Tag: Steve Breaston (Page 2 of 4)

      Ten things to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over

      February 2, 2009 /

      Click here for six observations on Super Bowl XLIII.

      Lucifer himself might as well have created the Monday after Super Bowl Sunday.

      Is that extreme? No.

      The Monday after the Super Bowl signals the end of another NFL season and that means there is no football on the horizon unless you’re one of the 10 people that watches the Pro Bowl. There are seven months between now and the start of preseason games, which makes me sick to think about. If I could freeze myself for the next seven months and thaw just in time for the 2009 season, I would.

      Is that extreme? No.

      But fear not my football friends because even though there isn’t any football this Sunday, it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to get excited about while looking ahead. Below are 10 things to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over.

      Before you read on, realize that I’m not going to cop out and write about how free agency and the draft are things to look forward to. Of course they are, but let’s get more specific here, people.

      Tom Brady1. The Patriots’ decision regarding Tom Brady and Matt Cassel.
      The Patriots are faced with arguably the biggest decision of any team this offseason. Brady has won multiple Super Bowls for the organization, has been the face of the franchise for almost a decade and he’s one of the Pats’ most outspoken leaders. But he’s also coming off major knee surgery, is 32 years old and his backup (Cassel) is younger and had a productive season as a fill-in. Cassel is also an unrestricted free agent, which makes this situation even more intriguing. Rumor has it that the Pats will franchise Cassel, but that’s a risky move because they would have to pay him $14.65 million for one year. If New England went that route, they would have nearly $30 million tied up in the quarterback position next year and Cassel might not even take a snap if Brady recovers in time for the start of the season. Another option would be to re-sign Cassel to a long-term contract and then trade Brady, but that’s easier said than done. Even though Brady’s a multiple Super Bowl winner, the Pats would still have to find a suitor willing to take on his injury concerns and contract. Of course, New England could keep Brady and allow Cassel to walk, but then they would have to hope golden boy Tom is healthy, and have a backup option in place in case he does get hurt again. Either way, the Pats have one hell of a decision to make soon.

      2. Will the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin?
      On the surface, this situation isn’t too complicated. Boldin wants to be paid like a No. 1 receiver, but the Cardinals want him to honor the contact extension he signed in 2005, which won’t make him a free agent until 2011. If Boldin doesn’t get paid, he wants Arizona to trade him, but the Cardinals just got done playing in the Super Bowl and would love to keep their dynamic passing game intact for next season. Will the Cardinals pony up? They might not have to. Larry Fitzgerald once again proved this season that he is the team’s No. 1 and while Boldin remains highly underrated, Steve Breaston is more than capable of being the Cards’ No. 2. The team could find another wideout to play the slot either via the draft or free agency. Plus if they trade Boldin, they could acquire multiple draft picks to use to strengthen other areas on the team, including offensive line and defense. But if Fitz is willing to rework his contract in order to help keep Boldin, then obviously Arizona is a much better team with him than without him.

      3. Will the Lions draft a quarterback with the first overall pick?
      The Lions have a new general manager in Martin Mayhew and it’s unclear at this point what they’ll do with the first pick in the draft. Some mock drafts have Detroit selecting Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford first overall, while others suggest Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith should be the team’s first pick. With the success that rookie signal callers Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco had last year, many draft pundits will probably urge the Lions to take a franchise quarterback. But taking a quarterback in the first round (especially in the top 10) has proved to be a fatal move for teams in the past and the Lions’ offensive line is one of the worst in the league. Perhaps Mayhew’s plan for free agency will be a telltale sign of what the Lions do come draft day. If the GM decides to rebuild the offensive line, Stafford might be the pick. But considering new head coach Jim Schwartz’s background is in defense, Mayhew might spend the entire offseason rebuilding on that side of the ball and then target quarterbacks Sam Bradford or Colt McCoy next year.

