Super Bowl: Key Matchups

Only a couple more days until the game and its time to break down the key matchups that will make or break the game for the Cardinals or the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.

QB Kurt Warner vs. S Troy Polamalu

No matter what the Cardinals have done running the ball recently, they thrive and rely on Kurt Warner putting the ball in the air and preferably to Fitzgerald or Boldin. With Warner lining up against the Steelers defense it is safe to say that, once again, he will be counted on to get the ball out and quickly. This is what leads us to the matchup; Mr. Grocery Man vs The Hair. Troy Polamalu has terrorized QBs all season and will definitely be a huge defensive threat. The man had 7 Ints on the season and will look to add to that with Warner having to get the ball out quickly. It isn't a mystery that Warner will look to Fitzgerald in tough times so look for Polamalu to try and stop what no NFC team has done these playoffs.

Advantage: S The Hair

 

QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. the Cardinals pass rush

It is time for Big Ben to show up to the big ball. Last time around Roethlisberger struggled against a less than stellar Seahawk defense and the Cardinals are a little better. The key for Roethlisberger is to have relax and throw the ball. Now the Cardinals pass rush isn't revolutionary but Roethlisberger is known to regularly hold on to the ball for longer than the recommended 3 seconds giving his offensive line a bad name. Maybe the key matchup isn't Roethlisberger vs DE's LaBoy, Smith, and Berry but rather Roethlisberger against himself. If Roethlisberger can stop his tendency to get happy feet he could have a big game. But who am I kidding, Roethlisberger was only able to muster a total of 3 TDs in 2 games against the Cincinnati Bungals.

Advantage: Cardinals Pass Rush (If they want success they'll blitz S Wilson almost every play)

OLB's James Harrison/LaMarr Woodley vs. T's Mike Gandy/Levi Brown

Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and (Currently moving on up from underrated) LaMarr Woodley will be hounding Warner all day long and it will be up to Gandy and Brown to attempt to slow them up. When both of the 3-4 OLB's come on the blitz the opposing QB better look out. Gandy and Brown got a glimpse of what they will see on Sunday when they played Jim Johnson's Philly defense. Both of the T's did an adequate job of picking up the infinite blitzes but when they started to struggle later in the game, so did the Cardinals. Now it is impossible for them to be asked to stop Woodley and Harrison but they must do everything they can to keep the slow Warner upright. If the RB's can help with some of the blitz pickups this would lighten the load but I expect something similar to the whooping that Brady received last year from the Giants pass rush.

Advantage: OLB/DE's Harrison and Woodley

WR Larry Fitzgerald vs. CB Ike Taylor

Last but not least is the matchup of perhaps the best player in the game, Larry Fitzgerald, and Pittsburgh's best cover corner, Ike Taylor. The way Fitzgerald has played in the last three games is out of this world. With 23 catches for 419 yards and 5 TD's there is no one in this league or universe that can cover the man. Don't get me wrong, Ike Taylor is a good corner on a very good defensive squad but matching up against Fitzgerald right now is like asking someone to go man up with Jordan with no help. Expect the Steelers to be smart and roll their coverage Fitzgerald's way (Note to Fitzgerald: Look out for Ryan Clark. He will hit you helmet to helmet. He willnot feel any shame about possibly ending your career.... and oh yea, he won't get fined) but Boldin is "healthy". Everyone else has attempted to stop Fitzgerald, without a 100% Boldin and knowing that the ball is coming his way, and everyone has failed. With the things I've seen this postseason, there is no way that Fitzgerald can be stopped (unless you count Warner getting bloodied up from the relentless Steeler blitz).

Advantage: WR Larry Fitzgerald