First off, I would like to congratulate myself for two reasons this morning. One foreven being able to pry my eyes open this early in the morning after last nights celebration of the demoralization of BJ Penn by George St. Pierre. Congratulations GSP! And two because sometimes I am SO smart. 4th round TKO! Oh yeah, everyone told me I was crazy and GSP couldn’t TKO Penn but he made HIM QUIT and that’s the best thing he could have done. But of course, the celebration was cut short AGAIN by the UFC and letting Thiago Alves in the ring after George just went through “the top contender” but that’s griping I’ll save for another day. Onto more pressing matters of this little football game.
So I hear this little contest today is actually pretty popular? Between the American election and the Superbowl, I don’t think I have even seen a news story or TV commercial for any other product in the last 2 months AND I LIVE IN CANADA. No wonder they charge $2.7M for 30 seconds of commercial during the Superbowl, they haven’t shown an actual commercial in a month and they need that ad revenue baby. I know, I know, too much ME not enough sports talk, so lets get down to it.
Ok, everyone raise their hand if they called the Cardinals making the Superbowl on Week 1? Week 3? Week 4? Week 17? With my immense power of ESP, I can tell there aren’t too many arms extended out there and let’s be honest, most of us are still shocked. Every week it seemed like I had a new excuse why they were winning and then I was watching the Cards vs. the Eagles (my superbowl pick day 1) and I thought to myself; “Ok, this is the week their little happy go lucky story is gonna get real sad, real fast”. We all know how that worked out for me and the Eagles but I still don’t believe? I LOVE underdogs, my favourite team is the Bengals but I JUST can’t get myself to pull for these guys and I don’t know why? I LOVE Steve Breaston, I love Larry Fitz and I love Boldin but I still can’t do it. I’ll be honest withyou all here and now, I don’t like Kurt Warner, I don’t. Back in college I went and made a BUNCH of bets with people about the SB 34 and I was betting FOR the Titans to win and what happens? My grocery bagger just kills me and then we lose by literally half a YARD on the last play. I know that was 9 years ago but I am stubborn. All the petty stuff aside, these guys are an offensive juggernaut and they’re fun to watch. Larry Fitzgerald was hands down the best receiver in the league this year and Kurt Warner MAY have been the best QB but they are playing a team that utilizes a gritty defence to grind out dirty, ugly games and I think that is going to be a problem. If they can keep the ball away from Polamalu (which is REALLY HARD) and they can get about 80-100 yards from Edgerrin James, I think they can pull this off. They are a high flying scoring machine but the Steelers are looking to bring this baby down for a rough landing.
The Steelers are night and day compared to the Cards, they play slow grind out offence, they are a VERY gritty and dirty defensive minded team and they are SUPPOSED to be in the Superbowl. I think their only similarity might be the fact that their quarterbacks were back ups that stepped up to win championships. Big Ben is a coaches QB, you’re not going to find him gun slinging, doing the Romo bonehead plays and that’s the key to his success, patience. This guy can really read defences too. I think besides Big Ben, Polamaluhas to be their biggest asset. If you don’t know who he is just look for the large dude with what looks to be Cousin It from the Adams Family under his helmet. This guy is a nightmare for QBs because he is smart, quick and has probably the best hands for a guys his size I have ever seen. The Steelers aren’t without their faults though and I am not just talking about Hines Ward’s penchant for crying every time he gets a chance. Sure Roethlisberger is a great QB but sometimes it feels like they fall asleep at the wheel on offence. Every time I watched a Steelers game this year I fell asleep, just ask my buddy Jeff whos couch I sprawl out on, making him and his girlfriend sit on the floor while I dream of Bengals and Raptors championships. And not scoring against the Cardinals isn’t a very good plan because they are going to score regardless of how good your defence is.
Like the old saying goes, this game is going to be the Immovable Object vs. the Irresitible Force and to be honest I am not even sure what that means but I like to sound witty sometimes or at least try too. Is it going to be the high flying offfence taht wins the big dance? Or is it going to be the gritty grind it out defence? Its a tough call but one I HAVE to make and I am going to say……………The Cardinals!!! 24-21 in OT! Yes! I am calling a close game and a Neil Rackers FG to win the whole kitten kaboodle!
So everyone have fun at your Superbowl parties, take the Cards for the point spread, don’t drink and drive and last but not least to my friend Gary, turn on the TV, get out the pulled pork and the beer cause GoatDiesel’s on his way!!!
Peace!
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Well, you got your close game… just not for the team you wanted. Go Steelers!!!