Incidentally, several of my penalty flags have to deal with the actual game penalties.

The Officiating Crew – 5 Yards for Delay of Game

As a fan, you want to see the Super Bowl, of all games, decided on by the players on the field, not by the referees. Unfortunately, this officiating crew seemed determined to make the game about themselves. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of legitimate penalties, such as the egregious holding calls by both teams. But in the Super Bowl, the refs should let any borderline penalty go. Beyond the actual yardage gained or lost, too many penalties take both teams out of their rhythm. The Karlos Dansby roughing the passer penalty was a horrible call. Dansby was already in his motion when the ball was thrown, and he didn’t spear or drive Ben Roethlisbuger into the ground. What a joke. Nice job, refs.

The funny thing is, the officials were terrible with their non-calls, too. What was with not having a booth review of Warner’s fumble at the end of the game? This is the Super Bowl, for goodness sake. A play that critical at the juncture of the game deserves to be reviewed, no matter how sure you are of the outcome. I’m not saying that the play would have been overturned, but it should have at least been looked at. Nearly indisputable calls are reviewed by the booth all season, why not in the most important game of them all?

James Harrison – Ejection for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Hard to believe that Harrison do something that would detract from his legacy after completing one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history, but he did. A shoving match I could accept. Perhaps even a jab thrown to an opposing player who was standing and in a position to defend himself–still not the right thing to do, but something that happens. However, Harrison’s act of complete thuggery sucker punching Aaron Francisco while he was down on the ground was absolutely disgusting and warranted ejection, not a mere fifteen-yard penalty.

Of course, in not assessing a stiffer punishment, the refs dropped the ball here, too.

NFL – 10 Yards for Holding

Running into the holder? Every now and then some bizarre situation crops into a game in which the officiating crew makes some ruling nobody has ever heard of before. Running into the holder was one of those for me. I can honestly say I’ve never seen that in a game.

Don’t get me wrong, it does make sense that running into the holder is a penalty. The holder is prone and defenseless, much like the kicker. But 15 yards and a personal foul? Come on! Running into the kicker is only a five-yarder. I can’t blame the referees for this one, since they made the call according to the rule book. The problem is with the NFL’s rule itself. There should be two separate penalties: running into the holder, warranting five yards; and roughing the holder, deserving of the fifteen yards of a personal foul. In other words, the same split that there is between running into and roughing the kicker. And what happened in the Super Bowl was definitely a case of “running”, not “roughing”.

NBC – 15 Yards for Just Plain Stupidity

Since the lack of intelligence of the so-called pundits has already been touched upon on Deep Into Sports, I will limit my comments to other manifestations of stupidity, such as your on-screen graphics. Whose brilliant idea was it to flash yellow when switching between the down/yards-to-go info and “Super Bowl XLIII” in the game status bar? Maybe this would have been acceptable if it weren’t for the fact that this was the SAME PLACE that you put the yellow penalty alert! Every time I saw the yellow flash I thought the refs had thrown another penalty flag. Any other color would have worked, or none at all, but you had to pick yellow. Brilliant.

Also, nice job in the first quarter with the play clock running out way before the play. Everyone with whom I watched the game was wondering what the heck was going on. It’s one thing to be a split-second off–synching can be an issue–but you were off by several seconds. Good work–way to bring your A-game to the big-game.

Feel free to toss your red challenge flags.

• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)
• February 3, 2009 -- Medi-acrity (11)

To bad the pre and post-game analyses seldom match the on field excellence very often witnessed in Super Bowls.

PRE-GAME BLATHER

Why do all the experts so often miss the mark? What made any of them think Edgerrin James would have success running the ball?

Arizona has been one-dimensional on offense all year. Fortunately for the Red Birds, that dimension was in its own twilight zone with Warner giving the league Fitz like no tandem since Montana and Rice.

All it took was LeBeau and the Steeler defense to back off on the gas in the fourth quarter and Warner put his pedal to the medal and damn near crushed the Black and Gold’s Adam’s apple in the process.

