I'm not saying this to be different. I don't even know if I am being different. As Super Bowl week wore on, more analysts, prognosticators and experts real and imagined began to stray from the company line and pick Arizona. I don't know if they believed what they were saying or if they grew tired of the repetition.

I, however, have liked Arizona since way back in -- early January. The playoffs began Jan. 3, and the Cardinals played the first game. They were underdogs at home against Atlanta. They also were heavy underdogs at Carolina and underdogs at home against Philadelphia. I picked them against the Falcons and Eagles.

Most of us didn't know what to make of the Cardinals when the playoffs began. They clinched their division on approximately Sept. 14 and cruised to a record of 9-7. But how you get to the playoffs is of no consequence. What you do when you get there is.

The Cardinals upgraded their running game from below average to average, their defense from average to good and their passing game from very good to exceptional. In Larry Fitzgerald, they have the game's best receiver and in Anquan Boldin they have the best No. 2 receiver.

Although Boldin missed a quarter of the season with injuries, his regular-season numbers were almost as good as Fitzgerald's. He has had little impact in the postseason because of a lingering groin injury but if he's healthy today, and he should be, he will have an impact. The Steelers have to focus on Fitzgerald, as the Carolina Panthers will attest.

I love the Steelers as an organization and as a team. Their blitz is confounding. A quarterback doesn't know who will get him, only that somebody, likely a linebacker, is about to.

Warner has the mobility of a parked car but his brain is nimble. You might sack him but you won't intimidate him. And if you commit to a blitz and miss, he will beat you. As stellar as the Pittsburgh defense is, its cornerbacks are average.

I absolutely understand why my colleague Scott Fowler is picking the Steelers. I think Scott had the Panthers going 3-13 this season. (In the interest of full disclosure, I also was wrong. I had them going 11-5.)

Most of us could use a break today. So I ask you to believe in possibilities. Believe that for the second consecutive season, we will get a thrilling Super Bowl and the underdog again will win.

THE PICK: Arizona 26, Pittsburgh 24