20 Things to Know Before Watching Super Bowl XLIII

What Happens When Arizona’s Offense Has The Ball? How this question ultimately gets answered will be the story of Super Bowl XLIII. If Arizona can figure out Pittsburgh’s defense to the point of coming anywhere close to their 31.6 points-per-game playoff average, then they probably win. Can they protect Warner? Can they avoid costly turnovers? Can they scratch together a running game? And can they handle the adversity that the Super Bowl will surely generate? If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then Arizona will have a great shot to celebrate their first Super Bowl title. With the number-one defense in the NFL on the other side of the ball, it will be much easier said than done.

Harrison vs. Gandy - This is probably the best one-on-one matchup in the game. The task of trying to control James Harrison, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is a high priority for Arizona. This responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of Cardinal left tackle Mike Gandy. Signed during the 2007 offseason after Ken Whisenhunt assumed control of the team, Gandy has been just as important as any other Cardinal in getting Arizona to Tampa. So far in the playoffs, Gandy has held sack-masters Jonathan Abraham and Julius Peppers sack-less. Sunday he draws his biggest test to date, as the NFL top sack dog will be waiting for him at Raymond James Stadium. From all angles this battle should be legendary and will go a long way in determining the outcome.

How does Pittsburgh Utilize Miller & Spaeth? If you like gigantic tight ends, look no further than the twin towers in Pittsburgh. Heath Miller stands 6’5’’, 256lbs; while Matt Spaeth measures in at 6’7’’, 270lbs. The duo has combined for 65 receptions, 650 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Miller and Spaeth have come up big for Pittsburgh all season, keeping drives alive with big first down catches seemingly every week. With their size it’s no surprise that they are equally adept at blocking. And that may be the name of the game come Sunday. If Big Ben’s rib injury is worse than expected, the task of protecting Roethlisberger will be magnified. Keep an eye on the amount of time Miller and Spaeth stay in to block, compared to running routes. Also look to see how many two-tight-end sets Pittsburgh deploys early in the game. The way they utilize Miller and Spaeth in the first half will shed some light on the seriousness of Big Ben’s ribs.

The Santonio Holmes Factor - With Hines Ward clearly playing injured, Pittsburgh will need someone to step up and steal the show. Their leading candidate on paper is Santonio Holmes. Last week, Holmes’ big-play ability was on full display during a 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown. In addition to the passing game, Holmes will have the opportunity to be a game-breaker returning punts. Either way, Santonio Holmes needs to get loose and Mike Tomlin will do everything in his power to make that happen.

An Intimate Knowledge – By now you know that Ken Whisenhunt was Ben Roethlisberger’s offensive coordinator for his first three seasons in Pittsburgh, including their Super Bowl XL triumph. The question now becomes what impact does that 3-year experience play Sunday? Factor in Russ Grimm was also an integral part of that Pittsburgh staff, and one must wonder: Is there anybody in football who knows Pittsburgh better than Whisenhunt and Grimm? Answer: No. We all saw what happened when John Gruden was armed with a similar knowledge of Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. It remains to be seen if they still know enough two years later to duplicate that result same Sunday.

Strong Under Pressure – If we know one thing about Pittsburgh’s defense, it’s their desire to bring pressure. If we know one thing Kurt Warner, it’s his ability to handle it. Pittsburgh will blitz Warner all afternoon. Rattling him will be the hard part. Warner handles pressure as well as any QB, possibly ever. Woodley will be coming, so will Harrison, so will a host of other Steelers. Under heavy fire, expect Warner to hang in the pocket until the final second, get hit all day, but still deliver the football. Whether or not they can get to him fast enough to disrupt the timing of the Cardinal offense is the key.

Where’s Polamalu? As we know, Troy Polamalu is an ‘in the box’ safety. Sunday he’ll probably be an ‘everywhere’ safety. He’ll be near the line of scrimmage helping with the run. He’ll be flying through open gaps on blitzes. He’ll be in coverage. He will basically be everywhere. Last week, all the pre-game talk focused on Ed Reed, yet it was Polamalu who stole the show, returning an interception for a touchdown in the 4th quarter to ice the AFC title game. He’s a difference maker and the clear-cut leader of this stellar defense. Harrison may have received all the accolades this season, but Polamalu is the player keeping Ken Whisenhunt up at night. Arizona won’t hesitate to test him deep with shots to Larry Fitzgerald, in fact they're hoping for those opportunities. It’s the rest of the time that they’re worried about.

