Earlier we talked about the keys to victory for both the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL. And it appears these teams are very evenly matched, and neither is a clear-cut favorite. The Steelers caught fire late in the season and ripped through a tough AFC playoff field, including the No. 1, 2, and 3 seeds in the conference. The Seahawks have been steady all year, and have become more and more physical as the season progressed.
So what separates these two squads? What is it that will put one of them over the top on Sunday?
In my opinion, the fate of this game lies in the hands of the quarterbacks. And even though he has less experience, I believe that Ben Roethlisberger gives the Steelers a decided advantage.
And that’s not a slap at Seahawks’ QB Matt Hasselbeck, who put together one of his finest seasons in 2005. It’s more a testament to the way Big Ben plays in big games. He doesn’t produce eye-popping numbers, but he’s very efficient at getting the Steelers the lead so the running game can grind out the clock and the defense can attack the way they love to. And a quick look at the path the Steelers have taken to Super Bowl XL illustrates what I am talking about.
After falling behind 10-0 in the opening-round contest against the Cincinnati Bengals, Roethlisberger completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 156 yards over the second and third quarters, including three touchdown passes and a fourth TD drive that put Pittsburgh firmly in control of the game, 28-17. The following week against the feared Indianapolis Colts, Roethlisberger was 9-of-12 for 147 yards in the first quarter, leading the Steelers on a pair of long drives capped by touchdown passes that opened an early 14-0 lead. He passed for just 50 yards the rest of the game as head coach Bill Cowher shifted to a heavy run attack the rest of the way out.
In the AFC Championship game, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to scores --three touchdowns and a field goal-- on all four possessions in the first half, posting an efficient 13-of-17 performance for 180 yards and two TD passes. And with a commanding 24-3 lead, the Steelers once again turned things over to the running game and defense.
The Steelers’ running game generally gets a lot of credit for the success of the team, but it’s Roethlisberger who makes the offense work. He makes the plays that put the team ahead and allow them to utilize their running game, and if you look at where he gets the majority of his stats (when the game is still close), he’s among the best signal-callers in the game.
Hasselbeck is a fine quarterback and has had a heck of a season as well, but Big Ben gives the Steelers all the advantage they will need Sunday.
I’m going with the Steelers to take the early lead in Super Bowl XL, and then out-physical the physical Seahawks for the balance of the contest.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 27, Seattle 17
