Alright Saturday Evening Blog fans we have a little more than two days until Super Bowl XLIII kickoff. It is now time to break the game down for you. The Arizona Cardinals are coming into this game certainly on a unexpected run, while the Pittsburgh Steelers weathered a brutal regular season schedule to get to Tampa. So lets get to breaking the offenses,defense,special teams and coaching staffs down for each team and find out just who might have the advantage in raising that Lombardi trophy come Sunday night.

Offense

Arizona comes to Tampa having a new found running game. While statistically it is not eye popping, the Cardinals have used it effectively throughout the postseason. Enough has been made about Larry Fitzgerald and the postseason he has had. This should allow more balls to Anquan Boldin provided Kurt Warner has enough time to through the ball.

Pittsburgh comes to Tampa riding the arm of Ben Roethlisberger and the legs of a healthy Willie Parker. Early in the season much was made of the Steelers offensive line undergoing a major overhaul, but in the playoffs it looks that this could now be a strength. The biggest question facing the Steelers is the health of a past Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward. Ward who suffered a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens will try to play at less than 100%. This will not only affect Big Ben in the passing game but also the running game as Ward is a premiere perimeter blocker at wide receiver. Look for Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller to have to contribute much more in the passing game if Ward cannot push out of his routes well.

Advantage: Steelers. Willie Parker running the ball with Roethlisberger at the helm. What not to like. The Steelers collectively have the right mix of running and passing to be successful enough offensively to control the lines of scrimmage.

Defense

Arizona comes into this game riding a defense that is generating turnovers that makes the Ray Lewis led Ravens jealous. The defense has made enough plays at opportune times to put the offense in great filed position allowing the Cardinals to play out front in every playoff game. Can they do it Sunday? That is the question.

Pittsburgh really what needs said. Statistically the best in the NFL all year and led by the NFL defensive player of the year in James Harrison and essentially another defensive player of the year in Troy Polamalu the Steelers have a play maker at every level on defense. Mixing in variable blitzes with the 3-4 scheme the Steelers are without a doubht the best defense in the Super Bowl since that Ray Lewis led Ravens squad won Super Bowl XXXV.

Advantage

This is the key matchup of the game.Can Arizona put the ball in the endzone against this defense? Arizona will move the ball from 20 to 20, but once they get inside the Red Zone will a combination of Hightower and James be able to run the ball? This is why the Steelers again get the nod.

Special Teams

Arizona along with Pittsburgh is very pedestrian when it comes to special teams. This will come down to not making the mistakes and staying in your lanes when covering kicks. Look for an big emphasis in the punting game to directional kick away from Santonio Holmes when he is back returning.

Steelers Santonio Holmes makes the difference here. Both kickers are very solid and with both teams in the Super Bowl you would expect solid special teams play.

Advantage

This seems like a bit of a push, but with a difference maker like Holmes a slight advantage to the Steelers.

Coaching

Arizona If Whisenhunt can continue to rally the troops and maintain the energy after a two week layoff the Cardinals might have a chance. Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm his assistant where both former Steeler coaches so they have a very good understanding of what the Steelers will game plan for.

Pittsburgh Mike Tomlin has a locker room full of veterans and a coaching staff anchored by one in Dick Lebeau. Lebeau will be co-ordinating the stealer defense with Tomlin presiding over it like a CEO.

Advantage

Arizona. This staff of ex-Steelers and Todd Haley calling the plays is a great collective mix. Now the real question will be to find out if they have enough talent on the offensive side of the ball to make it happen.

End Result

We like the Cardinals to keep it close for three quarters, but in the end it will be the inability of the offense to score Touchdowns that will be there downfall. Pittsburgh will run the ball, run the ball and run the ball softening up the Cardinals aggressive play making secondary for a long pass play. Don not discount Palomalu having a great game also.

Pittsburgh -27

Arizona - 16

Hopefully it will be a great game and funny commercials!

Come back later for great Superbowl tailgating recipes!!!!!