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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 0:11:46 GMT -5
Steelers v. Cardinals!
Discuss!
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Post by Ebener 12 on Jan 20, 2009 0:12:45 GMT -5
Well personally I think the White Sox will win it this year, but I think they should acquire Michael Young
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Post by Ebener 12 on Jan 20, 2009 0:13:01 GMT -5
But the real question is, what about Manny?
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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 0:13:59 GMT -5
Yawn. Baseball blows.
Steelers > MLB.
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Post by Ebener 12 on Jan 20, 2009 0:14:46 GMT -5
How pissed you gonna be if they lose?
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Post by Ebener 12 on Jan 20, 2009 0:15:04 GMT -5
And don't give me that well we still made the Super bowl bullshit
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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 0:15:11 GMT -5
I'd slip into a really long depression.
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Post by Ebener 12 on Jan 20, 2009 0:17:12 GMT -5
Honestly I'd rather not make the Super Bowl than make it and lose as a fan. So painful
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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 0:24:38 GMT -5
I was devastated when the Pens lost in the SC Finals this past year. Really sucked.
I remember balling my eyes out when the Steelers lost Super Bowl XXX. I was only 6, of course, but it still fucking sucked. I couldn't handle a loss.
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Post by cjmjones008 on Jan 20, 2009 0:26:56 GMT -5
I will never be over blowing the Pitt game and NFC Championship game last year. Then pissing off Favre and Rod and fucking everything up.
I hope the Steelers lose so I don't have to see the entire WV/PA bandwagon come alive again. Every fuck store is littered with stupid Steeler merchandise. They made Heath Miller candy bars after the last one. Everyone wore their Steeler shit and never shut up till the next season after they got killed on MNF or Thur night game. I saw at least 5000 Steeler jerseys on campus that day. The amount of jerseys I saw decreased exponentially for the next 3 weeks till there were hardly any.
Go Cardinals... Steelers win by 17+ though
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 9:20:27 GMT -5
I think the Cardinals match-up great against the Steelers... I mean Pitt faced a hot Chargers team with LT injured, a gimp Gates, a gimp Chambers, and nothing else.
The Cardinals will be coming into the game for the most part healthy... Fitzgerald and Boldin will cause all sorts of problems and Breaston is a really good #3 WR who could be a starter on some other teams. Edge is fresh and he's always dangerous. I just think this is probably Pittsburgh's toughest test all season and look at the results against teams with a good offensive WR core against the Colts and Giants both losses.
If I were a Steelers fan I'd rather have been playing Philly than Arizona at this point... I think it's Pittsburgh's game to lose but I don't think it's unfathomable to see Arizona not only win, but win big.
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 9:21:03 GMT -5
that and tact on the fact that Tomlin takes one risk to many... so far he's been lucky but what if his luck runs out in the most important game of the year? We shall see.
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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 11:11:41 GMT -5
I don't think Arizona is really capable of winning big. That defense will keep the Steelers in any game. Conversely, I think it's more than fair to say this is the Cardinals biggest test of the season. They haven't seen a defense quite like this during this year.
It's funny how every team is 'the team nobody wants to play' until they are dismantled by the Steelers. The Chargers were supposed to be just fine with Darren Sproles and the godly Philip Rivers. They had the most improved defense in the league and would shut down the Steelers offense. The Ravens ran through the Dolphins and the Titans and probably had the better defense than the Steelers, right? Yeah, that's a good one. Again, the Steelers stepped up their game (despite actually being fairly mistake-plagued) and pushed aside the Ravens.
Dick LeBeau will have a plan ready to torment Kurt Warner. Arizona will absolutely be unable to run the ball against the Steelers defense and will thus become one-dimensional. It's never a good thing for a QB when James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and co. are able to tee off.
Plus, the Cardinals have a marginal defense. They have to stop a healthy Willie Parker, find a way to stop a hot Santonio Holmes, etc.
It could certainly be a close game, but I just think the Steelers are the better team. The better team generally wins.