95% of the time, Super Bowl teams will find success by doing what they have done all year.

When they don’t, very bad things usually happen.

Great defense?

For three and a half quarters Pittsburgh held Fitzgerald in check. They doubled him off the line and the safety(ies) rotated toward him most of the game.

Then LeBeau almost LeBlows it going into the Cover Two shell that opened the middle up to Warner. That defense is designed to minimize the big play and keep game breakers in front of the safeties. The only weakness is that it leaves the middle seam straining to be ripped apart–especially by seasoned vets like Warner and Fitzgerald.

It’s a perfect example of the Steelers not doing what they did to the passing attacks of Baltimore, the Giants, New England, and Dallas. You don’t play a hybrid attack defense all year, then play a lame Cover 2 in the last quarter of the Super Bowl. Trust who you are or pay a price.

Pittsburgh almost paid it in the divisional round. The previous time Tomlin allowed Lebeau to employ this useless–too often disastrous–defense was during a 35-17 lead over the Chargers. Even with the Steelers rushing only four defenders, Darren Sproles found the same seam Fitzgerald did and scored.

Great offense?

The Cardinals’ first touchdown pass was caught by tight end Ben Patrick in the midst of two defenders. Perfect coverage, brilliant catch.

Warner tossed the second Cardinal TD almost blindly over a blitzing Ryan Clark; Fitzgerald snatched the flying pig out of the stratosphere despite textbook blanket coverage by Ike Taylor. Both player’s 2008 M.O.s.

But as Big Ben had done all year, he led the Steelers on the game winning drive with seconds to go.

When teams are successful in the Super Bowl, they usually make the big plays they’ve been making all year.

The pundits, punjabs, and prognosticators have to fill time on the blogs, so they subject the ignorant public to a tired parade of clichés.

Let’s review, shall we?

“It’s going to be a chess match, Bert.”

(No it ain’t Bert, it’s a frigging football game. There are 11 players, not eight. And any queens are in a very big closet the league wants to keep them in.)

“Defense wins championships, Chuck.”

(Chuck, he’s an idiot. Franco Harris, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Bart Starr, along with 35 other OFFENSIVE players, have been named Super Bowl MVP. Great players–and occasionally ordinary ones–make great offensive and defensive plays when those plays need to be made. That more than any other factor, Chuck, wins championships.)

“I just don’t think_____can defend_____; he’s just too good, Dick.”

(Well, Dick, Larry Fitzgerald had one catch and 12 yards in three quarters which probably didn’t have anything to do with the Steeler defense. Perhaps Fitz was busy getting a pedicure?)

Unfortunately, things get even worse during the…

POST GAME CHATTER

I’ll admit upfront, if the Steelers had lost I would have cried vodka-laced tears and the Cardinals would have shot to the top of my revenge list. Today, I might have excoriated LeBeau’s 4th quarter strategy and genuinely marveled at Fitzgerald’s hands and Warner’s execution.

I just don’t understand why, after every momentous sporting event, some know-it-small will say, “this game, Rich, was probably the greatest of all time.”

Well, Rich, the truth is, there have been many memorable Super Bowls, about twice as many mediocre ones, and quite a few that were eminently forgettable. You see, Rich, sports attracts the viewer, on the visceral level, because each game can be seen as a microcosm of individual existence.

Usually we watch talented, hard working people doing something important, contributing to society–we see ourselves that way, Rich–they very often overcome adversity, or even do some great things. At the end of the day, they enjoy the outcome and even if they are disappointed, they go back to work tomorrow and try it again.

Isn’t there a certain nobility and grace in just knowing we can do whatever we choose–and sometimes do it well? Why isn’t it simply good enough to watch two extremely talented, superbly coached teams played hard for 60 minutes?

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)
• February 3, 2009 -- Medi-acrity (11)

Since many of the employees at Philly’s Best actually are from Philadelphia, I asked who they were rooting for in the Super Bowl. Considering that the Steelers are cross-state rivals but the Cardinals defeated the Eagles to make it to the big game, this decision could very well be a crisis of conscience.

