Break out the chips for Super Bowl XL

By Peter Hills

When I was in elementary school I had a Seattle Seahawks backpack. At the time, I didn’t know who the Seahawks were; I thought they were a local baseball team. Upon clarification from my dad, I learned they were a pro football team. That didn’t make much of a difference to me: they would never become playoff contenders, they would never be the 49ers or a Green Bay, and they would never make it to the Super Bowl.

Oh, how little did I know back then.

The Seahawks capped a record-breaking season followed nicely by a remarkable playoff performance to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl facing the Pittsburgh Steelers this Sunday.

In the first playoff game against the Redskins, Seahawks’ quarterback Matt Hasslebeck had to run an offense without his running back and still got the victory.
In their next game their defense shut down the most dangerous offensive player in the playoffs, the Panthers’ Steve Smith. Shaun Alexander ran for 100-plus yards to take the offense to the win.

The Steelers had a much tougher playoff journey playing on the road for their first game. They capitalized on Cincinnati’s injuries and came out on top.
Next they stunned the Colts, throwing the ball effectively and propelling them to victory.

It was the same thing against the Broncos - good throwing - ensuring their spot in the Super Bowl.

The obvious star for the Seahawks is running back Alexander, who broke the NFL touchdown record with 28 this season, not to mention being the league MVP, and the season rushing leader with 1880 yards and 141 yards in the playoffs. Every Super Bowl contender that has had the season rushing leader has won (for instance, Terrell Davis in ’99 for the Broncos).

Pittsburgh can match up their rushing game with future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis, who would like to retire this year with a championship ring. Bettis had only three fumbles his entire NFL career.

As far as defense goes, the Seahawks’ standout is the rookie from USC, Lofa Tatupu. This Pro Bowl player’s skills show more than his years, especially his amazing interception in the NFC Championship game.

Even though the Steelers defense is far from the Steel Curtain, strong safety Troy Polamalu is thier key. He’s made key interceptions throughout the playoffs and his speed and agility make it seem as if there is two of him on the field.
Hasslebeck is the foundation of the Seattle offense, throwing 3459 yards, 24 touchdowns, and is 65.5 percent for pass completion, and a 98.2 QB rating. He threw for 434 yards in the playoffs - in two games.

Steelers’ quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is in his second year in the NFL and threw 17 touchdowns, 2250 yards, has a 103.4 QB rating, and is 63.9 percent for pass completions. He leads all players in total passing yards in the playoffs with 680.
Mike Holmgren is in his nineteenth year as a head coach. He joined the Seahawks in ’99 and that season he lifted the Seahawks to their first playoff berth in 10 years. Holmgren’s Super Bowl record is 3-4. He was crucial in bringing the Seahawk franchise to where it is today.

Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher in his fourteenth year coaching the Steelers. The Steelers franchise has won four of its five Super Bowl appearances, and this will be Cowher’s second Super Bowl after losing to the 49ers in ’95.

Even though the Seahawks are the number one seed in the NFC, they are considered to be the underdog to the Steelers, the number sixth seed in the AFC. But a number six seed has never won a Super Bowl.

Both teams are pretty evenly matched, but the Seahawks’ proven defense will shun the Steelers offense, and the Steelers won’t be able to put a stop to Alexander the Great’s running game. Lead by coach Holmgren, the Seahawks’ will finally win a Super Bowl.
After the Seahawks take home the Championship Sunday, I’m sure there won’t be any question as to who the Seahawks are to any elementary schooler.