Defending Super Bowl History

From now until Sunday we will listen to all the so called experts on every major sports station discuss, debate, and argue who will be victorious on Super Sunday. Many Super Bowl picks will be made based on the Cardinals’ potent offense or the Steelers’ physical defense. Some experts may pick their winner based on the expected performance of a specific player such as Larry Fitzgerald or Troy Polamalu.
There are a handful of experts pulling for the underdog Cardinals who have been compared to Rodney Dangerfield in the respect category throughout the playoffs. With upsets over Carolina on the road and Philly at home, the Cardinals have been nothing short of surprising in the playoffs. So, what’s to keep them from one more upset and the crown of Super Bowl champions?
History.
Over the last twenty years one of football’s oldest clichés, “defense wins championships”, has proven to be true year after year. Pittsburgh, long known for their intimidating defense, has the number one defense in the league this year, while the Cardinals rank 19th. Since 1988 only five teams with a lower defensive rank than their Super Bowl opponents have won the Super Bowl. In that same time span no number one defense has lost the Super Bowl and only two teams with defenses ranked 19th or lower have emerged victorious on Super Sunday.
The two anomalies of Super Bowl defenses ranked lower than this year’s Cardinals were the 2001 Patriots and the 2006 Colts. A 14 point underdog, the 2001 Patriots’ 24th ranked defense defeated the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” in what was the second biggest upset in Super Bowl history behind only the 18 point underdog Jets’ upset over the Colts in 1969. The 2006 Colts struggled to stop the run all season until the return of safety Bob Sanders who’s presence on the field transformed the 21st ranked defense into a stout run stopping force that held each playoff opponent under 100 yards rushing as well as the number one ranked playoff defense. Unlike the 2006 Colts, this year’s Cardinals don’t have the luxury of a returning Pro Bowl player to help bolster an average defense.
You may point out that the Cardinals have improved defensively in the playoffs but they remained average in total defense, ranking sixth out of twelve teams. Their defensive mediocrity showed in the third quarter of the championship game against the Eagles in which they gave up 165 yards and allowed the Eagles back within a touchdown.
On the other side of the ball the Cardinals have the fire power to put points on the board with two pro bowl receivers and veteran quarterback Kurt Warner, but history has shown that even a top flight offense can be grounded by a stellar defense. Take for example Super Bowl XXXVII between the Bucs and Raiders. The Bucs’ top ranked defense shut down the league’s number one offense and passing attack, forcing five interceptions as they rolled to a 48-21 victory.
For all of those who believe the Cardinals’ offense will be able to handle the Steelers’ number one defense, think back to that same third quarter in which the Eagles moved the ball with ease. As the Cardinals’ defense struggled, so to did their high powered offense which found itself stuck in neutral managing a mere five total yards and no first downs. One needs to look no further than this abysmal third quarter performance for a preview of what could be in store for the Cardinals’ usually potent aerial attack.
The Cardinals not only have to go up against the top defense in the league, but history as well. Little chance remains for the Cardinals’ magical run to continue on to becoming Super Bowl champions. So take that bet from your friend who believes in the underdog and ignore any so called expert’s attempt at a legitimate reason for the Cardinals to win. By Sunday night the Pittsburgh Steelers will have their sixth championship.