Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever

AnonEmouse · 02-02-2009, 06:54 PM

I agree with the last two posts. For me the 49ers win over the Bengals with Montana's pass to Taylor may have been the best, but the Rams v Titans was up there. THis one was close as, again it got exciting late.

I don't think the officiating was atrocious though. It was bad. Two reversals on review (and one wasn't even hard to call) and that roughing the passer call were bad, and how Harrison wasn't ejected for what he did I don't know. However, Gandy made it hard for them not to call holding and they did commit some other dumb fouls (like running over he holder!), so it can't come close to contributing to the result. However it does raise a lot of what if questions. It should be about the game on the field, not whether the officials made the difference.

In the end it was the Cards D failing to suck it up and play strong when it mattered that made the difference. They played well through the playoff's, but nobody will remember that compared with that last drive. I just hope the quality players on that Cards team get another chance sat the big one, whether with them or a new team. It would be a crime if Fitzgerald never gets a ring - he is awesome.

Meks · 02-02-2009, 06:58 PM

the non-call on the LAST TD celebration using the ball as a prop and multiple players going to the ground, and NOT even LOOKING at the last play was atrocious IMO.

Slingin Sammy 33 · 02-02-2009, 07:16 PM

NO WAY. Read the Aldridge column. He's right on here. Fairly boring and poorly played game until mid-4th Qtr.

David Aldridge: The Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII wasn't the greatest Super Bowl ever - The League at washingtonpost.com

These SBs come to mind as better, not mentioned in the article:

SB XVII Skins 1st win, Hogs vs. Killer Bs, Riggo's run the #1 moment in Redskins history.

SB X Pitt beats Dallas 21 - 17, Lynn Swann amazing game.

SB XXXVI NE last minute drive to beat STL. Cost me $ 1300 in a missed square...damn you Weis/Brady

Meks · 02-02-2009, 07:32 PM

carolina vs N.E. is up there too... with this game... prolly better.

horse · 02-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Yeah and **** the steelers they beat us, But atleast we beat zona fair. The cards got hosed by the refs and the steeler loving league.

budw38 · 02-02-2009, 07:42 PM

Our three wins , Maybe the Steelers beating dallas after the 74 season . Actually The Steelers vs Dallas a few years later was a hell of a game . Denver vs GB was an awesome game as was the NYG vs Buffalo . The finish might make this a top 10 , Maybe I see a good steelers team beating an 8-8 team not as big a deal , but a great 4th qtr .

Ruhskins · 02-02-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horse

Yeah and **** the steelers they beat us, But atleast we beat zona fair. The cards got hosed by the refs and the steeler loving league.

The Cards got hosed by letting Harrison run 100 yds by a TD. All they had to do was tackle him and they would not have had to worry about those 7 pts.

This was a great SB in the 4th quarter. Felt bad for the Cards, but they are going to have a helluva team next season (as long as Warner stays healthy). I'm just glad that with a Steelers win, those whinny New England fans can stop b!tching about them not being called a dynasty.

GTripp0012 · 02-02-2009, 11:55 PM

One of the things that Arizona proved during this game is that they were playing a stronger grade of football at this point in the year than the Steelers, but boy, that Harrison return won a Super Bowl.

I don't want to take away from what the Steelers have done, but I think they are the luckiest champion I've ever seen. One of many calls in their head to head games vs. the Ravens goes against them and they don't win the division. Tony Romo doesn't totally melt down, and they're 1-3 against the NFC East. Heck, Roethlisberger doesn't get hurt against us, and they could have been 1-3 vs the BEAST even with Romo's collapse. The Eagles and Giants beat them very soundly.

And then the Super Bowl, they get (in many respects) outplayed by the NFC's 4th or 5th best team. Their defense plays its very worst game of the year. And yet, two monsterous game-changing plays later and they are Champions of the NFL.

I think the 2008 Steelers should be remembered as a team that got crushed by the very best teams in the NFL this year (Eagles, Titans, Giants and Colts at home), but the combination of incredibly consistent defense and an endless supply of timely luck, and wow look what I found, a Lombardi!

