Super Sunday NFL Spectacular, The Big Game, the _uper _owl

Who ever would have imagined the Cardinals on Pro Football’s biggest stage, the _uper _owl. It’s hard to even include these Redbirds in the same sentence as ‘The Big Game’ but whether we like it or not, it’s time to break out the Conrad Dobler jersey, wake up Dan Dierdorf and Jim Hart, throw on Roger Wehrli’s (the Jason Seahorn of his day) old school two bar face masked helmet. The Cardinals are, in fact, playing for professional football’s World Championship, and it’s almost game time.

The Steelers, back again. Pittsburgh looks to separate itself from the San Francisco 49ers by winning their sixth _uper _owl championship ring. While the 49ers are a perfect 5-0 in the Big Bowl, a Steelers sixth ring would give their organization a legitimate claim to being the NFL’s marquis (not to be confused with Marquis Grissom or Gill Grissom) franchise. If they lose however, to the Arizona Cardinals, it will be a permanent stain on the franchise. In addition, it would further secure the San Francisco 49ers dynasty as the model franchise, the undefeated jewel in the NFL Championship crown. Meanwhile Pittsburgh’s legacy and mystique takes a BIG hit in that area.

Speaking of permanent stains, listening recently to WEEI Boston’s ‘Big Show’, new on-air windbag Ketchup Sock Curt Schilling disclosed his lifelong allegiance to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It now makes total and perfect sense why the naming of the field (as previously disclosed on this site) in Pittsburgh is ‘The Ketchup Sock Curt Schilling Turf’ at Heinz Field. Aside from a lifelong passion for the Steelers, condiments, and fried foods, sources close to Ketchup Sock stress that he’s looking forward to marketing opportunities with Heinz to capitalize on his ketchup stained World Series ‘performance’. In exchange he’s hoping to receive 8,000,000 Ketchup packets per year for 3 years as well as the current contact information for his Steeler idol, Kordell Stewart. Again, these are from sources close to the negotiations and Ketchup Sock, who wish to remain anonymous until the deal is actually finalized.

While KS Curt has been a lifelong Steeler fan, he’s recently jumped on the Lord’s bandwagon. This is truly going to present an almighty conflict in this Sunday’s _uper _owl. Can Ketchup Sox recent faith adjustment counter Kurt Warner’s slightly longer devotion? Can either of them draw on the faith driven energy of Tim Teebow to force a kick to go wide right in the waning moments? How will this unfold?

All of the pressure here is on the Steelers and they may very well rise to the challenge and win. The Cards, however, have absolutely nothing to lose because even they know how much they suck. The reality is that they were two 49ers miscues away from not even winning the NFC Worst. With absolutely nothing to lose, a coaching staff that is highly motivated to beat the team that passed them over in favor of Mike Tomlin, an energetic Larry Fitzgerald, and of course with the Lord on Kurt Warner’s side, how does one not take a serious look at Arizona. Sources close to Kurt Warner suggest that he’s been told that our Lord and Savior is very happy getting the 7 points, but apparently the Almighty one really likes the OVER at 46 1/2. While J.C. is known to be a big Troy Polamalu fan and a Steel Curtain devotee since the days of Mean Joe Green, yellow hi-topped LC Greenwood and Dwight White, his hopes for his team’s 6th ring may not come as easily as things usually do. So what else is new, a child not agreeing with his old man. It should make for some great drama though.

All drama aside, this could be a very entertaining _uper _owl. Your team at Picks4Players feels very strongly about our choices for Super Sunday, beer and wings, but we also really like the picks that we are recommending for our devoted teammates. While Pittsburgh’s defense is outstanding and we feel that their blitz packages will get to Kurt Warner some of the time, it is the other times that Kurt Warner should be able to pick apart the Steelers secondary with quick read and react throws. Look for Anquan Bolidin to have a big first half and take some of the pressure off of Larry Fitzgerald. The Cards will be throwing all day long. Even if they are out in front, look for them to try to bury the Steelers because soon these Cardinals will wake up and realize that they are, well, the Cardinals and they could implode at any moment. Pittsburgh, as always will be ugly but effective on offense and they too will put up their share of points. While we like the Steelers to win their sixth ring, your team at Picks4Players recommends: Arizona +7 and OVER 46 1/2

Good luck to all of the players out there. Thanks for joining us all season long. Keep up with us for our Hockey and Basketball insider selections and Spring Training is just around the corner. Take good care from your personal gaming consultants at www.picks4players.com.