Super Bowl XL
It's finally here. The day any sportsfan (and a myriad of non-sportsfans) has waited 25 weeks for: Super Bowl Sunday! For about 4 hours, give or take, the eyes of the world will be focused on Ford Field in Detroit, home of my beloved Lions. Sadly, the Leos got their heads handed to them pretty regularly this season, so they didn't even get a sniff of the playoffs, let alone the chance to play in front of their home crowd. Instead, that honour goes to the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I really have no vested interest in this game, one way or the other, but I'll be watching quand même. I've spent the last 4 hours watching pre-game analysis, but still no gut-feeling as to which way this game will go. I did get a sinking feeling, though, when the broadcasters mentioned that Matt Hasselbeck hadn't thrown an interception in the past 5 games. So my early prediction is that he's going to throw at least 2 today. But will that spell the end for the Seahawks? Damned if I know, but I'm looking forward to seeing how Seattle's O-Line takes on the blitz packages of the Steelers.
Considering the way the Steelers dominated the Colts back in the Division playoffs, it looks like Seattle's in for a long day. But by the same token, they've got the NFL's MVP and single season TD record holder in Shaun Alexander. I'm guessing they can block a wee bit. I also think that we'll see a surprisingly good game out of Joe Jurevicius. He's been to the big game before, so I think that they'll find a way to get him involved early to spread things out a bit.
In the end, this is going to be all about the defenses and the O-Lines. Someone once told me that a good offense should always beat a good defense, if only because it's easier to act than to react. But when I watch the defense coming out of Steeltown, I think it's fair to say that they're the ones forcing offenses to react. They're fast, they're athletic and they impose their will on their opponents. Expect Hasselbeck to spend a good chunk of time on his back if he doesn't find his hot read.
Alright, so what's my prediction?
Pittsburgh 24
Seattle 17
Only 2 hours or so til kickoff, so grab your beer and nachos and get ready for a good one!
posted by Al B Here @ 3:17 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Not a bad prediction. The Seattle defensive line was actually pretty solid, letting in only 1 sack, that I can recall. But Hasselbeck didn't capitalize on his receivers. And don't get me started about the last quarter.
Bad officiating hampered the Seahawks, though they were not on their game, so I don't think that they would have won had more calls gone their way.
I was just checking the gamestats and, sure enough, Hasselbeck got sacked 3 times. Not quite the dominating performance I was expecting by the Pittsburgh defense, but Seattle is a heck of a team. I still think the should have gone to Jurevicius more, if only because the Steelers should have been scheming to shut down Jackson.
The officiating was poor, no doubt. Ticktack foul on the offensive pass interference and no, Big Ben didn't get in the endzone. But that being said, I have no doubt that they would have pounded it in the next play anyway.
Guess I'll have to wait year to get my football fix again.. oh well..
I rule.
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