Unequivocally, the answer was Arizona.

Our own P.K. is originally from Philly–P.K., do you agree?

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)

Yes, it’s finally almost here. February 1, 2009–Super Bowl Sunday. The big day of the big game, America’s television-viewing and pizza-munching apex of the year. Whether you watch for the football or you watch for the commercials, you watch. And by you, I mean almost a third of the population of the United States as well as countless others across the word.

(By the way, for those of you watching only for the commercials, seriously? For four hours this one day, you actually sit in anticipation of and willingly watch those 30- to 60-second advertisements that you otherwise TIVO past every other day of the year? You do realize just how ridiculous that is, don’t you?)

I, of course, care about the sport. Deeply. Even when my team isn’t playing.

So whether you’re a hardcore football fanatic like me, or a commercial junkie whose curiosity is actually piqued by the action between the spots, here’s a preview of Super Bowl XLIII from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

The Line

Pittsburgh by 7.

The History

The Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers are two franchises whose histories could not be more diametrically opposed. This Sunday the Steelers will be playing for their record 6th Super Bowl victory (overall 6-1). The Cardinals, on the other hand, have a single championship game victory to their credit–back in 1947, two decades before the advent of the Super Bowl and, for the Cardinals, two home cities ago (in Chicago, with a stop-off in St. Louis along the way).

The Strengths

Arizona’s offense and Pittsburgh’s defense. Strength vs. strength on the field at the same time. To pull off the upset, the Cardinals must control the offensive line of scrimmage. If the offensive line does it job, providing quarterback Kurt Warner time to deliver the ball, look out! Arizona has three wide receivers with over 1,000 yards this season: Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Larry Fitzgerald, who has been beyond red-hot so far this post-season.

On the other hand, Pittsburgh has the NFL’s top-rated defense. If the Steel Curtain does indeed dominate, Arizona will be hard-pressed to keep pace. The player to watch (among many): safety Troy Polamalu, who had seven interceptions in the regular season and who almost single-handedly defeated the Baltimore Ravens on defense in the AFC Championship Game. Polamalu alone belies the disparaging comments on the Steelers secondary.

The Wildcard

Pittsburgh star wide receiver Hines Ward. Ward has been battling a knee injury but claims he will be able to play on Sunday. A true prognosis, or mere bravado? Many in the media have their doubts.

Even if Ward does suit up, the big question is how effective will he be? A healthy Hines Ward dramatically improves the Steelers offense and greatly diminishes the Cardinals’ chances of winning–advantage Pittsburgh.

The Intangibles

Warner, who’s exhibiting the same magic he did ten years ago when he emerged from NFL Europe to helm the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl victory. His leadership has Arizona playing with the confidence and swagger that can carry a team through any adversity.

The Winner?

Pittsburgh has the better overall team, but there’s some kind of magic in how Arizona is playing right now. My head says Steelers; my gut the Cardinals. Should I play my hunch?

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)
• February 3, 2009 -- Medi-acrity (11)

What defense have these idiots been watching?

A quick gander at game-by-game stats screams the ’08 Steelers are one of the finest defenses in the Super Bowl era.

Admittedly, this “weak link” passing defense did surrender 240 yards and three TDs to Peyton Manning and the Colts, and was burned for 12 TD passes this year–seven rushing. The 12 passes allowed by the Steelers was eclipsed only by Indy’s six. (The Colts gave up a whopping 18 rushing–offenses didn’t have to pass on them.)

The total of 19 TD’s given up is, by far, the fewest in the league.

No other quarterback had more than one touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh defense—meaning in the 15 games before and after Indy. The Men of Troy gave up a total of 9 six pointers through the air.

The Steeler defense led the league with the lowest 3rd down percentage and gave up 4.7 yards per passing attempt; along with the 3.9 yds,/play all were lowest in the league.

There’s more…

The defense as a whole led the league in defending the pass, scoring, lowest yards per play and was second against the run.

Fact is, the Steeler defense has no weak link.

