Joey A's Super Bowl Opening Drive: Pittsburgh Steelers

When the NFL’s regular season match-ups were announced, the Pittsburgh Steelers were already at a disadvantage. They were handed the league’s toughest schedule, which included meetings with the NFC East and AFC South, along with the always competitive AFC North of which the Steelers are a part.  When you factor that in with the injuries they sustained during the season, particularly in the running game with Willie Parker missing an extended amount of time, first rounder Rashard Mendenhall put on IR after week four, the same as guard Kendall Simmons, it’s astonishing the Steelers made it to Tampa.

This season’s trip to the Super Bowl is a testament to Ben Roethlisberger’s ability to make the big play when it matters, unlike their Super Bowl season in 2005 when he was just managing the game and handing off to Jerome Bettis. Roethlisberger is a top-tier NFL quarterback because of his ability to take big hits and keep the play alive, which ironically is the biggest flaw in his game and could cut his career short. He had a few scares this year, injuring his throwing shoulder, throwing hand, and suffering a mild concussion in the regular season finale, but he’s rebounded dramatically to lead his team through the playoffs against brutal competition in the Chargers and rival Ravens. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are a dangerous combination at wide receiver, with Ward’s blocking and chain-moving grabs and Holmes’s explosive speed. Tight end Heath Miller, Big Ben’s favorite target, missed a few games during the middle of the year, but finished strong as the Steelers climbed to the number two seed in the AFC. Miller is a big part of the Steelers’ red zone offense, and Ben loves to look his way. On special teams, Holmes has bolstered his value with timely touchdowns or great field position for his ball-control offense off of his punt returns.

Defensively, what’s not to like about Pittsburgh? Coordinator Dick LeBeau, a legendary defensive mind, has his unit playing at the highest level in football. Troy Polamalu is a ball-hawk in the secondary with unparalleled range. Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend are vastly underrated at the cornerback position and have a knack for bringing down big interceptions. Nose tackle Casey Hampton and defensive end Aaron Smith lead a defensive front seven that shuts down the run like no other team (except maybe the Ravens) can claim. Defensive MVP James Harrison has been a monster at linebacker, but he has a wealth of support with LaMarr Woodley, Larry Foote, and James Farrior all on the field in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme. Intimidated yet? You will be, you will be.

It has been a tediously long season for the Steelers, full of adversity and set-backs, but for them, the journey is not over. Mike Tomlin’s team is aiming for one last win to cement their greatness and stand alone as the franchise with the most Super Bowl victories. All that stands in their way is Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals, the underdog story of the year.