Published: Sunday, February 5, 2006
It's time for the showdown in Motown
DETROIT — Two weeks ago, after the Steelers routed the Broncos to win their second AFC championship in 11 seasons, there was no doubt that the Steelers would not only win Super Bowl XL but roll like a luxury Cadillac off a Motown assembly line.
How could the Steelers be beaten? They were riding the high of becoming the first NFL team to eliminate a conference's top three seeds in the postseason.
The biggest win of all came three weeks ago today when the Steelers, thanks to a game-saving tackle by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger), hung on to upset the Colts, 21-18.
Face it, back in December most fans thought that the Colts, who started 13-0, would be playing in the Super Bowl.
Instead of two-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning, the marquee quarterback in today's game is Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger becoming
confident thrower
Just two years removed from Miami (Ohio), Roethlisberger has developed from a quarterback whose mission has been to not lose games to becoming a confident thrower whose precise passing has put the Steelers comfortably ahead early against the Colts and Broncos.
How accurate Big Ben is in the first half tonight will go a long way in determining if the Steelers can extend their seven-game winning streak into a NFL championship.
So is there any way the Steelers won't win?
Anything is possible. Since the Seahawks arrived in Motown, respect for them has been growing. Much of it stems from the calm leadership shown by Coach Mike Holmgren, especially after Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter launched a war of trash talk.
Holmgren told his players they'll voice their response on the field, not through the media.
Shaun Alexander, the NFL's MVP and leading rusher, says most East Coast fans don't think much of the Seahawks' chances because they're not as visible because of their West Coast status.
"We were on national TV twice, I think," Alexander said. "The Eagles game was over early so no one watched and the other was against the Houston Texans.
"We're always the underdog," Alexander said. "Most people [in the East] are cleaning up when our games come on."
If Alexander runs through the Steelers' 3-4 defense, Seattle has a good chance in this game. Hasselbeck has been praised for his poise under fire and if Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has to play near the line to help stop the run, the eight-year quarterback will find open receivers.
Stopping Alexander and forcing Hasselbeck to pass is important.
But there's one major factor that tips the scale back to Pittsburgh's favor — the game is not being played in Seattle. At Qwest Field, the Seahawks went 10-0 this year, including playoff wins over the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers.
Seattle's road record
included some pushovers
On the road, the Seahawks were 5-3 (and two of those wins were at Arizona and San Francisco).
The Steelers lost twice on the road — at Indianapolis and Baltimore (in one of the games Roethlisberger sat out nursing a knee injury).
Tonight's game won't be a home game, but most expect Steelers fans to be the ones paying scalper prices to get into Ford Field.
For the most part, the Steelers are healthy. They're playing with confidence and they're motivated to win one for running back Jerome Bettis and coach Bill Cowher.
It should be a Blitzburgh night.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
DETROIT — Two weeks ago, after the Steelers routed the Broncos to win their second AFC championship in 11 seasons, there was no doubt that the Steelers would not only win Super Bowl XL but roll like a luxury Cadillac off a Motown assembly line.
How could the Steelers be beaten? They were riding the high of becoming the first NFL team to eliminate a conference's top three seeds in the postseason.
The biggest win of all came three weeks ago today when the Steelers, thanks to a game-saving tackle by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger), hung on to upset the Colts, 21-18.
Face it, back in December most fans thought that the Colts, who started 13-0, would be playing in the Super Bowl.
Instead of two-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning, the marquee quarterback in today's game is Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger becoming
confident thrower
Just two years removed from Miami (Ohio), Roethlisberger has developed from a quarterback whose mission has been to not lose games to becoming a confident thrower whose precise passing has put the Steelers comfortably ahead early against the Colts and Broncos.
How accurate Big Ben is in the first half tonight will go a long way in determining if the Steelers can extend their seven-game winning streak into a NFL championship.
So is there any way the Steelers won't win?
Anything is possible. Since the Seahawks arrived in Motown, respect for them has been growing. Much of it stems from the calm leadership shown by Coach Mike Holmgren, especially after Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter launched a war of trash talk.
Holmgren told his players they'll voice their response on the field, not through the media.
Shaun Alexander, the NFL's MVP and leading rusher, says most East Coast fans don't think much of the Seahawks' chances because they're not as visible because of their West Coast status.
"We were on national TV twice, I think," Alexander said. "The Eagles game was over early so no one watched and the other was against the Houston Texans.
"We're always the underdog," Alexander said. "Most people [in the East] are cleaning up when our games come on."
If Alexander runs through the Steelers' 3-4 defense, Seattle has a good chance in this game. Hasselbeck has been praised for his poise under fire and if Steelers safety Troy Polamalu has to play near the line to help stop the run, the eight-year quarterback will find open receivers.
Stopping Alexander and forcing Hasselbeck to pass is important.
But there's one major factor that tips the scale back to Pittsburgh's favor — the game is not being played in Seattle. At Qwest Field, the Seahawks went 10-0 this year, including playoff wins over the Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers.
Seattle's road record
included some pushovers
On the road, the Seahawks were 5-3 (and two of those wins were at Arizona and San Francisco).
The Steelers lost twice on the road — at Indianapolis and Baltimore (in one of the games Roethlisberger sat out nursing a knee injury).
Tonight's game won't be a home game, but most expect Steelers fans to be the ones paying scalper prices to get into Ford Field.
For the most part, the Steelers are healthy. They're playing with confidence and they're motivated to win one for running back Jerome Bettis and coach Bill Cowher.
It should be a Blitzburgh night.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.
Sunday, February 5, 2006
Two weeks ago, after the Steelers routed the Broncos to win their second AFC championship in 11 seasons, there was no...