QUICK NOTES

***The Arizona offense is unbalanced. Warner and his receivers may be the best group since the 49ers but Edgerrin James is no Ricky Waters. My guess is Lebeau will disguise his dime packages and dare Arizona to run—of course, James and his offensive line could relish that challenge.

***I think Lebeau has a lot of experts fooled. Very rarely do the Steelers blitz more than 5 people. When they do blitz Polamalu and the two outside backers, Smith—even Hampton—drop back into the shallow zone. Listening to the Pundits, you’d think LeBeau, will leave Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston one on one. That will only happen if the Steelers are ahead or behind by 10+ points, even then, rarely.

***The Red Birds are hoping for the blitz from the outside. Lebeau and his minions will employ a lot of inside gains/stunts. Look for Farrior and Foote to enjoy a little sack time.

***Ken Whisenhut has talked a lot about the timing of the trick plays he uses. I’m betting he had in depth discussions with his former players about that strategy. Look for the Flea Flicker, or tight end reverse pass to get crushed by the disciplined Steeler “D”

I’m a Steeler fan, but I don’t think this game will be as lopsided as people think. I do believe this Super Bowl is one of the most difficult to figure out.

I can see a scenario where Arizona comes out, does some early play action and takes command of the game early.

A reciprocal scenario has the Steelers knocking the snot out Fitz or Warner, returning a fumble or a pick-six and running away with the Lombardi Trophy.

In these kinds of games, 95 percent of the time, teams do what they’ve done all year. Pittsburgh has faced the best offenses the league had to offer and stymied them all. The four games they lost were all very close—as were 5-6 games they won—the Steelers were never blown out.

Arizona has been erratic, but much more productive of late, although they did let Philly come back from 18 down. If the Red Birds start well—a good long drive to open the contest—they can keep victory in sight.

If the Steedlers rattle Warner consistently up the middle we could be looking at a big Steeler win.

PREDICTIONS

By now your saying, “Hey Gairzo, pluck the fence post outta your ass and predict already.”

Okay, okasy… Geez….

After divining the game with my alter ego and mentally deficient cousin of Nostradamus, Murray Dunnosquatus, I predict the following…

***The game will be close at half time. Say 10-10. 

(“Forget that he has “0-0″ in a 50.00 pool. Don’t give it another thought.”) 

“Shut up, Murray!

***Bruce Springsteen will have a zipper malfunction and will give a whole new meaning to the term “New Jersey balls”.

***Lamarr Woodley will return a fumble for six in the third quarter—the first of 20 unanswered points by the Steelers.

***John Madden’s head will explode after, yet again, recalling the Immaculate Reception. “I swear to ya , Al, he never caught that – BOOM!!!

***Arizona will score 10 points late…

***MVP Big Ben

***Final score…

PITTSBURGH 30 ARIZONA 20

Well, I guess I win 5000.00… Up yours Murray!

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• February 3, 2009 -- Medi-acrity (11)

I think most NFL coaches deserve to be fired.

This may sound like a Monday morning quarterback rant on steroids, but week in and week out I am amazed by some of the mistakes they make.

I have no problem with a coach who has a losing record. That is not grounds for firing. And I appreciate that NFL coaches have a monumental job keeping a group of athletes focused, motivated to destroy their bodies, and on occasion out of jail.

I simply cannot believe they can make such blunders with clock management.

You get paid millions of dollars to win a football game. Quite often this comes down to running out the clock, or getting a field goal team on for a kick. It seems like every week I watch a coach blow this. (And I don’t even watch a lot of games)

Just last week, we saw the Steelers miss an opportunity to get a field goal before the end of the first half. I’m not sure who made that call to throw to the middle of the field, but if Baltimore didn’t get that stupid penalty on their last punt return (starting them at the 15 instead of the 40) and avoid that game breaking interception, that game could easily have ended 17-16 Ravens. Mike Tomlin would have had a long off season thinking about not getting that field goal.

What about Ken Whisenhunt trying to run out the clock at the end of their victory against the Eagles? He runs three plays. On the first one, Warner nearly trips and fumbles on the hand off. They don’t get the first down and end up punting with a few seconds left.

