During the two weeks preceding the Super Bowl, I will be counting down the best Super Bowls I have witnessed in my lifetime, starting in 1988. I created a ranking system and will go game by game reliving each edition until the top Super Bowl is listed.
Seems like only last Super Bowl this great game took place. Wait, what? This could easily be number 1 on a Super Bowl list and probably will be on some peoples. The game had its fair share of memorable plays, came down to one last drive and a catch for the ages. A Tantalizing Tampa Treat helps us wind down our countdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23
Semi-Lame Nickname: "The Recession Bowl"
Scores:
Historical Significance- 5: The Cardinals were the latest and perhaps greatest example of teams with a horrid stretch in the NFL making a monumental turnaround. The Steelers secured their 6th Super Bowl title put them alone at the top of the list and made them...I refuse to use the phrase so I will say it made them a Burgh with 6 rings.
Game Enjoyment By the Fans- 5: There was a feeling that the Cardinals had little chance against the Steelers. They had been a 9-7 team during the regular season and their run was impressive, but seen as a fluke that would end when the Steelers exerted their will. Most of the people watching the game were pleasantly surprised.
High Profile Element-5: The Steelers had been taken over by Mike Tomlin and the team was still a powerful defensive force. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau had the defense leading the league in points and yards. Defensive player of the year James Harrison had 16 sacks and safety Troy Polamalu had 7 interceptions. Big Ben had grown from shaky passer in 2005 when they last won the Super Bowl to a prolific passer that could elude rushers and create plays.
Ken Whisenhunt had been the offensive coordinator of the Steeler when they won their last Super Bowl. He was passed over for the Steeler job and took over a franchise that had not had a championship since the Truman administration. Kurt Warner had once again rose from the ashes to lead the passing game. Larry Fitzgerald had a superhuman playoff run that bested Jerry Rice. The Cardinals defense had taken a lot of flack but in the playoffs but pass rusher Darnell Dockett and defensive backs Adrian Wilson , Donminiuque Rodgers-Cromartie(all 3 of him) and Antrel Rolle sparked them to wins against Atlanta, at Carolina and held on against the Eagles.
Venue/Atmosphere- 4: A lot of elements to the game was toned down because of the economy going into the crapper last year. Sometimes though, less is more. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem. Bruce Springsteen and the E street band did the halftime show where Bruce thought it necessary to tea bag America.
Personal Enjoyment- 4.5: The game was the highest rated Super Bowl in terms of viewership to date. The game provided a chance for the Cardinals to pull off the biggest come from behind victory in Super Bowl hisotry(13 points). A great game that came up just short on the Cardinals end thanks to the feet of Santonio Holmes.
Cleet's Rating Index: 23.5
Where I Was: I was over at our friend XM's house to watch the game. We were all going against the Steelers. When Fitzgerald took the catch and ran 64 yards for the TD to give the Cardinals a 23-20 lead with 2:37 left, XM and Catfish were going crazy. However, I reminded them that there was a lot of time left that was met with a prompt STFU. Unfortunately it turned out to be true.
What Happened in the World: On January 15th US Air Flight 1549 had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson. Before the game Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew were honored on the field. I dare you to watch Sully receiving thanks from family members of those that were on that flight and not get misty eyed.
Record of Note: The teams combined for the lowest rush attempts and yards (38 and 91) in Super Bowl history, the game hath changed.
Game MVP: Holmes had 9 catches for 131 yards, including 71 on the final drive.
LVP: All the bankers, investors and CEOs that got us into this economic mess, seriously screw you guys.
Most Memorable Play: Right before the half, James Harrison rumbled 100 yards for a TD after he intercepted Warner. Until someone eclipses this, it will be known as the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history.
NFL Fallout: Kurt Warner came back this year and got the Cardinals to the playoffs but they fell short. He has since retired and so begins the Matt Leinart era in Arizona. The Steelers came back strong in the first week, but after Polamalu went down with a knee injury, the defense lost a lot of edge and the team was unable to make the playoffs. Pittsburgh still has a lot of their pieces in place to make another run next year.
Sunday, February 7
Super Bowl Countdown #4: Super Bowl XLIII
Monday, January 11
Monday, February 2
Closing Out the NFL Season
Brenda Warner was only shown on TV 7 times, that is the only stat you really need to know about who won Super Bowl 43. The game was entertaining and ended in furious fashion as Arizona battled back from 13 down and scored 16 in the final quarter, but the Steelers made the winning pays at the end to take the game 27-23. Some thoughts on the game and the final recap of my lead pipe picks after the break.
