1. Is Kurt Warner a Hall of Famer already?

Was "The Shawshank Redemption" a good movie? Of course he is. The two-time first-team All-Pro has won two league MVP awards, appeared in two Super Bowls and won one championship.

While he did have a bit of a career lull in his last two seasons with the St. Louis Rams, Warner has re-created himself more times than Madonna. Plus it's difficult to overlook those 28,591 career passing yards, the 182 touchdown passes and that excellent 8-2 record in the postseason.

2. Could any of 15 guys quarterback the Steelers to a Super Bowl?

There are a few - Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees come to mind - but Bohls is crazy if he thinks 15 quarterbacks can lead this offense to a Super Bowl. Ben Roethlisberger not only takes a physical beating in every game - no quarterback over the past five seasons has been sacked more than the 192 times he has hit the deck - but he keeps coming back for more.

Half of the QBs in the NFL would be on injured reserve playing behind that porous offensive line. The other half aren't that good.

3. Who is a likely goat on Sunday?

Warner. He has played extremely well in the past three playoff games, but he hasn't faced a defense like the Steelers'.

To ask the pass-happy Cardinals to run the Football effectively against a team that has allowed 2.4 yards per carry in the playoffs is a tall order. Won't happen. As a result, Arizona will become one-dimensional, and Warner will be forced to throw 40-plus times. With that many balls in the air, the Steelers' defensive backs figure to catch two or three .

4. Which surprise performer will have a big impact on the game?

Limas Sweed. The Texas ex apparently left his hands in Austin because he has allowed two long touchdown passes to slip through his fingers in these playoffs. Even so, Hines Ward is gimpy and the Cardinals gave up a league-worst 36 touchdown passes in the regular season, so Sweed will get a chance for redemption.

5. Who will play a bigger role: Hines Ward or Larry Fitzgerald?

I'm sure Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder sports editor Larry Fitzgerald Sr. will agree that his son has elevated his game in the playoffs and will have a big impact on Super Bowl XLIII.

The Steelers figure to blitz Warner and that could be when Fitzgerald Jr. gets loose in the Pittsburgh secondary. If the Cardinals are able to move the ball, look for Fitzgerald to be the No. 1 option in the red zone. No cornerback can jump with him, and the fade route is the best way to take advantage of his tremendous physical gifts.

Ward will move heaven and earth to get his injured knee ready for this game, but his chances of winning another Super Bowl MVP are slim at best.

6. Who will gain more rushing yards: Edgerrin James or Willie Parker?

James is averaging a postseason-best 67.6 rushing yards per game, but he is no longer a scary runner at this point of his career. Add in the league's top defense on the other side of the ball, and his effectiveness will be limited Sunday.

Fast Willie, on the other hand, is finally healthy after battling leg problems during the regular season. He remains a home-run threat and, in case you forgot, holds the record for the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history - a 75-yard scoring sprint in Super Bowl XL against Seattle.

7. Which rates as your favorite Super Bowl?

This may not be a popular selection in these parts, but I have to go with Super Bowl X. In Pittsburgh's 21-17 win over the Dallas Cowboys , Lynn Swann put on an acrobatic display that will go down as the most spectacular performance in the game's history. He became my favorite Football player that day.

8. Which team is the NFL's greatest franchise?

The Steelers. Classy organization from top to bottom. You never hear about internal problems, players speaking out against coaches, would-be suicide attempts or any of that nonsense you get in other cities (like Dallas).

The Rooney family may not shell out the huge bucks for players, but you can't argue with their talent-evaluation skills. Plus Art Rooney Jr. is the prototype for NFL owners. He signs the paychecks and only appears on camera to accept trophies.

9. Who will be the MVP? Predict his stats.

Roethlisberger. Like Peyton Manning before him, Big Ben may not light up the stat sheet, but he will be effective enough to score the MVP, a trip to Disney World and a new ride perhaps. I see him completing 19 of 28 passes for 274 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Add in a touchdown run off a QB sneak for good measure.

10. Who wins the game and why?

Arizona is a great story, but this Pittsburgh defense is scary good. The Steelers can make plays against the run and the pass. Plus Pittsburgh has just enough of a ball-control offense to keep the Cardinals' high-powered offense off the field. Pittsburgh wins 31-20.

11. Which teams are the finalists in next year's Super Bowl? And the winner?

I would pick the Cowboys again, but I'm not looking for a visit from the guys in white jackets. I reserve the right to change my mind, but I'm going to say New England over Philadelphia.

cgolden@statesman.com; 912-5944