      4. Donovan McNabb’s situation in Philadelphia.
      McNabb is under contract with the Eagles until 2013, but according to several sources, he’s only signed through 2010, which is why he and the team are talking about a possible contract extension. Let the rumor mill start. Some media outlets claim that McNabb wants out of Philly, while others suggest that he wants to retire an Eagle. The fact that Andy Reid benched McNabb for former second-round pick Kevin Kolb in a game against the Ravens earlier this season adds intrigue. But I guess before anyone gets too wrapped up in the McNabb-Eagles offseason story, more information has to be released about his contract. If he’s under contract through 2012, there’s no sense in buying the rumors that he won’t be an Eagle next year. But if his contract is up, there are seemingly endless possibilities in this situation.

      5. Brett Favre…the saga continues.
      If this were a list of “top 10 things not to look forward to now that the Super Bowl is over”, this same exact topic would be listed. Favre’s retirement dance is brutal, but it makes for good drama. Jets’ owner Woody Johnson recently said that if Favre isn’t in OTA’s this spring, he wouldn’t be with the team next year. Peter King thinks that Favre will retire. Methinks that unless Favre isn’t in uniform next year, then he won’t retire. He’ll never retire…ever.

      Ray Lewis6. What will the Ravens do about their linebacker corps?
      Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs are all set to become free agents this offseason. The Cowboys are reportedly willing to spend upwards of $30 million to acquire Lewis, but that’s just a rumor at this point. If you’re Baltimore and another team wants to spend that kind of money on an aging linebacker, you might have to let him walk. Scott is highly underrated and Suggs is one of the premier pass-rushers in the league. Both players are also younger (Scott is 28, Suggs is 26) than Lewis and the Ravens can’t afford to lose all three players, especially considering their defensive coordinator (Rex Ryan) just became the new head coach of the Jets. Baltimore finally found a franchise quarterback in Joe Flacco and an offense that can score points and now their defense could be falling apart.

      7. Will Kurt Warner stick around?
      Warner proved that he has plenty left in the tank after leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl, but he’s no spring chicken at 37 years old and he’s set to become one of the more sought after free agent quarterbacks on the market. While Arizona might be the best fit for him, this will likely be his last opportunity to get a decent-sized contract and while the Cardinals would love to have him back, Matt Leinart is still waiting in the wings to take over the reins again (again). Warner’s agent recently said he’d test the market, but it’ll be interesting to see how many teams will pursue him given his age and decreasing arm strength.

      8. Scott Pioli’s first offseason in Kansas City.
      It’s time to see what the mastermind behind the Patriots’ drafts this past decade can do outside of New England. The situation in Kansas City is a mess and it’ll be interesting to see whom Pioli hires to replace Herman Edwards at head coach. He has a plethora of candidates, but will he hire a veteran like Jon Gruden or go with an unknown? It’ll also be interesting to see what he does in his first draft, with the Chiefs in need at all positions. KC needs to rebuild the offensive line, has tons of holes on defense and unless Pioli thinks Tyler Thigpen is the answer, he’ll probably look at quarterback this offseason, too. Chiefs fans have one hell of a busy offseason to look forward to.

      9. Is LaDainian Tomlinson done in San Diego?
      By now, most people understand the situation in San Diego. Tomlinson is coming off his worst season as a pro, isn’t getting any younger and his backup is a free agent. All of this has spurned the idea that GM A.J. Smith will trade or release LT this offseason, re-sign Darren Sproles and then concentrate on landing another back either in free agency or the draft. But when you stop and think about it, the Chargers obviously didn’t think LT was on his last legs last offseason when they didn’t try and persuade Michael Turner to stick around. Had they known Tomlinson was done, they would have taken preemptive measures in trying to keep Turner and pair him with Sproles. Tomlinson is still under contract and Sproles is likely to test the free agent market. So maybe Smith’s decision isn’t as tough as everyone thinks and LT will remain a Charger for at least the 2009 season. Or Smith could part ways with the most productive back in team history and then the fun really begins.

