Super Bowl XL in Detroit is more than just a football game; it’s commercials, camaraderie and constant conversation throughout the game. Although we don’t have characters like Terrell Owens in this year’s big game, there are plenty of other side stories leading into this game to entertain me as I munch on Super Bowl snacks come kickoff.
The Seattle Seahawks have, as George W. Bush would say, been “misunderestimated” all season. Many contribute this to the fact that they play all tucked away in the northwest corner of the country, far from any other NFL team. I dismiss this claim on the basis that 1) Washington is not the Lost City of Atlantis, and 2) Even if it was the Lost City of Atlantis, sports media are so rapidly expanding that I could probably still learn all about Coach Mike Holmgren’s life, including information about his team, how sad he gets when it loses and how much he loves Fall Out Boy.
I account Seattle’s low level of respect to the lack of wins over quality competition this season. However, that all changed on Jan. 22 when the Seahawks proved that the win over the Giants wasn’t a fluke (OK, it kind of was) and that the win over the Redskins was impressive (all right, maybe not) and that they deserved a trip to the Super Bowl by handing the red-hot Carolina Panthers a 34-14 beat down.
So, is the reason Seattle can win that its only impressive win over a playoff team came in the playoffs? Exactly. Seattle won when it mattered. The best team in NFL history was the 1969 Minnesota Vikings, but it lost to the Kansas Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, so nobody cares about the team anymore. Nevermind that the Seahawks might not have been the best team the entire season; if they win Super Bowl XL, they can claim that honor as the champions of the NFL.
Of course, Super Bowl win or not, this Seattle team is no slouch. It’s got MVP Shaun Alexander as running back and Pro Bowlers in quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, fullback Mack Strong, tackle Walter Jones and guard Steve Hutchinson. Wide receiver Darrel Jackson is also healthy now, while fellow wide-out Joe Jurevicious has experience under the Super Bowl spotlight. This dynamic offense has scored no fewer than 13 points in any game all season and has racked up over 30 on eight separate occasions.
Smells like team spirit? No. Sure, offense is exciting and probably defining for this squad, but as the adage goes, defense wins championships, and fortunately, like Starbucks, rain and grunge, Seattle has that, too. Its defense led the NFL in sacks this year and rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu has taken control of the defense in his first year in the NFL and has made Seattle an actual force.
Can this team score points? Yes. Does it have to keep up in a shoot-out? No. Would it have made the playoffs in the AFC? Probably not. However, it was lucky enough to play in the mediocre NFC and will represent the weaker conference to the best of its abilities come game time.
The Steelers have a few things the Seahawks do not. The team’s got two good tailbacks to split carries and complement one another, a more complete defense that is strong at every position, and it’s going to have a Detroit crowd biased in its favor, despite wearing Pittsburgh’s controversial road jerseys. As important as their fashion choices are, the Steelers also live and die on Bill Cowher’s decision-making. Cowher, who is the epitome of loyalty and stability, is also a genius in the playmaking game and will probably pull an Antwaan Randle-El trick-play out of his sleeve to win the game. People comment on how little the Steelers’ game plan has changed in Cowher’s 12-year reign as head coach. He’ll throw a few gimmick plays out there, but, basically, the Steelers are going to pound the ball, wear you down and beat you in an unsurprising and efficient manner.
In an era when the creativity of Bill Belichick is praised as genius, the fundamentals of Cowher’s Steelers might be viewed as a deterrent. The Seahawks should not bet on it. These Steelers are not fundamental in the boring Tim Duncan sense of the word. They’re fundamental in that they will devour you in the same steady way John Madden devours any party sub thrown his way. Despite the blowout in progress, I didn’t turn the TV off like most of America at halftime of the Steelers-Broncos game. Instead, I watched as Pittsburgh ignored the famed Mile High atmosphere, much like it did at the notoriously noisy RCA Dome. I saw team members poised, focused and completely dependent on themselves instead of fans, noise or hype — I saw a team very capable of winning the Super Bowl.
Matchup wise, Pittsburgh holds the advantages. Its defensive line is strong enough to occupy the Seahawks’ offensive line and allow linebackers Joey Porter and James Farrior to penetrate and give safety Troy Polamulu the opportunity to make plays all over the field, a strategy that stunted even the mighty Colts. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might only be in his second year and was not deemed worthy enough to make the Pro Bowl roster, but while the quarterbacks selected before him in the draft watch the game with 40 million other people, Roethlisberger will be eluding defenders, showing a pocket presence beyond his years and taking the big hit to complete the deep ball. Furthermore, the one-two punch of Big Willie Parker and Bigger Jerome Bettis is stronger and more determined than Alexander and all his over-inflated stats and ego. Bettis, particularly, will be the story leading up to the Super Bowl as he returns to his hometown for his last game. Look for Bettis to have a couple of goal-line touchdowns to pull a John Elway and retire after holding the Vince Lombardi trophy for the first time.
Joe’s Pick: Steelers 23, Seahawks 17
