NFL PICKS: Super Bowl XLIII

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2009

Pittsburgh Steelers (-5) vs. Arizona Cardinals in Tampa, FL


The story lines don't matter. The players do. Larry Fitzgerald is not 11 players on the field at all time. He's one. Troy Polamalu sometimes is like two. Ben isn't going to play weak this Super Bowl. The defense is going to play stronger. Kurt Warner is a great guy. But he's going to do a lot of lying on his back this game. Willie Parker may make a pass at his longest Super Bowl rush record. Hines Ward will be a factor. James Harrison will end the game with the MVP.

I know picking against my sleeper hasn't been good this post-season. But one thing has been constant in the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers. And there is one constant in the world. One constant that is true no matter where and no matter when and that is that the world is Steeler Country. Baltimore was no different this year. Tampa will be rampant with Terrible Towels.

I mean come on .... Arizona is Steeler Country .....

Beijing is Steeler Country ....

Egypt and the Great Pyramids are Steeler Country ....

The Great Wall of China is Steeler Country ...

Air Bases in Iraq are Steeler Country ....

London England is Steeler Country ...

Mount St. Helens is Steeler Country ....

Punxatawney is Steeler Country and Phil is a Steeler Fan ....

Sydney, Australia is Steeler Country ....

The Marine Corp is Steeler Country ....

The White House is Steeler Country and the President is a Steeler fan .....

The Vatican is Steeler Country and the Pope has blessed the Terrible Towel ....

No matter where in the world you are you remain in Steeler Country. And like I said today in Tampa it will be no different. The Steelers win today. Steelers 27-7.

Steelers -5

Besides, Jesus loves the Steelers. The below picture is courtesy of our very own Irish Road from his days in Baghdad, Iraq.

Baghdad is Steeler Country!

Football Drinking Rules: Super Bowl Update!

With Super Bowl XLIII Right around the corner we realized that we should probably revamp the Football drinking rules to be a little more relevant to the Big Game. We kept most of the
rules the same since they will still be relevant but had a few changes.

Change 1: The Manning Rule is now the Family Rule

Whenever NBC shows Larry Fitzgerald's Dad or Brenda Warner take a 5 second drink.

Change 2: The Eddie Guns rule is now 'The Boss' Rule

Whenever the announcers mention Bruce Springsteen or The Boss you have to drink for 5 seconds.

Change 3: The King Social is now The Car Commercial Social
Whenever they show a car commercial drink for 5 seconds.

Bonus Super Bowl Rule: Skyline Rule

Every time NBC shows a shot of the City of Tampa, or as we like to refer to it this week, Steeler Country-South, take a 5 second drink.

Here We Go Steelers! And Enjoy!

Groundhog's Day Drinking Rules

As everyone knows, Sunday is the Super Bowl. What may be getting overlooked is the day after the Super Bowl. No not National Pretend to be Sick and Call Off Work Day! It’s Groundhog’s Day! Naturally, drinking must accompany an occasion of this caliber. But since we will be piss drunk and hungover from the Super Bowl at 6 in the morning, we will drink to the movie Groundhog’s Day. You know the one with Bill Murray and a chick that is in desperate need of frizz control or something on her hair. They probably should of just gone with a hotter chick but can you imagine Bill Murray hitting anything hotter than this?

Ok I know you didn’t come here for my analysis of the movie. So without further ado, here are the rules.

1. Take a 3 second drink each time the day changes.

Note: Any event which implies a change of day, such as Phil Conners dying or getting slapped repeatedly counts as a day change.

2. Drink for 3 seconds when the word “Groundhog” is mentioned.

3. Finally, take a shot whenever the Groundhog is shown on screen. The shot must be rum or stronger, lest you get tagged as the bitch of the group.

The Omen

All signs point to yes this Super Bowl Sunday. Are we as Steeler Country overconfident? As I pointed out yesterday in lambasting Bob Smizik we are THE smartest fans in football. We have deep faith and belief in our Pittsburgh Steelers as we always do. But this year it's backed by one of the greatest defenses in football history, an offense that always finds a way and a fantastic coaching core. So our confidence is grounded in our great football educated ways.

One thing that has been established this season is that under no circumstances as an opponent of the Steelers should you EVER disrespect the Terrible Towel. It's just come back to haunt that team every time. So of course Mayor Gordon of Phoenix, AZ just had to go and use it as a Kleenex before stomping on it a little. Good move chump! Let's call it stupidity. Let's call misguided enthusiasm for your team. Let's call it the Curse of Myron Cope!

You think the legendary broadcaster and one of the most beloved man in Steeler history is going to let you do that without getting you back? Good luck dodging that wave of the Towel!

Speaking of Cope everybody has been trying to figure out the rallying point of the Steelers this Super Bowl. In 2005 we had Bettis in his final season and playing in his hometown. In 2006 we saw the Colts try to win one for Dungy and Peyton Manning. 2007 the Giants used an injured military vet as locker room motivation and won for him and linebacker Michael Strahan. This season the answer seems so obvious: Do it for Cope! When Myron Cope, our favorite football broadcaster, passed it was one of the saddest days in Steeler Country. But we have been playing with an unprecedented fire this year and part of me believes that God's newest broadcaster is having a watchful eye from above for this. So let's win it for Myron Cope and pray that we see this image on Sunday night:

But as I said before, all signs point to yes! Thirty years ago a dominant defense played it's division rival for a third time that season in the AFC title game. That team was the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers. Their opponent was the 11-5 Houston Oilers. They prevailed in a 27-13 victory to advance to the Super Bowl against an upstart 9-7 NFC team.

This year the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 12-4 record faced off against their division rivals, the Baltimore Ravens, for a third time also. The Ravens like the Oilers were 11-5 during the regular season. The Steelers prevailed 23-14 and will face an upstart Arizona Cardinals who also bring a 9-7 record. These my friends are Good Omens.

The 1979 Steelers prevailed in the Super Bowl to claim their, then NFL record, 4th Super Bowl title. History often repeats itself. And for the Steelers that means another ring, another Lombardi Trophy, and another notch above the rest of the National Football League.

My prediction? Like that Superbowl long ago, another close 3 quarters with the greater defense and ultimately the greater team, the Steelers, pulling away in the 4th.

Steelers 30-17.

MVP: Troy Polamalu.