      10. Mock Drafts – in all of their glory.
      All right, I had to do one less specified thing to look forward to this offseason. Mock drafts – are they pointless? Yeah. But you know damn well that you’ve already Googled over hundreds of them. Don’t lie.

      College Football, NFL, Super Bowl

      Kawakami: Super Bowl XLIII was no classic

      February 2, 2009 /

      Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News writes that while Super Bowl XLIII was exciting, it wasn’t a classic.

      Larry FitzgeraldA classic? That was a fun Super Bowl, no question. A triple plot-twist, loop-de-loop carnival ride.

      That was a raucous fourth quarter Sunday evening, full of Arizona Cardinals grit and, eventually, a great Pittsburgh Steelers drive to win 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

      Oh, and there was that stunning 100-yard interception return by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison to close the first half.

      But was that really a classic, Ali-Frazier Super Bowl? I doubt history will treat it that way.
      The protagonists were slightly less than epic and the action was just a bit too herky-jerk for instant masterpiece status. No Brett Favres or Lawrence Taylors in this game.

      All those penalties. The wide-open receivers when the last thing the defense could afford was to leave wide-open receivers. That third-quarter sag.

      Much better description: This was a classic example of the NFL’s Parity Era, when no team is good enough to dominate the Super Stage.

      After all those blowouts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and all those Super Teams, we’ve now had two shriek-finish Super Bowls in a row and five straight that were close in the fourth quarter.
      The last blowout? Yep, Tampa Bay 48, Raiders 21 in Super Bowl XXXVII.

      So Larry Fitzgerald was outstanding Sunday. Kurt Warner, too. Santonio Holmes was a revelation. Harrison made the greatest single play in Super Bowl history, by my reckoning.

      But… this felt more like a good first-round playoff game that happened to have Bruce Springsteen at halftime and a spaceship capsule as the postgame stage.

      Agreed. It was a sloppy game for the most part and take away Harrison’s interception return and the first half was largely uneventful. That doesn’t mean the game wasn’t entertaining because it was. But a classic? That’s reach.

      NFL, Super Bowl

      Six Pack of Observations: Super Bowl XLIII

      February 1, 2009 /

      Here are six quick-hit thoughts from the Steelers’ 27-23 victory over the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

      1. Santonio Holmes saved the Steelers.
      Santonio Holmes saved the Steelers tonight. He saved Ben Roethlisberger from erratic play. He saved the usually stingy Pittsburgh defense from getting torched by Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald in the second half. He saved several of his teammates that decided to make costly penalties down the stretch. And he saved the Steelers from almost blowing a game they had control of for three quarters. Holmes was an easy choice for MVP and he was brilliant in Pittsburgh’s game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. True playmakers go above and beyond and that’s what Holmes did tonight. His touchdown catch was absolutely phenomenal and what a throw by Big Ben.

      2. Why wasn’t the final play reviewed?
      I’m confused – can an attempted forward pass not be reviewed by the booth in under two minutes? Because while it would have been a close call either way, Warner’s arm looked like it was coming forward on the final play of the game, which would have meant an incomplete pass and one last gasp for the Cardinals. And while it still would have been a long shot for ‘Zona to reach the end zone and win the game, I’m shocked the most important play wasn’t at least reviewed. Maybe the officials would have still come to the conclusion that Warner’s arm wasn’t coming forward and the fumble would have stood. But you’ve got to at least review it.

      3. Harrison’s interception cannot be overlooked.
      How fitting was it that the defensive player of the year came up with one of the biggest plays in the Super Bowl? James Harrison’s 100-yard interception return for a touchdown before half changed the entire makeup of the game. Some may fault the Cards for not trying to run the ball in that situation because they were at the 1 yard line and had they got stuffed, they still would have had plenty of time to spike the ball and have one last attempt at a touchdown. But they were out of timeouts and with only 18 seconds on the clock, it’s hard to blame Arizona for throwing the ball; Warner just made a bad decision with the pass. But had the Cards at least kicked a field goal in that situation, it’s a 10-10 game at half and maybe the game plays out differently from that point on. Regardless, Harrison’s effort was outstanding and he truly wasn’t going to be denied. If it weren’t for the Cards’ fourth quarter comeback and Holmes’ amazing play down the stretch, Harrison would have been the game’s MVP.

