Steelers vs. Cardinals: Who has the edge?

With Super Bowl XLIII approaching on Sunday, The Pitt News examines the position matchups and… With Super Bowl XLIII approaching on Sunday, The Pitt News examines the position matchups and determines who holds the edge at each spot. Quarterbacks: Cardinals Kurt Warner revitalized his career with an MVP-caliber season for the Cardinals, throwing for more than 4,500 yards with 30 touchdowns nine years after winning Super Bowl MVP with the St. Louis Rams. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger makes his second Super Bowl appearance in four years. He has yet to throw an interception in this year’s playoffs. Running backs: Steelers Edgerrin James leads the league in postseason rushing yards two months after demanding his release from the Cardinals. Arizona had the worst rush offense in the league during the regular season, averaging 73.6 yards per game. Injured for part of the year, the Steelers’ Willie Parker has been steady in the backfield during the playoffs, rushing for 193 yards in two playoff games. Receivers: Cardinals Former Pitt star Larry Fitzgerald has already broken Jerry Rice’s record for receiving yards in a postseason. His 419 yards surpasses the total of the Steelers’ top four receivers combined. The Steelers must also defend 1,000-yard men Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston. Pittsburgh leading receiver Hines Ward remains questionable for the Steelers with a knee injury. Offensive line: Cardinals Opponents sacked Roethlisberger 46 times, breaking through a Steelers line that features four new starters from the start of the season. The Cardinals allowed just 28 sacks in the regular season and have given up just three in the playoffs. Defensive line: Steelers Four-time Pro Bowler Casey Hampton plugs the middle in the Steelers’ 3-4 defense, and veteran Aaron Smith provides the pass rush at defensive end. Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry led the line with five sacks during the regular season and provides veteran leadership. Linebackers: Steelers The Steelers’ James Harrison, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley and Larry Foote make up the core integral to the league’s best defense in both points and yards allowed. Harrison is this year’s Defensive Player of the Year. The aggressive, athletic Karlos Dansby leads an underrated Cardinals group that puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Secondary: Steelers Troy Polamalu’s quickness and range, evident in his interception for a touchdown against Baltimore, have made him one of the most feared safeties in the game. Pittsburgh’s physical pass defense, tops in the NFL, will try to slow down the high-powered Cardinals’ passing attack. Arizona, led by first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and longest-tenured Cardinal Adrian Wilson, ranked 22nd against the pass in the regular season. Special teams: Cardinals Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has not missed a field goal since a Week 16 loss to Tennessee, but punter Mitch Berger and the Steelers’ coverage have struggled this postseason. Strong-legged Neil Rackers has missed two of seven attempts for the Cardinals in the playoffs, though both were more than 50 yards. Breaston returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh last season. Coaching: Steelers At the age of 36, Mike Tomlin becomes the youngest head coach in history to lead his team to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau engineers the stingy, zone-blitzing Steel Curtain. Former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator and Steelers head coaching candidate Ken Whisenhunt has transformed the Cardinals from a perennial 10-loss team ‘- seven of the eight previous years ‘- to NFC champions.