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.

Working Against History: The Cardinals Soar To New Heights

Sport fans are all familiar with the struggles of the Chicago Cubs. One hundred years of baseball. No titles. The list of devastation borders on cruel and unusual punishment: The Curse of the Billie Goat; Ruth’s “called shot” in the ’32 Series; the black cat at Shea during the Fall of ’69; the heartbreaking loss to the Padres in ’84; Steve Bartman; and, of course, their latest disappointment this past post season. Call them cursed. Call it plain bad luck. Either way, the Cubbies have saddled their loyal fans with one very unenviable distinction. It’s a place atop the worst list in sports: Longest drought without a championship. For the Cubs it’s been a century and counting. So, next time you see a Cubs fan on the street, buy him a beer; he deserves it.

So, who’s next on this horrid list, you ask? You’ll find them on the opposite spectrum of the sports world. While the Cubs have been consistently competitive for much of their unfortunate history, still boasting one of the most passionate fan bases around, the same can’t be said for the runner up. With one week of Super Bowl XLIII coverage in the books, you probably know the answer. And it probably didn’t surprise you either. The Arizona Cardinals are the type of team you expect to see on this list. The words ‘Cardinals’ and ‘championship’ are about as polar opposite as the words ‘Wooden’ and ‘loser’. For as weird as it is to have a storied team like the Cubs atop the list, it seems naturally fitting to see the Cardinals second. If a Cub fan deserves a beer, a Cardinal fan deserves a six-pack.

The List:

Chicago Cubs – last title – 1908
Arizona Cardinals – last title – 1947
Sacramento Kings – last title – 1951
Detroit Lions – last title – 1957
Chicago Blackhawks – last title - 1961

As a charter member of the NFL, and the oldest continuously running professional football team in America, the Cardinals have had time on their side. Luck, on the other hand, has been a different story.

Formed in 1898, the Cardinals have called three cities home in their 110-year existence: Chicago, St. Louis and now Phoenix. That’s one more city than the franchise has championships. Those came in 1925 and 1947. As they’ve zigzagged across America, their time in the league has transpired in relative obscurity. Sure, there have been highlights. Four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Jim Hart was probably their best signal-caller before Kurt Warner, leading the Cards to seasons of 10-4, 11-3 and 10-4 from 1974-76.

And then there were the Cardiac Cards of the late 1990’s, led by Arizona State product Jake Plummer. Prior to this post season, the Cardinals franchise highpoint was a wild card round victory over the Dallas Cowboys in 1998. It marked the franchise’s only other playoff victory outside of their 1947 NFL title game victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. However these were very slight glimpses of light in an otherwise dark and ominous history of ineptitude.

Since the Packers won Super Bowl I in 1967, the Cardinals have experienced 29 losing seasons. Most of that time was spent playing professional football in a college stadium. For years games were blacked out throughout their home state, as Sun Devil Stadium sat half empty. Before realignment the NFL haphazardly dumped them in the NFC East. This forced them to travel twice a year to New York, Philadelphia, Washington and Dallas, despite being located on the other side of the country. They were the division whipping stick for decades, currently a combined 77 games under .500 against those old division foes.

Moves like drafting Arkansas kicker Steve Little ahead of future Hall-of Famer Ozzie Newsome and SB MVP Doug Williams with the 15th overall pick in the 1978 draft helped enhance their laughing-stock image. And, of course, none of us will ever forget the loss of Pat Tillman. Like no other, this franchise has been hard struck with countless years of awful football and even worse luck.

In typical Cardinal fashion, even their 1925 title is a widely debated matter. Back in those early days of the NFL, the league championship was awarded to the team with the best record. In 1925, that team was the Pottsville Maroons. However, in what has become one of the longest-standing controversies in NFL history, then Commissioner Joseph Carr suspended the Maroons, stripping them of the championship, for playing a previously arranged game at the conclusion of that NFL season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish All-Stars in Philadelphia.