      4. Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t great, but he was once again clutch.
      One of the post game commentators used the word “outstanding” to describe Roethlisberger’s play tonight. That’s a stretch. While it’s true Big Ben kept plays and drives alive several times by scrambling away from defenders, his indecisiveness and his penchant for holding onto the ball too long also led to a couple of key holding penalties against the Steelers in the fourth quarter, including the one that led to a safety. That said, he was once again clutch down the stretch. He zeroed in on his best playmaker (Holmes) and put the ball in his hands in order to make plays. Roethlisberger’s play wasn’t sharp by any means, but then again, it rarely is. But there’s no denying he makes plays when the game is on the line and he did so once again tonight. He now has two Super Bowl rings and he’s still only 26.

      5. Get aggressive, Aaron Francisco.
      On Holmes’ 40-yard reception to set up the Steelers’ game-winning touchdown, Arizona safety Aaron Francisco took a horrible angle on the play and it allowed the Pittsburgh receiver to race up the sideline and put his team in position for the go-ahead score. Granted Francisco eventually made the tackle down field, but it looked like he was playing not to make a mistake and it cost his team. It’s one thing to be caught out of position. It’s quite another to allow a receiver to easily make a catch in the open field, completely overrun the play and then allow him to race down the field. Safeties have one of the toughest jobs on the field because they have to play in so much open space. But Francisco’s effort on that play was questionable at best. (Outside of chasing Holmes down and eventually making the tackle, of course.) Francisco also was one of the defenders who was beat on the Holmes’ touchdown catch.

      6. Do the Cardinals even need Anquan Boldin?
      Anquan Boldin has been one of the most underrated receivers in the league for several years and there’s no doubt he deserves to get paid like a No. 1 receiver. But should Arizona bend over backwards in getting him a new contract when they already have Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston on the roster? How good was Breaston tonight? I realize he’s able to make more plays with Fitz and Boldin on the outside, but does anyone think Breaston doesn’t have the ability to be a No. 2 in this league after the way he played in 2008? Thanks to him, the Cardinals might be able to acquire multiple draft picks in a deal for Boldin this offseason.

      NFL, Super Bowl

      Super Bowl XLIII Preview: Five reasons why the ________ will win

      February 1, 2009 /

      If Super Bowl XLII between the Giants and Patriots taught us anything, it’s that regular season records mean nothing and there are no guarantees when it comes to crowning a champion in the NFL.

      The 17-0 Patriots looked like a slam-dunk to win the Super Bowl last January. That is, until a rowdy Giants bunch that played perfect football throughout the playoffs shocked most of the world en route to a 17-14 victory. Sound familiar?

      No, the Steelers didn’t go 17-0 in the regular season. In fact, they were far from perfect and at times, looked awfully inconsistent. But with their No. 1 defense leading the way, it’s hard to argue that Pittsburgh doesn’t have the better overall talent heading into this year’s Super Bowl against the Cardinals, especially when you consider Arizona finished with a 9-7 record, competed in a crappy division and scored just one more point than they allowed this season.

      But as the Giants proved last year, sometimes all it takes is momentum, which the Cards certainly have after soundly defeating the Falcons, Panthers and Eagles to get to Super Bowl XLIII. Arizona has a lot going for itself these days, including a resurgent veteran quarterback in Kurt Warner, a highlight reel playmaker in Larry Fitzgerald, and an underrated defense that is playing its best football of the season.

      So who has the edge in Super Bowl XLIII? You can make a case for either team, which is exactly what I did. (Five of them actually.)

      Below are five reasons the Cardinals will win on Sunday and five reasons why the Steelers will come away victorious. Contradictory? Sure, but play along – it’ll be more fun that way.

