How the Cardinals can win
There are plenty of X’s and O’s reasons why the Cardinals can win, many of which I detailed last week. Arizona’s mad scientist, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast, is going to cook up looks that will give Pittsburgh's offensive line problems. They can force mistakes and contain what has been a below-average Pittsburgh offense, giving the Arizona passing game a chance to win the game.

Larry Fitzgerald is a force of nature, and will require a ridiculous amount of attention, which should free up a motivated and healthy Anquan Boldin. If you are going to beat the Steelers, you need to throw the ball like crazy and handle their blitzes. Don’t expect the Cardinals to even bother maintaining offensive balance because it won’t work against defensive tackle Casey Hampton and crew. The game will be on Kurt Warner’s neck because he needs to decipher Pittsburgh’s blitz schemes so he can get rid of the ball quickly. Look for the Cardinals to spread Pittsburgh out and throw a lot of short passes. If you are looking for a sleeper MVP pick, Boldin is it.

The Steelers running game isn’t built to pull away with a big lead. This is an offense that ranked 20th in points despite all the amazing field position their defense gave them. Expect a close game.

The Cardinals are no longer the same 9-7 team that finished the regular season. They are the team that closed out a favored Falcons squad with a gutsy third-down call. They ruined Carolina’s undefeated home season with a 20-point spanking. A red-hot Eagles unit tied a record for the greatest comeback in NFC Championship game history, then the Cardinals responded with a long march down the field.

Video   Three and Out: Super Bowl edition Jan. 28: Gregg Rosenthal and Tom Curran detail the teams' mindsets, make predictions and identify some possible MVPs. NBC Sports

In each game, Arizona trailed and found a way to win. Their play can look uneven by the quarter, but they right themselves before the finish line. No matter what happens Sunday, they are not going to shrink when pushed.

“We like the flair for the dramatic,” St. Pierre said.

This Cardinals team is full of players who have seen the depths of the NFL, and now stand only one game away from its peak. They are a decidedly veteran group: only two starters are in their first three years. More than half of their starters have been with the franchise for at least four seasons, including eight defenders.

They should be happy to be here, but instead have a quietly intense focus about finishing the job. Safety Adrian Wilson turned his phone off an hour after the NFC Championship and hasn’t turned it on since.

Add it all up, and perhaps Arizona still isn’t the logical choice. But football is our most emotional team game, and the logic learned from the last five months is irrelevant now. The pain of Cardinals fans over the last 60 years has nothing to do with what happens Sunday. The Cardinals and Steelers are playing equally good playoff football, but the Buzzsaw will find that little extra magic when things look their worst on Sunday.

Cardinals 20, Steelers 17.

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