Here are some thoughts and observations from last night’s game.
I’d be interested in others you might have or comments about mine.
1. Super Bowls blowouts are thing of the past.
Remember when we complained about Super Bowls being settled by half-time. Last made it six straight Super Bowls decided in the final two minutes. Super Bowl parties usually broke up at halftime. Not any more.
2. Steelers defense was good, not great.
Before the game, there was talk that these Steelers defenders deserved mention with some of the greatest defenses in NFL history. While it got pressure on Kurt Warner, mostly with blitzes, the Steelers “D” was disappointing. The Cardinals threw the ball with too much ease, especially when it mattered most.
3. Big Ben was my pick for MVP.
I extoll the virtues of this point in today’s story in The Eagle-Tribune. Trust me, Santonio was and is special. He is right there with Larry Fitzgerald at the top of the wide receiving heap. But Roethlisberger continues to make big plays when they are needed most and that last drive (5 for 7 while overcoming a first-and-20 to start the drive, when the Steelers were trailing for the first time, was a microcosm of his career.
4. Patriots could have won the Super Bowl.
I know that hurts, but it’s true. It would have been tough for the Patriots to beat Pittsburgh, in Pittsburgh in late January, but the Patriots offense could have moved the ball even better than the Cardinals did. I’m not saying the Patriots are better than the Steelers — I believe the best team won — but the Patriots might have been the only team in the league that could have beaten them.
6. Kurt Warner is officially a Hall of Famer.
Warner had a great game, considering the hits and pressure he got, he never wavered. It reminded me of Tom Brady on that go-ahead drive near the end of last year’s Super Bowl. Most people thought he should have retired and was a one-trick-pony with the Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis. But he wasn’t. Last night earned him a spot among the NFL greats (31-for-43, 377 yards, 3 TDs, 1 int.).
7. The Detroit Lions can win the Super Bowl next year.
OK, I’m kidding. But you get my point. The NFL has changed, probably forever. Worst-to-first is no longer the exception. Look at the Miami Dolphins this season. The NFL is not like our fathers and grandfathers grew up watching. Every year there is a surprise. The Cardinals showed me that anything can happen. I guess I should have learned that lesson last year.
8. What happened to running the football?
One key stat last night was rushing yards. The teams “combined” for only 91 yards rushing. If the Steelers were a good rushing team — they were 23rd at 105.6 yards per game – they would have won by three touchdowns. Was it a fluky year in that sense? Probably, with the Giants being upset by the Eagles and the Cardinals, the 32nd ranked team running the ball (73.6). It will be an interesting element to follow in years to come.
9. Give Mike Tomlin credit.
We will probably find out how good of a coach Tomlin is as a coach over the next two or three seasons, but he deserves credit for letting his coaches coach. Word is he is a very good delegater. He took over a winning team and continued the program rather than make wholesale changes. The Steelers looked like the Steelers teams we have seen the entire decade.
10. Next year should be a great one.
From where I sit, there are a dozen teams that could be very good next season, including your Patriots. The Colts, Chargers, Broncos, Titans, Dolphins and Ravens should all improve. Add in the NFC’s Giants, Cowboys, Eagles, Buccanneers, Vikings and Falcons and you’ve got about a dozen Super Bowl contenders. The quality of play in 2008 as good, not great. That might change in 2009.