The Maroons’ participation in this game, won 9-7 by Pottsville, violated league rules, therefore handing the 1925 NFL title, by default, to the Chicago Cardinals. At the time the Cardinals refused to accept the title, yet history officially acknowledges them as the 1925 champions. In 1963, the NFL appointed a special commission to examine the issue. That committee voted 12-2 in favor of upholding Commissioner Carr’s decision. The matter appeared closed, but it wasn’t. Only five years ago, at the 2003 NFL owner’s meetings, the matter of the 1925 NFL championship resurfaced. This time the league voted 30-2 in favor of the original ruling.

To this day a strong contingent of Pottsville supporters still cry foul over that infamous 1925 season. They point to the season finale, where the Maroons beat the champion Cardinals 21-7 and to their win over Notre Dame. At the time top college teams were considered better than the emerging pro teams; and Notre Dame’s All Star squad was as good as any. If nothing else, it’s an interesting crevice in NFL history and another blemish on the timeline of Cardinals football.

The Arizona Cardinals’ history book might as well have been written by their arch rival. It’s that bad. 110 years; two championships, one disputed; five all-time playoff wins; and a 61-year title drought. As Pittsburgh enters Super Bowl XLIII as one of the most successful teams in North American sports, the Cardinals enter the game as virgins, not only to the Super Bowl, but to success in general. As Pittsburgh looks to pace the NFL with their record-breaking sixth Super Bowl title, the Cardinals are simply looking for a moment. A moment that is long, long overdue. It’s one that might not erase a century of losing, but it would certainly be worth the wait. For a team that has already accumulated more playoff victories in the past month than they had in their entire 110 years of existence, the Cardinals are hoping to have their name stricken from one list and added to another: The list of Super Bowl champions.

Game Story: Ravens Off To AFC Title Game; Stun Top-Seeded Titans in Nashville

“Here come the Baltimore Ravens. The team nobody wants to play”

Those were the words of Ravens All-Pro Ed Reed, prior to Saturday’s Divisional Round playoff with the Tennessee Titans. As it turns out, Reed’s words proved prophetic, as the Ravens defeated the top-seeded Titans 13-10 at LP Field, and are headed back to the AFC Championship Game for the second time this decade.

Taken with the 18th pick out of Delaware in the April draft, Joe Flacco became the first rookie to win two playoff games in NFL history. While avoiding the big mistake, Flacco led a conservative but efficient Raven attack, going 11 for 22, for 161 yards and one touchdown. No interceptions. No fumbles. No problem for the former Fighting Blue Hen.

Flacco’s best pass of the day was a 48-yard strike to Derek Mason with 1:20 left in the first quarter, tying the game at 7.

Mason led Baltimore in receiving with 5 catches, 78 yards and the score.

"We've been confident in ourselves all year," Flacco said after the game. "It seems like we've been on the road for the longest time. It doesn't matter to us. We're going to go out there and battle the crowd, battle the other team, and give it our best."

Baltimore’s defense subscribed to the ‘bend but don’t break’ philosophy most of the afternoon, executing it to a tee. The NFL’s #2 rated defense excelled at getting off the field without relinquishing points, holding Tennessee to a paltry 4-14 on 3rd down conversions.

Ray Lewis and Bart Scott led the charge, each collecting a team-high 11 tackles.

Tennessee will have a hard time looking back and blaming anybody but themselves.

Uncharacteristic of a Jeff Fischer team, the Titans were sloppy all afternoon, committing 12 penalties for 89 yards and three crucial turnovers.

With 12:05 remaining in the half, Tennessee was forced to start from their own 1-yard line. However, Kerry Collins drove the Titans down to the Baltimore 32, before ending the drive with an interception to Samari Rolle.

On Tennessee’s next drive, they were again on the move, before losing the football when LenDale White fumbled on a third down run. The half ended, tied 7-7; with Tennessee kicking themselves for squandering the two possible scoring drives.

For Tennessee the most devastating turnover was still to come. With Baltimore holding a slim 13-10 lead, Tennessee’s sure handed tight end, Alge Crumpler, fumbled the ball over to the Ravens, one yard shy of the end zone. It was a crippling turnover that all but sealed Tennessee’s fate.

In addition to their undisciplined play, Tennessee also had to deal with the loss of running back Chris Johnson, towards the end of the first half. Johnson was in the middle of an amazing game, already gaining 100 yards (72 rushing, 28 receiving) when he injured his right foot.

