February 1st, 2009

Here are a few small points about the biggest sporting event of the year, to precede the running diary I will keep of the game.  Five points, plus a prediction.  Short and sweet, just like my girlfriend.

1.  James Harrison, the AP Defensive Player of the Year, will be in charge of wreaking havoc in the Arizona backfield.  He will do this, and he will do it well.  Even if Arizona wins, Warner will be seeing black and gold coming at him at Bullet Train speeds in his dreams for weeks.  I can't imagine either quarterback could do enough (Kurt Warner against the best defense he'll see all year; Ben Roethlisberger, with his lack of  "get on my shoulders, boys!" talent) doing enough to get the MVP, so Harrison will be a serious candidate.

2.  Larry Fitzgerald will not have the monster gave people generally believe he is going to have.  Pittsburgh didn't become the best defense in the NFL this season by lettingthe biggest stars on the opposing teams run wild.  Pittsburgh will roll zones in his direction all day with Troy Polamalu spying on him every snap (when he's not sacking Kurt Warner) they drop back to pass.  If I'm a Pittsburgh fan, the guy I'm worried about is the stronger, faster, meaner Anquan Boldin, whom most prognosticators are writing off because of his recent injury.  In addition to LJ's recent phenomenal run of playoff games.  However, Boldin will be at full strength tomorrow, and if he gets ignored at all, he'll destroy that secondary like George W. Bush would to an oil company or the United States economy.

3.  While doing my research for this article (meaning pitting them both into a game of Madden '09 for the Wii and watching the CPU play it out), I realized that the Cards just may have a slight advantage in an under-appreciated part of the game, special teams.  With respect and gratitude (Josh Reed was on my fantasy team and helped me win another championship) to the Pittsburgh kicker, Arizona's Neil Rackers, J.J. Arrington and Steve Breaston are superstars in their respective special teams roles.  I would not be surprised if this becomes Arizona's best chance to even the playing field with a superior team.

However, Pittsburgh won the matchup in which Roethlisberger was hurt in the first quarter, and you know why?  Even Madden '09 knew how good Pitt's defense would be this year.  Maybe they lack the shut-down corners needed to shut down a Boldin or Fitzgerald, but they have the coaching to scheme for them, and a fearsome front seven that can take even a seasoned veteran quarterback completely out of his comfort zone.  And, if we were reminded of anything during the Giants-Patriots Super Bowl from last year (Except that coaches should be flagged for running 20 yards onto the field trying to call a time out... Yes, I'm still bitter.), it's that defense wins championships.  No matter how hot and sexy an offense gets closer to the Super Bowl, they can always be shut down at any time by a great defense.  Always.

4.  As much as I (as well as most of the rest of the country outside of Pittsburgh, PA, am rooting for Arizona to win their first Super Bowl with some flashy touchdowns and a 14 catch, 212 yard, 3 touchdown performance from Larry Fitzgerald, I just can't see it.  I think Warner has enough in him to make this game close enough to make the commercials take a back seat to the game even to the most casual of fans, but not enough to overcome a ferocious defense, that feeds off of strip sacks and interceptions, for 60 minutes.

Sorry to all the die-hard Arizona fans, but the dozen or so of you should be prepared for a letdown. 

MVP:  James Harrison (6 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumbled recovery)