      Five reasons the Cardinals win will Super Bowl XLIII:

      1. They will put the Steelers back on their heels early.
      In each of their three playoff victories, the Cardinals held first quarter leads and in wins over the Panthers and Eagles, Arizona led at halftime. The Cards don’t have the most dominating defense, but it’s a unit that plays well with a lead. Earlier this week, former Steeler Rod Woodson suggested to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Cardinals would come out in their two-minute offense to start the game. While the Steelers wouldn’t necessarily be caught off guard by this tactic, it would nevertheless be hard for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to get into a rhythm of attacking Arizona with his various blitz packages. If the Cards can get on the scoreboard early, it would give them confidence that they can move the ball against the Steelers vaunted defense, as well as give them momentum that could carry them throughout the game.

      Adrian Wilson2. They’ll win the turnover battle.
      Want to know how a 9-7 team made it to the Super Bowl? Twelve takeaways, that’s how. In their three postseason wins, the Cardinals forced 12 turnovers, including six in a 33-13 victory over the Panthers in the divisional round. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is vastly underrated in many ways, but the biggest knock against his game is that he hangs onto the ball too long. If Arizona defenders Adrian Wilson, Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett can crash the pocket and get to Big Ben, they might be able to force a turnover or two and turn the game on its head. In a Week 16 loss to the Titans, Roethlisberger threw two interceptions and fumbled four times, losing two. Big Ben has proven countless times that pressure doesn’t faze him. But if the Cardinal defense can force him into turning the ball over, takeaways might come in bunches.

      3. The Cardinals offense is that good.
      It’s easy to talk about how good the Steelers defense is because they rank No. 1 in the league in that category. But don’t forget that Arizona ranks fourth in total offense, including second in passing yards per game and tied for third in average points scored. And they racked up those stats in the regular season while their running game finished dead last with just 73.6 yards per contest. Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower have resurrected the team’s running game in the postseason, which has only served to make quarterback Kurt Warner’s job easier. The Cardinals have been more balanced offensively now than they were in the regular season and now that defenses have to honor the run again, they can’t drum up pressure like they want to and Warner has time to pick them apart. The Steelers’ defense is fantastic, but if the Cardinals can stay balanced, there’s no reason to think they won’t be able to move the ball.

      4. They have the X-factor in Larry Fitzgerald.
      Have you seen Larry Fitzgerald catch a ball? Stop and actually think about it. Have you seen Larry Fitzgerald go up, get the ball at its highest point and snatch it out of the air using only his hands? He’s the best in the game and now that the Cardinals are good, he is finally getting the attention he deserves. Fitzgerald never allows the ball to come close to his body; he has some of the best hands of anyone in the NFL and thanks to his height and speed, he makes life awfully difficult for defensive backs. Having Anquan Boldin on the opposite side and Steve Breaston in the slot helps, as well because defenses usually can’t double Fitz in fear that the other two wideouts will burn them in one-on-one coverage. Football is the ultimate team game, but special players can take over games by themselves and Fitzgerald is certainly one of those players. The Eagles had one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL this year, but they had no answer for Fitz in the NFC Championship Game. He’s at the height of his career and given the chance, he can take over the game on Sunday.

      5. They’re a team of destiny.
      I hate this one – I truly do. I’d rather talk about the individual matchups or break down the X’s and O’s then cop out and say a team will win because they’re destined to. But the Cardinals really shouldn’t be here. They played poorly heading into the playoffs, had unfavorable matchups against the Falcons and Panthers, and then were fortunate enough that the Eagles beat the Giants so that they could host the NFC Championship Game. But you know what? They also deserve to be here. They deserve it just as much as the Steelers do and sometimes it’s just a team’s year. Kurt Warner’s comeback is a great story, Larry Fitzgerald is finally getting his time in the spotlight and Adrian Wilson is as classy as they come. This is finally the Cardinals’ year and the Steelers’ defense be damned, ‘Zona will finish their fairytale season with a with a Super Bowl win.