GTripp0012 · 02-03-2009, 12:00 AM

Which is not to say the Steelers shouldn't have won based on their merits from the regular season, but only to dispute the point that the Super Bowl Champion is always the team that has the best postseason. The Arizona Cardinals were the very best team in the NFL postseason this year, and by a pretty significant margin. The Steelers are the (rightful, IMO) Champs, as much because of circumstance because of greatness.

djnemo65 · 02-03-2009, 01:22 AM

This Superbowl was a lot like the Panthers/Patriots game, in that it's fourth quarter was so exciting it caused everyone to collectively declare it the greatest ever while forgetting how sloppy the previous three quarters had been (interestingly, this is the fifth Superbowl in the last 10 years to be instantly declared the greatest ever by the people with whom I was watching it, along with Rams/Titans, Rams/Patriots, Panthers/Patriots, and Giants/Patriots).

That being said, it was a pretty damn exciting fourth quarter. All the stars of the game came through on the biggest stage and you can't ask for much more than that.

irish · 02-03-2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

One of the things that Arizona proved during this game is that they were playing a stronger grade of football at this point in the year than the Steelers, but boy, that Harrison return won a Super Bowl.

I don't want to take away from what the Steelers have done, but I think they are the luckiest champion I've ever seen. One of many calls in their head to head games vs. the Ravens goes against them and they don't win the division. Tony Romo doesn't totally melt down, and they're 1-3 against the NFC East. Heck, Roethlisberger doesn't get hurt against us, and they could have been 1-3 vs the BEAST even with Romo's collapse. The Eagles and Giants beat them very soundly.

And then the Super Bowl, they get (in many respects) outplayed by the NFC's 4th or 5th best team. Their defense plays its very worst game of the year. And yet, two monsterous game-changing plays later and they are Champions of the NFL.

I think the 2008 Steelers should be remembered as a team that got crushed by the very best teams in the NFL this year (Eagles, Titans, Giants and Colts at home), but the combination of incredibly consistent defense and an endless supply of timely luck, and wow look what I found, a Lombardi!

If Az was playing a stronger grade of football (whatever that is) they would have won the game. Championship teams make ther own luck which isnt luck at at all. Its opportunity combined with timing.

If the Eagles, Titans, Giants & Colts were the very best of the NFL they'd have won the championship but they'd didnt because they werent.

GTripp0012 · 02-03-2009, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish

If Az was playing a stronger grade of football (whatever that is) they would have won the game. Championship teams make ther own luck which isnt luck at at all. Its opportunity combined with timing.

If the Eagles, Titans, Giants & Colts were the very best of the NFL they'd have won the championship but they'd didnt because they werent.

Except reality falsifies every statement you made here. Because using your own logic, if Pittsburgh was better than ANY of those four teams, they would have beaten them.

Arizona was playing at a higher level throughout the postseason. They beat a team that Pittsburgh lost to (Philadelphia), they crushed a team (Carolina) who went 12-4, same as the Steelers, and went through the very toughest playoff schedule to get there.

Pittsburgh was 12-4 this season, but 3-4 against playoff teams. 9-0 against teams who missed the playoffs. The two teams they played in the AFC bracket just happened to be the only two teams in the tournament they had beaten (SD and Balt). Which, I suppose had something to do with Ben Roethlisberger's grit.

And then the Super Bowl, the defense plays terribly, and the offense bails them out to the tune of a great performance by the Quarterback. Great game from Roethlisberger/Holmes? Absoultely. Still, very out of character for the Steelers.

irish · 02-03-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Except reality falsifies every statement you made here. Because using your own logic, if Pittsburgh was better than ANY of those four teams, they would have beaten them.

Arizona was playing at a higher level throughout the postseason. They beat a team that Pittsburgh lost to (Philadelphia), they crushed a team (Carolina) who went 12-4, same as the Steelers, and went through the very toughest playoff schedule to get there.

Pittsburgh was 12-4 this season, but 3-4 against playoff teams. 9-0 against teams who missed the playoffs. The two teams they played in the AFC bracket just happened to be the only two teams in the tournament they had beaten (SD and Balt). Which, I suppose had something to do with Ben Roethlisberger's grit.

