Final 2008 NFL Season Thoughts

The 2007 NFL season was a rough one for me. My preseason favorite, the Colts, were handed an early plane ride home by the Chargers in the Divisional Playoffs. The Patriots, a team I had predicted would struggle, became the only team in league history to finish the regular season 16-0. And of course, when I finally jumped on their bandwagon for Super Bowl XLII they stumbled and lost to the pesky Giants and their overrated quarterback, Eli Manning. My predictions weren't terrible, but it's definitely a season I'd like to forget.

Begin 2008. In March of last year I predicted that the Pittsburgh Steelers would be the top team in the league. To boot, I may have mentioned that the Arizona Cardinals were finally set for a big playoff run. I may have missed the boat on Tennessee, Detroit and the Giants but picking out the eventual Super Bowl competitors nearly ten months in advance is a feat that, in my mind, outweighs everything else.

This was also the first year that I actively rooted for a team other than the Lions. I picked Detroit back in elementary school when Barry Sanders was the most awesome player in all of football, and since his departure I've tried to remain faithful but during their 0-16 debacle I found a new team...and they just happened to win their sixth Super Bowl last night. I'll be wearing my #43 jersey with pride.

I wholeheartedly agree with the general consensus from fans, players and writers alike - last night's game was one for the ages. It was big offense versus stout defense, speed versus power, and youth versus experience. There were connections between coaches, almost a hint of vengeance with Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt getting a crack at the team that passed on him when they hired Mike Tomlin upon Bill Cowher's departure.

The game itself had all the makings of an instant classic. Pittsburgh was dominant early, but the Cardinals responded with some strong defense of their own and could have even taken a lead at halftime. James Harrison's 100-yard interception return for a score had millions on the edge of their seats as he rumbled down the sideline before being brought down right at the goal line. The third quarter saw the Steelers regain some of their early momentum but their inability to push the ball into the end zone prevented them from putting the game away for good and they settled for another field goal that made the score 20-7. It was in that third period that Arizona's phenomenal wideout, Larry Fitzgerald, finally started to find openings in Pittsburgh's secondary. As the Steelers settled into their prevent defense the Cardinals began to ratchet up their aerial assault.

The fourth quarter alone contained a game's worth of emotion. Pittsburgh led by 13 and no team had ever come back from more than ten points, but the Cardinals were unwilling to give up. The Warner-to-Fitzgerald connection got hot and Arizona narrowed the deficit with a touchdown pass that made the score 20-14 with half of the quarter to play. Pittsburgh's offense faltered and wound up with their backs to their own goal line, and a clumsy holding call in the end zone gave Arizona two points and the ball. The Cardinals, held in check all day long, wrestled the lead away from Pittsburgh on a 64-yard touchdown pass to the speedy Fitzgerald with just over two minutes to play.

The Steelers' final drive will be the one thing people remember most about Ben Roethlisberger. Forget his successful 2004 campaign, or his completion percentage, or his wins over the Ravens - Ben's presence and accuracy provided the spark that Pittsburgh needed to go 88 yards in about two minutes. The final play, a six-yard toss to the back-right corner of the endzone, put the Steelers ahead 27-24 and locked Santonio Holmes in as a leading MVP candidate. His four catches on the drive were crucial to his team's success.

No need to speak of Warner's final attempts to end his career on top - his performance yesterday was nothing to scoff at. He passed for well over 300 yards and three touchdowns, nearly double what Pittsburgh had been allowing to other opponents. His 1.49 Super Bowl wins (he was oh-so-close yesterday) will probably be enough to put him in the Hall of Fame on a second or third ballot.

And now we get our respite. It was a long year, but a good year. Order was restored to the league as the dominant AFC reclaimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy, but it is very evident that the NFC won't be pushed around for much longer. That will make 2009 very hard to predict, but I'll give it my best shot! Keep your eyes peeled.