A VERY Special Super Bowl Picks, Pats, and Apologies

Season: 167-88-1
Record Picking Redskins Games: 7-9
Against the Spread: 33-32-2
Lock of the Week: 10-6-1
Playoffs: 4-6

This post is coming to you from a hospital room. At 7:00 this morning, my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (our first). Mom and baby are doing well.

Back in the summer, when we were given a Feb. 10th due date, all my friends and family teased me about what would happen if the baby came on Super Bowl Sunday-- and what if the Redskins were involved? I never thought it was possible (especially the part about the Redskins), but at 6-2, it looked somewhat possible. So had we made the Super Bowl for the first time since 1991, it wouldn't have even been the biggest event of my day. Not even close.
So, I'm actually happy about it...I wouldn't want to "share" this day with anything else.

With this in mind, my Picks, Pats, and Apologies for the Super Bowl is going to be quite weak:
I did get both Championship Games correct after a 2-6 start to the playoffs. So, I'm looking to end the season on a high note:

The Cardinals? I just don't see it today. I think their style plays right into the hands of the Steelers. I think the way to beat Pittsburgh is to do what the Eagles and Giants did to them early in the season-- play along with the Steelers grind-it-out approach: Don't be afraid to punt. The Steelers offense is steady, but not explosive--make them go the length of the field and shorten the game. Pittsburght thrives on field position and turnovers. Their defense simply does not allow big plays.

I just can't see Arizona being patient enough to play that type of game.

Steelers 28
Cardinals 16

Thanks to everyone who read PPA throughout the year-- I look forward to 2009 already-- next year we'll have one more Redskins fan cheering them on!