And then the Super Bowl, the defense plays terribly, and the offense bails them out to the tune of a great performance by the Quarterback. Great game from Roethlisberger/Holmes? Absoultely. Still, very out of character for the Steelers.

This who beat who stuff can be spun any way one wants as Pgh crushed the Skins who beat Philly twice and AZ. What does that mean, nothing. In the end, Pittsburgh was 3-0 against the playoff teams (SD, Balt, AZ) that really mattered.

I think Pgh's D played pretty good vs AZ. They held Fitz down pretty good for 3 quarters (he had something like 1 catch in the 1st half) and nobody is going to keep him down for the whole game. Also Pgh held an AZ team that averaged 29.5 ppg in the playoffs and 26.7 ppg in the regular season to 23 pts. Not bad IMO.

The bottom line is Pgh did it in the regular season and in the playoffs. They won the title and deserved it.

MTK · 02-03-2009, 11:14 AM

I tend to agree with irish. This talk of who had the better postseason is pretty pointless. The bottom line is only one team finished the postseason with a W and that was the Steelers. They're the champs, everything else is a moot point.

SBXVII · 02-03-2009, 12:54 PM

I'll say it again. It was a ho-hum game even leading up to the game. I guess the only people who were phsyched about it had to be Cardinal and Steeler fans. This was the first SB I did not sit completely through even if nothing else but to watch the commercials. My attitude was if Pitt wins good for them they have the most Lumbardies, if the Cards win good for them they will have won one. It was not a game that really mattered to me. Perhaps to others but not me so it was not the greatest game ever.

I would give all the Skins SB the best ever but close runner ups was the Rams/Titans.

02-02-2009, 06:54 PM	#76
AnonEmouse The Starter Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: UK Age: 58 Posts: 2,441	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever I agree with the last two posts. For me the 49ers win over the Bengals with Montana's pass to Taylor may have been the best, but the Rams v Titans was up there. THis one was close as, again it got exciting late. I don't think the officiating was atrocious though. It was bad. Two reversals on review (and one wasn't even hard to call) and that roughing the passer call were bad, and how Harrison wasn't ejected for what he did I don't know. However, Gandy made it hard for them not to call holding and they did commit some other dumb fouls (like running over he holder!), so it can't come close to contributing to the result. However it does raise a lot of what if questions. It should be about the game on the field, not whether the officials made the difference. In the end it was the Cards D failing to suck it up and play strong when it mattered that made the difference. They played well through the playoff's, but nobody will remember that compared with that last drive. I just hope the quality players on that Cards team get another chance sat the big one, whether with them or a new team. It would be a crime if Fitzgerald never gets a ring - he is awesome.

02-02-2009, 06:58 PM	#77
Meks Pro Bowl Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Jersey Age: 39 Posts: 5,648	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever the non-call on the LAST TD celebration using the ball as a prop and multiple players going to the ground, and NOT even LOOKING at the last play was atrocious IMO. __________________ R.I.P #21SEAN TAYLOR

02-02-2009, 07:16 PM	#78
Slingin Sammy 33 Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 4,347	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever NO WAY. Read the Aldridge column. He's right on here. Fairly boring and poorly played game until mid-4th Qtr. David Aldridge: The Pittsburgh Steelers' 27-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII wasn't the greatest Super Bowl ever - The League at washingtonpost.com These SBs come to mind as better, not mentioned in the article: SB XVII Skins 1st win, Hogs vs. Killer Bs, Riggo's run the #1 moment in Redskins history. SB X Pitt beats Dallas 21 - 17, Lynn Swann amazing game. SB XXXVI NE last minute drive to beat STL. Cost me $ 1300 in a missed square...damn you Weis/Brady __________________ "I would bet.....(if), an angel fairy came down and said, '[You can have anything] in the world you would like to own,' I wouldn't be surprised if you said a football club and particularly the Washington Redskins.'' — Jack Kent Cooke, 1996.

