With two weeks to break down and analyze the Super Bowl, any combination of numbers or trends can be found to support an argument for either team's chances of pulling out a victory. But the question remains: After turnover differential, which stat has proven to have the biggest impact on the outcome of the Super Bowl?
Below are four trends in which both teams can take comfort while preparing for Super Bowl XLIII.
Stat: The team with more rushing attempts has a 90 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Advantage: Steelers.
While Arizona's postseason rushing attempts were comparable (33.3 per game), they have a history of relying mostly on the pass. The Cardinals averaged just 21.3 rushing attempts per game in the regular season.
Stat: The team with a higher yards per pass average has over an 88 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Advantage: Cardinals
If Arizona has a strength, it is without question its big-play passing game, which averaged 7.1 yards per play during the regular season and 7.9 yards per play throughout the playoffs.
The Steelers, on the other hand, have relied mostly on the run, having averaged just 5.9 yards per pass play in the regular season. Pittsburgh has been only slightly better through the air in the playoffs, averaging 6.2 yards per play.
Stat: The team with a better third down conversion rate has over a 76 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Advantage: Cardinals
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Which key stat will have the biggest impact on
Super Bowl XLIII?
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The Steelers and Cardinals finished the regular season with a nearly identical conversion rate on third downs (41.9 for Arizona, 41.1 for Pittsburgh). But while the Cardinals have managed to convert 46.7 percent of their third downs during the postseason, the Steelers have actually trended downwards in two playoff matchups, with a 40.6 percent success rate on third downs.
Stat: The team with more rushing yards has an 83.3 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl.
Advantage: Steelers
Arizona's 111-yard rushing average in the playoffs has been slightly better than that of the Steelers (108.5). But Arizona's postseason run game has been somewhat of an anomaly as the Cardinals averaged just 73.6 rushing yards per game in the regular season. Pittsburgh's 105.6 average in the regular season points to a more consistent ground attack.
