With the draw I mentioned in my previous post, the game turns towards the Pittsburgh Offense and the Arizona Defense, where the motivation factor gets resurrected since all the chat has been about the Steelers' D and not the Cardinals'.   With a chip firmly on their shoulder, the Arizona D holds up.

Sure, the "chip" angle is getting old, but maybe no less relevent.  So-called disrespect or at least lack of respect as a motivator in the NFL is a cliche to be sure, but like most cliches it is one based on a truism.  The majority of players on any given NFL team will never be mistaken for great thinkers.  They are reltively uncomplicated in what drives them once they're on the field, and the respect factor is huge in that direct, almost minimalist line of thinking.  So in my mind the Cardinals Defense holds as a matter of pride.