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 11:21:28 GMT -5
I don't think Arizona is really capable of winning big. That defense will keep the Steelers in any game. Conversely, I think it's more than fair to say this is the Cardinals biggest test of the season. They haven't seen a defense quite like this during this year. It's funny how every team is 'the team nobody wants to play' until they are dismantled by the Steelers. The Chargers were supposed to be just fine with Darren Sproles and the godly Philip Rivers. They had the most improved defense in the league and would shut down the Steelers offense. The Ravens ran through the Dolphins and the Titans and probably had the better defense than the Steelers, right? Yeah, that's a good one. Again, the Steelers stepped up their game (despite actually being fairly mistake-plagued) and pushed aside the Ravens. Dick LeBeau will have a plan ready to torment Kurt Warner. Arizona will absolutely be unable to run the ball against the Steelers defense and will thus become one-dimensional. It's never a good thing for a QB when James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and co. are able to tee off. Plus, the Cardinals have a marginal defense. They have to stop a healthy Willie Parker, find a way to stop a hot Santonio Holmes, etc. It could certainly be a close game, but I just think the Steelers are the better team. The better team generally wins. I never thought either of those. I thought the Chargers had a shot, yes, but I never called them the team the Steelers didn't want to play.. and that Baltimore defense didn't do a terrible job, they were solid, it was their offense that was the problem. Arizona has been one-dimensional all-season long and it has gotten them to the Superbowl, if I'm not mistaken the Cardinals were the 2nd worst rushing team in the league this season but they were also like #2 or #3 in the air. The Steelers are also at the bottom of the league with rushing the ball, so this test for the Cardinals defense is a step down to anything they've faced. "Dick LeBeau will have a plan ready to torment Kurt Warner. Arizona will absolutely be unable to run the ball against the Steelers defense and will thus become one-dimensional. It's never a good thing for a QB when James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and co. are able to tee off. "Jim Johnson supposedly had a plan, and Kurt Warner ate them alive. Despite of a lack of the run, Warner runs the play-action play better than any QB in the league. His release is probably the fast in the NFL besides Romo's but it's not like the Cardinals were jsut that bad with the running game, they usually passed 40 times a game and only ran 10 times. "Plus, the Cardinals have a marginal defense. They have to stop a healthy Willie Parker, find a way to stop a hot Santonio Holmes, etc."The Cardinal's defense has been their weak point all year yeah, but they shut down 3 top 10 RBs for three straight games in Michael Turner, DeAngelo Williams, and Brian Westbrook. Turner and Williams can be listed in the top 5 RBs this season, hell maybe even #2 and #3 respectively they were THAT good. So I don't see how you can say the Cardinals need to be any more worried than in recent weeks to stop Steeler's running game when they just did a fantastic job of shutting down two of the best RBs the league has to offer. They also did a solid job against two of the best WRs in the league in Steve Smith and Roddy White so yeah I don't think they are any more worried in containing Parker and Holmes then they were of the Roddy White/Turner and Steve Smith/DAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart trio. |
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Post by Speed Racer on Jan 20, 2009 11:31:10 GMT -5
They ran into a rookie QB in Matt Ryan that certainly played like a rookie QB. The Falcons, for some reason, completely abandoned the run and made Turner a non-factor themselves. Same thing with the Panthers. I think Delhomme had to be absolutely drunk during that game. He just threw away any chance the Panthers had and also made that running game a non-factor. The Eagles certainly had a lot of offensive opportunities against the Cardinals but dug themselves a nice big hole. McNabb had all day to make plays though.
There's a reason the Cardinals are a 9-7 team. They certainly have weaknesses. The Steelers were not terribly effective running the ball this season but they also were without a healthy Willie Parker all year. He's back and running well. The Cardinals defense is certainly not better than the Chargers defense (and not even near the Ravens defense) and yet the Steelers found a way to move the ball on both teams. They'll move the ball on a marginal Cardinals defense.
While this may be the best offense the Steelers have faced this season it's also the best defense the Cardinals have faced. The Steelers defense is extremely fast, extremely aggressive. Warner will be forced to rush a few throws against a defense that is very opportunistic. Larry Fitzgerald will get his, but that offense will struggle against the Steelers defense. The Steelers defense thrives on playing one-dimensional offenses. They'll completely shut down the run-game using just their front seven. What happens when you don't have to put a safety in the box? Well, it's highly unlikely that they'll bite on a lot of play-action. This defense is far too good to bite on play-action that they absolutely know is a pass. Unless the Cardinals can establish a run game I think they'll struggle on offense.
