Arizona winning factors

[LT Profits]

u have your facts wrong just another made up stat like its hard to beat the same team three times case in point, S.F. with montana and young, 90's cowboy teams, back to back denver victories, rams victory all these teams won because of offense not defense, look it up rice irvin rod smith tory holt and more defense wins championships against average offenses but not great ones unless you play buffalo

All the teams you mentioned had either very good or underrated defenses. Yes, their offenses were better than their defenes, but their defenses were still good enough to hold up their end of the bargain.

The point is, you can't win a championship without a good defense.

[Starion]

All the offensive teams mentioned that won superbowls had good running games. Arizona has been able to run the ball as of late, but overall their play calling has been very unbalanced. I don't think you can point to a superbowl winner that has had consistently anemic rushing that has prevailed. Yes, Arizon was able to run on philly, but more often than not they have struggle to run in games. If you think they will run very effectively against Pittsburgh then Arizona is the side to be on.

The one thing about being on the side of Arizona that bothers me is their tendency to lose badly when they do lose. If Pittsburgh stops the run and get pressure as they almost always do, I think the game gets ugly fast.

Bottom line. I think pittsburgh has all the right ingredients to win a superbowl. Great defense and good offense. Laying a td or less seems pretty attractive to me. However, anything can happen as we've all seen too many times.

[flavo-ice]

Stat-wise and perception wise, Arizona is a dog and Pitt is a prince. All stats point to Pitt, all perceptions point to Pitt, but all stats and perception have pointed against Arizona verus Atlanta, Carolina, and Philadelphia, yet Arizona continues to "defy logic" and win. And not flukely wins either, very solid sometimes dominant performances.

I'm not complaining, as I have ridden the Cardinals during the playoffs enjoying that the public perception is against them.

Isn't it time to perhaps entertain the notion that the Cards have a very good and/or underrated defense? They aren't a Pitt or Balt D, but they are opportunistic and have a knack for making plays.

Personally I think the linesmakers have the line inflated with Pitt as the public play plus the "afc bias".

No reason for me to stop believing the cards don't have the same shot to win this one as Pitt, and getting 7 pts is a bonus.

[Starion]

I think you're wrong when you say that Arizona is a dog perception wise. In fact, the data supports otherwise with nearly 60% of the bets on Arizona.

Arizona certainly has a shot to win. Saying they have an equal shot isn't the case though. I think the moneyline on the game reflects that.

[flavo-ice]

If you don't think Pitt is the public darling you are ignoring reality. Arizona has been the trash heap for decades now, these perceptions just don't change overnight. That is exactly why the majority of posters on here are calling for a Pitt blowout, just like I saw the same calling for a Philly blowout a week ago. People have an attitude(hence perception), that the cardinals have no business being mentioned in the same sentence with the likes of the panthers, eagles, steelers, etc.

I hear you on the data/stats though, but the perception is completely different and most of the action will come on the game late this week and I'd be surprised if it wasn't overwhelmingly in favor of Pitt.

[Chi_archie]

Pitt has a greater % of backers for sure.... if you include the long time fans

when it comes down to your weekend warrior joe avg sports fan.... I think some will go with a perennial power house like Pitt... and some will go with the HOT sexy new underdog good story pick in Arizona

[BigAL]

just some more interesting stats


It will take more then a big game by Larry to win this

Arizona's record when Larry has 100+ yards 3 wins 4 losses
arizona's record when Larry has under 100 6 wins 3 losses


avg yards receiving for Fitz in Arizona wins=88.44
avg yards receiving for fitz in arizona L's= 90.71


Avg yards rushing in arizona victories=92.7
avg yards rushing in arizona losses =49


with the steelers # 1 defense and Arizona's # 32ranked rushing O

do you think the cards will be closer to 92 yards or 49? that seems to be a better indicator of their success

the Cards are on a 3-0 run in playoffs and Fitzgerald is playing great..... but is it just Larry..we saw already that his success has little outcome on the game.

