hanging on for a 32-25 victory.
As for the Steelers, they aren’t nearly as much of a Cinderella story. In the regular season, the Steelers went 12-4 and lost only one time in their last seven contests. Overall, they have won eight of their last nine games.
In the playoffs, they’ve defeated both the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. Against the Chargers, the Steelers fell behind early 10-7 before their offense woke up and starting rolling. By the time the final whistle sounded, Pittsburgh had handed San Diego a 35-24 defeat.
Against the Ravens, the situation was reversed. The Steelers were the ones who got out to an early lead but then had to hold on. After being up 13-10, the Ravens cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 16-14 before the Steelers were able to claim victory after a Troy Polamalu 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.
While most odds makers have the Steelers as favorites in the Super Bowl, the Cardinals have proven that they thrive in the underdog role. For Arizona, the players to watch are all on the offensive side of the ball.
Orchestrating the Cardinals’ attack is quarterback Kurt Warner. The former Super Bowl champion with the St. Louis Rams and former NFL MVP is back at the top of his game. Combining a quick release, a strong arm and very good instincts, Warner is a very dangerous weapon. He has the swagger and the experience to pull out a victory almost single-handedly.
Perhaps the best player on the entire Cardinals roster is wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Immensely talented, Fitzgerald is playing better than ever at the moment. He has three straight games with at least 100 yards receiving and at least one touchdown in these playoffs. When it comes to hauling in long passes, Fitzgerald is proving to be the game’s best.
Anquan Boldin is another very talented wide receiver on the Cardinals. Although he has battled injuries as of late, he is one of the most physically gifted wideouts in the NFL. Boldin has great size, very good hands and is a beast once he catches the ball and looks to pick up more yardage.
The running back position in Arizona is handled by a committee of Tim Hightower and Edgerrin James. Hightower is a rookie who was drafted late in the 2008 NFL Draft. A touchdown scoring machine, he runs hard and has a definite nose for the end zone. James, conversely, is a wily veteran who knows all the tricks in the book. He’s a very good blocker who can pick up yardage when it’s needed the most.
On defense, the Cardinals don’t have many name players. Instead, they have a unit that has played extremely well as of late. After ending the regular season with a few poor performances, the D has been a big reason why the Cardinals have made it to the Super Bowl.
In Pittsburgh, the defense is what keys their entire attack. The Steelers’ defense was arguably the best in the entire NFL during the regular season. Not only are they hard to score against, they are physical and can create turnovers. It’s hard to run against them and almost equally as hard to pass against them.
On offense, the Steelers have a few notable players. It starts with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is trying to win his second Super Bowl as a starting signal caller. His nickname “Big Ben” suggests, Roethlisberger is a big quarterback who is tough to bring down. He also has an accurate arm and can make plays when flushed out of the pocket.
Roethlisberger’s favorite receiver is Hines Ward. Although he injured his knee against the Ravens, Ward has vowed to play in the Super Bowl. If he does and if he’s at the top of his game, Ward is a wide receiver who is not only a great target, he’s also the best blocking wide receiver in the NFL.
Santonio Holmes is the other wide receiver on Pittsburgh and his role is simple: make plays. Roethlisberger likes to look for him in deep patterns and Holmes is also a threat in the return game. Once he gets his hands on the ball, he’s capable of taking it to the house.
The running game features Willie Parker, who had a memorable 75-yard run in his other Super Bowl appearance. Parker has very good speed and is underrated in terms of his toughness. If he gets an inch of daylight, Parker can exploit the gap and turn it into a big gain.
Super Bowl XLII will take place this year in Tampa, Florida on February 1st in Raymond James Stadium – the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The game will begin at around 6:00 PM ET and will feature a halftime show by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Don’t forget about the Super Bowl commercials. According to reports, purchasing a Super Bowl commercial this year cost $3 million for a 30-second spot.
As for the game itself, the main battle will be between the great defense of the Steelers and the explosive offense of the Cardinals. Whichever side wins that battle will likely be crowned as Super Bowl champions and will thus be on top of the football world … until next season’s Super Bowl.
