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Seahawks Not a Popular Choice

News Type: none — Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:29 PM EST
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Everything I have read on the upcoming Super Bowl- and believe me, that has been very little- has been all about the mighty Pittsburgh Steelers. Granted they pulled off quite a feat. Beating Indy at Indy, and Denver at Denver. That, my friend, is no picnic.

But here is the situation- no one is paying attention to the little franchise that could- The NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. All they did during the course of the year was go 13-3. Their star player (Shaun Alexander) set a couple of NFL rushing records, their quarterback (Matt Hasselbeck) passed for nearly 3500 yards and 24 TD's and still not a lot of national respect. What's up with that?

I guess it is the history of this franchise is the cute, loveable losers with the pretty birdy on their helmets. But this Seattle team that Mike Holmgren and Co. have been building is far from being losers anymore.

They have a huge, effective offensive line, a star running back that knows how to score, a veteran quarterback who doesn't make many mistakes (at least not this year) and an emerging defense led by one of the most respected coordinators in the game today. The Steelers are not so different. It is no secret why these two teams made it this far.

So just to go against popular opinion- here is my early Super Bowl XL prediction:

Seahawks 27 Steelers 21

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{"commentId":13999,"authorDomain":"jodamiller"}
jodamiller

The same thing happened in Super Bowl XXXIV when the Rams met the Titans. The Rams were 4-12 the previous season and came out of nowhere with a worst-to-first season and finished 13-3. I'm from St. Louis and was very excited and thought the Rams would win, but the national media attention seemed to be all about the Titans. The same thing seems to be going on now with an excellent Seattle team seemingly sitting off stage while the Steelers are on center stage. I think most will be shocked with the game that the Seahawks are going to throw at Pittsburgh. I'm not making any predictions, but I think the 'Hawks are underrated right now.

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    Reply#1 - Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:58 PM EST
    {"commentId":14028,"authorDomain":"team"}
    Jeff W

    We live in the Northwest, the corner of America. No one really gives a damn about us. Personally I like the fact that we we are "secretive". Let the rest of the world think that the Steelers are the big dogs. When it comes to game day, playing will do the talking.

    {"commentId":14028,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"team"}
      Reply#2 - Thu Jan 26, 2006 5:46 PM EST
      {"commentId":14067,"authorDomain":"kidjay"}
      kidjay

      Lowest rated super bowl EVER.

      {"commentId":14067,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"kidjay"}
        Reply#3 - Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:36 PM EST
        {"commentId":14095,"authorDomain":"physics"}
        Paul Kehrer

        Considering the spread is only -3.5 to Pittsburgh it's not like the Seahawks are being set up as massive underdogs. The Seahawks came out of the weaker of the two conferences and (unlike Pittsburgh) did not play the #3, #2, and #1 seeds on the road. Is it any surprise that the Steelers are currently perceived as the team with the edge?

        The beauty of sports is that the spread and the talking heads don't matter. On Feb 5 it will be decided on the field.

        {"commentId":14095,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"physics"}
          Reply#4 - Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:18 PM EST
          {"commentId":14174,"authorDomain":"jonviray"}
          Jon Viray

          East Coast Bias to it's fullest. Think of it this way, the popular team is the Steelers, no doubt. But that doesn't translate to the 'better' team. I think this Superbowl will be one of the most exciting ones because the teams are so evenly matched. In the end, the team that makes the LEAST mistakes wins the rings!

          {"commentId":14174,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"jonviray"}
            Reply#5 - Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:41 PM EST
            {"commentId":14496,"authorDomain":"Northwest"}
            P J Williams

            Lets continue to keep the northwest a secret. Sometimes it feels to crowded up here anyway.

            I am very glad that the best will be decided on the field. My concern will be that when the Hawks win, the east coast bias will say that the Steelers had a bad day and the hawks will still not get their due.

            One last thought, maybe the reason the Hawks are in a "weaker conference" is because everyone else in the conference had to play the Hawks twice.

            {"commentId":14496,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"Northwest"}
              Reply#6 - Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:30 AM EST
              {"commentId":14502,"authorDomain":"obscurerandom"}
              obscurerandom

              The Steelers have a lot of loyal fans. If you are not a Steelers fan (or football for that matter) and you are in Pittsburgh, you are probably ready to throw up. I just visited Pittsburgh and every radio station talked about the Steelers. I tried to watch the local news and the entire broadcasts were Steeler related: "Visit with Jerome Bettis' Mom," "Player Gives Super Bowl Tickets to Miner's Family," "Local Trainer Helps Steelers Get in Shape." It was absolutely flabergasting, amazing, and terribly annoying.

              {"commentId":14502,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"obscurerandom"}
                Reply#7 - Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:35 AM EST
                {"commentId":33629,"authorDomain":"jodamiller"}
                jodamiller

                Well, that was a boring game.

                {"commentId":33629,"threadId":"28266","contentId":"71077","authorDomain":"jodamiller"}
                  Reply#8 - Fri Feb 17, 2006 10:09 AM EST
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