One of the unique aspects about the Super Bowl is that both teams are away from home.
While the Steelers have been given a symbolic designation as the 'visiting' team, in reality the Cardinals are also on the road.
The squad that better handles the distractions of being in a new city that neither travels to very often, with practice fields and a stadium that are unfamiliar, will likely emerge victorious from Super Bowl XLIII.
Here is a look at how each team has played on the road this year and how it relates to the Super Bowl:
Steelers' road results
The Steelers have already won in the state on Florida once this season. Take a look at how the Steelers performed the rest of the season away from home:| Week | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Cleveland | Win | |
| 3 | Philadelphia | Loss | |
| 5 | Jacksonville | Win | |
| 7 | Cincinnati | Win | |
| 9 | Washington | Win | |
| 13 | New England | Win | |
| 15 | Baltimore | Win | |
| 16 | Tennessee | Loss | |
Pittsburgh Steelers
Until a late-season letdown at Tennessee, the Steelers had been on a roll. They had won six of seven road games, including a tense 13-9 victory at Baltimore that gave them the AFC North title in Week 15.
Pittsburgh played both of its playoff contests at home, so it has not been on the road since that matchup with the Titans. However, the Steelers do have a history of success on the road in the playoffs.
Many of the players from the Steelers' 2005 championship team remain on the roster, and that squad won three road outings to get to the Super Bowl, before beating Seattle for the league title.
The Steelers did make one trip to the state of Florida this season when they played the Jaguars in Week 5. That game was tight from start to finish, but Ben Roethlisberger connected with Hines Ward on a late touchdown to seal the 26-21 victory.
Two of the Steelers' five championships have come in Florida (Miami) and though Pittsburgh has not played in Tampa since 2002, it still has history on its side as it has won four of its five games there all time.
Roethlisberger actually played better away from Heinz Field this year and Pittsburgh won just as many on the road in the regular season as it did at home (6).
The true test of a great team is its ability to win on the road and Pittsburgh has a chance to go into the record books as a champion because of its ability to do so.
Cardinals' road results
The Cardinals struggled on the road at times, but the team came up big when it counted most in the playoffs. Take a look at how Arizona performed this season away from home:| Week | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | Win | |
| 3 | Washington | Loss | |
| 4 | N.Y. Jets | Loss | |
| 8 | Carolina | Loss | |
| 9 | St. Louis | Win | |
| 11 | Seattle | Win | |
| 13 | Philadelphia | Loss | |
| 16 | New England | Loss | |
| Divisional playoffs | Carolina | Win | |
Arizona Cardinals
Though the Cardinals went 0-5 during the regular season on the East Coast, they broke that skid in grand fashion with a convincing 33-13 playoff win over the Panthers.
That game will give them confidence as they prepare to play on the East Coast once again for the Super Bowl. Additionally, the Cardinals are experienced at doing their game preparations on the road.
Following a 24-17 loss at Washington, the Cardinals decided to stay in the area the week leading up to their game at the Jets. The result was not what Arizona had hoped (it lost 56-35), but coach Ken Whisenhunt says it gives the staff an advantage now, because they know how to game-plan outside the comforts of their own training facility.
While Pittsburgh plays in cold, snowy conditions for much of the season, the weather will likely be warm and sunny in Tampa. The Cardinals are built to play in such conditions.
They have speed at every position and their offense is predicated on timing and misdirection. Defensively, they rely on quickness more than brute strength.
The Steelers, on the other hand, are more of a smash-mouth team constructed for playing in bad weather.
Arizona has shattered much of its losing history this season, with one more win they can also destroy the perception that they are vulnerable away from home.
