A Tampa Trimuph – Why the Steelers Will Win Super Bowl XLIII

Super Bowl XLIII is finally upon us, and with it all the noise over the last two weeks will finally come to an end, and a game will be played. Thankfully. The hype is usually better than more profound than the game, but this year, like last, there are high hopes for the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers matchup with the surprising NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals.

I have always felt that in the NFL, one golden rule almost always falls true – a good defense always beats a good offense. With that being said, my pick for Super Bowl XLIII will fall into the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there are a number of reasons why I think Pittsburgh will be known as “Sixbugh” after they win their 6th NFL title on Sunday night.

Now that is not to say that Arizona does not have a shot. After seeing what the Giants did last year to the Pats, you can never say never, but at the same time, there are reasons behind why the Steelers will win the game, and there is even a thought in my head that this game could be rather ugly before it’s said and done.

Here are the reasons I think the Steelers will come out on top Sunday:

1. Pressure on Warner – LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison are two of the best LB’s in the league, and Kurt Warner has not faced not only them, but the other kinds of pressure that Dick LeBeau will throw at Warner. Kurt is very good at getting the ball out in blitz situations, but he’s not seen the type of pressure that the Steelers have and will bring Sunday night in Tampa.

2. The Steelers run game – There has been a lot of kudos on the Cards for clamping down the opponents run game during their three wins in the playoffs, but I think that the Steelers will have a solid game on the ground Sunday. Willie Parker has looked good as he’s gotten healthy, and while Arizona has gone from giving up 110.2 yards per game in the regular season to 67.5 in the playoffs, I think that the Steelers will rush for over 100 yards in this one.

3. Big Ben – The Steelers QB had a lull mid-season with a couple of poor games vs the Colts and Giants, but has really come back around, and has played more like the Pro Bowl QB from a year ago in the last 6-8 games. Ben has also been a factor in his ability to make big plays, such as the 65-yard TD to Santonio Holmes in the AFC Title game. Roethlisberger will have a good game vs the Cards secondary.

4. Cards won’t be able to run much, if at all – Other better running games have done little to nothing against the Steelers, and while the Cards have a new found level of commitment to running in the playoffs, it will be really tough for Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower to do much vs the Steelers. If James can get more than 50 yards, I will be very surprised. No run game puts even more pressure on Kurt Warner.

5. It’ll be like a Steelers home game – Pittsburgh was 8-2 overall with the two playoff games at home, and while the field and locker room and what not will not be Heinz Field, the atmosphere will be HEAVILY favored towards the Steelers. Some are already saying the crowd will be 80-20 in favor of the Steelers. The crowd will make it as close to a home game as you can get for the Black and Gold.

So there it is, the factors will be on the side of the Steelers, which is why I think they will have their 6th title after this victory. Final Score – Pittsburgh 34 Arizona 17