What about Bob?

It's easy when comparing running games to simply look at gross yardage amassed, and it should come as no surprise that the Steelers won that battle in the regular season, 1690-1178.

Arizona relied mostly on the pass in the regular season and rushed a league-low 340 times. Edgerrin James began the season as the starter and had a fairly productive first three games (248 yards on 62 carries - exactly four yards per carry). But after struggling the next three games, he was put on the shelf in favor of Tim Hightower (which may have been his saving grace ... more on that later).

Hightower became popular in the fantasy football circles with his goal line prowess and he finished with 10 touchdowns, but he averaged just 2.8 yards per carry on the season and ran for more than 37 yards in a game just once (he had 109 against a porous St. Louis defense).

Arguably the most improbable thing the Cardinals have done this postseason is maintain a consistent running game. James and Hightower have each averaged 3.9 yards per carry, and the Arizona line has opened some nice holes.

James not having to carry the load all season has seemed to give his legs some new life. Including the postseason, James has well over 3,000 carries, which can obviously take a big toll on a man's body. He has found the Fountain of Youth in the playoffs, but I think that ends against the league's second best rush defense.

So you'll get my answer now: I think the Steelers have the more potent rushing attack. But not by much.

Willie Parker missed five games this season with injury and is clearly the most talented back playing on Sunday. But Parker caught just three passes all season and one in the playoffs, so I think the most valuable back Pittsburgh has is Mewelde Moore.

He had 40 catches on the season, and serves as a crucial safety valve for a guy like Ben Roethlisberger, who is constantly running for his life.

Pittsburgh (generally thought of as a power rush team, though they had 46 more passes than runs this season) averaged just 3.7 yards per carry, and the big-play capability Parker showed with his Super Bowl record 75-yard touchdown run wasn't really there this season. Both he and Moore had four rushes of 20+ yards, but their longs were 34 and 32 yards, respectively. So they're a better rushing team than Arizona, but don't expect them to have a bonanza in Tampa.

The one nice thing in Pittsburgh's favor is that their backs had zero fumbles on the season (Roethlisberger had four and lost two), which is quite a remarkable feat. The Cardinals led the league in fumble recoveries with 17.

(Photos by Mark Humphrey [Parker] and Gail Burton [James] / Associated Press