One Very Important Rib Cage – Hopefully Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin was right when he said Big Ben is “fine” and Hines Ward is “great” earlier this week. Makes me wonder why Roethlisberger had two, not one, but two, MRI’s on his ribs cage since the AFC Championship Game. No matter how you look at, this is not good for Pittsburgh. The last thing you want heading into the Super Bowl is an injured Ben Roethlisberger. Can you imagine a scenario where the Steelers’ record-breaking sixth Super Bowl title hangs in the balance with Byron Leftwich at quarterback? Every Steeler fan reading this article just cringed at the thought. But that could become a reality if Big Ben gets hit on those ribs.

Woodley vs. Brown – While James Harrison and Mike Gandy are waging war on one side of the line, LaMarr Woodley and Levi Brown will be doing the same on the right side. The first thing Ken Whisenhunt did after becoming the Cardinals coach in 2007 was draft Levi Brown with the 5th overall pick. Brown has been tremendous for Arizona, but will surely have his hands full with the former Michigan Wolverine. Woodley has been excellent in the postseason, with two sacks in both playoff victories. If Arizona feels more comfortable leaving Gandy on an island with Harrison, expect them to give Brown help. With or without it, Levi Brown will have Aaron Smith and LaMarr Woodley in his face all day. Is the Happy Valley product up to the task?

Fresh Edge – Seems like only yesterday that Edgerrin James was bickering about not wanting to be a Cardinal. He certainly wasn’t the first. Funny how a trip to the Super Bowl can fix things. James’ mid-season demotion has turned into a blessing in disguise for Arizona. Now James is fresh and back to his old Indianapolis form. He’ll do the heavy lifting in this game; Hightower will provide the spark, and Arrington will chip in when needed. With this group on the same page, it’s no surprise to see a previously run-deficient team averaging 110 yards on the ground in the playoffs.

An Underrated Line - For some bizarre reason, people seem to think that the Arizona offense line is a weakness. Let’s dispel the rumor. First of all, you don’t pass for more than 5,300 yards without an offensive line. Secondly, you don’t rush for over 110 yards per game in the playoffs without an offensive line. Third, the exact people questioning this group probably couldn’t name anybody on it. When Ken Whisenhunt took the job, his #1 priority was rebuilding the offensive line. First step was bringing offensive-line wizard Russ Grimm with him from Pittsburgh. Then he grabbed Penn State standout Levi Brown with the 5th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Directly following the draft he out-recruited 19 other teams to win the services of Kyle Sendlein. Sendlein was the starting center for the 2005 National Champion Texas Longhorns, yet went undrafted. Under Grimm’s tutelage he’s blossomed into one of the brightest young centers in football. Needing a left tackle, they stole Mike Gandy from Buffalo. Then Grimm went to work trimming down and coaching up Deuce Lutui and Reggie Wells. Its taken time to gel, but this group is far from a weakness—they’re the glue keeping this spectacular offense rolling.

It All Starts At The Draft – Both coaches have been on the job for two seasons. And both entered their positions under adverse circumstances. Tomlin had the unenviable task of following a coaching legend, Bill Cowher; while Ken Whisenhunt assumed control of a team many thought was incapable of winning. Two years later and those birds have stopped chirping. A major part of the formula has been nailing draft picks. Lawrence Timmons, Lamarr Woodley, Matt Spaeth and Limas Sweed are all Tomlin picks. Meanwhile, Whisenhunt's brain trust has had an equally keen eye for incoming talent, plucking Levi Brown, Steve Breaston, Kyle Sendlein, Dominique Rodgers Cromartie and Tim Hightower. Super Bowl teams are built through the draft and this forty-third edition is no exception.

The Super Bowl’s Other Defense – Ask Michael Turner about Arizona’s defense. Or DeAngelo Williams and Jake Delhomme. Or Brian Westbrook. This group has been holding the NFL’s most explosive player in check all postseason. Antonio Smith, Darnell Dockett and Bertrand Berry lead the way up front. With Arizona getting pressure from their front-four, playmakers like Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson have shined. The secondary features Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie, an emerging NFL superstar, along with Antrel Rolle and Roderick Hood. Rolle and Hood both have post-season INTs and are playing at a high level. It’s an understatement to say that this unit is gelling at the right time. I’m still trying to figure out what happened in New York, Philadelphia and New England, when the same unit allowed 151 points in three blowout losses.

