Super Bowl XLIII is taking place this Sunday February 1st, 2009 in Tampa Bay at Raymond James Stadium. The Arizona Cardinals are seven point underdog against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I myself am not a fan of either team, I just hope to see a competitive game. Conventional wisdom is telling me that the Steelers are too solid of a team to lose to the Cardinals. However my gut is telling me that you don't go against the team with the "hot hand". The Steelers defense has ranked at the top of the league all season long, not to mention they have James Harrison (the AP defensive player of the year). The Cardinals on the other hand have arguably the best receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, and best receiving corps (Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet, Jeremhe Urban). The Cardinals have a prolific passing attack but they owe their postseason success to an inspired defense and a resurgent running game lead by Edgerrin James. The Cardinals defense will never be confused with the Ravens of 2000 but they are making plays and creating turnovers. The Steelers have played typical "Steelers" football by running the ball, controlling time of possession, and playing great defense. The Steelers have not faced a player the caliber of Larry Fitzgerald and I don't believe that they will shut him down. There is no home field advantage this time for the Steelers either. I think that the key to the game is whatever team is able to run the ball successfully will win the game. I think that the Cardinals will be that team. I have doubted them three games in a row... there won't be a fourth. Cardinals win 21-17.
