Time to Win Number Six

By now if you've watched any of the run-up coverage to the Super Bowl, you've doubtlessly been convinced Larry Fitzgerald is going to finish with 35 catches for 400 yards and five scores, while Jesus will descend from on high to hand Kurt Warner the Lombardi Trophy. Given, like the Phoenix mayor stomping the Terrible Towel, this is only something that's going to rile the fans up, but it's done the trick for me.

Behind the Steel Curtain echoes a point that I've been mulling over the past two weeks: that the Cardinals will come out and try to attack the Steelers much the way the Patriots usually do, with four and five wide shotgun spread sets to minimize the impact of the blitz. In this case, Lawrence Timmons could play a huge role in this game, which is a prospect I'm fairly comfortable with.

No matter what, the Steelers can't afford a repeat of the opening quarter of Super Bowl XL, where they didn't register a single first down and, had the Seahawks been able to capitalize, could have found themselves in a huge hole. I don't think the game is necessarily over should the Steelers find themselves down 10 in the first half, but looking up two scores in the second is not a scenario from which they may be able to recover. In their playoff wins, the Cards have jumped to early leads. I wouldn't be surprised to see Arizona take a gamble on a big play in their first set of downs. This means Pittsburgh's offense can't take a quarter to get going, as was also the case against the Chargers.

Who has to come up big for the Steelers to prevail? Let's say everyone, but a few more than most:

Willie Parker -- Willie struggled against the Cards last year and as a result the offense as a whole was stagnant. If Willie's putting up big numbers, the Steelers are doing well and not playing from behind. With Hines' efficiency up in the air, Arizona will do whatever they can to make sure the Steelers can't dominate with the run. But then they're not the Ravens.

LaMarr Woodley/James Harrison/Aaron Smith -- With the defense likely having to commit more coverage schemes, the big pass rushers are going to have to come up with a lot of pressure. Woodley has excelled in the off-season with a little rest. Silverback has yet to register a sack but he's gotten a lot of hurries in the two playoff games. If these three can get pressure on their own, the Cards may have to abandon spread schemes.

Lawrence Timmons -- As noted above, he'll be critical in coverage of tight ends or perhaps Jerheme Urban. If the Steelers are able to force turnovers, I can see him getting one.

Ike Taylor -- Yeah, yeah, we've heard that no one man can conceivably cover Larry Fitzgerald and live to tell about it. Fitty can come down with the ball even when well-covered and he'll get a few balls no matter what. I think Ike will surprise some people though. Not saying he can shutdown Fitty, but he's been matched up on Moss, T.O. and other top wideouts this year and held his own. Wouldn't be shocked if he can do the same here.


Ben Roethlisberger -- The trend of no turnovers this off-season has to continue. Whiz knows to try to keep him in the pocket, though doing that should limit the amnount of pressure he'll get up the middle and may require the Cardinals to send corners on blitzes.

Hines Ward -- If Hines has even something like five catches for 60 yards, it's a tremendous success for him. I don't think it can be discounted with his presence as a blocker can do for a running game that needs to be productive. Another MVP isn't likely for him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a welcome contribution in a victory.

Mitch Berger --Shanks, let's not have them.

Heath Miller -- Can never reinterate enough that he could play a bigger part in the passing game. Thought he would have a huge on against San Diego. Philly's tight ends torched Arizona two weeks ago. The chances will be there if Heath isn't stuck on blocking assignments.

For fans of a team that won a title three years ago, the motivation to win another should be hard to go by. But given how much grief the Steelers took after the last one (the first of many of our lifetimes, including mine) winning this one not only gives us more bragging rights but further validates the outcome of Super Bowl XL, rendering all the talk of "The refs gave you a title" and "Ben sucked in the big game" moot. What's more, it could definitively quiet the dwindling remainder of Mike Tomlin doubters. And put a cap on improbable run through a season stacked against with steep challenges and emotional contests.