I’m a lifelong Steeler fan, and first of all let me say that nobody here is taking the Cardinals lightly.  They certainly have a shot to win, and the Steelers know that.  They’re not going to do it with the running game, but Kurt Warner and Boldin/Fitzgerald have to be enough to make anyone a little leery.  Above all else, both teams have got to take care of the football.  The Steelers excel at creating turnovers and converting them into points, but they do go on turnover sprees themselves at times.  Ask both the Steelers and Ravens how important turnovers have been to both teams’ successes and failures this season.  QB protection and stability is the other key factor.  The Steelers have had streaks where they were unable to protect Roethlisberger this season, and they paid for those episodes.  But likewise, they have been able to rattle other QBs with sacks/fumbles.

We don’t have any kind of rivalry whatsoever, and even Whisenhunt/Grimm and the Steelers’ organization have a lot of mutual respect.  I think for the most part, Steeler fans are just not sure what to make of the Cardinals, because we haven’t faced many teams like them.  We’re used to grind-it-out contests against physical teams, but this one could be more like the 32-25 Cardinals-Eagles game.  

All in all, it just feels like the Great Unknown.  I really don’t know how the teams will respond.

 The Cardinals have been using the running game a lot with the James, Hightower one-two punch bringing in a great deal of yards. They’re also using Boldin, Breaston, Urban and Fitzgerald to pick those balls out of the air from Warner. On defense lets not forget to use Rogers-Cromardie, Rolle, Dockett and Okeafor to force turnovers and create sacks. This game is going to be fantastic and I’m behind the Cardinals 110%. Fan since 2004!