The way Pittsburgh started this game, it seemed my two possesion score prediction would be correct, but the Cardinals finally had definitive proof that they are as tough as any team in the NFL. In a Super Bowl full of memorable moments, the end of the first half provided perhaps the biggest play. James Harrison dropped into pass coverage and intercepted Warner at the goal line and ran it back 100 yards for the TD. The 14 point swing led many to believe that Arizona could not fight back.
The third quarter was dominated by the Steelers and by one drive full of questionable calls. Fortunately, the Steelers were held to a field goal after Adrian Wilson was called for a personal foul for bumping into the holder Mitch Berger on a short field goal attempt. The Cardinals' defense made a stand that their offense fed off of. Larry Fitzgerald finally got into the game on the next drive, in fact he took over. His incredible touchdown grab on a fade route has become routine, as the ball floated over to him and he was well-covered, there was no doubt in anyone's mind that he would catch the ball.
Ken Whisenhunt deserves props for punting the ball with just under 4 minutes left and pinning the Steelers deep. Justin Hartwig committed holding in the endzone which resulted in a safety. After the punt, Warner hit Fitzgerald on a short diagonal and then outraced the Steeler secondary 64 yards for the go-ahead score 23-20.
The game then rested on Big Ben and his offense. After Pittsburgh set themselves back with a holding call, they marched down and picked the Arizona zone apart. The coverage was not the entire downfall of the Cardinals. First off, Santonio Holmes made one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history to score the go-ahead TD. But the Cardinals could have won the game if they could have taken down Roethlisberger at the end. I wrote this in my Super Bowl prediction post last week:
'Getting to Roethlisberger is not enough, they have to put him on the ground while he still have the ball in his hands. Baltimore got plenty of pressure on Ben, but with the protection he was seeing all year he knew how to escape it and make plays down the field. The Cardinals need sacks, not hurries.'
The Cards got pressure on Ben on the final drive, but their inability to take him down on that drive cost them the game. No doubt the Cardinals are not satisfied with a moral victory, but they truly played a tough, inspired football game and it is a shame they came away with nothing in the end. I get the feeling that this might be the only shot in a long time for Arizona, and that it should only increase the pain of the loss for the players and fans.
My Super Bowl pick of the Steelers was correct, although I was rooting the other way and the game truly was a toss-up in the end. My final pick standings for the 2008 NFL season:
Regular Season: 158-97 (.620)
Playoffs: 5-6 (.455)
Friday, January 30
Shackleford Files 007: The Super Bowl and UFC 94
Recorded on Tuesday, we're not posting until today due to some technical difficulties. It was a rough week for the production staff here at the ASD, because one of the interviews we recorded also fell victim to technical difficulties, but we still want to thank Walt for his time. In this episode, we breakdown a pretty big football game, look at a national championship coach that may have reached the end of his rope, and recap some of the recent college basketball games. We also welcome a new special guest to discuss Fedor, Brock Lesnar, and UFC 94.
Cleet reveals some books he won't be buying, and Catfish revisits a serious issue facing football. As always, you can download it HERE. Leave your comments and let us know where we went wrong or how good we look.
Wednesday, January 21
GET TO THA TAMPA!!!
Once again the guys over at Kissing Suzy Kolber perfect the art of photoshop, creating this brilliant depiction of Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz has gone from rarely-mentioned spectacular wide receiver to knob-slobbed by every member of the media as the best pass catcher in the NFL. The only chance the Steelers have of slowing him down is to cover themselves completely in mud and make some jungle snares, or just get to Kurt Warner.
If It Bleeds, We Can Cover It. [Kissing Suzy Kolber]
Also for old time's sake, the Predator Rap.
Monday, January 12
Shackleford Files 005: Of Jake Delhomme and Teeter Totters
A recap of the divisional playoff round, with special attention paid to the egg laid by the hometown Panthers. Lebron, Kobe, and Celtics oh my! The first ever guest on TSF discusses the end of college football, an office no-no and when it's not OK to go for two. Apologies for some funky audio during the first segment, not quite sure what caused it, but we'll try to get it fixed. Jake Delhomme song by the Charlotte Squawks. Download the podcast, here.
