TheShiznit Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Yes, as far as Carolina is concerned. They're better than the Eagles as well... by how much, we'll find out in two weeks. The Eagles defense had been playing their best football going into yesterday, but their one mistake was letting Fitzgerald single-handedly destroy them. Pittsburgh has more physical corners (sorry, but Asante Samuel just can't cover Fitz, with or without help), and a much better secondary overall, IMO. They're not going to shut him down, but I think 100-120 yards with a TD sounds about right. That said, it's the Cardinals defense that I think will determine the outcome of the game. Force Ben into a TO or two, and they have a very good shot at winning. If they can't put pressure on him, though, I think he'll pick them apart, allowing Pittsburgh to win a fairly high-scoring game. I'll have to look at this a little bit closer before making a prediction. Pittsburgh thrived this year playing against teams in their division who really had no passing attack...or quarterback to facilitate a passing attack. While the task for Arizona will be hugh, if Pitt cannot get to Warner....which Carolina and the Eagles were having trouble doing....their secondary is their achilles heel. While Palomalu is awesome....I feel he may be needed in the box more. I see Arizona winning this game..albeit that is if they play like they have the last three games. If Pitt plays great and Arizona plays great...I still give the advantage to the better offense and that is Arizona. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robash Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 this smells an aweful lot like superbowl 42...im going with the hometown team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoJoTheWebToedBoy Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I'm an NFC guy, so I'll take the Cards. They have the better Receivers and QB while Pitt has the better Running Game and Defense. Should be an entertaining game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menudo Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 As a Steelers fan, I'm certainly not taking the Cardinals lightly. They have shown themselves to be a much better team in these playoffs than they were at the end of the season. They are peaking at the right time. I thought they would crumble to the Eagles physical defense, but, they didn't. If the Cardinals were playing anyone other than the Steelers, I would be rooting for them in this game. I have a lot of respect for Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, & Anquan Boldin. They all seem to be quality guys off the field as well. Ken Whisenhunt is part of the reason the Steelers got their 5th ring, so, I'm definitely a fan of his as well. I do think that if the Steelers can get to Warner, they will win this game. That might be easier said than done though, as the Eagles and Panthers failed to do so. I'm looking forward to a great game. I can't imagine any non-Steelers fans rooting against the Cardinals in this one. Here's to a well-played, controversy-free Super Bowl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustOfBeenDrunk Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Here's to a well-played, controversy-free Super Bowl yes !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Although I'll be rooting for the Cardinals, I expect the Steelers to win. I've seen Dick LeBeau's defense seriously limit a number of good passing attacks. I also think that the Cardinals defense comes back to Earth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 (edited) The Cinderella story ends in the SB. ETA - The Cardinal defense started coming back down to earth against Philly and Arizona won't put up 30+ points against PItt's D. Edited January 19, 2009 by bushwacked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gopher Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Pittsburgh thrived this year playing against teams in their division who really had no passing attack...or quarterback to facilitate a passing attack. While the task for Arizona will be hugh, if Pitt cannot get to Warner....which Carolina and the Eagles were having trouble doing....their secondary is their achilles heel. While Palomalu is awesome....I feel he may be needed in the box more. I see Arizona winning this game..albeit that is if they play like they have the last three games. If Pitt plays great and Arizona plays great...I still give the advantage to the better offense and that is Arizona. I agree that Pitt's secondary can be their achilles heel... I just think they're much more physical than Philly. Watching Samuel try to cover Fitzgerald was painful... The equivalent of Tony Parker trying to guard Lebron James... not going to happen. Samuel's strength is making plays based on his ability to read the QB, not getting physical with a bigger, stronger WR at the line of scrimmage. When he tried to do so, he was flagged for obvious pass interference. Although I agree that Arizona's offense is SLIGHTLY better than Pittsburgh's (better passing, not even close running), I think Pittsburgh has just as much (if not more) of an advantage on the defensive side. Another way of looking at it is this... Pittsburgh is an upgrade defensively from Philly (a bigger challenge for Arizona). Arizona is light years ahead of Baltimore on offense (a much tougher task for the PIT defense). Sportsbook says 78% of the bettors out there are laying money on Arizona to win straight up. That