- Steelers win. They deserve it (I’d say begrudgingly, but I came to terms with this a few years ago). They have the momentum. Although so did Carolina going into the NFC Championship.
- It will be a close game. The Seahawks are for real. Their defense is sort of feast-or-famine, but I think it will match-up pretty well. But their offense is competent all the way around starting with a great o-line. And the way to beat the Steelers is to run it up the gut on one play, then spread the field on the next, which the Hawks can do. I think Hassellbeck has some success as long as he’s patient, and I think Alexander can have a very good game if he runs downhill a little more than usual.
- But the Steelers defense will take a toll. The Seahawks have not faced them and haven’t even played many 3-4 defenses, which means eventually Pittsburgh will make some impact plays on defense.
- And moreover unless the Seahawks get out to a quick 14-0 lead, the Steelers can be relatively patient on offense. I think it will pay off once the game gets into a rhythym.
- But the irregular flow of the Super Bowl game, with long commercial breaks and an even longer halftime, should be cause for concern for both teams. The winner will keep its focus longer than the loser (i know, obvious...) and that could create some interesting opportunities for both offenses.
- MVP: Hines Ward. He’s been sort of quiet, but integral, in the post-season.
- Final Score: 33-20, Steelers.
- Number of times I will ever again want to see Jerome Bettis’ mug again: 0.
- Joey Porter will still be a punk. He’s playing awesome, but man is he annoying. So be it.
- Troy Polamalu will get too much praise to ever live up to again. But he’s a good guy. Have you seen or heard interviews with that guy? Seems like a cool guy. Why the hell is he on the Steelers?
- Matt Hassellbeck -- not sure if he’ll play that great, but I hope he does. He reminds me of numerous class clowns from my own high school days.
- Willie Parker better show up. He really has been pedestrian since the first half of the season.
- Number of cuss words emanating from average Browns fan’s lips as Steelers win the Super Bowl: 100+. It’s sad, really, but seriously since 1995 John Elway and the Broncos won the Super Bowl (twice), Art M*dell and the Ravens won the Super Bowl, and Bill Bellichek has won the Super Bowl (and astounding 3 out of 4 years). So what the hell, does it really matter if the Steelers complete the cycle? Is it really going to make the dilemna of the Cleveland Browns any worse than it already is? I say no. So hoist a Burning River and toast the AFC Central, toast the Cleveland Browns who will without-a-doubt be winning a Super Bowl within the next 4 seasons, toast a 2006 Browns TV schedule that will allow the Browns to beat two teams sure to be considered Super Bowl contenders, and toast the fact that it is almost Spring Training.
- Number of Burning Rivers I will drink: 9.
Has anyone ever seen Grady Sizemore and Sasha Pavlovic in the same room?
A while back I was thinking how much the Cavs really needed to get another defensive presence. Then Anderson Verajo was back on the scene. Boom, the Cavs have won seven straight and have it going again even without Larry Hughes. If they stay healthy this could be a really cool stretch-run and postseason. One thing at a time though...