Santonio Holmes Will Be Super Bowl XLIII MVP | NFL | Pittsburgh Steelers

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Pittsburgh Steeler's wide receiver Santonio Holmes will be Super Bowl XLIII's MVP this Sunday. Despite being the 4th or 5th best receiver in this game and highly overshadowed by Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner, Holmes will shine on Super Bowl Sunday and walk away with the Most Valuable Player award. In Vegas Holmes is a 15-1 shot to win the award, so why would I chose him?

Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward is still recovering from an injury he suffered against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game. Ward led the Steelers in receiving with 81 catches, 1,043 yards, and 7 receiving touchdowns. Santonio Holmes had a disappointing season averaging around 3.5 catches a game and 55 yards receiving, well below what he was expected to produce this season. Against Arizona, the Steelers will be facing the 22nd ranked pass defense in yards allowed per game, so they will be able to move the ball through the air. Hines Ward should attract a lot of attention from the Cardinals secondary, which should free up Holmes several times during the course of the game. Roethlisberger likes to take shots at the end zone and Holmes is the Steelers best deep threat. Expect a 60 yard touchdown by Holmes in the game along with a few more catches and possibly a few yards on an end-around run.

Still not convinced?

Santonio is a dangerous punt returner if you didn't notice in the Divisional Playoff game against the San Diego Chargers when he returned a punt for a touchdown. Holmes has finally hit his stride after a slow start to the season, and will get a chance to return punts forced by the Steelers defense. STAT: The Arizona Cardinals allow the 3rd most yards per punt return in the NFL! (13.1 YPR) The Cardinals are incapable of stopping dangerous punt returners and will have their hands full with Santonio Holmes.

Obviously by picking Holmes, I am assuming that the Steelers will win the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger will have a slightly better performance than Super Bowl XL (2 INT, 0 TD), and Willie Parker will contribute enough on the ground to help Pittsburgh win the time of possession battle. Neither Parker or Roethlisberger will have performances that will outdo Holmes in this contest. I do like Polamalu as my second choice, but it will be an offensive player who wins the MVP trophy for Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Holmes has 6 catches, 110 yards receiving, 1 receiving TD, 1 punt return TD

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1/27/09

barmarjeff

3	Ben Roethlisburger is gonna be the MVP... for the Cardinals.

1/27/09

jef_luch

Dude, i thought we talked about this! Pittsburnt isnt going to win. They only play well in the underdog role and this is not it. Arizona has a chip on thier shoulder that cant be denied. The underdog role is the one factor that is never taken into consideration and it will be crucial in this game. When Arizona jumps out to an early lead the steel-hers will implode and Arizona will walk away with a blow out win. Fitzgerald will be the MVP... either him or Warner. Seacrest OUT!

1/27/09

2	This article is so perfect as being a Cardinal who drinks their koolaid Holmes is gonna really kill us, he is just the type of rec. that kills us even if we shut him down he will have that 1 big play to hurt us I promise that, I know the Cards better than anyone, even the Cards team itself.

1/27/09

Superbleeder

0	IF Holmes does anything it will be on special teams. He wont come even close to 100 yards receiving.

1/27/09

0	(Edited by azcardsfan) Superbleeder wrote: IF Holmes does anything it will be on special teams. He wont come even close to 100 yards receiving. Thats a bold statement...........considering the guy can catch a little 5 yard screen and take it to the house like he has done before.

1/27/09

tarchul2

0	It doesn't really matter what anyone thinks Holmes is a threat along with several others but we can never count out Hines Ward the steelers will prevail.

1/27/09

0	tarchul2 wrote: It doesn't really matter what anyone thinks Holmes is a threat along with several others but we can never count out Hines Ward the steelers will prevail. But we are not talking about Ward, so why even bring him into the fold. you don't see me bringing Fitz or Q into fold, or maybe Breaston whats that about 4,000 yds. what I am trying to say is its about Holmes. LOL

1/27/09

jef_luch wrote:

Only play well when they are in an underdog role? Well they were favored against San Diego and Baltimore. And the Steelers will never "implode" due to being behind early, they have one of the best defenses in the league, you can't "misunderestimate" The Steelers defense. (I stole that word from Bush) And if your Seacrest, then I'm Simon and that post was "bloody awful".

1/27/09

0	(Edited by Michael_Luchies) Superbleeder wrote: IF Holmes does anything it will be on special teams. He wont come even close to 100 yards receiving. Well he had 70 against the Ravens...and the Ravens pass defense is 10 times better than the Cards defense. And don't forget about the "incomplete pass" that should have been a touchdown or 30+ yard gain against the Ravens.

1/27/09

Michael_Luchies wrote:

Well he had 70 against the Ravens...and the Ravens pass defense is 10 times better than the Cards defense. And don't forget about the "incomplete pass" that should have been a touchdown or 30+ yard gain against the Ravens.

