What about Bob?

(Photo by David Richard/Associated Press)

Arguably the biggest star in tommorow's game is Pittsburgh's long-haired safety out of USC (pictured above).

Troy Polamalu is a ball hawk in every sense of the word. He had 73 tackles on the season and was tied for second in the league with seven interceptions. Pittsburgh was the No. 1 ranked team against the pass (a bad sign for the pass-happy Redbirds) and allowed the fewest points per game in the regular season (13.9).

Polamalu's 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in the AFC Championship closed the door on Baltimore's season. He is most dangerous defender with the ball in his hands this side of Ed Reed.

Oh, and did I mention one of his teammates was the AP Defensive Player of the Year? Yes, undrafted linebacker James Harrison won the award after compiling 101 tackles and 16 sacks (fourth in the league).

The thing about the Steelers' 3-4 system is that it makes its linebackers (and strong safety) stars, while the big guys up front go largely (literally) unnoticed. That's because their job is to eat up blockers so the linebackers can run free to the ballcarrier. (This is the reason why Ray Lewis wanted Baltimore to draft this monster.)

So while football fans know the names James Farrior (LILB), Larry Foote (RILB), LaMarr Woodley (LOLB) and Harrison (ROLB), they're not as likely to know about defensive ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel, and the big nose tackle Casey Hampton. My contention is that the nose tackle is the key to the 3-4, and though Hampton doesn't have flashy stats (22 tackles), if you were to ask any Pittsburgh linebacker one indispensible player on their defense, I bet the consensus would be Hampton and not Polamalu.

Okay, let's move on to Arizona...

The Cardinals were 16th against the rush this season and 22nd against the pass. They allowed 35 points or more five times this season (including 47 to the Pats, 48 to the Eagles and 56 to the Jets).

But in the playoffs they are +9 in turnover margin (thanks in large part to Jake Delhomme's five INTs). They're still giving up plenty of points (an average of 20.66 per game), but they're a much more sound defense of late.

A lot of attention is paid to rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and rightly so with his fantastic speed and coverage ability.

But my kudos goes to Adrian Wilson (right) and Bertrand Berry. Wilson is kind of the poor man's Polamalu in that the Cardinals love to blitz him off the edge and he has a nose for the ball (two forced fumbles in the playoffs), while Berry has bounced around the NFL (and spent a year in the CFL) before emerging with Arizona. Like Harrison, he has gone from an unwanted to a star.

Though the Cardinals' defense has stepped up its game in the postseason, Arizona's only chance of winning is to rack up the points. Good luck.

Defensive edge: Steelers

This week really flew by and I won't have enough time to detail the other matchups, so click below to see who I believe has the advantages (and for my prediction on the game)...

(Wilson photo by Paul Connors/Associated Press)