Arizona avg rushing yards per game in playoffs=111

more stats, to show you.... 1 or 2 men cannot beat any nfl defense let alone the Steelers D.

The Arizona D is very similar to San diego's Defenes...except they gave up an avg of 5 points more per game then SD...
the steelers just put 35 on the chargers...


are you confident that Fitgerald/Bolden- are gonna hook up for 5 td's

that might be what it takes

remember Pittsburgh avg's giving up 13.9

is it possible...YES

But the real question is....is it more then 51% probable that zona scores 4 td's to Pittsburgh's 5. or.. 3 to pittsburgh's 4

say this stuff on the sbr.tv breakdown. Was dissapointed that no one mentioned how stats can be twisted and should not always be taken at face value.

in losing efforts it is not uncommon for qb's to have more yards throwing and receivers more yards/receptions due to playing against prevent D's in the last quarter, and HAVING to throw to come back.

in winning efforts in the last quarter often teams are running out the clock, thus running the ball more. Correlation does not equal Causation.

Need to look at matchups more then stats that go back to early Septembe games. This zona team is playing with alot of confidence.

[Tsoprano]

Cardinals for me.

Points & moneyline.

[smarmy]

Here's some food for thought....everyday on the local radio stations they have stories about the Steelers being at Thee Dollhouse and the like. Not a peep about the Cardinals. (Get it, peep....Cardinals? nevermind) Reminds me of the Rams/Patriots in New Orleans for SuperBowl XXXVI. There was alot of talk about the Rams spending alot of time on Bourbon St. mmmmmmm.

[Bread]

I love Bourbon St.

Oh man I think that Deion Sanders, Dennis Rodman, Diddy and Lawrence Taylor are hosting a party at Thee Dollhouse tonight. Someone is definitely gonna get shot.

[smarmy]

Diddy and Deion are at the Venue, with the pretty people. D-Rod and LT are at the nasty strip club....go figgur. Thee Dollhouse WILL be on the news tomorrow. There is no way that place can hold as many people that are going to show up tonight. I hope Santonio Holmes pulls a Plaxico.

[Bread]

My God I just looked at the TBT paper that has every party and event for the weekend listed.

If anyone hates Hollywood, Tampa would be your target. Everyone is here.

[smarmy]

I'm going to stay home and hide. I'll watch the festivities from my couch. less crowd, cheaper beer and the bathroom is a hell of a lot closer.

[Chi_archie]

last chance to realize that Zona needs to run today....

comes down to zona defense and zona's rushing

F fitzgerald, bolden, breaston and warner....

here we go folkis

[Chi_archie]

just some more interesting stats


It will take more then a big game by Larry to win this

Arizona's record when Larry has 100+ yards 3 wins 4 losses
arizona's record when Larry has under 100 6 wins 3 losses


avg yards receiving for Fitz in Arizona wins=88.44
avg yards receiving for fitz in arizona L's= 90.71


Avg yards rushing in arizona victories=92.7
avg yards rushing in arizona losses =49


with the steelers # 1 defense and Arizona's # 32ranked rushing O

do you think the cards will be closer to 92 yards or 49? that seems to be a better indicator of their success

the Cards are on a 3-0 run in playoffs and Fitzgerald is playing great..... but is it just Larry..we saw already that his success has little outcome on the game.

Arizona avg rushing yards per game in playoffs=111

more stats, to show you.... 1 or 2 men cannot beat any nfl defense let alone the Steelers D.

The Arizona D is very similar to San diego's Defenes...except they gave up an avg of 5 points more per game then SD...
the steelers just put 35 on the chargers...


are you confident that Fitgerald/Bolden- are gonna hook up for 5 td's

that might be what it takes

remember Pittsburgh avg's giving up 13.9

is it possible...YES

But the real question is....is it more then 51% probable that zona scores 4 td's to Pittsburgh's 5. or.. 3 to pittsburgh's 4

not enought rushing yards.... receiving yards didn't matter....

greatest Run D ever.... vs worst run O of 2008..... I'll take the the D every time