Johnson opened the scoring on Tennessee’s second drive of the game, getting loose on the right edge for an 8 yard touchdown run. The Titan offense was never the same after losing the rookie, scoring only three points the rest of the way.

While Baltimore was playing it close to the vest with their young quarterback, Tennessee decided to let veteran Kerry Collins air it out. Collins did everything possible without the threat of a running game, completing 26 of 42 passes for 281 yards, no touchdowns. It was obvious that Collins’ first target was Justin Gage. Gage caught 10 balls for 135 yards. The combo did everything imaginable except find the end zone.

Ultimately, too many costly penalties and the three untimely turnovers; coupled with the loss of their best player, led to Tennessee’s demise.

With :53 seconds remaining in the game, Baltimore veteran Matt Stover trotted on the field to deliver the death blow. The 43-yarder was good off the foot, as Stover’s two fourth-quarter field goals were all Baltimore needed to get back to the AFC title game.

"I would say this would be the No. 1 [kick in my career]," Stover said, before adding, "but we've got some more kicks, too. So let's just be humble about that."

The Baltimore Ravens are now one game away from Super Bowl XLIII. They will need one more win away from home to get to Tampa. The immediate question is whether their road show will be traveling to San Diego or Pittsburgh next weekend?

“Here come the Baltimore Ravens. The team nobody wants to play”

Words have never been so true.


Photo from AP, quotes from ESPN.com

AFC Divisional Playoff: Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans

Time: Sat. 4:30 PM ET
Weather: High: 46, Low: 27, 60% chance of rain, estimated 16 mph cross wind
Favorite: Tennessee by 3

The unusual thing about this year’s Divisional Round is that all four games feature teams that have already met during the regular season. It’s the weekend that many football purists consider the best of the playoffs, and it begins with a rematch of a week-five battle that saw Tennessee outlast Baltimore 13-10. That game wasn’t for the faint of heart, and I’ll assume in advance that this one won’t be either.

The deciding factor could be Baltimore safety Ed Reed. Reed has been the best football player in the NFL over the past month. Last week, he single-handedly altered the Ravens’ Wild Card game in Miami, intercepting two passes and returning one for a pivotal touchdown. Add Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs to the equation, and this Ravens defense is playing better than any other unit remaining in the 8-team tournament.

The key for Tennessee will be how quickly they get back into rhythm following their bye week. It’s well documented that defensive stalwarts Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch will be returning to the Titan lineup. But at what level? With Tennessee’s offensive sure to be slowed by Reed & company, the Titans defense will need to match that effort to have any chance of advancing. Pay close attention to the Tennessee front-four early in the game, as their effectiveness will be paramount.

For the first time is years, the Baltimore offense is finally catching up to their defense. Stabilized by Joe Flacco’s impressive rookie season, Baltimore brings the league’s fourth-best rushing attack to LP Field; while Tennessee owns the NFL’s seventh-best ground game. Sensational Titans’ rookie Chris Johnson, who was held to only 44 yards in their week-five meeting, will need to have a much better day. Look for the team with more rushing yards to most likely advance to the AFC Championship Game.

As we know, playoff games are won in the trenches, and that logic will certainly hold true in this one. Unfortunately for Tennessee, this is the one area where they are wounded. On top of the questions surrounding the health of Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch, Pro-Bowl center Kevin Mawae has been ruled out with an injured right elbow. With Tennessee’s interior weakened on both sides of the ball, it’s easy to envision a repeat of the 2000 playoffs, when Baltimore upset the then #1-seeded Titans in Tennessee, en route to their Super Bowl XXXV victory.

Prediction: Baltimore 21 Tennessee 10

NFC Divisional Playoff: Arizona Cardinals @ Carolina Panthers

Time: Sat. 8:15 PM ET
Weather: High: 59, Low: 38, 60% chance of rain, estimated 14 mph cross wind
Favorite: Carolina by 10

Barack Obama was recently named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year. While the President-elect is certainly worthy of the nod, my vote would have gone to second-year Cardinals Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt. While Obama will be expected to lead the free world beginning January 20th, the task facing Whisenhunt two years ago was just as ominous. Taking control of a fledgling laughing stock, Whisenhunt now has the Cardinals knocking on the door of the NFC Championship Game; way faster than Obama could ever dream of fixing the American economy.

