There are thirty-two teams in the NFL and only two of them make it to the Super Bowl each year. One of the teams that played in the 2008-2009 Big Game and represented the NFC was the Arizona Cardinals. Now, this is really big news as most NFL fans know. Heres why:

The Cardinals, a team that once called St. Louis home, have one of the worst histories of any franchise in the league. They have long been a traditional doormat team , a perennial loser , a squad that rarely gets into the playoffs. And yet, in 2008-2009, this losing franchise not only got into the playoffs, they almost won the Super Bowl.

How did it happen , what occurred to change the longtime losing culture that has been such a big part of this team? Start with a young, bright, energetic, enthusiastic and very smart Head Coach. Add a whole bunch of quality assistant coaches. Draft and trade for players who care , are smart and dedicated , and want to win.

Moreover, fill your roster will men who are not only of good character, but also highly skilled premier athletes. Is that what the Cardinals did to turn things around in the Arizona desert? Well, yes , and no.

They did bring in a bright, young Head Coach who immediately went to work to change the losing culture. The team also has very effective assistant coaches , players with good character , quality skill players , just about everything that leads to success in the NFL. But, like other NFL teams ,

The Arizona Cardinals dont have everything , they didnt win the Super Bowl. They came close , agonizingly close to upending the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, the boys from the desert had the lead late in the 4^th quarter. They scored what all who were watching believed was the winning touchdown with just a couple of minutes left in the game.

The Steelers, of course, had their own great players and, more importantly, the winning tradition and fighting spirit which would not allow them to accept the loss. With Quarterback Ben Rothlisberger playing lights out, the Steelers drove the field in the final seconds of the game , scored , and won the Super Bowl.

Now, their great year is behind them. The Cardinals, like every other NFL team, will start the new season at 0-0 , no wins , no losses. The question for the Cardinals and for their fans is this: will they build on last years surprising success , or will they revert back to being the perennial losers of their history prior to last season? No one knows the answer to that question, of course, but its intriguing to consider what awaits the Cardinals in 2009-2010.

For fans that enjoy betting on games, the Cardinals will remain a mystery until the first few games have been played.