The Superbowl is this coming Sunday the 1st of February, and many of you will probably find yourselves at a Superbowl party or gathering of some sort watching the game. First things first, the Superbowl will be held in Tampa Bay, Florida and is between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is Superbowl the 43rd or Superbowl XLIII. This is Arizona's first time to the Superbowl (since the NFL merger with the AFL in 1966) and the 6th visit for the Steelers. Basically, this year you have a veteran Superbowl team playing a team out of Arizona that nobody saw making it this far. The Cardinals won the weak NFC West division with a 9 win 7 loss record, and the Steelers with a 12-4 regular season record.
What everyone will know and you should know:
- The Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin just finished his second year as head coach after replacing 15 year head coach Bill Cowher in January of 07.
- Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback of the Steelers has led the Steelers to the Superbowl for the second time in four years.
- This game is basically the Cardinals passing game versus the Steeler defense.
- Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald (WR) is the player of this playoffs. He has had five straight 100-yard games, and played excellent throughout. In the NFC Championship game against the Philly Eagles, he pulled in three recieving touchdowns during the first two quarters.
- Arizona's Kurt Warner (QB) went from riding the bench behind rookie Leinart to starting and taking a team that has had a losing record the last 24 years to the playoffs. He is a vetran QB who most thought was nearing the end of his career. He has two Superbowl appearances with the St. Lous Rams a couple of years back, one of which he was named Superbowl MVP. He has put up decent numbers and been surprisingly consistent during the playoffs. He has an excellent wide recieving core to pass to and a great offensive line.
- The Arizona offense, although talented, has its work cut out for them, facing a man of brute strength who has single handedly destroyed other team offenses. His name is James Harrison and he plays Linebacker for the Steelers and was just named the NFL's defensive MVP. This season he also set a team record of 16 sacks and 7 forced fumbles. I would not wanna play against this guy. Of course if he misses you can be sure SS Troy Polumalu won't.
- Six of the Cardinals' 15 assistant coaches have spent time with the Steelers, either as coaches or players.
- If the Cardinals lose it will probably be because of their defense, The Cardinals are the 5th from the bottom in points allowed per game in the NFL.
- Steelers 7th Superbowl appearance one away from the Cowboys record of 8.