I believe it wasn’t even necessary.

Instead, have Warner go back and just wait a few seconds before kneeling down. Hell, have him run backwards ten yards three times. It would have successfully run out the clock without them ever needing to punt. That is a lot less risk than a long snap, a punt, and the possibility of a penalty on a Hail Mary.

Okay, one more.

The week before, the coach of the Titans (vs. the Ravens) didn’t use one of his timeouts early enough. He could have saved 40 seconds by calling the time out while the Ravens had the ball, instead of saving maybe 10 seconds calling it while he had the ball on his last series. Would those 30 seconds have gotten them down the field? Who knows, but you’ve had your team busting their butts all game, and as a coach you deserve to give them every chance to win. I’m amazed how often coaches don’t.

I realize it might be a little easier for me sitting back on my sofa to make these assessments. The coach is trying to get a lot of things done. It’s tough. Sometimes you have a wide receiver screaming in your ear about something or other. Maybe you’re thinking about how you’re going to dodge the Gatorade shower (haven’t we had enough of these?). This does make it difficult to multiply the number of downs by 40 seconds (plus the number of seconds you can spend per play).

So, rather than complain further, I’ve decided it’s time to do something about this. I’m going to market a little device coaches can attach to their wrists. You enter the amount of time left, the number of timeouts your opponents have, and your field position, and it will tell you the best way to run out the clock. It even takes into account the 2 minute warning! (We consulted a rocket scientist for this one.)

You can order one now for $19.95 at http://www.ukankoachinthenfl.com .  Act now and we’ll throw in free the “Challenge Flag Cost Benefit analysis software.”

Not a bad investment to save your million dollar a year coaching job in my opinion.

ukankoachinthenfl.com gear is copyright/trademark Allan Gross 2009. All rights reserved.

P.S. If you went to the website, then you really can be a coach in the NFL.

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)

The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. The old Kurt Warner magic is alive and well, as the crafty veteran helmed a game-winning fourth-quarter drive that almost assuredly will also pave his way to Canton.

My hat is off with the highest of kudos to the Philadelphia Eagles players. Despite their obvious extreme personal disappointment, all whom I saw congratulate Kurt Warner after the game did so with huge smiles (particularly Asante Samuel). Whether they did so with joy for the ever-likable Warner or for the long-suffering Cardinals franchise, I do not know, but such graciousness and warmth is to be commended.

Not to harp on something I’ve already discussed (since I did comment upon the Cardinals miracle run after their divisional round victory), but it’s been 61 years and 2 cities since the Cardinals franchise last won a title. In American professional sports, only the Chicago Cubs have a longer streak. The Cards are still one win a way from breaking that drought, but what matters right now is that they will have that chance.

Unbelievable!

• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)

I picked the Eagles over the Giants based on my belief Eli Manning is the most overrated quarterback in the game. Give me Plaxico as a target and I’ll get him the ball. Eli’s arm is mediocre and he has the face of the spoiled kid who would pout if he didn’t get to play quarterback.

I thought the Panthers were the best team vying for the Lombardi Trophy, but the Cardinals stepped up and took the Carolina’s running game away. I kind of thought Warner was over the proverbial hill, but the guy can make a four progression read in 3 seconds.

I called the Pittsburgh game right. San Diego had too many key people hurt to match the Steelers, who finally got a running game going.

Kudos to the Poe Birds for making Tennessee pay dearly for their mistakes—and making my prediction record 2-2 for the divisional round. Johnson’s injury changed the game and Baltimores defense took over. Make no mistake, the Ravens take the ball away. They are not just being given the ball. There is a difference between a running back losing the handle and having a linebacker strip it from his mitts. Either way, Baltimore takes advantage

CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

Overall I’m 4-4 in my playoff picks so far. I need the next three winners to give myself the title of Prognosticator in Chief. But, it’s much more likely I Dunnosquatus.

