Arizona and Pittsburgh. The only two teams left in the NFL. One game left to play. At the beginning of the season, I'm not sure anyone picked these two teams to be crowned champions of their respective divisions. That's the beauty of the game. On paper, the Patriots and the Giants were the favorites to make it back before opening day. Then week one happened and reigning MVP Tom Brady goes down for the year with a torn meniscus. Enter Tennessee, the team that began the season 11-0 before losing to the New York Jets at home. The favorites all season to make it to the big game bowed out in their first game, hosting the Ravens. Now, the Steelers are a solid team with a stout defense that has carried them all season. Big Ben and the offense are beginning to come around.
But the Cardinals are a different story. Arizona has been enigmatic all season, becoming the first team in the NFL to secure a playoff spot, then getting dominated in a four-game losing streak to end the season before going into Wild Card Weekend against the favored Atlanta Falcons. They then dispatched my Carolina Panthers (well, we really beat ourselves, but hey, the Cardinals won and that's what counts) in Charlotte, and clipped the Eagles in Arizona. A surprising run in the playoffs has yielded Ken Wisenhunt exactly where he was hired to get the franchise: in Tampa on Feb. 1, which leads to the first of our intriguing matchups.
- Ken Wisenhunt vs. Mike Tomlin
An understudy of Bill Cowher, former offensive coordinator of the Steelers Ken Wisenhunt was once considered the favorite to replace Cowher once he retired. Cowher chose not to retire just yet, so Wisenhunt interviewed with the desolate franchise in the desert and was hired promptly, bringing with him defensive coordinator Russ Grimm. When Cowher did give up his post, Tomlin was hired. A defensive man in Tomlin versus the trick-play minded Wisenhunt. Former Pittsburgh players during the Wisenhunt era said it wasn't uncommon to practice five trick plays and Wisenhunt aimed to perform two per game. I give the edge to Tomlin on this one. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. This, as we know, is a championship.
- Larry Fitzgerald vs. The Steelers Secondary
How did Fitzgerald not win the Heisman? All this man does is make the most ridiculous plays ever. He's like a human highlight reel. Troy Polamalu plays with a lot of pride and passion, making me think he won't allow Fitzgerald to make those types of plays, especially on the world's grandest stage. Call it a hunch, but between Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston, I don't think the Steeler secondary can completely shut down all three options. Maybe one, but not all three. Edge: Cardinals
- Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger
Both men have proved they can win a Super Bowl. Both were unreliable during the regular season. Both fluctuate in their accuracy, yet both have led their teams here. I'm going to take Roethlisberger on this one, because he's going against the worst defense ever to reach the Super Bowl. He'll have an easier time completing passes than Warner against the league's number two defense.
My Prediction: Arizona-24 Pittsburgh-28
I really want to take the Cardinals because I love how they've completely transformed over the span of the playoffs, but I just don't see them being able to overcome inefficiencies on both sides of the ball, pressuring Roethlisberger enough to make the Steelers rely on Willie Parker, or the Steeler defense giving up more points in the biggest game of the season.
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