The turnaround began last season when Whisenhunt handed the reigns of the offense over to the 36-year-old Kurt Warner, burying first-round pick Matt Leinart on the Arizona bench. Whisenhunt showed faith in a quarterback that’ so many love to question.

And what happens when people unwisely question the hall-of-fame bound Kurt Warner?

He usually ends up with MVP-like numbers with his team in the Super Bowl mix. This season is no exception. Warner’s full-blown NFL resurrection (4,854 yards, 32 TDs) is the main reason why Arizona boasts the most explosive offense remaining in the playoffs. In fact, when they are firing on all cylinders, Arizona’s offense and Warner’s old Greatest Show on Turf attack, look eerily similar. The big question heading into this game revolves around one of Warner’s main targets, Anquan Boldin. Boldin pulled his hamstring while scoring a 71-yard touchdown in last week’s 30-24 win over Atlanta. He plans on testing the injury before the game, yet sources close to Arizona expect little, if anything, from Boldin. Anybody smell some cat and mouse? Either way, one thing is certain: Boldin is far from 100%. Arizona’s third wide-receiver, Steve Breaston, will be asked to help shoulder the load. Breaston has been phenomenal during his 2008 coming-out party; hauling in 77 catches for 1,006 yards. His productivity now becomes vital for Arizona.

Meanwhile, the #2-seeded Carolina Panthers enter the game 12-4, healthy, and ready to play. The Panthers are led by Head Coach John Fox, who is quietly becoming one of the best coaches of his era. The one thing Fox lacks is a Super Bowl ring, and this current group of Panthers would love to fill that void. I suspect Fox knows he’ll need to score in the high 20’s-low 30’s to beat Arizona, so look for him to alter his game plan and take numerous shots down the field to Steve Smith. The rest of the time, Carolina will look to grind out the clock with their two-back attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. As is normally the case with playoff football, pay close attention to who wins the turnover battle. In this particular game it could easily be the deciding factor.

The only thing that might slow down Arizona is the game-time weather. If this turns into a cold and rainy affair, edge Carolina. If not, look for Warner to pick apart Carolina’s defense, with or without Boldin. Once the Cards get rollin’, Carolina’s run-oriented offense will have a very tough time keeping up.

Prediction: Arizona 31 Carolina 24

NFC Divisional Playoff: Philadelphia Eagles @ New York Giants

Time: Sun. 1:00 PM ET
Weather: High: 33, Low: 21, 10% chance of rain, estimated 25 mph cross wind
Favorite: New York by 4

All over football people have been searching high and low for this year’s version of last year’s Giants. Well, I have a news flash for everybody: Stop the hunt! Last year’s Giants haven’t gone anywhere. In fact, this time around they’re the #1 seed in the NFC. Add in the fact that there’s no 18-0 monster looming around the corner, and we don’t need a search party to find the Super Bowl favorites. While everybody seemed to jump off the Giant bandwagon after the Plaxico Burress incident, make no mistake, this team is still the best in the NFL.

I hate to sound so presumptuous about an NFL playoff game, but the task facing Philadelphia Sunday is truly that enormous. Sure, the Eagles did beat the Giants a month ago, 20-14 at the Meadowlands. And sure, everybody knows the Giants lost three of four down the stretch. Yet despite not coming into the game with the same momentum they entered last year’s playoffs with, this team is still focused, rested and looking to make a statement.

This Giant team has thrived off self-motivation in the past, and all of the glowing talk surrounding Philadelphia is surely fueling their fire. Apparently, the Giants players, most notably Brandon Jacobs, had a few spirited, full-speed practices this week after growing restless with all the time away from the field during their bye week. They seem to be chomping at the bit to begin the defense of their Super Bowl crown. All of this doesn’t bode well for the Eagles.

