Who are you rooting for? What's your prediction? Vote and discuss...and show work. wink

Was kinda hoping for SEA vs. DEN. Then they coulda called it "Super Bowl XL: The Big Jake-Off."

Alas.

If the Steelers can contain Matt H. like they did Plummer, Peyton, and Palmer/Kitna, they should be in the driver's seat. They also have to do what they've done well their last few games--commit few turnovers.

I was thinking of "The Two Jakes" even though it's been used already...but speaking of names...whatever happened to "Rrowf"? wink

wouldn't you have been looking for Carolina v Denver??

d'oh

Pittsburgh will win the Superbowl hands down. Unless Seattle can find a way to stop the blitz, which I don't think they can, there's no way they can win. Seattle's defence is similar to Indy's and we all know how that turned out.

Seattle is also dominant at home...last I checked, however, Superbowl XL is in Detroit so there won't be home field advantage.

Pittsburgh has destiny on its side...Ben Roethlisberger is really on his game...Jerome Bettis will play in front of his home town crowd in the biggest game of his life in what will be his final NFL game. After 14 years with the Steelers, Bill Cowher will FINALLY win the Superbowl.

Boring match up.

Will be a home game for the steelers.

While I will be watching the game of course and attending a Super Bowl party, I'm really not 'into' the game and will watch because I love the game more than anthing else. Usually I have a team I like and can root for (like the Patriots in previous years), but this year I'm not into either team. That said, I'm sure the Steelers will win. At any rate, let's hope the game is more entertaining than the championship games. Or am I the only one who found them boring? Oh and congrats to those whose teams made it to the big game.

Anthony

how's this for betting line irony

the AFC's 6 seed opens as 4 point favorites over the NFC's top seed, never thought I'd see that. But the again the oddsmakers DID have Oakland as the favorite over TB 3 years ago.

Is this the 3rd or 4th trip for the Steelers to the Super Bowl?

I think it is either the 6th or 7th. They won 4 in the 70's.

It will be their 6th. The lost to Dallas in Super Bowl XXX, and won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV.

On a related note, is Big Ben a star in the making?

ANTHONY, NO YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO'S BEEN BORED BY THE GAMES SO FAR!* I've dutifully watched them all, especially since the Chargers and Bears showed promise earlier, but they just seem lackluster and unexciting. Of course I'll watch the SB, but more for the commercials and hype than the action so far.
_____
*Didn't mean to shout; keys stick every now and then - and this ain't Corel 8 (Block-ALT-E-V-lowercase). wink

For the last half of the season, most analysts have implied that the AFC was so far superior to the NFC that even the bottom seed from the AFC would swamp the top seed from the NFC. Well, we got that set up. Pittsburgh over Seattle, 38-21.

And to think, if Seattle hadn't moved to the NFC in '02, this arrangement wouldn't have happened.

Anyone else think we'll all be sick of Jerome Bettis coverage by the time the Big Game takes place?

~Adam

[ January 23, 2006, 09:56 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]

All season the Hawks have been proving me wrong. I would have picked them to go 10-6 and be another 1 and out in the playoffs at the start of the season. The Carolina game is how I expect a team with the talent they have to play all season. A team that has just kept winning, and even though some of those wins were close against bad teams like the Niners, they still were wins and got them where they are now. The team plays a complete game like they did against Carolina with everyone playing at their best. They will beat Pittsburgh 28-14.

In your dreams, sonic, in your dreams.

In agreement here with you sonic. Hawks over the Steelers 24-21. Go Hawks!

Great analysis, Tom.

Its pretty simple really. If the Hawks have another game against Pittsburgh, like the way they played against the Panthers, I don't see them losing. I see them being able to elevate their game even another notch against the Steelers. Attack away! wink

So if they played their best game on sunday...

On supe sunday they will play their bestest best game.

Very easy CU...

Kinda weird, and old school NFL club representing the AFC, and a long time AFC club representing the NFC.

The first season Seattle was in the NFC and Tampa in the AFC, before they switched. The Raiders still seem more like a natural rivalry though than the Niners. The Balt/Indy Colts were an NFL team before switching to the AFC after the merger.

As were the Steelers.

Just saying the Colts have represented both in the Super Bowl

Tom, what if Pittsburgh has another game against Seattle, like the way they played against the Broncos, and elevates their game even to another notch?

I think whoever plays the bestest cool game with the best loudest fans will win!

HOLLA!

Perhaps MdB will come out and be the voice of reason here…. Pittsburgh is probably the worst match up possible for Seattle. Specifically, that 3-4 defense that eats teams alive who run the WCO. I think the only team Seattle faced all year with a 3-4 was Jax who dominated them.