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Post by cjmjones008 on Jan 20, 2009 12:54:20 GMT -5
The Cardinals offense was nonexistant for most of the second half. A lot of this was due to the OL not picking up the blitz like it did in the second half. The Steelers D will be much tougher to pick up the blitz against. The only team the runs a 3-4 in the NFC is the 49ers and they ran a lot of 4-3 and nickle with Nolan. When Singletary took over they only ran 3-4 the rest of the season. A lot of NFC teams have struggled with the 3-4 in the past and I think the Cardinals will too. Fitzgerald should have at least one long TD, but I don't see the Cardinals being able to do much other short passing. I see Parker running all over them as well
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Post by Phoenix Phil on Jan 20, 2009 13:00:28 GMT -5
The Cardinals offense was nonexistant for most of the second half. A lot of this was due to the OL not picking up the blitz like it did in the second half. The Steelers D will be much tougher to pick up the blitz against. The only team the runs a 3-4 in the NFC is the 49ers and they ran a lot of 4-3 and nickle with Nolan. When Singletary took over they only ran 3-4 the rest of the season. A lot of NFC teams have struggled with the 3-4 in the past and I think the Cardinals will too. Fitzgerald should have at least one long TD, but I don't see the Cardinals being able to do much other short passing. I see Parker running all over them as well The Cowboys run a 3-4, and the Cardinals beat them. Pittsburgh has one of the fastest defenses I've seen, but Arizona should be able to counter the blitz by going four or five wide and have Warner find the open guy. The key to the game will be the Cardinals offensive line's ability to protect Warner when Pittsburgh is only rushing three or four guys. |
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 13:04:46 GMT -5
The Cardinals offense was nonexistant for most of the second half. A lot of this was due to the OL not picking up the blitz like it did in the second half. The Steelers D will be much tougher to pick up the blitz against. The only team the runs a 3-4 in the NFC is the 49ers and they ran a lot of 4-3 and nickle with Nolan. When Singletary took over they only ran 3-4 the rest of the season. A lot of NFC teams have struggled with the 3-4 in the past and I think the Cardinals will too. Fitzgerald should have at least one long TD, but I don't see the Cardinals being able to do much other short passing. I see Parker running all over them as well The Cowboys run a 3-4, and the Cardinals beat them. Pittsburgh has one of the fastest defenses I've seen, but Arizona should be able to counter the blitz by going four or five wide and have Warner find the open guy. The key to the game will be the Cardinals offensive line's ability to protect Warner when Pittsburgh is only rushing three or four guys. I still think the Cardinals are the Steeler's toughest match-up and vice versa for the Cardinals... nonetheless anyone who says they aren't watching this game or thinks ratings are going to be down because these two teams are in it are stupid.. and I'm saying that because I've heard grumbling about a few Giants fans about that. |
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Derwin
Starter
Ex-GM
Posts: 2,832
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Post by Derwin on Jan 20, 2009 14:05:52 GMT -5
An interesting matchup, nonetheless.
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Post by DB on Jan 20, 2009 15:59:16 GMT -5
The Super Bowl will always draw audiences.
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Derwin
Starter
Ex-GM
Posts: 2,832
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Post by Derwin on Jan 20, 2009 16:08:55 GMT -5
I miss the good Super Bowl commercials.
Bud Light used to be so good, with like 4 or 5 great ones a year.
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 16:09:36 GMT -5
The Super Bowl will always draw audiences. No, not really the 2005 Superbowl was had one of the lowest ratings since 1998. |
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Post by easy on Jan 20, 2009 16:11:07 GMT -5
but yes the last 3 Superbowls have seen an increase in ratings year after year and this year should be no different.
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Post by cjmjones008 on Jan 20, 2009 16:42:07 GMT -5
The Cardinals offense was nonexistant for most of the second half. A lot of this was due to the OL not picking up the blitz like it did in the second half. The Steelers D will be much tougher to pick up the blitz against. The only team the runs a 3-4 in the NFC is the 49ers and they ran a lot of 4-3 and nickle with Nolan. When Singletary took over they only ran 3-4 the rest of the season. A lot of NFC teams have struggled with the 3-4 in the past and I think the Cardinals will too. Fitzgerald should have at least one long TD, but I don't see the Cardinals being able to do much other short passing. I see Parker running all over them as well The Cowboys run a 3-4, and the Cardinals beat them. Pittsburgh has one of the fastest defenses I've seen, but Arizona should be able to counter the blitz by going four or five wide and have Warner find the open guy. The key to the game will be the Cardinals offensive line's ability to protect Warner when Pittsburgh is only rushing three or four guys. I knew I was forgetting another 3-4 team in the NFC, The Cardinals had a kick return and blocked punt for TDs against the Cowboys. The Cowboys were also a bad defense at that part of the season as well. The Cardinals will fair better against a 3-4 than most NFC teams would though. |
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GMGreggor
All-Star
Houston Rockets
Posts: 5,726
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Post by GMGreggor on Jan 20, 2009 16:43:30 GMT -5
I think the Cards have a pretty fair shot to beat Pitt.
I'm not a big ben believer. He has some Farve in him. They won the last SB in spite of Big Ben not because of him. Well, and the officials had a putrid day. But I digress.
Warner is a smart accurate passer who gets the ball out quickly. They've actually been running the ball more this postseason I think which is probably not coincidental why they've been winning.
Fitzgerald will prevent Pittsburgh from blitzing too much I think. They risk leaving him in single coverage blitzing too much which is'nt wise. If Bolidin is close to healthy I think they'll score points.
They were 3rd in points this yr. Defense is their achilles tho yea.
It's gonna be won or lost i think when Pitt has the ball. If Pitt moves the ball easily they probably win in a blowout. If they have problems moving it which they have this yr at times I can see them losing,maybe badly. Cards dont have a steel curtain but they have been very good at creating TO's thusfar this postseason. They have 12 in 3 games, that aint bad.
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