|
Ok, is it me or did the whole world drink the Cardinal Kool-Aid? It seems that everyone who is anyone in the sports broadcasting business who had, at the beginning, picked the cardinals to lose to the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles, (extremely long list, myself included) are now loving the Cardinals’ chances (myself excluded) against the boys from the Burgh.
Are they all being serious? If you take them seriously you might just start believing and then a domino effect takes hold. One person says it, then two, then four, then all of a sudden the line on a game that by all statistical standpoints should be a blow-out, has gone from the Steelers giving the Cardinals 10 to 7 and in some places, I’ve seen the line as low as 3 ½. Why? Because they’ve made it to the Super Bowl?
In case everyone who may have gone brain dead within the last two weeks, let me remind you of something... the Cardinals are poop. Don’t believe it? Want to stay humble? Go ahead, not me, not now, not ever. I ALWAYS believe the Steelers will destroy everyone they play. But I can’t even fathom a situation where the Steelers could lose this game. So let’s put it all out there, the reasons these flip-flopping, waffle eating football “experts” can put so much faith in the Cardinals.
How about the way they cruised through the NFC playoffs? Ok, let’s be serious here, they didn’t really cruise through anything. The game against Atlanta was in doubt until the second half and they were playing a rookie Quarterback. You think Roethlisberger is going to throw up that lolli-pop of a pass Ryan threw up in the 4th quarter? How about the Carolina game? They easily beat the Panthers right? Ok, aside from the 5 interceptions that Delhomme gift wrapped and handed to the Arizona secondary this game wasn’t a blow-out despite what the score says. Delhomme STILL put up over 200 yards in the air despite his 5 INT’s. Warner’s average pass completion only went for 6.7 yards, take away Larry Fitzgerald’s Y.A.C. and that number drops faster then the old man’s bowel movements.
And the NFC championship game? Ok, yeah, they beat the Eagles, the number 3 defense in the league. But let’s look at this game objectively. 3rd downs, the Cardinals went 5 for 12, that’s only 41%. They’re rushing game, only yielded 97 yards, ON 18 CARRIES! That’s 5.3 yards a carry, good luck winning with that defense. But wait, what about that secondary, it had 5 picks against Carolina (0 were taken to the house), they must be able to handle the load right? Sure, if you call giving up 3 TD’s and over 350 yards a good day. Let’s all take a moment to admit something. If McNabb and the Eagle’s hadn’t been playing playoff football, win or go home, since the middle of the season, they stomp the Cardinal’s just like they did back in week 13.
Some say their passing game is just too good. Ok, maybe this would have some merit if the Steelers didn’t um... have the number one secondary in the league. Since when is the fourth best offense in the league a lock to gouge the leagues number one secondary? Did I skip a day in math when the number 3 becomes before the number 1? And I don’t want to hear anything about how Larry Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the National Football League. In these playoffs? Yes, without question, but in the League? No, not yet, not until you lead the league in every statistical category or maybe just one and do it a few years running.
Yeah, he’s had some success, but name one team the Cardinals have played, that employs one shut-down corner? You can’t can you? It’s not because you don’t know his name or because you don’t know the teams that well, you can’t name on because the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles are all lacking in that area. So what does it mean to shut down Larry Fitzgerald? It means everything; he has more than 3 times as many receptions as Breaston or Boldin. Touchdowns? He has 5; those two stats combine for 37% of the Arizona offense, 37%! I’ll say this once... I like Ike (Taylor).
The Cardinals defense has come alive? Give me a break ok? If you include Special Teams coverage, which you should because they account for a third of the game, in every post season game this year the Cardinals have given up over 330 yards to every opponent. Against the Panthers and Eagles? More than 430 yards. Philly was 13 yards away from breaking 500 total yards. Those are facts people, check the box scores.
They only lost time of possession to Philadelphia but they only beat out the Falcons by 4 seconds (30:02 to 29:58). You really think the Steelers defense will allow Arizona 30:02 of ball possession? And please... give Ben 29 minutes with the football and the Steelrs might win this game 56-0.
So what else you got? What other possible reason could you have for backing the Cardinals? Hines didn’t practice Wednesday? He hasn’t practiced on Wednesdays since mid-way through this season, none of our veterans have, Tomlin learned to not burn them out after last season’s, well, burn out. And there have been reports Ben might be playing hurt, what else is new?
“Well you know Whisenhunt used to be our offensive coordinator.” That’s true, and Russ Grimm was also our offensive line coach. But unless you’re an idiot and haven’t watched a Steelers game in 2 years our offensive starters aren’t exactly the same now are they? This includes the offensive line, which has 1 starter in common with the Super Bowl XL line and guess what, he’s on the opposite side this time around.
“How about the resurgence of the Arizona run game?” I’m not even dignifying that with a response. Have you seen the Steelers front 7 lately? Speaking of which, I don’t care how well Kurt Warner can pick up blitzes. None of the teams he’s faced these playoffs run a 3-4 scheme. The last team they played that does? That was the New England Patriots, an 11-5 team who didn’t even make the playoffs. Guess what happened in that game? The Cardinals lost 47-7 and were shut out until the 4th quarter.
Man, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m worried... worried about getting hit by a car on Carson Street after the game is over. I’m picking the Steelers to win Super Bowl 43, and since “a lot to a little” is way to broad, final score Steelers 35, Cardinals 13. Here we go!
|