surprises me... I think the more obvious play is the over (46.5). I've already put money on the over and Arizona +7... Just not so sure I'd put money on them to win straight up just yet... It will be interesting to see which direction, if any, the line moves. Historically, Pittsburgh has been known to draw the public's money in big games like this (I believe),but in this case, I wouldn't be surprised if the line moved down (from 7). In that case, I would say put your money on Arizona now, while it's most profitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheShiznit Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I agree that Pitt's secondary can be their achilles heel... I just think they're much more physical than Philly. Watching Samuel try to cover Fitzgerald was painful... The equivalent of Tony Parker trying to guard Lebron James... not going to happen. Samuel's strength is making plays based on his ability to read the QB, not getting physical with a bigger, stronger WR at the line of scrimmage. When he tried to do so, he was flagged for obvious pass interference. Although I agree that Arizona's offense is SLIGHTLY better than Pittsburgh's (better passing, not even close running), I think Pittsburgh has just as much (if not more) of an advantage on the defensive side. Another way of looking at it is this... Pittsburgh is an upgrade defensively from Philly (a bigger challenge for Arizona). Arizona is light years ahead of Baltimore on offense (a much tougher task for the PIT defense). Sportsbook says 78% of the bettors out there are laying money on Arizona to win straight up. That surprises me... I think the more obvious play is the over (46.5). I've already put money on the over and Arizona +7... Just not so sure I'd put money on them to win straight up just yet... It will be interesting to see which direction, if any, the line moves. Historically, Pittsburgh has been known to draw the public's money in big games like this (I believe),but in this case, I wouldn't be surprised if the line moved down (from 7). In that case, I would say put your money on Arizona now, while it's most profitable. Agree with everything you say there....except for Pitts Secondary...I don't remember a game this year where they jammed a WR...they never had too....their front 7 would manhandle just about anyone. but you make lots of good points. As far as betting...46.5 is way low for the over...and zona +7 is an automatic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffraff Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 (edited) The ref crew doing the game: The referee will be Terry McAulay, who also served as the referee of Super Bowl XXXIX, between the Eagles and the Patriots. The rest of the crew includes umpire Roy Ellison, head linesman Derick Bowers, line judge Mark Perlman, back judge Keith Ferguson, side judge Michael Banks, and field judge Greg Gautreaux. McAulay’s crew handled last Saturday’s division-round playoff between the Ravens and the Titans. http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-...bowl-xliii.html Edited January 21, 2009 by Riffraff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazinib1 Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I gotta pull for my boy Warner. I'll be rooting for the guys from the desert. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 The ref crew doing the game: The referee will be Terry McAulay, who also served as the referee of Super Bowl XXXIX, between the Eagles and the Patriots. The rest of the crew includes umpire Roy Ellison, head linesman Derick Bowers, line judge Mark Perlman, back judge Keith Ferguson, side judge Michael Banks, and field judge Greg Gautreaux. McAulay’s crew handled last Saturday’s division-round playoff between the Ravens and the Titans. http://gridironfans.com/forums/latest-nfl-...bowl-xliii.html WHAT!?! No Ed Hochuli?!?!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 I'm fine w/either winning and can see this going either way, but either AZ's mostly one-dimensional O or over-performing D (which might come back to Earth now) will prove their un-doing, maybe both. But this isn't an amazing PIT team either, frankly, and an AZ win would not be shocking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffraff Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 WHAT!?! No Ed Hochuli?!?!?! Or that other ref immortalized in a Pittsburgh Super Bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Leinhart with a Superbowl ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I expect the Steelers offense to perform as they did against San Diego. Arizona's offense ain't faced a D like the Steelers D. I hate to root against former Pitt Panther Larry Fitzgerald. I certainly don't think he can be shut down, but he also ain't gonna be scoring no 3 TDs either. I love rooting against Warner - I've hated him since his MVP year. Steelers 35, Cards 21. Howdy. Everybody out of the woodwork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dont Rookie Me........ Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 (edited) This is laughable 53 people have Arizona to win!!!!!!!! Maybe with the +7 spread, but seriously if you were to put your money where your mouth is, like as in straight up, as in who you got...you have to go Steelers, although I maybe biased. Defense has got us to 5 and I see 6 in our future 31-17. Edited January 22, 2009 by Dont Rookie Me........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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