I wouldn't say their pass defense is 70% better than Cards as a whole the Ravens defense is better but the Cards have 2 great safetys to, and a very very good young corner who is on the cusp of being a shutdown corner. but Hood could be a cancer.

1/27/09

jef_luch wrote:

Did you forget that Steelers ARE the number 1 defense. And defenses win championship's! Most of that Arizona team is virgins to the super bowl. With half of the Steelers already have one ring. Nerves will kill most of the Arizona Cardinals..... and whats left our defense will take care of. Arizona will keep us on our toes but wont win.

1/27/09

azcardsfan wrote:

This article is so perfect as being a Cardinal who drinks their koolaid Holmes is gonna really kill us, he is just the type of rec. that kills us even if we shut him down he will have that 1 big play to hurt us I promise that, I know the Cards better than anyone, even the Cards team itself.

Finally someone who understand football. And doesn't act like their team can't loose. I give props to you! Hope you guy's give the Steelers a run.... but Steelers will/better come out on top.

1/27/09

0	I don't think Holmes will play a huge receiving role in the game but yet a decoy. Sending Holmes down field will open up those short passes out to Health Miller or to Mewelde Moore. So in the end Holmes is a factor..... but not the factor that most will expect. -Steelers fan to the end.

1/27/09

tarchul2

azcardsfan wrote:

But we are not talking about Ward, so why even bring him into the fold. you don't see me bringing Fitz or Q into fold, or maybe Breaston whats that about 4,000 yds. what I am trying to say is its about Holmes. LOL

I never said it wasn't about Holmes I said he is a treat but you can not count out Ward he is a play maker. Holmes is a great receiver but we have more then him as a treat on this team.

1/27/09

uwgb44

0	This is going to be a good game with either team being able to win.. It is going to be strength VS strength.... the cards offence v the pittsburg defence. So what is the point of arguing when you can make points for either team to win. I dont anyone can say that there is no chance for either team to win this one

1/27/09

primo

0	holmes MVP? are you sure we aren't talking about john holmes?

1/27/09

0	primo wrote: holmes MVP? are you sure we aren't talking about john holmes? Katie Holmes

1/27/09

0	novaguy507 wrote: Finally someone who understand football. And doesn't act like their team can't loose. I give props to you! Hope you guy's give the Steelers a run.... but Steelers will/better come out on top. I hope your wrong and your Steelers lose but good luck.

1/27/09

barmarjeff

3	Ben Roethlisburger is gonna be the MVP... for the Cardinals.

1/27/09

1	Michael_Luchies wrote: Katie Holmes I'd do her.

1/27/09

1	azcardsfan wrote: I'd do her. With Tom Cruise watching?

1/27/09

barmarjeff wrote:

Ben Roethlisburger is gonna be the MVP... for the Cardinals.

Not a chance. Ben did throw 2 interceptions in his first Super Bowl, but he was nervous. He even admitted to being nervous all game and messing up because of it. He'll prolly have nerves again but he'll at least know how to deal with them....... unlike more than half the Cardinals players. Kurt Warner is the only player on the Cardinals(that I know of at least) thats ever played in a Super Bowl. Those nerves might kill have the teams concentration. And like I said earlier..... who ever isn't killed by their own nerves, will be killed by the Steelers defense!

1/28/09

novaguy507 wrote:

again don't forget the other team has a defense.

1/28/09

0	azcardsfan wrote: again don't forget the other team has a defense. Yeah, I know. Weather or not they'll be able to stop the Steelers enough is more so the question. We won't score on every drive but it doesn't take that much to win a game. The Cardinals better have a good run defense cause if they don't then we'll control the clock. And we sure do it well.

1/28/09

novaguy507 wrote:

Yeah, I know. Weather or not they'll be able to stop the Steelers enough is more so the question. We won't score on every drive but it doesn't take that much to win a game. The Cardinals better have a good run defense cause if they don't then we'll control the clock. And we sure do it well.

Well its been great this post season, Remember they shut down 2 of the best run teams in NFL, Atlanta, and Carolina. I as I was saying is Az defense ain't as bad as you think, they have studs throughout their defense you just don't know them, Dockett, Dansby, Wilson, Rolle, DRC, all coming into their own all top draft picks.

1/28/09

(Edited by novaguy507)
azcardsfan wrote:

Hmm, Arizona's defense must of stepped up and made the big plays at the end of the season, cause I have yet to hear much about them. Good point though.

1/28/09

Oh I am not here to say they are the Steelers D, but and i guess alot of teams could say this, if you take away the laydowns by this team, the blowouts, or should I just say the wins, they are a top 10 defense, its just those 4 really bad games where they gave up silly points that kills their rankings, The giants only rushed for 68 yds against them to. they shut dowm Marion Barber when he was healthy to. So all I am saying is don't be suprised if you guys struggle a little, You can go deep though they are very suspect deep.

1/28/09

azcardsfan wrote:

Yeah. We'll try all we can with the run.

1/28/09