Don’t Forget Special Teams – Time and time again, the Super Bowl is decided by special teams. Desmond Howards, Scott Norwood and Adam Vinatieri come to mind. Both of these teams bring elite kickers to Tampa. Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed is automatic inside 40 yards and is a perfect 3-3 in the playoffs. Arizona’s Neil Rackers made the 2006 Pro Bowl and is 5-7 in January. In the Super Bowl points are usually at a premium, these two kickers will need to do their part.

Getting Off The Field – Third-down conversions will be hugely important stats during Super Bowl XLIII. Which team can keep drives alive? Which defense can get off the field? Arizona’s defense might be on an upswing, but they were still the fifth-worst team in the NFL in third-down defense. Pittsburgh’s offense was in the middle of the pack, converting 41.1% of their third-down conversions in 2008. Even if Pittsburgh hasn’t excelled in this department, it’s still an advantage. Meanwhile, the challenge for the Kurt Warner & company will be converting crucial third downs against the #1 third-down defense in football. Wow, that’s a shocker. Arizona’s offense has been converting at 41.9%, good for 11th best in the NFL.

The Quest For #6 – The historical significance of this game cannot be understated. Pittsburgh is currently tied with Dallas and San Francisco with five Super Bowl titles. With fifteen champions under their belts, the Steelers, Cowboys and 49ers have basically outlined what is necessary to win a title: Great quarterbacks and great defense. All three teams have had some of the best. Roger Staubach handed Dallas’ torch to Troy Aikman in the early 90s, Joe Montana handed San Fran’s to Steve Young around the same time, and now Ben Roethlisberger has a firm grasp on Pittsburgh’s torch, in a clean handoff from Terry Bradshaw. The whole point of the NFL is to win the Super Bowl. Bottom-line. If Pittsburgh is successful Sunday, they will break the tie and the argument about who’s got the best franchise around.

Anquan Boldin: The Super Bowl’s Sleeping Giant? Name another player in this game with more to prove than Anquan Boldin. Coming off an 89-catch, 1,038-yard, 11-touchdown season, despite missing four games, Boldin has become the forgotten man in Arizona’s offense. All the talk surrounding Arizona’s other star wideout has been about his sideline shouting-match with offensive coordinator Todd Haley during the legendary forth quarter drive that got Arizona here. With the media embroiled in a two-week love affair with Larry Fitzgerald, Boldin’s potential impact on this game has been lost. With two full weeks of additional recovery to the groin he injured against Atlanta, Boldin is 100% and ready to light Super Bowl XLIII on fire.

Super Bowl Winning QB vs. Super Bowl Winning QB – By my count, this is only the forth time that both starting quarterbacks in the Super Bowl were previous Super Bowl champions. It happened in Super Bowl’s X and XIII with Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. Staubach was MVP of Super Bowl VI, before Bradshaw led Pittsburgh to their first title in Super Bowl IX. It happened again in Super Bowl XVIII when Jim Plunkett, MVP of Super Bowl XV, met Joe Theisman, winner of the prior year’s Super Bowl XVII. With history showing us just how rare of an event this is, Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger is sure to be special. The winner walks away with ring number two and the inside track on an invitation to Canton.

The Trick Play – Trick plays are a staple of Ken Whisenhunt’s offense. In Super Bowl XL we all remember Antwaan Randle-El’s fake-reverse touchdown pass to Hine Ward. This postseason has seen the multiple versions of the flea flicker stifle opposing defenses. Pittsburgh might not know when it’s coming, or in what variation, but the expect something tricky from their old offensive coordinator.

Nick G Sports Banter Prediction – My gut feeling is that Arizona’s offense will find a way to score over twenty points. I know how the old saying goes, good defense beats good offense. That’s what makes this Super Bowl special. This is a great offense, firing on all cylinders, going up against a great defense, as stingy as they come. What gives? As we’ve seen in the past, I think the magnitude of the stage loosens things up and gives the offense a big advantage in Super Bowl games. I expect an underappreciated Cardinal defense to play well enough to win a game in the twenties. Prediction: Arizona 24 Pittsburgh 20. MVP: Kurt Warner.