The Road to Super Bowl XLIII
Okay BetUS NFL sports betting enthusiasts, Super Bowl XLIII is now set after Sunday’s thrilling conference championship contests in the BetUS Sportsbook. The Arizona Cardinals surprised the Philadelphia Eagles 32-25 to reach the first Super Bowl in franchise history while the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to out-defend the defensive-minded Baltimore Ravens in their 23-14 AFC Championship game win on Sunday.Now, both teams will get set for Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 in the BetUS Sportsbook.
The Cardinals, the first No. 4 seed to host a conference championship game, continued one of the most improbable runs to the Super Bowl by jumping all over the Birds before winning late in the fourth quarter after the Eagles mounted a furious second-half comeback that actually gave them a narrow 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.
“I want to say Arizona Cardinals and Super Bowl in the same sentence,” a jubilant Warner said. “The Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl. How about it?”
Veteran Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner continued his MVP-caliber season by completing 21 of 28 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns while veteran running back Edgerrin James carried 16 times for 73 yards and explosive wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald continued his assault on the NFL record books by setting a new NFL postseason record for total receiving yards with nine receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns.
“To make it to the Super Bowl and to have a chance, an opportunity to win it, you relish those moments in your career,” said safety Adrian Wilson, the longest-tenured Cardinal. “This being my eighth year, and to be in this organization at this time with these players and these coaches, it’s a great moment.”
The Eagles fell despite getting an outstanding second half performance from quarterback Donovan McNabb who completed 28 of 47 passes on the day for 375 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
The Pittsburgh Steelers managed to turn the seasonal hat trick by beating the Baltimore Ravens for the third time this season, winning 23-14 on Sunday to cover the spread as 6-point home favorites in the BetUS Sportsbook.
“It was a typical, hard-hitting, physical game. It’s the way every Baltimore-Pittsburgh game is,” said Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who missed most of the game with a knee injury. “Sometimes guys get hit so hard, you don’t know if they’re going to get up. They say defense wins championships, well, we have the No. 1 defense. And they’re the reason why we’re really going to the Super Bowl.”
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed just 16 of 33 passes for 255 yards with one touchdown while San Antonio Holmes and safety Troy Polamalu each scored touchdowns.
The Steelers picked off Ravens’ rookie quarterback Joe Flacco three times, two late in the second half with the Ravens trying to mount a comeback attempt.
“They did it tonight the way we’ve done it all year,” Tomlin said. “We’ve got a very humble group, a very selfless group.”
Pittsburgh now advances to the Super Bowl for the second time in four seasons and first time under head coach Mike Tomlin.
Here is a look ahead at some of the key trends and statistics for each Super Bowl participant.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games
Pittsburgh is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Pittsburgh’s last 5 games when playing Arizona
Arizona
Arizona is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Arizona is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Arizona’s last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Arizona’s last 5 games when playing Pittsburgh
Points For
Pitt 21.7
AZ 26.7
Points Against
Pitt 13.9
AZ 26.6
Pass Yds
Pitt 207.0
AZ 292.1
Rush Yds
Pitt 105.3
AZ 73.7
Pass D
Pitt 157.0
AZ 221.3
Rush D
Pitt 80.3
AZ 110.2