      Five Reasons the Steelers win will Super Bowl XLIII:

      1. To hell with fairytale seasons – the Steelers are just better.
      Let’s take a look at some stats, shall we? In addition to leading the league in total defense, the Steelers limited opponents to just 13.9 points, 157 passing yards and 80.3 rushing yards per game this season. The Cardinals also finished just one game above .500, played in a brutal division, lost an average of two games per month and beat just one team (Miami) with a winning record in the regular season. The Steelers had the better record, faced stiffer competition and in a sport where defense usually wins championships, theirs is king. Hey, it’s the postseason – anything can happen. But reality is about to set in for the Cardinals because playing one of the best teams in the AFC is a different animal than beating the best the NFC has to offer.

      2. They’re going to pressure Kurt Warner – over, and over, and over again.
      The Cardinals have had a ton of success this postseason because they’ve kept Warner upright. The Falcons and Panthers created zero pressure on Warner and the Eagles could only do it for one quarter (the third) in the NFC Championship. But one thing the Steelers’ defense and coordinator Dick LeBeau specialize in is getting to the quarterback. After an entire half of barely laying a finger on Warner, Philly finally started to pressure him in the third quarter and wouldn’t you know it, the Eagles mounted a huge comeback. Warner is having one of the best seasons in his career but he’s still Kurt Warner – pressure him and his play will dramatically suffer. He’s immobile, will take sacks and hates to have defenders in his face. Unfortunately for Warner, he’s about to face immense pressure for not just one quarter, but for the entire game and if he doesn’t react well, the Steelers are going to cruise. Expect Pittsburgh to move the pocket backwards so Warner can’t step into his throws and will have to spend most of his game either on the run or on his back.

      Ben Roethlisberger3. All of the Ken Whisenhunt inside information talk is overblown.
      Yeah, Ken Whisenhunt used to be the Steelers’ offensive coordinator so there is a remote possibility that he holds all the answers to beat Pittsburgh on Sunday. But the fact of matter is that Whisenhunt is two years removed from Pittsburgh, which oh-by-the-way has a completely different staff than it did when he was their offensive coordinator and for the most part, different personnel, too. Whisenhunt might know Ben Roethlisberger well and therefore might know some of his tendencies, but this isn’t the same situation as it was in 2002 when Jon Gruden helped dismantle the Raiders and Rich Gannon in Super Bowl XXXVII. Gruden was just one year removed from Oakland and knew most of the personnel from the season before. Plus a lot of what makes Big Ben so unique and successful is the way he can improvise. How many times have you seen him escape a potential sack and make something happen on a broken play? A defense can’t prepare for that. Besides, Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast will design his game plan from things he picked up from this year’s Steeler team – not off of what Whisenhunt remembers from two years ago. So in other words, the fact that Whisenhunt used to coach the Steelers will have little to no impact on the outcome of the game.

      4. They have the X-factor in Troy Polamalu.
      Simply put, Polamalu is a game-changer. He never takes plays off, he’s a missile in run support and a blanket in pass coverage. Quarterbacks have to account for his whereabouts on every play or else he’s going to make them pay and who better to have in coverage when facing Larry Fitzgerald than Polamalu? His best attributes are his speed and instincts. He always seems to be a step faster than everyone on the field and he’s incredibly versatile. He also has a knack for coming up with the big play and while he can be too aggressive at times, he doesn’t make many mistakes. Polamalu can do it all and he’ll once again this Sunday he’ll prove why having a playmaker at the safety position can often be the difference in what makes a good defense great.

      5. If the Steelers start to falter, the refs will step in and ensure victory…
      …just like in Super Bowl XL. That’s funny? That’s funny right? Get it, because a lot of non-Pittsburgh fans think that the Steelers’ Super Bowl victory that year was fixed so that Jerome Bettis could retire with a championship win in his hometown? Ah, I’m just f*&king around. Everyone knows Big Ben got the ball across that goal line…

      Check back on Friday for a Super Bowl XLIII prediction.

