Fitzgerald’s play to determine if Cardinals win Super Bowl

Larry Fitzgerald will decide of the Cardinals win the Super Bowl.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are favored heading into the Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers have the necessities to win; a top defense, a efficient passing attack, a satisfactory running game. Yet, the one intangible they lack may cost them.

The Cardinals boast wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who is the best wide receiver in the NFL, a player that was their catalyst all season long, especially in their previous three playoff games. Fitzgerald has caught 23 passes for 419 yards and 5 touchdowns this postseason, including three in the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Championship game. He has been nearly impossible to cover, partly because of his leaping ability. He’s 6-foot 3-inches, towering over smaller cornerbacks and safeties.

Fitzgerald may have a tough time repeating his prior performances against the Steelers, who have some of the best defensive players in the league. If there is any player who could stop Fitzgerald, it would be safety Troy Polamalu, who will surely hound him everywhere. If Polomalu does in fact shut Fitzgerald down, the Cardinals will not win.

Arizona’s running game has been resurgent in these playoffs, as an unhappy Edgerrin James has excelled at auditioning for other teams. Quarterback Kurt Warner is very good and a great story, but he isn’t mobile at the age of 37, which will help the Steelers aggressive, blitzing defense. He has other targets to throw to besides Fitzgerald, but if he is harassed frequently, they won’t be able to make a significant impact.

The Steelers will have wide receiver Hines Ward available for the game, which is pivotal to their success. He has been their best receiver throughout the season, and should be a factor along with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Unlike the Cardinals, Roethlisberger’s targets are limited, making Ward’s presence that much more important. Pittsburgh’s running game is powerful, different than that of Arizona’s. Willie Parker, their running back, struggled against the Baltimore Ravens, which is expected as their defense is among the best, but was tremendous in the Steelers defeat of the San Diego Chargers. The Steelers would like a duplicate of that performance, 146 yards and two touchdowns, but don’t necessarily need an outstanding game by Parker to win.

As in past years, the defense is the key to Pittsburgh’s success. Their defensive line and secondary will dictate how many chances Roethlisberger’s offense get to score, and how frustrated Arizona’s offense will be. Since Warner looks for Fitzgerald on every passing possession, I don’t see Polamalu, nor any of their other defensive players, losing track of him. Therefore, I am confident that the Steelers will win. They are too experienced and talented not to.

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