The Steelers share the NFL record with five Lombardi Trophies. The Cardinals are at the other end of the spectrum with a 61-year championship drought, the longest in the league.
But in two years, Whisenhunt has done what few thought possible, capturing an NFC championship with the Cardinals standing in the way of Arizona‘s first NFL championship since 1947.
The Cardinals toppled the Philadelphia Eagles, 32-25, in the NFC title game Sunday, and the Steelers upended the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14, in the AFC title game.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin and Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt will meet in Super Bowl XLIII. Even before the AFC game began Sunday, Whisenhunt expressed a desire to play the Steelers in the Super Bowl.
The reason I’m here is because of my time with Pittsburgh,” Whisenhunt said. “I’m very grateful for that.”
The Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s to capture team of the decade acclaim, and then played in a Super Bowl in the 1990s and another this decade. They lost to the Cowboys in 1996 and beat the Seattle Seahawks in 2006. Whisenhunt and Grimm both have rings in their safe-deposit boxes commemorating that championship season.
Arizona, on the other hand, has won more playoff games this month (three) than in it had in the franchise’s first 87 years (two). The Cardinals are the most unlikely Super Bowl team since the 1979 Los Angeles Rams, who were the last nine-win team to advance to the NFL title game.
Since moving to Arizona from St. Louis in 1988, the Cardinals have managed two winning seasons, finishing 9-7 in 1998 and 2008. The Cardinals have nine last place finishes in Arizona.
“I just want to say the words ‘Arizona Cardinals’ and ‘Super Bowl’ in the same sentence,” said Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner after his four touchdown pass performance against the Eagles. “I like the way that sounds.”
Related posts:
- 2007 Arizona Cardinals Preview
- NFL Monday Night Football (4-3) Baltimore Ravens vs. (5-2) Pittsburgh Steelers
- NFL Monday Night Football: (4-7) Baltimore Ravens vs. (11-0) New England Patriots
- 2008 Super Bowl: New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
- NFL Monday Night Football: (0-10) Miami Dolphins vs. (7-3) Pittsburgh Steelers
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