      NFL, Super Bowl

      Five Intriguing Super Bowl Storylines

      January 19, 2009 /

      If anything, the 2008 NFL Season was far from dull. While the Cardinals and Steelers each won their respective divisions to secure playoff berths, neither team was a slum dunk to make it to Tampa at the start of the postseason.

      Let’s recap, shall we?

      The Steelers entered the playoffs with huge question marks to be answered, most surrounding their offense. In their last regular season game of the year, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was taken off the field strapped to a stretcher after the back of his helmet slammed against the turf following a hit between two defenders. Along with his health, Pittsburgh’s offensive line, although starting to gel in the final month of the season, seemed to be a weakness that defenses like the Titans and Ravens could exploit if they had the opportunity to face the Steelers in the postseason.

      So while they ranked first in total defense entering the playoffs, the Steelers had major issues. Yet they steam rolled an overmatched Chargers team in the divisional round, then turned Joe Flacco’s inexperience against him in the AFC Championship Game and now they’re one win away from winning their second Super Bowl title in three years.

      Conversely, the Cardinals had a little steeper hill to climb. Although their offense was explosive throughout the season, they played poorly down the stretch and many believed that if they had to go on the road in the playoffs, they would never survive. Not only that, but many pundits also didn’t believe ‘Zona would get past a good running team like the Falcons, who were sure to ride Michael Turner to victory in the opening round.

      Thanks to three Atlanta turnovers and a soundly executed game plan to shut down Turner, the Cards beat the Falcons to set up a regular season rematch with the Panthers in the second round. Six Jake Delhomme turnovers later and Arizona was heading to the NFC Championship Game despite everyone and their mother suggesting that they would never be able to win on the road. Then despite the Eagles’ best efforts at a second half comeback, Arizona was able to hang on Sunday to secure a trip to the Super Bowl, which seemed like an improbable task at the start of the playoffs.

      Now that the matchup has been set, what do we have to look forward to? Plenty, actually. Below are five storylines that should wet your appetite for the next two weeks before kickoff on February 1.

      Anquan Boldin1. Anquan Boldin vs. Todd Haley.
      Perhaps the most intriguing storyline heading into Super Bowl XLIII is what the relationship will be like between Cards’ wideout Anquan Boldin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. The two could be seen having a heated discussion on Arizona’s sideline during the NFC Championship Game Sunday and Haley mouthing, “Don’t call me that” several times during the exchange. According to several reports, Boldin was so upset after the game that he refused to talk to the media and left the locker room abruptly without celebrating with his teammates. Haley claims the receiver was upset with being replaced by Steve Breaston in one of the formations during Arizona’s pivotal game-winning scoring drive, but nothing has been confirmed. So what happens now? More than likely, the situation will get brushed under the rug because the last thing any team needs is to head into the Super Bowl with its star receiver and offensive coordinator at odds. But one has to wonder if Boldin (who publicly stated that he wanted the Cardinals to trade him in the offseason) will put aside his personal feelings in order to help his team win a Lombardi Trophy. He better, because if he thinks that Arizona (or any team for that matter) will spend millions of dollars on a player that put himself above his team’s push to win a Super Bowl, than he has another thing coming.

