Keys to the Game:Superbowl

[Azrael]

Here's my breakdown into why I think Pittsburgh should win this thing. Feel free to scream homer at me. Afterall, I hardly believe people breaking down a game for their own team.

1. Steelers have just buried the top 3 seeds in the AFC IN THEIR OWN BUILDINGS, and I mean buried. Pay no attention to the Colts score; it wasn't near that close.
2. They've won 7 in a row, minus the Colts game, by no less than 2 TDs in each contest.
3. Detroit is going to be like a home game for Pittsburgh. It's not that far away and we travel like geese.
4. Seattle was 1-2 against playoff teams in the regular season when the game meant something. Indy game doesn't count. And if it weren't for Jay Feely, they'd have been 0-3.
5. Seattle struggled away from home this year, losing at Jacksonville and Washington and barely beating SF and Tennessee.
6. You can't help who you play sometimes, but Pittsburgh's road to Detroit was much tougher. They are battle tested.
7. This being Seattle's first time this far, they may subconsciously be "just happy to get there"; while the Steelers have been bent on getting the Bus a ring since crumbling in the AFC Championship game.

[Slingblade]

I just don't see Hasselbeck and that line cracking under pressure to the blitz. This will be a well managed games by both teams, with minimal mistakes. It just may come down to who has the ball last. Should be a close one all the way through.

[biju]

1. Steelers have just buried the top 3 seeds in the AFC IN THEIR OWN BUILDINGS, and I mean buried. Pay no attention to the Colts score; it wasn't near that close.

Yup, you guys are on fire while other teams have certainly struggled. I totally agree. You're lucky this game isn't in our house though.

2. They've won 7 in a row, minus the Colts game, by no less than 2 TDs in each contest.

Just like to point out that those four during the regular season were against the Bears, Vikings, Browns and Lions plus a Carson Palmer-less Bengals unit. You beat the Colts and Denver which were teams worth beating.

3. Detroit is going to be like a home game for Pittsburgh. It's not that far away and we travel like geese.

Totally agree. That's why I specifically was rooting for the Broncos when the girlfriend wasn't looking.

4. Seattle was 1-2 against playoff teams in the regular season when the game meant something. Indy game doesn't count. And if it weren't for Jay Feely, they'd have been 0-3.

The Steelers were 2-3 against playoff teams during the regular season. Not too much better, right?

5. Seattle struggled away from home this year, losing at Jacksonville and Washington and barely beating SF and Tennessee.

They have the same away regular season record as the Steelers.

edit: I think they are actually 6-2 in the regular season. Oops.

6. You can't help who you play sometimes, but Pittsburgh's road to Detroit was much tougher. They are battle tested.

You're right, you can't help you you've been scheduled against. But this idea that the Steelers had a tougher road during the playoffs is silly. A month ago I don't think anyone in Pittsburgh would have minded being the top seed and a first round bye.

7. This being Seattle's first time this far, they may subconsciously be "just happy to get there"; while the Steelers have been bent on getting the Bus a ring since crumbling in the AFC Championship game.

This could be the case, although I'm going to attest that most players really don't care about the past Seattle teams and are simply content with getting to the Superbowl for the sake of Seattle's fanbase. Remember two things: players come from all over the nation and most of these guys were like 2 years old the last time Seattle won a playoff game. They could care less about "just getting there."

Honestly, I think the Steelers are on fire right now and it's going to take a nearly perfect game from Seattle to pull off the apparent upset. That being said, I like when teams are on fire and are the favorite against the Seahawks. If they get down and start getting down on their team (a la Steve Smith) that type of behavior degenerates the team quick. And if that happens to the Steelers it might get ugly fast...

Good luck to the Steelers and their fans. I think it's going to be a great game.

[onnestabe]

I think everyone here is making excellent points, and I am not quite sure what to think yet, but I will say this: Seattle will have the emotional edge, and that can't be discounted.

