Spring Break
The Pro Side: Cardinals deserving of first ever Super Bowl appearance
Mike Mauro
Issue date: 1/22/09 Section: Sports
The Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl? The same team that's been one of the laughing stocks of the NFL since the merger? That's right. Thanks to a great receiver, battle-tested quarterback, resurrected running game and larcenous defense, the Cardinals are the best football team in the NFC.
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has taken advantage of the national spotlight, something Arizona scarcely is under, and has shown why he was the No. 3 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With his record-setting postseason performance he has clearly cemented his place as one of the top three receivers in the game.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt's decision to give the starting quarterback job to Kurt Warner over USC pretty-boy Matt Leinart before the season is the biggest reason Arizona is playing in the Super Bowl. Warner has the accuracy, experience and familiarity of playing with great receivers like he did in St. Louis and the Cardinals offense has been explosive all year. Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and the emergence of Steve Breaston teamed up to form an unstoppable aerial attack.
Defense and the running game were all major concerns heading into the playoffs but Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower have been very effective churning out tough yardage and the defense lead by underrated safety Adrian Wilson, who is one of the top five safeties in the league, have been ballhawks and come up with stops when they need to like the end of the NFC Championship game where Donovan McNabb had plenty of time to drive for a game-tying touchdown. Instead, the Cardinals forced four straight incomplete passes.
Arizona's surprising run through the playoffs after getting torched late in the season has been one of the greatest turnaround in performance ever. Entering the postseason 9-7 they showed that they possess the offense and defensive playmakers to challenge any team. Now they will face their biggest test in the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their No. 1 defense.
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald has taken advantage of the national spotlight, something Arizona scarcely is under, and has shown why he was the No. 3 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. With his record-setting postseason performance he has clearly cemented his place as one of the top three receivers in the game.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt's decision to give the starting quarterback job to Kurt Warner over USC pretty-boy Matt Leinart before the season is the biggest reason Arizona is playing in the Super Bowl. Warner has the accuracy, experience and familiarity of playing with great receivers like he did in St. Louis and the Cardinals offense has been explosive all year. Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and the emergence of Steve Breaston teamed up to form an unstoppable aerial attack.
Defense and the running game were all major concerns heading into the playoffs but Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower have been very effective churning out tough yardage and the defense lead by underrated safety Adrian Wilson, who is one of the top five safeties in the league, have been ballhawks and come up with stops when they need to like the end of the NFC Championship game where Donovan McNabb had plenty of time to drive for a game-tying touchdown. Instead, the Cardinals forced four straight incomplete passes.
Arizona's surprising run through the playoffs after getting torched late in the season has been one of the greatest turnaround in performance ever. Entering the postseason 9-7 they showed that they possess the offense and defensive playmakers to challenge any team. Now they will face their biggest test in the Super Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers and their No. 1 defense.
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