A Postseason Full of Surprises

The Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl.

I’ll let that sink in for a minute.

Ok, now on with the blogging. While Pittsburgh was expected by many (including myself) to take the AFC Championship, the Cards were written off at each and every stop, only to “shock the world,” as starting QB Kurt Warner put it.

Limping into the playoffs at 8-8 as the champions of the perenially weak NFC West, Arizona was seen as no match for the rejuvenated Atlanta Falcons and their hotshot rookie QB Matt Ryan.

Guess what? Arizona by a landslide.

The Cardinals were then pitted against the Carolina Panthers, a team with a very strong defense and running game. Certainly, a team that could handle the lowly redbirds.

Guess what? Cards to the NFC Championship.

Most football fans at this point would say that the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, written off at midseason, would complete their juggernaut comeback with a road win to cement their place as this year’s Giants. And they almost did.

But guess what? Arizona is in the Super Bowl.

It is at this point that my nonexpert analysis kicks in. It is obvious that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a superior running game, quarterback, and defense in this matchup. Big Ben Roethlisberger and magician safety Troy Polamalu are proven winners and are unlikely to succumb to the red hot (or is it that they wear hot red?) Arizona Cardinals.

I have to pick the Steelers. Every logical football-loving bone in my body says that Arizona has no chance.

But don’t be surprised to see the Lombardi Trophy making a trek through Phoenix. Now that would truly shock the world.