Jan
26
2009
There is only one game left in this NFL season, but it is the game that is most important. Super Bowl XLIII will be played on February 1st in Tampa Bay, Florida, between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. Something will have to give when the shut-down defense of the Steelers meets the explosive offense of the Cardinals.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ success this season can be defined with one word, consistency. The Steelers had the toughest schedule of any team in the NFL, and they still finished with an impressive 12-4 victory. After two tough payoff wins over the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens, they are now just a win away from capturing their sixth Super Bowl victory in franchise history. No other team has ever won six Super Bowls, and a victory in Super Bowl XLIII would put the Steelers in a league of their own.
Very few people thought that it would be the Arizona Cardinals representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, after finishing the regular season with a record of 9-7. The Cardinals caught fire in the playoffs and defeated the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles. Now, the Cardinals find themselves one win away from their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
The Steelers’ defense will face a tough task when they take on the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. The Arizona Cardinals have a very dangerous passing game, led by veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. The best way to disrupt the Cardinals’ offense would be to pressure Warner and force hurried throws. Expect the Steelers to blitz off the edges to try and keep Warner off-balanced. The most explosive weapon Kurt Warner has at his disposal is wide receiver, Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has played tremendous in the playoffs with 419 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Containing Fitzgerald will be crucial, if the Steelers hope to be called Super Bowl champions at the end of the night.
By Michael C. Smith
Jan
19
2009
The third time was not the charm for the Baltimore Ravens. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore 23-14, on Sunday night to advance to their second Super Bowl appearance in the past four seasons. The Steelers will meet the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay, Florida, on February 1st. It will be a great matchup of the high powered offense of the Arizona Cardinals against the number-one ranked defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The defense of the Steelers made Joe Flacco look like a rookie quarterback on Sunday. The defense brought pressure and forced Flacco to make bad decisions with the football. Flacco’s first ever AFC championship was a nightmare, being sacked three times and throwing three interceptions, one of which was returned for a 40-yard touchdown by Troy Polamalu to seal the win for the Steelers. The Steelers’ defense proved why they are ranked number one with another spectacular performance against the Ravens. When all is said and done, this defense may very well be considered one of the best ever in NFL history, and would not be more deserving.
Ben Roethlisberger will be heading to his second Super Bowl in his short five year career, and much had to do with his performance on Sunday night. It was Roethlisberger’s ability to keep plays alive after being hit or when the pocket broke down around him, which kept the Steelers’ offense moving. One example of this took place when the Ravens came on an all-out blitz and it appeared that Roethlisberger was going to be sacked, until he escaped the crowd of defenders and threw a pass to Santonio Holmes, which ended up going for a 65-yard touchdown. Willie Parker rushed for 47 yards, but that was to be expected against the powerful run-stopping defense of the Ravens.
It was a complete team effort that propelled the Steelers to victory over the Ravens, and will be sending the Pittsburgh Steelers to their seventh Super Bowl in franchise history.
Hines Ward left the game with a knee injury in the first quarter and will have an MRI on Monday.
By Michael C. Smith
Jan
17
2009
It all comes down to this for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A win over the hated Baltimore Ravens would stamp the Steelers a ticket to Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay, Florida, while a loss would end the Steelers’ season in disappointment. These two teams are no strangers and are very much alike in the way they execute on offense and defense. Once again, fans should expect this game to go down to the wire with the winner being decided in the final minutes.
The Steelers are the healthiest they have been all season; the Baltimore Ravens are a different story. The Ravens have not had a bye week since Week 2 of the NFL regular season, and the long stretch of games are wearing on their players. Linebacker Terrell Suggs is expected not to play after sustaining a shoulder injury last week against the Titans. Also, Ravens cornerback, Samari Rolle, will not play due to injury.
The loss of Rolle will leave Baltimore’s secondary weakened and susceptible to the passing game of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Expect Ben Roethlisberger to throw in the direction of Frank Walker, who will be starting in place of the injured Rolle. If Suggs does not play, it could open up the running game of the Steelers, which is again having success with a healthy Willie Parker.
By Michael C. Smith
Jan
12
2009
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the San Diego Chargers 35-24, Sunday evening, and are now just one win away from Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers will face the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game next Sunday January 18th at Heinz Field, with the winner heading to Tampa to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
The defense of the Steelers did a tremendous job of shutting down the explosive offense of the San Diego Chargers. Darren Sproles, who had over 300 all-purpose yards last week against the Colts, was ineffective against the powerful Pittsburgh defense as he rushed for just 15 yards on 11 carries. Phillip Rivers was sacked four times and was forced to throw an interception.
While the Steelers’ defense played great as usual, it was the offense of the Steelers that was the story of this game. Ben Roethlisberger looked as strong as ever and did not show any effects of his concussion. Roethlisberger threw deep down field numerous times and made plenty of clutch throws, while only being sacked once, a spectacular effort by the offensive line. Roethlisberger went 17-26 for 181 yards, with a touchdown pass to Heath Miller.
The Steelers running game appears to finally be working effectively. Willie Parker ran excellent Sunday as he rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while Mewelde Moore and Gary Russell were used to change pace, and kept San Diego’s defense guessing.
By Michael C. Smith
Jan
04
2009
The Pittsburgh Steelers now know who they will be facing in the Divisional Round of the 2008 NFL Playoffs; it will be the San Diego Chargers. This game will take place on January 11th at 4:45 PM in Pittsburgh. The winner will advance to the AFC Championship game with the opportunity to head to Super Bowl XLIII, in Tampa Bay Florida.
The Steelers and Chargers first met back in Week 11 of the season, in which the Steelers won, in nail biting fashion, 11-10 at Heinz Field. The Steelers’ defense forced quarterback, Phillip Rivers, to throw two interceptions, while holding LaDainian Tomlinson to just 57 yards rushing. The offense of the Steelers did their part with Ben Roethlisberger throwing for over 300 yards, and Willie Parker rushing for over 100 yards of his own.
That was then, this is now. Ben Roethlisberger will be coming off of a mild concussion that he suffered in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns. How effective Roethlisberger will be at quarterback, will be unknown until he takes the first snap of the game. If the Steelers hope to advance to the AFC Championship game they must protect Roethlisberger, while containing San Diego’s explosive offense.
That starts with stopping the running game of the Chargers. In the Wildcard round against the Colts backup halfback, Darren Sproles came in for an injured Tomlinson, and ended getting 328 all-purpose yards. The Steelers cannot allow that kind of success and must find a way to slow down the running attack of Tomlinson and Sproles, or they can kiss their dreams of winning a sixth Lombardi Trophy goodbye.
By Michael Smith