Plus Seattle does not have a physical defense, but more of a speedy quick defense. It’s not built to defend the power running game of Pitt or their max protect dink and dunk passing game.

Pitt will also play what amounts to a “home” game in Detroit (Since you people like your face painters).

The only advantage that Seattle has is that Pitt usually tends to play down in really big games.

Right now I see this game going as the most boring 27-7 complete domination blowout which will feel more like 55-10.

Time is yours....

Whoever's fans have the bestest and prettiest facepaint will win. Plus, whoever's pants show the hottest jock outlines will win. HOLLA!

Well, the don't call him BIG Ben for nothing.

I think that Pitt is too complete of a team for the Seahawks to compete with. If Rothleisberger is on, I don't see them being able to stop Randle-el and Hines Ward. During the Denver game, Pitt seemed to have an answer for every third and whatever yardage and Denver couldn't respond.

The Seahawks are a great team. They have a great O-line that will spring Alexander for some runs and give Hasselbeck some time to throw. They just don't have all of the answers on defense for Pitt's Offense.

Seattle is the weakest team to go to the supe since that SD and pats team who got their rears handed to them.

Umm, aren't you forgetting about which team has the more stylish uniforms? Sheesh!

CU - you must include a roll-eyes graemlin when posting this sort of thing.

Lissssssthen...

Thiss is very simple

Black is way more Sliming than the Blues.


But blue does bring out the bluessss colors of my eyessss...


Thuper Duper....

Well, Big Gay PF, I would thertainly have to agree with you that on the black being much more sssslimming; however, it doessssn't matter how sssslimming it issss, the Bussss is ssstill a big ole fat asssss.

Who you talking about? Me, or Ms. De Blazer?

Anyhoo, PF, the 3-4 is what concerns me most about Pittsburgh. Doesn’t Dallas also plays the 3-4? The Seahawks offense also struggled against them. Jax was game 1 of the season and the Seahawks are a totally different team from week 1. As for the Dallas game, they played the game without Jackson & Engram so, they were without their #1 & #2 receivers but still found a way to win.

I understand why people think the Steelers are favored, but I also believe people are underestimating the Seahawks. I also understand why the defense gets no respect. But, I don’t think the offense is getting the credit it deserves. This is not a one dimensional team. They are the highest scoring team in the NFL and IMHO, they are also the most balanced. They can beat you in many ways. And this includes luck. Sometimes you have to be lucky and if you know the Seahawk history, luck has been against them for many years.

I think the game is going to be a closer than people are expecting. But what do I know. How is Holmgren & crew going to counteract Dick Lebeau’s defensive schemes? Challenging.

The Seahawks tight ends will need a huge game. Stevens, who is one of my favorite players, needs to step up like he did on Sunday. He’s got reliable hands and, like Jurevicius, he makes clutch receptions. He will also be needed in blocking and keeping the pressure off Matt with Pitt’s Zone blitzes.
You will probably also see 2nd tight end Itula Mili play. Jurevicius will need to be a key receiver. He has the experience in playing in a Super Bowl, he is a big target with hands of glue. Matt's ability to scramble is going to be a factor in the game since Pitt will probably bring everything but the kitchen sink at him. Matt's mobility is one aspect of his game that people tend to underestimate. Peyton & Palmer (when he was playing) are not the most mobile QB's. Jake has mobility, but his poor throws and poor decision making doomed him. Matt, besides only a handful of plays, has not made poor decisions. He is focused and I don’t expect him losing the focus in the Super Bowl. I’m hoping Hutchinson & Walter Jones can blow some openings Shaun. You also have one of the best blocking Fullback in All Pro Mack Strong who, besides Hutch & Jones, has been a huge factor in Shaun’s monster year. The Seahawks can move the ball. Holmgren has also hinted at incorporating back-up QB Seneca Wallace again into the game plan.

Defense. This is a more formidable task and still a question mark for Seattle despite how they played on Sunday. The defense has improved tremendously and keeps improving week after week. You may not notice it, but they have. Steelers have Polamalu. Seahawks have Rookie Tatupu. Not the biggest guy, but probably the biggest heart. He had a concussion after his hit on Goings, but continued to play. He wasn’t a factor much in the second half, but I think it was because his head was still ringing from the Goings play. I think people forget or not realize that their secondary was battered and has not been at full strength for the last half of the season. At one point, one two or three starters on defense have been out of a game. They are finally getting healthy and just in time. Not many people have seen the Seahawks play. They are a very deceptive defense. I’ve said it many times. Bend but don’t break. They are one of the best in the league in Red Zone defense. Moving the offense up & down the field is good for stats, but getting points on the board is all that counts. And if you can only get 3 instead of 7….