02-02-2009, 07:32 PM	#79
Meks Pro Bowl Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Jersey Age: 39 Posts: 5,648	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever carolina vs N.E. is up there too... with this game... prolly better. __________________ R.I.P #21SEAN TAYLOR

02-02-2009, 07:42 PM	#80
horse Impact Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: long island Posts: 898	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever Yeah and **** the steelers they beat us, But atleast we beat zona fair. The cards got hosed by the refs and the steeler loving league. __________________ Hail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

02-02-2009, 07:42 PM	#81
budw38 Playmaker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern,Va. Posts: 2,706	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever Our three wins , Maybe the Steelers beating dallas after the 74 season . Actually The Steelers vs Dallas a few years later was a hell of a game . Denver vs GB was an awesome game as was the NYG vs Buffalo . The finish might make this a top 10 , Maybe I see a good steelers team beating an 8-8 team not as big a deal , but a great 4th qtr .

02-02-2009, 11:55 PM	#83
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 36 Posts: 15,994	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever One of the things that Arizona proved during this game is that they were playing a stronger grade of football at this point in the year than the Steelers, but boy, that Harrison return won a Super Bowl. I don't want to take away from what the Steelers have done, but I think they are the luckiest champion I've ever seen. One of many calls in their head to head games vs. the Ravens goes against them and they don't win the division. Tony Romo doesn't totally melt down, and they're 1-3 against the NFC East. Heck, Roethlisberger doesn't get hurt against us, and they could have been 1-3 vs the BEAST even with Romo's collapse. The Eagles and Giants beat them very soundly. And then the Super Bowl, they get (in many respects) outplayed by the NFC's 4th or 5th best team. Their defense plays its very worst game of the year. And yet, two monsterous game-changing plays later and they are Champions of the NFL. I think the 2008 Steelers should be remembered as a team that got crushed by the very best teams in the NFL this year (Eagles, Titans, Giants and Colts at home), but the combination of incredibly consistent defense and an endless supply of timely luck, and wow look what I found, a Lombardi! __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

02-03-2009, 12:00 AM	#84
GTripp0012 Living Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Evanston, IL Age: 36 Posts: 15,994	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever Which is not to say the Steelers shouldn't have won based on their merits from the regular season, but only to dispute the point that the Super Bowl Champion is always the team that has the best postseason. The Arizona Cardinals were the very best team in the NFL postseason this year, and by a pretty significant margin. The Steelers are the (rightful, IMO) Champs, as much because of circumstance because of greatness. __________________ according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

02-03-2009, 01:22 AM	#85
djnemo65 Playmaker Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,836	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever This Superbowl was a lot like the Panthers/Patriots game, in that it's fourth quarter was so exciting it caused everyone to collectively declare it the greatest ever while forgetting how sloppy the previous three quarters had been (interestingly, this is the fifth Superbowl in the last 10 years to be instantly declared the greatest ever by the people with whom I was watching it, along with Rams/Titans, Rams/Patriots, Panthers/Patriots, and Giants/Patriots). That being said, it was a pretty damn exciting fourth quarter. All the stars of the game came through on the biggest stage and you can't ask for much more than that.

02-03-2009, 11:14 AM	#89
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever I tend to agree with irish. This talk of who had the better postseason is pretty pointless. The bottom line is only one team finished the postseason with a W and that was the Steelers. They're the champs, everything else is a moot point. __________________ Support The Warpath! \| Warpath Shop

02-03-2009, 12:54 PM	#90
SBXVII Franchise Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 7,766	Re: Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever I'll say it again. It was a ho-hum game even leading up to the game. I guess the only people who were phsyched about it had to be Cardinal and Steeler fans. This was the first SB I did not sit completely through even if nothing else but to watch the commercials. My attitude was if Pitt wins good for them they have the most Lumbardies, if the Cards win good for them they will have won one. It was not a game that really mattered to me. Perhaps to others but not me so it was not the greatest game ever. I would give all the Skins SB the best ever but close runner ups was the Rams/Titans.

Steelers vs. Cardinals: Best Super Bowl Ever

Locker Room Main Forum