      2. Kurt Warner vs. the Steelers defense.
      The Pittsburgh-Arizona matchup reminds me of the 2002 Super Bowl between the Buccaneers and Raiders. Like Pittsburgh this season, Tampa Bay led the league in total defense that year. Oakland had the best passing offense in the league and was led by long-time veteran quarterback Rich Gannon. Arizona doesn’t have the best passing offense in the league (they were second to New Orleans), but they are led by trusty 11-year vet Kurt Warner at quarterback. In Super Bowl XXXVII, Gannon threw a record five interceptions, three of which were returned for defensive touchdowns as the Bucs routed the Raiders 48-21. Granted, this isn’t Warner’s first Super Bowl (it will be his third), but his situation is eerily similar to Gannon’s. The Steelers’ defense excels at making quarterbacks (young and old) look silly when they drop back to pass. And while he hasn’t shown signs of it yet this postseason, Warner can get awfully turnover prone if he feels too much pressure. The Eagles were able to get to Warner in the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game and the Cardinals’ offense wilted. But they couldn’t do it on a consistent basis (neither could the Falcons or Panthers), and Warner picked them apart with the help of Larry Fitzgerald. Can the Arizona offensive line protect Warner long enough for him to find open receivers? Or will Warner suffer a similar demise as the one Gannon did?

      Ben Roethlisberger3. The injury status of Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward.
      Unlike the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game, the Steelers don’t have to worry about injuries on the defensive side of the ball come February 1. But the same can’t be said for their offense, which will likely dress a less than 100% Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward. Big Ben is dealing with a multitude of nagging injuries ranging from bruised ribs to a spinal cord concussion he suffered in Week 17. Ward caught three passes for 55 yards before exciting the championship game with a right knee injury. The team is calling the injury a “slightly sprained MCL,” but he’s expected to play in the Super Bowl. Both of these players will embrace the two weeks off they have between now and kickoff, but one has to wonder whether or not the injuries will come up again any point during the game. Backup quarterback Byron Leftwich has looked good in spot duty this season, but he’s highly immobile and will turn the ball over from time to time. At receiver, the Steelers can get by with Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington, but Limas Sweed has dropped two potential touchdown catches the past two weeks and it isn’t easy replacing Ward’s instincts and leadership on the field. Pittsburgh needs both players to be healthy because while the Cardinals’ defense doesn’t look good on paper, they’re one of the most underrated units in the NFL and are playing extremely well right now.

      4. Does Ken Whisenhunt hold an inside edge?
      Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt were hired eight days apart in 2007. Some believed that when Bill Cowher decided to retire, that Whisenhunt (the Steelers’ offensive coordinator at the time) would take over as head coach. But Whisenhunt eventually decided to head west and take over the seemingly impossible rebuilding plan in Arizona. Tomlin was then plucked from his defensive coordinator position in Minnesota to coach the Steelers, and now two years later the two will meet in the Super Bowl. The question becomes: Will Whisenhunt have inside knowledge of how the Steelers run their offense since he was their offensive line coach when they beat the Seahawks in the 2006 Super Bowl? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know ways to help Arizona defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast defend Ben Roethlisberger (who Whisenhunt coached for two seasons in Pittsburgh) or find ways to exploit the few weaknesses the Steelers have defensively. Remember, Jon Gruden helped Monte Kiffin scheme against Rich Gannon (his former quarterback in Oakland) in Super Bowl XXXVII and the Bucs wound up intercepting the Raider QB five times. It would be unwise to overlook Whisenhunt’s knowledge of the Steelers when breaking down this matchup.

      Mike Tomlin5. Steelers open as 7-point favorites.
      This isn’t a huge storyline by any means, but the general media loves to shy away from the gambling aspects of the big game, so it’s fun to talk about. Don’t expect the Steelers to remain 7-point favorites for very long. Pittsburgh fans will likely push the spread up to –8 or –9 by kickoff, making the Cardinals an intriguing pick in my opinion. Pittsburgh’s average margin of victory this year (including the postseason) was right around 10 points and that includes a 31-0 ass kicking of the Browns in Week 17. So as good as the Steeler defense is, they haven’t necessarily blown opponents out this season. Point is, if the spread jumps up closer to 10, there’s a good chance the Cards will keep the game close and produce a cover. If the line drops, then it’s hard not to love what the Pittsburgh defense could potential do to Kurt Warner and the Steelers might be an easy choice. So basically, let the public make your decision for you and if the line stays put, then maybe partaking in some Super Bowl squares or the total (which opened at 47) is the better way to go.

      NFL, Super Bowl

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