Super Bowl XLIII - Call your shot now!

[luns101]

It's set:

Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII...who will take the championship home?

I say Pittsburgh will take the trophy

[Serbia]

You forgot the "Wings in 6" option.

I'll take the Steelers, though I'm rooting for the Cards.

[dcowboys055]

I pray the Steelers don't take sole possesion of most super bowls won from the cowboys so go go Cards! But sadly I think the Steelers match up well against them.

[CBlake]

arizona for the upset

[Iz Man]

I pray the Steelers don't take sole possesion of most super bowls won from the cowboys so go go Cards! But sadly I think the Steelers match up well against them.

The Cowgirls don't have sole possession of SB wins....
and after Feb 1st, there will be only 1 team whose ever won 6.......

[jbrettlip]

This will be "One for the West Virginia Thumb" since all those hillbillies are inbred!! Steelers will win this. Why? Not so beat up after the Ravens game, playing on natural grass in Tampa, and they have been through this all before. It will be closer than most imagine though, as Fitzgerald will not be completely stopped.

[strike wolf]

Steelers.

[UCAbears]

cards

[luns101]

The Cowgirls don't have sole possession of SB wins....
and after Feb 1st, there will be only 1 team whose ever won 6.......

Oh no, if the Steelers win we're going to hear this all spring and summer and there will be no place to escape except a few hockey threads dominated by Serbia.

[Iz Man]

The Cowgirls don't have sole possession of SB wins....
and after Feb 1st, there will be only 1 team whose ever won 6.......

Oh no, if the Steelers win we're going to hear this all spring and summer and there will be no place to escape except a few hockey threads dominated by Serbia.

one can only hope....

[HapSmo19]

Cardinals win 34-31

[dhallmeyer]

being a niner fan, i loathe the cards. but I think they are the hotter team. usually a decent defense will shut down a great offense, but Pitt doesn't have the offense to back it up. Arizona I think can hold their own on D and make it a crapshoot on the other side of the ball.

[Iz Man]

being a niner fan, i loathe the cards. but I think they are the hotter team. usually a decent defense will shut down a great offense, but Pitt doesn't have the offense to back it up.

Decent defense? Try the #1 defense in the league...
No offense for Pitt? I refer you to the 91yd touchdown drive against the #2 defense in the league to seal the win in week-15. The notion that Pitt has no offense is bunk.
Big Ben remains one of the elite QB's in the league. Willie Parker is healthy. Heath Miller is money on 3rd down conversions.

Arizona I think can hold their own on D and make it a crapshoot on the other side of the ball.

Arizona's D is 28th in points allowed, 19th in yds allowed, 22nd against the pass & 16th against the run.
They're gonna give up some points.

Defense wins championships, and the Steelers' D is the best the league has seen in many years, and Arizona has not played a defense like this.
Yes, Ken Wiz is familiar with Dick Lebeau and a lot of the defensive personnel of the Steelers, but that won't help them protect Warner, or help James run the ball. Lebeau is the most innovative mind the game has ever seen. His schemes will wreak havoc on Arizona's offense.
Confusion is the key, and the Steelers are experts at creating confusion on opposing offenses.

That all being said, I'm glad its the Cards that are representing the NFC.
Ken Wiz was my pick to replace Cowher initially, so I'm glad he is enjoying success.

[Paddy The Cat]

steelers... even though i may be speaking out of hurt being an eagles fan

however, i believe philly lost that game, az by no means won

too many dropped balls, poor throws, missed blocks, missed tackles, or miscommunications ruined it

seriously, every play i was thinking 'damn, if philly was on there game that coulda been a game changer'

the cardinals are lucky

they are good offensively, and defense they are poor at best

pittsburgh will shut them down, and big ben will look like montana against that aweful arizona secondary

Pitt: 1038 Az: -9

[SEAsportsfan]

Pit- 17 Ari- 3

The Super Bowl's usually lower scoring than one would expect...

Congrats Pittsburgh, you guys are officially the best NFL franchise EVER

[luns101]

I can't believe this poll is so close. I expected it to be overwhelmingly in favor of the Steelers.

