by P.L. Hubble

Created on: January 24, 2009

Can the Cardinals continue their upset run?

The Cardinals are on fire right now, but can they hold things together long enough to defeat Pittsburgh? St. Louis is not the first 9-7 team to make it to the championship, and won't be the last either. They will definitely be the underdogs, but in every game they have played in the post season this has been true.

The Cardinals rushing game was almost non-existent during the regular season, ranking dead last in the league. If Edgerrin James and company can be a legitimate threat then the Cardinals stand a chance. This would force the Steelers to play honest defense rather than sitting back and waiting for the pass. A good running game is essential in any Super Bowl. Pittsburgh has one of the best defenses in the league, so this may be an impossibility for Arizona to overcome.

The brightest spot on this Arizona team is the passing game. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin were both 1000 yard receivers this year, and Fitzgerald has been unstoppable in the playoffs. Curt Warner, at 37, passed for 4500 yards and 30 Tds this season. He brings experience, pinpoint accuracy, and leadership to this young team. The only way to stop him is to get to him, and get to him fast. Otherwise he will pick apart the opposing defense. This is something the Steelers do well, so Warner may not get the time he needs. If this happens, Arizona will have a huge hill to climb.

The last ingredient in the Cardinals successful post season is their ability to create turnovers. This is something that they weren't particularly good at during the season. Time and time again, in the playoffs, they have managed to get great field position because of an interception. This is going to be more difficult against the Steelers. Pittsburgh like to grind it out on the ground, monopolizing the clock. This will give Arizona less time to have their offense on the field, making each opportunity more valuable.

To answer the question this article is based on: No, the Cardinals can't continue their run. Pitsburgh has a great defense, and defense wins Super Bowls. The Steelers also have the personnel to allow them to put pressure on Curt Warner, while still covering the receivers.This game could very well be a one-sided contest, as the Steelersar cinsistent, consistently good. Should the Cardinals somehow manage to win, it will be one of the biggerst upsets in Super Bowl history.

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