The Cardinals can't be in the Super Bowl, right? Since 1978, when the schedule was expanded to 16 games, only 1 other team has advanced to the Super Bowl with less than 10 regular season wins: 1979 Los Angeles Rams (9-7). These Cardinals limped into the playoffs losers of 4 of their last 6 games, including a 47-7 blowout loss at New England, and only ONE win against a playoff team all season. They only scored 1, ONE!, more point that their opponents all year, and gave up the third most points in the NFC, better than only the 2-14 St. Louis Rams and the 0-16 Detroit Lions. The starting QB? A washed up 37 year old who went undrafted out of Northern Iowa in 1994, making stops in Green Bay, New York, and St. Louis, as well as playing in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe. A head coach only one year removed from his rookie year as a head coach. An offense which gave a new definition to one dimensional, finishing 2nd in passing and last(32nd) in rushing amongst all NFL teams, and a defense which finished 19th overall, behind cellar dwellars such as the 4-11-1 Cincinnati Bengals and the 5-11 Jacksonville Jaguars. This is a team which went 3-5 on the road, with losses at Houston, Chicago, and Cincinnati. A team like this can't possibly be contending for a Super Bowl, right?
Yet here they are, winners of 3 straight playoff games, and headed to their first Super Bowl ever. With a win the Cardinals will end the second longest title drought in North American sports at 61 years, and behind only the Chicago Cubs(100 years removed from last title). That washed up 37 year old QB has recaptured the magic which orchestrated The Greatest Show on Turf nearly a decade ago. The almost rookie head coach has shown his mettle in these playoffs, outcoaching both John Fox and Andy Reid as well as rookie head coach Mike Smith of Atlanta. The 3-5 road team in the regular season destroyed a Carolina team which entered the playoffs with a perfect record at home. The almost non existent rushing attack has turned around to average 111 yards a game during the playoffs, a nearly 30 yard per game improvement from the regular season.
The underdog in every playoff game thusfar, including being underdogs at HOME against both Atlanta and Philly, the Super Bowl has proved no different with the Steelers perched as 6.5 point favorites. Disrespected by "experts" at every turn, the Cardinals continue their unlikely march toward becoming possibly the most unlikely team entering the playoffs to win the Super Bowl.
Across the country, in places like Chicago, New York, Baltimore, Atlanta, Philly, along with countless other cities and towns everywhere there will be men, women, and children huddled around TV sets in living rooms, basements, and community centers rooting for the unlikeliest of contenders. Led by a former grocery store worker turned Pro Bowl QB, on Super Bowl Sunday we will root and cheer for a team which has not only captured the NFC championship, but the hearts of football fans everywhere. Hollywood pumps out cheesy, inspirational movies year after year, but to witness a true inspirational story is a feeling reserved for very few moments in sports history. Win or lose the Cardinals have stamped their place in sports lore, winning the minds and hearts of a nation embroiled in a devastating recession. A true story of David and Goliath, the Cardinals, 6 decades removed from a title, face the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by a Steel Curtainesque defense and with 5 Super Bowl trophies in the trophy case. The Cardinals have galvanized a nation, uniting fans of all teams across all regions of the country. Because on Feb. 1, we will all be Arizona Cardinals fans.
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