Ben Roethlisberger might actually have to do something to help his team win this time, unlike 3 years ago in Super Bowl XL. He ought to be able to throw all day against this Arizona secondary. But it would be a better story if he didn't, and the Cards won.
STEELERS 29, CARDINALS 24
Ed Barkowitz
Not a lot of money has been made over the years picking against Kurt Warner, but Pittsburgh's defense is too good to pass up.
The Eagles did a decent job of containing Warner, but only when they figured out they better start covering Larry Fitzgerald. The Steelers' secondary, thanks in part to film footage of the Eagles' missteps in the NFC Championship Game, will fare better.
Throw in the facts that the Cardinals won the league's worst division with a 9-7 record while the Steelers played the toughest schedule and went 12-4, and this has the feel of a blowout.
STEELERS 27, CARDINALS 17
Bill Conlin
Against the Eagles, Larry Fitzgerald was running crossing patterns that seemed to go sideline to sideline, and the Birds couldn't get a rush going against immobile Kurt Warner. This time the Cardinals veteran will be going against a Steelers defense that is No. 1 in the NFL against the rush, the pass and allowed the fewest points.
In other words, Fitzgerald won't be passing easily through the spaces where fierce linebackers led by James Harrison set the table for a secondary led by interception magnet Troy Polamalu. Arizona's only ray of hope is in erratic QB Ben Roethlisberger and a sputtering Steelers offense. But sprained knee or not, Hines Ward is one of the game's great big-game receivers, and he will produce a game-turning moment.
The Titanium Curtain will do the rest.
