This year's Super Bowl match-up, while a shocker to many, could not have worked out any better for football fans. The league's best defensive outfit squaring off against a top three offensive unit has the makings of a contest that true leatherheads should love. BetUS.com in their Superbowl 2009: Steelers Defense vs Cardinals Offense odds is favoring the newest rendition of the Steel Curtain to prevail over Arizona's dynamic aerial attack.
The online bookmaker's current over/under point total for the Cardinals is listed at 20, almost seven points under their regular season average of 26.7 and 11 points under their playoff average of 31.7.
So, what has fans and odds makers alike favoring the Steelers to shut down an offense that averaged over 362 yards per game this season. Well, aside from the old axiom that 'defense wins championships', is the fact that Pittsburgh's defense gave up over 20 points just five times all season, including their divisional playoff win over San Diego.
Here are some of the numbers that this modern day wrecking crew amassed this season: 237.2 yards per game allowed, 13.9 points per game allowed, 3.9 yards per play allowed, and 51 sacks. All of these figures were league bests with the exception of the sack total, which placed second only to the Cowboys 59.
But, how do the Steelers themselves figure to stop the Cardinals and their big play capability? According to linebacker LaMar Woodley, they need to be in the quarterback's face.
"The most dangerous guy is the guy with the ball," Woodley said. "It definitely starts in the hands of Kurt Warner, and as a defense we have to go out there and put pressure on him."
Pittsburgh Head Coach Mike Tomlin saw another issue that his team must be vigilant in dealing with.
"Larry Fitzgerald, is quite simply, the best receiver in the world down the field in one-on-one situations," Tomlin stated. "If we're going to be successful in Tampa, we need to limit the number of times we're down field with him one-on-one."
How might the Cardinals plan on getting past the formidable Black and Gold resistance? Probably by executing the same way they have against other top ranked defensive units. Arizona faced five of the league's top 10 defenses in the regular season and playoffs, and still managed to produce an average of 24 points per game against them.
However, the Cardinals are under no delusions about the kind of challenge the Steelers are going to present.
"We haven't faced a defense like Pittsburgh," wideout Larry Fitzgerald said. "This is a different monster here. It's like when you face a bully in the school yard. You've got to confront them. You can't run from them or they're going to take your lunch money all year."
Veteran passer Kurt Warner also noted that, "[Pittsburgh] is going to throw things at us we've never seen before."
However, the Cardinals might have an ace up their sleeve in that Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt served as the Steelers offensive coordinator from 2004-2006. There are not too many Dick LeBeau defensive looks that he has not seen. While this fact may not be the end all be all, it might give the Cardinals offense the little bit of daylight it needs. Still, it will not be an easy assignment.
Fitzgerald added: "We are looking forward to the test."
BetUS.com's Superbowl 2009: Steelers Defense vs Cardinals Offense
Pittsburgh -6.5 (-115), Over 46.5 (-110), -250 (Moneyline), Team Total 27 (Over -110, Under -120)
Arizona +6.5 (-105), Under 46.5 (-110), +210 (Moneyline), Team Total 20 (Over -115, Under -115)
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