Philadelphia will have their hands full Sunday, but they do have three things working in their favor: Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and their defense. All three will need to be in top form for Philly to walk into the Meadlowlands and leave with the victory. McNabb has been playing his best football of the year and so has Westbrook. But keep in mind that McNabb has a storied history of choking in big games, and for every dominating game that Westbrook has had this season, he’s disappeared in just as many.

If the Giants’ back-to-back effort falls short, it could very well be because of the loss of their big-play wide receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress’ impact on last year’s Super Bowl run cannot be understated. However, with 25 mph winds expected at the Swamp, this game falls right into the New York Giants wheelhouse. Expect the three-headed monster of Brandon Jacobs, Derek Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw to have a huge day, keeping the dreams of a repeat alive for another week.

Prediction: Philadelphia 7 New York 35

AFC Divisional Playoff: San Diego Chargers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Time: Sun. 4:45 PM ET
Weather: High: 25, Low: 24, 30% chance of snow showers, estimated 13 mph cross wind
Favorite: Pittsburgh by 6

Pittsburgh might have the league’s #1 defense, but this week they draw the unenviable task of trying to contain the league’s hottest quarterback. It’s no mistake San Diego’s resurrection from 4-8 to the Divisional Round happened to coincide with Philip Rivers’ terrific play. Since week 12, River has thrown 13 TDs and only two INT, playing the seven-week span to an average QB rating of 107.55. When it’s counted the most, Rivers has been at his best this season. When the two teams met on November 16, Rivers played his worst game of the year (0 TD, 2 INTs, 44.4 QB rating) and San Diego still only lost by a point, 11-10.

Both teams have one major injury of note. Pittsburgh’s quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still recovering from a pretty severe concussion suffered two weeks ago in the regular season finale against Cleveland, but is expected to play. He had this to say Wednesday, “I had a little bit of a headache from putting the helmet on because it’s so tight. We’ll deal with it and move on.”

For the Chargers the news is not so good. LaDainian Tomlinson is expected to miss the game with what is being described as a torn tendon in his groin. LT, who was clearly limited in last week’s Wildcard win over Indianapolis, was clearly distraught about the injury when talking to the media Wednesday:

"It feels like something is tearing away from my leg. That's how I know that it's messed up because before, when I've had groin injuries, I haven't felt that. Whenever you feel a popping or like it's tearing, that's usually not good."

Without LT or Shawne Merriman, the task will be large for Norv Turner’s Chargers. But if last year’s 21-12 AFC Championship Game loss to New England showed us anything, it’s that this team travels well to the Northeast in January. Instead of being intimidated, San Diego fed off the Foxboro crowd during that game. Expect the same Sunday, in the last, and probably best, matchup of the weekend.

PREDICTION: San Diego 20 Pittsburgh 16

John Tavares and Victor Hedman Ready To Take The NHL By Storm

Six months from now, one NHL GM will have a big decision to make. It’s the type of decision that can follow a team for years. One that can reestablish your franchise’s relevancy, immediately make you playoff caliber and leave you with a championship foundation to build around. Or it can leave you wondering how you failed to capitalize on such a golden opportunity, endlessly second guessing the logic behind your mistake.

Despite the high stakes, every GM managing a team near the bottom of the NHL standings is secretly rooting to be the guy to make the pick. They all want the chance to choose between the next great Canadian center or a Norris-trophy-bound defensive pillar? Do they prefer the next Yzerman or the next Lidstrom?

Do they select John Tavares or Victor Hedman?

On one side of the pond, Victor Hedman’s size and raw ability are blowing people’s minds in Sweden. Scout after scout who venture to see him play for Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik, of the Swedish Elite League, all leave comparing the 18-year-old, 6’7’’, 230-pound Swede to a cross between Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Pronger. He’s considered a once-in-a-generation defensive prospect, specializing in the nuances of the position.

Think back to all of the defensemen recently selected at the top of the NHL draft: Drew Doughty (2nd overall), Zach Bogosian (3nd overall), Alex Pietrangelo (4th overall), Thomas Hickey (4th overall), and Luke Schenn (5th overall). Then think about this: Victor Hedman is better than all of them, and if the scouts are right, he’ll be better than pretty much every other defenseman too!

