It took five years of trying, but the Cardinals defense finally played the way Ken Whisenhunt envisioned. Now it's up to Whisenhunt to fix an offense that's been the main reason the team finished out of the playoffs for the past two seasons.

The defense showed great improvement under Ray Horton, the third defensive coordinator Whisenhunt hired in his five years in Arizona. The Cardinals led the league in third-down percentage and were second in red zone defense.

That unit must concentrate on giving up fewer big plays, but by the end of the season, it was forming into a dominating group.

Despite his diminutive stature, for a moment no one was bigger than 5-foot-8 (1.73-meter) Danny Woodhead. The New England running back's 4-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the first half gave the New England Patriots a 10-9 halftime lead in the Super Bowl. "I was able to get open, and Tom (Brady) did a good job of putting the ball right on me," he said.