Steelers will win fifth championship ring
by Jason Fazzone
Let me start by saying this might be done with just the slightest amount of bias because I have been a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan for the last 14 years. With that out of the way, I move on to why the Steelers will win Super Bowl XL this Sunday.
The Steelers' defense has been stout against the run this season, their trademark since seemingly the beginning of time. The Seahawks will plan to use Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander early and often, but the Steelers' linebackers and all-world safety Troy Polamalu will make it tough for Alexander to get a good start.
If Alexander struggles, Seattle will have no choice but to turn to the passing game. It will then be open season on Matt Hasselbeck for an ever-changing Steelers' blitz scheme that continues to keep offenses guessing and quarterbacks on the ground.
The Steelers' offense has grown by leaps and bounds this season. The coaching staff is putting more confidence in Ben Roethlisberger to run the offense effectively, and he has flourished in his expanding role.
Expect the Steelers to come out and throw to get Roethlisberger comfortable in his first Super Bowl, and set up the running game with Willie Parker and Detroit native Jerome Bettis. Seattle's front seven does not seem to match up well with the Steelers' offense, and Pittsburgh should be able to put up a good number of points.
It will be a close game, but Pittsburgh will pull it out, giving Bettis a storybook send-off before his final stop in the Hall of Fame.
Seahawks sure to spoil Bettis' homecoming
by Andy Gribble
Although I do understand everyone's fascination with the lovable Pittsburgh Steelers, I find it absurd that the Seattle Seahawks are not considered clear-cut favorites to win Super Bowl XL.
Yes, the same Seattle Seahawks that had the best regular season record in the NFC (13-3), led the NFL in points per game during the regular season (28.3) and have the National Football League's Most Valuable Player (Shaun Alexander), are four-point underdogs going into Sunday's showdown.
As remarkable as the Steelers' trek to Detroit has been, by knocking off the three best teams in the AFC, I consider the Seahawks' performance to be more impressive thus far. After losing their MVP on the first drive of the game to a concussion, the Seahawks rallied to defeat a tough Redskins team to advance to the NFC Conference Championship. The Seahawks would then go on to demolish Carolina 34-14, just one week after the Panthers lit up the NFL's best defense for 29 points in their victory at Chicago.
Maybe the Steelers are favorites because they have such a prestigious Super Bowl history, while Seattle has never been to the big show. But look no further than the head coaches and it is clear that the Seahawks have the advantage. Seattle's Mike Holmgren proudly wears a 1997 Super Bowl ring while Pittsburgh's Bill Cowher is still ringless.
Even though Steelers running back Jerome Bettis finally winning a Super Bowl would be a storybook ending to the NFL season, the Seahawks will ruin the perfect ending Sunday when they hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
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Jason Fazzone