We are about to see two weeks worth of "it's Pittsburgh's time" news reports and newspaper reporters asking Seattle's players how they will ever be able to handle that Pitt D. Seattle will be the underdog, and they will carry that "we get no respect" chip on their shoulders. And while emotion cannot carry you through a entire season or even an entire playoff run, it can get you up for one game, and that's all there is left.

[Tiki]

Keys:

1. Score lots of points

2. Stop other team from scoring points

John Madden!!!

[MadScott]

[Bowie]

I'm liking some of these Seahawks fans' posts (biju's and awwchrist's specifically). You all are being thoughtful in your reasoning and giving lots of deserved credit to the Steelers. If I could convince you that you wouldn't be jinxing your team, would you tell me us what you really think?

[nikku88]

4. Seattle was 1-2 against playoff teams in the regular season when the game meant something. Indy game doesn't count. And if it weren't for Jay Feely, they'd have been 0-3.

The loss to the Jags was the 1st week. It's a long time ago.
If Josh Brown doesn't hit the upright, the Hawks win in Washington and the Giants game should never have come to those Feely kicks if the refs weren't blind.
I think the Steelers are favourites, but what Seattle did in the first few weeks of the season doesn't mean a thing for the SB.[/quote]

[Homeless]

Keys:

1. Score lots of points

2. Stop other team from scoring points

John Madden!!!

LOL, so true!

[Azrael]

1. Steelers have just buried the top 3 seeds in the AFC IN THEIR OWN BUILDINGS, and I mean buried. Pay no attention to the Colts score; it wasn't near that close.

Yup, you guys are on fire while other teams have certainly struggled. I totally agree. You're lucky this game isn't in our house though.

Lucky? No, it's called the Superbowl. A game that will never be played in Pittsburgh or Seattle as long as their stadiums are outside or the season ends in January and February.[/quote]

2. They've won 7 in a row, minus the Colts game, by no less than 2 TDs in each contest.

Just like to point out that those four during the regular season were against the Bears, Vikings, Browns and Lions plus a Carson Palmer-less Bengals unit. You beat the Colts and Denver which were teams worth beating.

You're right, the #2 seed in the NFC (Bears) was a garbage win. So was the Vikings who had won 6 in a row at the time. Forget about the Bengals if they lose 1 guy.

5. Seattle struggled away from home this year, losing at Jacksonville and Washington and barely beating SF and Tennessee.

They have the same away regular season record as the Steelers.

edit: I think they are actually 6-2 in the regular season. Oops.

My point was that you lost both games you played against teams with winning records away from your own building. Your wins were StL, AZ, SF (struggled), Tenn (struggled). Pittsburgh beat SD, Cinci (oh, with Palmer), Green Bay, Minn, Cle, and Hou. And even though 4 of those wins weren't against good teams, they were all convincing.

6. You can't help who you play sometimes, but Pittsburgh's road to Detroit was much tougher. They are battle tested.

You're right, you can't help you you've been scheduled against. But this idea that the Steelers had a tougher road during the playoffs is silly. A month ago I don't think anyone in Pittsburgh would have minded being the top seed and a first round bye.

Are you serious? You are saying the Steelers' road has not been tougher. You mean beating the top 3 seeds (Indy, Den, and Cinci) away was not tougher than beating an offensively inept Washington team and a Carolina team with only one weapon (Steve Smith) at home. Surely you jest.

7. This being Seattle's first time this far, they may subconsciously be "just happy to get there"; while the Steelers have been bent on getting the Bus a ring since crumbling in the AFC Championship game.

This could be the case, although I'm going to attest that most players really don't care about the past Seattle teams and are simply content with getting to the Superbowl for the sake of Seattle's fanbase. Remember two things: players come from all over the nation and most of these guys were like 2 years old the last time Seattle won a playoff game. They could care less about "just getting there."

My point wasn't pertaining to Seattle teams failures 15-20 years ago but rather that this group from Seattle hadn't even made it to the conference championship let alone a superbowl, while the Steelers are constantly making deep runs in the playoffs and finally get a chance to capitalize.