Super Bowl XLIII Prediction

[Photo via cbcsports.ca]

The only teams that match up well against the Steelers are the Patriots and teams that mirror the Steelers’ smashmouth style: a stingy defense plus a ball-control offense with a relentless running game and play-action passing game. The Cardinals are neither the Patriots nor this type of smashmouth team.

They remind me of the Colts of recent memory: good running game, great quarterback and receiver corps, and a defense that steps it up come playoff time. We saw the Steelers disassemble the favorite-to-win-it-all Colts during their 2006 Superbowl-winning run by playing physical at the line against the Colts’ receivers.

I have to give the Cardinals credit, though. No one predicted them to even make it out of the first round after they stumbled into the playoffs in the worst division in the league. Larry Fitzgerald has become the premier receiver after already having the best postseason statistically as a receiver. Kurt Warner is a lock to make it into the Hall of Fame, and he has not one, not two, but three 1,000-yard receivers at his disposal.

Even with all these weapons on the offensive side, the Steelers’ defense is just too good. I know they probably haven’t faced a passing game this potent, but the Steelers’ have shut down every passing game they’ve played all year. It used to be a weakness in this zone-blitz defense, but with the number-one ranking, the pass defense has proved itself more than capable at thwarting any air attack.

In order for the Cardinals to compete, they’ll have to establish a short passing or running game and their defense must be able to force turnovers and Roethlisberger to make plays on long third-downs. The Steelers are going to play physical at the line against the Cardinals’ receivers and the stud linebackers will try and hit Warner as much as they can.

Look for the Steelers to win their league-leading sixth Super Bowl and the Steelers’ defense to cement its place as one of the best in NFL history.

Steelers 31, Cardinals 16