Pittsburgh is a better and more balanced team than either the Redskins or the Panthers. No question. The main strength of the Seahawks defense is their ability to stop the run. They need to stuff Parker and Bettis or at least slow them down. The Hawks don’t have the biggest guys up front, but they are quick. Pittsburgh needs to run it up the middle and shove it down the Seahawks throats. If you go lateral, the defense is too quick to pick up the big yardage. The biggest key for the defense will be their ability to pressure Ben. Hound him, pound him and make him uncomfortable. They need to harass his ass like they did with Delhomme. The Seahawks did lead the league in sacks so even if they are small, they do have the ability to bring the pressure. It's funny that Rocky Bernard had the only 2 sacks for the Seahawks on Sunday because as of Thursday, he was listed as questionable for the game. Ben’s not the most mobile quarterback and I think if the Seahawks can get him rattled, they can throw him off his game. He is only in his second year in the NFL so a big game like this could affect him. Do I believe that? No, because everything he has done up to now has shown that this kind of game doesn’t rattle him. But that’s what I said about Jake D. But it could. You just never know. If Ben has all day to sit back in the pocket, the Seahawks are in for a long day on defense.

Special teams are still a concern. It’s the weak spot on the Seahawks. Josh Brown is pretty solid. In a dome, no weather to deal with. Cool. I am nervous about Tom Rouen’s punting ability and the Seahawks punt return coverage (as a result of a poor Tom Rouen punt).

For the Carolina game, I wanted Carolina to get the ball first to see if they could generate any offense and if they didn’t I really felt the Seahawks could score when the ball was punted to them. For the Super Bowl, I’m not sure. I’m leaning towards hoping the Seahawks wining the toss and electing to receive the ball first. I feel on the first drive, they can move the ball down the field and score on the Steelers before the Steelers will be able to make adjustments. Then it will put the pressure on the defense to make the plays and get Ben off his rhythm. The problem with the teams that the Steelers have defeated is that the Steelers got off to the fast start and the teams had to play catch up. If you get up on them first, then you can force them to play catch up and hopefully get them out of their game plan.

The only other aspect that might play a factor in the game is the intangible of being “the favorite” & the pressure of being the favorite. It seems to me that the Steelers are under more pressure than the Seahawks. Media, History, Fans. They are already the favorites and not many people are giving the Seahawks any chance of winning. They are currently the media darlings. Big Ben being the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl and the Bettis story will be played over and over. Plus, everybody knows the history of the Steelers. And if you didn’t, you WILL hear about the history of the Steelers in the next two weeks. Seahawks have no Super Bowl history. All the experts seem to be picking the Steelers, all the ESPN analysts and media seem to be focusing their attention more on the Steelers. I think that the players hear this and if everyone is telling you that you are the better team, you are going to win easily, blah blah blah, you may lose a little of your fire & drive. In Holmgren’s press conference yesterday he talked about his Green Bay team losing to the Broncos in Super Bowl 32. He said no matter what he did in practice, he could not get his team to be motivated or, for lack of better words, take the Broncos seriously. And they lost the game. If the Steelers go into the game thinking they have this game won because they are only playing the team from the NFC, then they may be in for a rude awakening. Cowher needs to keep them focused and not get distracted by all the hype surrounding the Super Bowl and how they are “the better team” as everyone is saying. The Seahawks do have the pressure of being in the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history on their shoulders but other than that, they know they are the underdogs, they already have a chip on their shoulder about getting no respect, so they already have that fire & drive to prove everyone wrong. I guess we’ll see how they handle the pressure.

OK, that’s just my rambling and opinions. I really haven’t watched Pittsburgh play except for the casual observations that I noticed in the playoffs and from highlights and stuff you read in the papers.

I was actually rooting for Denver to win the AFC title since I liked them for a portion of my childhood up until I moved to Seattle. But I’m also not upset that Pittsburgh is in the Super Bowl. Prior to the Broncos I did like Pittsburg because I was a Bradshaw and Lynn Swan fan and I absolutely hated the Cowboys. As I said in previous posts, I’m just glad the Seahawks are there. I think the Seahawks can win, but am I 100% positive? Nope. I’m trying to come up with my final score and the victor. It’s still too early for me to predict anything. I have to throw more lizard tails and eye of newts into the pot before I get a final reading & prediction.

