CARDINALS (+6 1/2) over Steelers; Over 46 1/2
The past few weeks have proven fulfilling for a couple of rank underdogs showing lengthy stints on Chicago’s South Side on their resumes.
Four years ago, you could have caught 50-1 offshore on the presidential chances of a one-time Illinois state senator and community organizer bearing an unusual name, whose family settled in a White Sox/Cardinals neighborhood.
Before the NFL playoffs began, that same 50-1 was available in Vegas to any sport intrigued by the Super Bowl chances of the only NFL franchise whose history traces back to the 19th century, to an amateur club team oriented around Normal Park, on Chicago’s Racine Avenue.
Barack Obama reached the position he sought. The Arizona Cardinals have one more hill to climb.
The Steelers bring ample big-game experience and the league’s top-rated defense, to a setting which has a history of rewarding those attributes. A weak spot previously, the offensive line has gained stability, running back Willie Parker is fresh, and Ben Roethlisberger has yet to throw a pick this postseason. What’s not to like?
The grand Steeler scenario is for Pittsburgh to rely on Hines Ward to make plays while mentally torturing the Card defense, reduce Larry Fitzgerald to mere-mortal status, and to have OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodly harass Kurt Warner to distraction. A strong Steelers pass rush maximizes the effectiveness of the marauders in the Pittsburgh secondary. But is it Curtains for Kurt?
Pittsburgh’s facing a quarterback with a 97.3 lifetime postseason quarterback rating . . . a quarterback who’s never lost a playoff game by more than three points in 10 tournament matchups . . . and a big-game performer for whom injuries to his throwing hand are but an unpleasant memory. Edgerrin James has provided invaluable late-season balance on the ground. Lone offensive concern is that while they’ve taken the rain out of tonight’s forecast, gusty winds are something Warner could live without.
Already, you can make a case for Fitzgerald being one of the most imposing wideouts in league history. When he can reach a ball, it’s his, sucka! The Steelers will have to double up on him, leaving Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston wild and free.
The broad effect of Ken Whisenhunt’s presence on the Cards’ sideline is considerable. The previous Steeler offensive coordinator lost to Mike Tomlin in the post-Bill Cowher coaching derby. Whisenhunt’s Cards beat a Pittsburgh squad in Mike Tomlin’s initial career loss, as part and parcel of a 4-0 ATS sweep generated by Whiz’s Cards over the AFC North last year. Familiarity breeds confidence. Never underestimate the benefit of intricate insider knowledge of a foe’s personnel.
Whisenhunt was able to pace this edition, as the Cards circled back to form after those two breathers on the heels of their clinching the historically weak NFC West.
NFL history is strewn with owners who began to feel a Super sense of urgency once they passed three score and 10 (Art – and Dan! – Rooney, Art Modell, Georgia Frontiere, Jack Kent Cooke and Edward DeBartolo Sr. All won their first Super Bowls after eclipsing 70).
Though son Michael now oversees the franchise, Bill Bidwell could be next to reap maximum enjoyment from this apparent coincidence of career timing.
Born in Chicago in 1931, Bidwell assumed full ownership of the franchise in 1972. Finally, in a classic execution of the “best athlete available” philosophy following Michael’s takeover, ‘Zona’s 2004 draft (engineered by then-HC Dennis Green and current GM Rod Graves), featured the selections of Fitzgerald, LB Karlos Dansby, DT Darnell Dockett and DE Antonio Smith. The acquisition of Warner before the 2005 season has panned out splendidly.
The evolving competitive character of the Super Bowl must be considered. Underdogs have covered in five of the last seven, and the pair of pups which didn’t cover came within a single touchdown of doing so. The only rout during that time was engineered by the underdog Bucs against the favored Raiders in Super XXXVII, in which ex-Raider Jon Gruden hammered his ex-employer.
Somewhere, Parity Pete Rozelle is smiling.
Cardinals 27, Steelers 24