[oVo]

Can the #4 overall offense in the NFL get past the #2 overall defense?
I think it's quite possible... the way they've been playing.

The Cardinals defense hasn't always been there through this season but have certainly shown up for the playoffs. If you have doubts just ask Atlanta and Carolina. It was the offense that carried them past the Eagles in the NFC Championship with a sustained drives for touchdowns and if they can continue to execute against the Steelers this one is definitely within reach.

Both teams have experienced quarterbacks who already have Superbowl wins and Kurt Warner played well against a very good Philadelphia defense... and shouldn't get rattled by all the pressure Pittsburgh will bring in this game. I'm not sure how much advantage Arizona gets from all the coaches they have who were once on the Steelers staff, but it can't hurt. The Cardinals will need to get their offense rolling because a low scoring game will favor Pittsburgh. The wild cards of this match up are Fitzgerald on offense and Palomalu on defense as either one can certainly have a big impact on the outcome.

This should be a great game and I really like both of these teams, my heart kinda goes with the Steelers but I'm picking the Cardinals to win for the sentimental fact that this franchise has never won a Super Bowl.

[Iz Man]

Can the #4 overall offense in the NFL get past the #2 overall defense?
I think it's quite possible... the way they've been playing.

The Cardinals defense hasn't always been there through this season but have certainly shown up for the playoffs. If you have doubts just ask Atlanta and Carolina. It was the offense that carried them past the Eagles in the NFC Championship with a sustained drives for touchdowns and if they can continue to execute against the Steelers this one is definitely within reach.

Both teams have experienced quarterbacks who already have Superbowl wins and Kurt Warner played well against a very good Philadelphia defense... and shouldn't get rattled by all the pressure Pittsburgh will bring in this game. I'm not sure how much advantage Arizona gets from all the coaches they have who were once on the Steelers staff, but it can't hurt. The Cardinals will need to get their offense rolling because a low scoring game will favor Pittsburgh. The wild cards of this match up are Fitzgerald on offense and Palomalu on defense as either one can certainly have a big impact on the outcome.

This should be a great game and I really like both of these teams, my heart kinda goes with the Steelers but I'm picking the Cardinals to win for the sentimental fact that this franchise has never won a Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh has the #1 Defense

There are 20 players on the roster who have SB experience. Arizona has 5.

The Philly "D" pales in comparison to Pittsburgh. Its not just better players, its an entire scheme that Lebeau has put into place that rattles EVERY team that plays against Pittsburgh.

Look for the Steelers to cover (and then some) at -7.

[herndawg]

Steelers putting the rookies in check by at least 14

[TheBro]

I think I may stop watching when the Steelers are winning by 17 at half time.

[Caleb the Cruel]

I'd place my money on the Cardinals.

[the.killing.44]

Pittsburgh, easily. 24-13.

.44

[El Capitan X]

Cardinals shall prevail.
















ECX

[oVo]

Pittsburgh has the #1 Defense

oops... MY MISTAKE not realising I was looking at the NFL's post season stats.
I was surprised to see Tennessee listed as #1 total offense and defense, but
that's playoffs... and makes that Ravens' loss hurt even worse.

POSTSEASON:
Pittsburgh__#2 total Defense. #1 against the Rush and #5 against the pass.
Cardinals total defense is #6
Arizona_____#3 total Offense. #4 Rushing and #4 Passing.
Steelers total offense is #6

REGULAR SEASON
Total Defense: #1 Pittsburgh #2 Baltimore #3 Philadelphia #19 Arizona
Passing Defense: #1 Pittsburgh #2 Baltimore #3 Philadelphia
Rushing Defense: #1 Minnesota #2 Pittsburgh #3 Baltimore

Total Offense: #1 New Orleans #2 Denver #4 Arizona #22 Pittsburgh
Passing Offense: #1 New Orleans #2 Arizona #3 Denver
Rushing Offense: #1 New York Giants #2 Atlanta #3 Carolina

The safe bet is always with the best defense... and the Steelers only lost 4 games this year.
The Eagles, Giants, Colts and Titans all did it and I think his Cardinal team has a chance too.

[sensfan]

28-17 Steelers over Cardinals.