The thing making this one of the most anticipated NHL drafts of all time is not only the out-of-this-world prospect in Sweden, but also the other one on this side of the pond. And his name is John Tavares.

There are good Canadian prospects, and then there are the great Canadian prospects. John Tavares would fall in the latter category. By all accounts he is destined for greatness in the NHL. For the past three and a half years the Ontario Hockey League has been terrorized by Tavares’ dizzying skill. Through three seasons Tavares scored 329 points in only 191 games, including a record-breaking 72 goals as a sixteen-year-old. If Hedman is a cross between Pronger and Lidstrom, then Tavares is a cross between Yzerman and Thornton.

Monday night the eyes of the hockey world watched the two juggernaut prospects battle for gold in the finals of the IIHF World Juniors. It only seemed fitting.

John Tavares was, as expected, running wild scoring 14 points in only five games, helping Canada outscore their opponents 41-11. Meanwhile, Victor Hedman and Sweden played some of the best defense the World Juniors have ever seen, surrendering only three goals in the preliminaries, en route to the finals.

On this night the super-talented Canadian machine was simply too much for Sweden, winning the game 5-1 for their 5th straight World Junior title. Hedman was slowed by an apparent shoulder tweak, while Tavares was held in check, tallying a lone assist. It was far from what many expected, yet a prelude nonetheless.

With their NHL destinations still a mystery to all, both players have been making a strong case for the number-one overall pick. While Tavares and Hedman are sure to go 1-2 in next summer’s draft, the question now becomes: In what order? And to who? Hence the dilemma facing that lucky GM come June.

If the season ended today, the New York Islanders have the best shot at being first on the clock. Would they opt to solidify their defense with Hedman, pairing him with recent all-star selection Mark Streit? Or would they choose to grab Tavares, put him on Kyle Okposo’s line, and start watching the goals fly?

Next worse is Atlanta. They had the number-two pick in last year’s draft and took hulking defensemen Zach Bogosian. It would seem very tempting to want Bogosian and Hedman on the same blue line. On the other side of the coin, Atlanta GM Don Waddell is probably envisioning of a dream scenario where he can add Tavares to play along side Russian sniper Ilya Kovalchuk.

Decisions, decisions.

Tampa Bay would love to have the Tavares/Stamkos connection light up the conference, but their main weakness is defense! Then there’s always Brian Burke lurking in Ottawa. The new Senators GM has always been known to wheel and deal on draft day, and his team is currently only three points better than the Islanders.

And therein lies the debate. Would they rather have the player many consider the next great Canadian center, following the likes of Gretzky, Yzerman, Lindros and Crosby. Or the Swedish reincarnation of the hall-of-fame bound Lidstrom, winner of six Norris trophies.

What will be valued more on draft day is anybody’s guess.

The debate will surely rage on until June 25th, when Gary Bettman steps to the podium at the Bell Centre in Montreal and ends the conversation. If you’re lucky enough to be a fan of a bottom feeder, I have one piece of advice: Start rooting for your team to lose; good luck, and I’ll see you when they pick the ping pong balls in May.

Photos used in this article were taken from elitserien.com and thehockeynews.com

Game Story: San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Redwings

Before the puck hit the ice for the opening faceoff a boisterous “Let’s go Redwings” chant had already broke out inside Joe Louis Arena. In Hockeytown they live for big games and Thursday night’s Western Conference showdown was as big as it gets at this early junction of the NHL season.

Unlike earlier this year, when Detroit was playing on the second end of back-to-back games, losing a 4-2 decision in San Jose, this time the Sharks came in after a 2-1 loss to Columbus the previous evening.

In the first period the quick turnaround seemed to affect the normally fast-starting Sharks.

Detroit struck first after Doug Lebda shuffled a pass to Johan Franzen as the pair entered the San Jose zone. Franzen quickly uncorked a snap shot from the high slot beating a surprised Evgeni Nabakov.

It only took one minute and twenty-seven seconds before the Red Wings would strike again. Using only their forth shot of the period, Pavel Datsyuk beat Nabokov five-hole, again from the high slot. It was a two-minute stretch that the Sharks goalie wished he could have back.