The Cardinals were impressive against the Panthners where they never have been–on defense. I’ve got great respect for Andy Reid and Donovan McNab, though. They’ve both persevered through some rough personal and professional problems. I have to go with Philadelphia. The Eagles have been here and tried to do that once in three NFC Championship tilts, but they have seen the promised land. The Red Birds haven’t flown this high in six decades. They do benefit with Whisenhut’s Pittsburgh experience and Warner’s Super Bowl performances. I just don’t think that will be enough to stop the Eagles from blitzing their way to Tampa.

EAGLES 34 CARDINALS 24

I really do hate those Black Birds but, they play great defense. However, a closer look at the Titan game does make me wonder if 17 straight weeks of intense football isn’t taking a toll on the Ravens. Tennessee turned the ball over four times deep in Raven territory. The Titans gained nearly four hundred yards on offense; Collins gouged the Raven’s secondary for 275 yards and the T-Men ran for over a 116.

Baltimore is tired. Of course, they deny it, but I think Lewis and Company will be hard pressed to beat Pittsburgh—with the resurgent Willie parker—on the road, in the cold. Rothlisberger was throwing darts and hitting bullseyes against San Diego.

If the Steelers take care of the ball and stay patient, it’ll be a Keystone State Super Bowl.

STEELERS 24 RAVENS 10

• January 12, 2009 -- Divisional Round Dish (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)

The Good:

Baltimore Ravens: Live by big plays, die by big plays. Sooner or later takeaways will fail to bail Baltimore out, but once again the Ravens proved the adage that the team that wins the turnover battle wins the game.

Arizona Cardinals: Kurt Warner knows how to party like it’s 1999. I’d love to have been the person who placed bets on the Cards hosting the NFC Championship game.

Philadelphia Eagles: First the Phillies catch the Mets, now the Iggles upend the Giants. The City of Brotherly Love has shown no warmth to the neighbors, err rivals, to the north this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Late points and final score aside, the Steel Curtain lives.

The Bad:

Tennessee Titans: The blown play-clock call stinks, but all the blame for losing the game falls on turning over the ball. The Titans had more than enough chance to put this game out of reach.

New York Giants: Who else thinks the MVP of Super Bowl XLII should have been Plaxico Burress? Eli is still the same quarterback he’s always been.

San Diego Chargers: I like Darren Sproles a lot, but Pittsburgh completely shut him down. Could the Bolts have possibly missed LaDainian Tomlinson any more?

The Ugly:

Carolina Panthers: Ouch. Seriously, what else is there to say?

• December 14, 2008 -- Playoff Picture Still Murky (0)
• January 24, 2009 -- U Kan Koach in the NFL (.com)! (3)
• January 16, 2009 -- NFL Playoff Picking (3)
• November 25, 2008 -- EnEfElquality (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)

Don’t look now, but Arizona is one game away from playing in the big game.

Even more astonishing, if the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New York Giants in the Meadowlands on Sunday, the Cardinals would actually host the NFC Championship game.

Yes, the Cardinals. Once the model of NFL futility and the butt of every perennial loser joke, the franchise’s struggles are almost legendary, having followed the team from Chicago to St. Louis to Phoenix. To be sure, sports pundits have frequently picked them to break through in recent years, but until this season, those predictions have all been for nought. 

A mere few weeks ago, no one would have thought this year was going to turn out any differently.  Yes, Arizona had locked up a playoff spot, but in an awful division, and the Cardinals were miserable in their last few games. After the victory last week over the Atlanta Falcons, I even joked about Arizona’s awakening from their end of season slumber. After all, most playoff-bound teams that seemingly mail it in their last few games can’t shake off that malaise once the post-season begins.  The Cardinals did. No joke now… Arizona is contending for their first ever Super Bowl trip. It still may not happen, but the possibility must be taken seriously.

• February 4, 2009 -- Super Bowl Penalty Flags (6)
• February 2, 2009 -- Super Bowl Recap (5)
• February 1, 2009 -- The Big Question (0)
• February 1, 2009 -- Fierce And Nerdy: Super Bowl Preview (0)
• January 30, 2009 -- Super Bowl 43: Punditry Schmunditry (3)