Oh, since you boys are talking uni’s.

Pittsburgh uniforms: Love the black, love the yellow, love the logo. Classic.

Seahawks Uniforms: Love the blue, love the navy, not sure about the bright green. But I guess it’s a hell of a lot better than the blue and drab grey they used to wear. The grey made them match the skyline and made them look depressing.

OK, I'm done with my rambling. Carry on, wayward sons.

Edited to add the "H" for all you Pittsburgh fans and because I'm stupid! I always forget that damn H.

[ January 24, 2006, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: Mariner Duck Guy ]

I'm concerned about our "-h". How can Pittsburgh win without it?

I believe Pittsburg is a city in Kansas, and while I'm sure it's a very nice town, it ain't represented in the Super Bowl.

I'm a native...we take our "-h" seriously.

Are you sure a city, where a burger joint puts fries on the actual sandwich, can be taken seriously?

Primanti Bros. sandwiches are the best!

That and some Quaker Steak wings!

Wash it down with some nasty Iron City Light, what more could a person want.....

An enema?

forgot to throw that in there, oops! wink

Not that excited about this game, but will watch anyway. Love Pittsburgh's D, the Bus, the QB, Big Ben and the cool name of Antwaan Randle El. Also, grown to like Polamalu, but when are you gonna CUT THAT HAIR...

Never, ever liked Seattle.

At PNC Park when I was there, they sold the sandwich with the fries on top -- and had the NERVE to call it a CHEESESTEAK!

I am a 'Burgh native, just back from a long, overseas business trip. One of those "Primanti Brothers" sam'iches would taste pretty good right now to this jetlagged dude. And, btw, they also put a scoop of slaw right on top of the "chesesteak"; then the fries on top of that. It's a bloody mess to eat but mighty satisfyin'... wink

The Steelers really only had one down game all year (regular season against the Colts). It's a well disciplined team, and Cowher will not let his team get too cocky, despite their status as prohibitive favorites in the game...Still, even though I am a 'Stillers fan, I hope it's a close game...

[quote]buccoman:
[QUOTE]...Still, even though I am a 'Stillers fan, I hope it's a close game... [/quote]Weird I was watching this show on the BTK killer last night, and he is from Pittsburg Kansas. Duck Boy is quoting songs from the 70's band Kansas. I hope we're not facing the Pittsburg Stillers.

All regular season games have no impact on what Cowher and Holmgren will do. They are going to try and out think each other like a chess match. They both have experience losing in the Super Bowl but Holmgren has experience winning also. I would like to see some surprise deep passes to DJ Hackett.

Steelers are considered the Home Team but will use White jerseys, Seahawks will use the Metallic Blue. Super Bowl

Seahawk secondary is the key. If they can keep from giving up the big plays. I think the Hawk D can blitz and give the Bus a flat tire

[ January 25, 2006, 12:02 PM: Message edited by: sonic ]

Not direrctly connected with the Super Bowl, but I found this interesting.

From the Associated Press:

Super Bowl weekend will be extra special for Kathy Holmgren. Coach Mike Holmgren's wife will not be in Detroit. She'll join the couple's daughter, Calla, a doctor, on a trip to the Republic of Congo, as part of a Northwest Medical Teams venture.

Kathy Holmgren was a medical missionary in the early 1970s when she first traveled to the African nation to do volunteer work. Back then, the country was known as Zaire. This time. she's returning to the same town where she did her work in what the coach describes as a "dream come true for her."

Mike Holmgren gave his wife the trip as a Christmas present. So it was planned long before the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl.

~Adam

My annual Super Bowl for the Clueless is now up.

looks like someone's ticked off at the Seahawks use of "the 12th man" phrase.

Texas A/M apparently has the phrase trademarked and has handed a cease and desist order to the 'Hawks.

Don't they have anything better to do??? That's got to be one of the most overused phrases in football. Next thing you know the words "12th Man" will be yanked down off of the Wall of Fame in Orchard Park.....so silly.

You, too, can bid on an official Seahawks NFC Championship hot dog! The one sold and eaten at Seattle's home games.

Hurry up, the bidding's already surpassed $10,000! eek!

Coach Holmgren was asked about the teams mood on the flight to Detroit yesterday. He said the team knows that their "season is not over with yet". Owner Paul Allen has provided them with their own jet which I understand is equipped with just about every imagineable technological gadget for their use. I guess some of them said they watched Eddie Murphy's " Coming to America" yesterday while some of them slept.

[ January 30, 2006, 09:02 AM: Message edited by: hockeyTom ]