As the league approaches the mid-way point of the season, it’s been San Jose garnering all of the early season accolades. The Sharks entered the night with a 25-3-3 record; winners of 25 of the last 31 games, while accruing the most points in league history through 30 games.

Despite showering the Sharks with respect in seemingly every pre-game interview, it didn’t take long to realize that, on this night, Detroit was intent on matching the intensity created in the building by the fans, with their play on the ice.

Midway through the second period, Pavel Datsyuk floated into the San Jose zone as both teams were in the middle of a change. In classic Datsyuk fashion he flung a behind-the-back-pass to Marion Hossa, who was fresh off the bench to quickly one-time a laser top shelf behind Nabokov to give Detroit a 3-0 lead.

It was Hossa’s team-leading 17th goal of the year.

Detroit goalie Ty Conklin was solid in net stopping all 24 shots and improving to 9-4 on the year. Conklin was called on due to a lingering groin strain which relegated usual starter Chris Osgood to backup duty.

A solid Detroit effort morphed into a completely dominating affair in the third period.

Pavel Datsyuk, who was unstoppable all night, added a goal and an assist in the final period. It was the ninth time in the Russian’s career that he tallied four or more points in a game.

Valtteri Filppula made the game 4-0, scoring his 10th goal of the season, while Brad Stuart buried his first goal of the year to close the scoring late in the third.

The Red Wings outshot San Jose 28-24.

San Jose Head Coach Todd McLennan, who was a Redwing assistant coach during last season’s Cup run, probably envisioned a different outcome in his return to Detroit. But he knows that when the Detroit freight train gets moving, very few things can bring it to a halt.

Thursday night the Hockeytown Express was barreling down the tracks, sending a wakeup call to the Sharks and the rest of the hockey world.

Their message was simple: We are still the defending Stanley Cup champions, and despite what the records might indicate, still the team to beat in the NHL.

Game Story: Garfield Bulldogs vs. Ballard Beavers

Life without Tony Wroten Jr. continued Tuesday night for the Garfield Bulldogs. And so did their quest to prove that they are still the team to beat in KingCo 4A.

Returning to action following their buzzer-beater victory Friday night, the Bulldogs (2-0) defeated the visiting Ballard Beavers (2-4) 71-48, in a game that was close early before morphing into an easy blowout win.

With the community still in an outrage over the Seattle Public School’s recent decision to remove the 15-year-old sophomore from the Garfield school district due to an ongoing residency issue, Head Coach Ed Haskins priority remained keeping his team focused on the court and not distracted by the controversy surrounding them off of it.

Early on it was senior Christian Blanks leading the Bulldog attack, scoring 11 of his 13 points in the first quarter.

Ballard held their ground early, relying on a sound fast break to gain a brief 17-16 lead midway through the second quarter.

The Beaver offense was seemingly stuck in neutral the rest of the evening, finally succumbing to Garfield’s superior athleticism and smothering full-court press.

Garfield’s defense prevented the Beavers from producing a double-digit scorer, holding Ballard senior Nick Palewicz to team-high nine points.

Senior Eric Taylor added eight points, while no other Ballard player scored more than four.

Meanwhile points were easy to come by heading the other way. The Bulldogs used a 14-1 second-quarter run to close the half up 30-18, before exploding for a 41-point outburst following the break.

One bright spot in a second half that mostly saw the Bulldogs lead hover around thirty points were the Gloyd brothers, Salim and Moussa. For the first time in their high school career, sophomore Salim Gloyd of Garfield, and senior Moussa Gloyd of Ballard were opposite each other in a brotherly duel.

Salim went 4-6 from the field for nine points, while his brother Moussa had two points, displaying the same tenacity on the basketball court that made him captain of the Ballard football team.

De’Andre Taylor led all scorers with 19 points, going a perfect 5-5 from behind the arc and 7-10 overall from the field. It was his second brilliant effort in as many games.

As the Bulldogs continue to define their identity post-Tony Wroten Jr., one thing is becoming clear: De’Andre “Dre” Taylor looks ready to fill the void---so far so good for the Bulldogs.