The last bell has rung and the fat lady has sung her last note.
The NFL Season has came down to one more game and two teams.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals punched their tickets to Super Bowl XLIII Sunday the 18th.
Arizona showed that the Warner-Fitzgerald tandem is arguably one of the best in football with a decisive win over the Philidelphia Eagles 32-25.
Kurt Warner connected to Fitzgerald three times in the first half for touchdowns, including one spectacular flee-flicker play in the second quarter for a 62-yard touchdown.
Point of note: If the opposing team is feeling loose enough and confident enough to run a play remotely resembling something you yourself did as a twelve year old in the empty lot then they are definately in control of the game and playing way better than you.
There is something almost magical about Larry Fitzgerald and his hands. He has to be factored into the same conversation as players like Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin.
On the flip side of the coin the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC Championship with a win over their bitter divisional rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14. This game was billed as a marquee match-up of the NFL's 1st ranked defense and its 2nd.
Unfortunately for the Ravens they walked away empty handed. Their, thus far, unflappable rooking quarterback, Joe Flacco, began playing like a rookie for the first time this season. Against the Titans and Dolphins Flacco was performing rather well completing 20 of 45 passes as well as not throwing a single interception. The highly touted Steelers defense managed to keep Flacco to 13 of 30 as well as forcing three fumbles and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.
Ladies and Gentleman your 2009 Super Bowl.
The NFL's 2nd best passing offense against the 1st rate passing defense.
My pick: Pittsburgh Steelers with the MVP going to Hines Ward.
Score: 27-17
As ESPN Page 2 columnist, Gregg Easterbrook, points out the winner may be decided by the Steelers mediocre offense or the Cardinals occasionally impressive defense. During the regular season the Cardinals performed rather poorly in protecting the pass. With two great receivers in Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward I am putting my money on the Steelers.
--Photo from www.nfl.com
