1st Superbowl, BABY!

[McKitty]

Woot!

....Lemme say that again:

WOOT!

The Seahawks are heading to Detroit to play off against the Steelers in Superbowl 40.

May I say Woot again?

WOOT!

[Rainstorm]

Even I have to admit I am excited about this one. The Seahawks in a Superbowl. Being a native Seattle-ite, I never thought I'd live to see the day. GO HAWKS!

[West]

You bashed the Hawks. You bashed the Hawks hard.

Tears were shed. Blood was drawn.

Rainstorm was wrong.

/slant rhyme

(No hard feelings. Just getting in my pound of flesh.)

----

Even if Seattle loses this game, everybody will see them play. Everyone will know that they got this far, and people will finally start to show the Hawks some of the respect that they deserve.

[GhostBat]

As a (hopefully) future Seattle-ite . . . woo!!!

[Rainstorm]

You bashed the Hawks. You bashed the Hawks hard.

Tears were shed. Blood was drawn.

Rainstorm was wrong.

/slant rhyme

(No hard feelings. Just getting in my pound of flesh.)

----

Even if Seattle loses this game, everybody will see them play. Everyone will know that they got this far, and people will finally start to show the Hawks some of the respect that they deserve.

Hey! I have EVERY right to bash the Hawks. I've had to live with their half-assed performances and play standards my entire life as a reflection on my home town. :P Even you admitted that traditionally they DO choke. Punk :P
They got to the Superbowl. I commend them. Now let's see how they perform, eh?

[Gilenea]

I am Matt Hasselback's furture ex-wife.

That way, West can say he got married to Matt Hasselback's ex-wife. Booya.

Gil

[West]

I'll probably just end up getting married to Matt Hasselbeck.

[Lord Anubis]

I always thought West would merry a guy.....BAWKKKKKKKKK K

[GoddessWolf]

I'm so going to get killed for this one, but GO STEELERS!!!!!!!

What can I say. I live in PA. :D

[GhostBat]

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!

Boo! :p

[GoddessWolf]

Boo! :p

Tis fate that the steelers will win. It's Bettis's home town, and it's the 36th day of the year which is his player number. :p

[West]

Hahaha. If you expect Bettis to make ONE good play in that game, you are kidding yourself.

Pittsburgh's only hope is their passing game, and Ben Roethlisberger is still a noob. He'll choke. Not even Tom Brady won the superbowl when he had 2 years pro.

Ever since week four nobody has been able to run against Seattle. Nobody. Seattle's pass defense ain't bad either. Four interceptions in the NFC Championship game isn't something to look at lightly.

I'm sure Bill Cowher (head coach of the Steelers for all you women) has some tricks up his sleeve, then again, you know Mike Holmgren (head coach of Seattle for all you women) will have some too.

AFC was a harder confrence so Pittsburgh played some tougher games this season. Anyways, like I said I think Roethlisberger will choke. You can't get anything done with a scared QB and a disabled running game.

I think this game is up to Seattle's defense more than anything else. If Seattle plays great defense, you can guarantee they will take this one. The Hawks offense will have alot of trouble against Pittsburgh's defense I think. You know the first thing the Steelers are going to want to do is make sure Shaun Alexander can't make any big runs, primarily through the middle.

Regardless, you can expect Seattle's offense to score. It's pretty obvious the Hawks offense is better than the Steelers, so as long as the Seahawks Defense can keep pressure on Roethlisberger, i'm pretty sure they will win.

Note: Jerome "The Bus" Bettis had 363 yards this regular season and nine touchdowns. Basically, this means they just put him in to smash into people in the red-zone and score points. Shaun Alexander, NFL MVP, holder of the NFL Rushing title, and an NFL record for most touchdowns in one NFL season (28) has 1880 yards for the 2005 regular season. He's faster, more mobile and has nearly the power (not size) of Jerome Bettis.

Seattle has the best red-zone defense in the NFL.

Matt Hasselbeck's 7 years Pro and 3459 yards passing also seem to look better than Ben Roethlisberger's 2 years pro and 2385 yards passing.

Pittsburgh is still picked by the pro's and is still recieving more national attention. People are still ignoring the Seahawks stats and record, even though they are going to the superbowl. Perhaps the Steelers, and the rest of America is in for a bit of a suprise.

I don't want to make it sound like the Seahawks are unstoppable or anything. I just want people to see that they are a good team and DO have a chance to win the big one.

----
I always thought West would merry a guy.....BAWKKKKKKKKK K

Seattle Seahawks - Philadelphia Eagles
NFL Regular Season, Week 13
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 6:00PM
(Seahawks)42-0(Eagles)
Monday Night Football record for most points scored in one game.

Owned.

[GoddessWolf]

Jerome isnt a starter, and he didn't want to be this year. So yeah, he doesnt have many yards, but he has 9 touchdowns which clearly shows he IS capable of getting through into the endzone. So yeah, they are going to use him when they are in the red zone.

The Steelers were picked to lose every playoff game they were in by the pro's but they shocked everyone and came through to be the first team in NFL history to make it to the superbowl being in the 6th position at the start of playoffs. That sounds like Ben didn't choke to me, and I don't think he will in the superbowl either.

I admit, I did watch some of the seattle game to see who would win, and I do admit that Seattle did a fantastic job with making plays from interceptions, but did you see the Steeler game? We picked off quite a few as well against Denver.

Basically you can throw out the entire season and post season because the only game that really matters is the one being held on Feb 5th. All in all it's going to be a tough, good game.

[West]

Regular season statistics show what a team can do in a minor game. It just let's you imagine what they can do in an important one.

[Lord Anubis]

Bawk!!!!!!!!

[West]

Cry more noob

[iChrisofWC]

I'll be surprised if Pittsburg wins. People seem to have forgotten the Seahawks were constantly rated one of the best team all season. Yes, the Steelers have defied convention throughout the playoff, but so did the Panthers and Seattle killed them. I think if Seattle can avoid being shaken by quick plays, this will be short and brutal. Remeber, this isn't a set back and pocket pass all day team, they have the best running back in football and a blitz isn't worth squat against that.

[West]

I'll be surprised if Pittsburg wins. People seem to have forgotten the Seahawks were constantly rated one of the best team all season. Yes, the Steelers have defied convention throughout the playoff, but so did the Panthers and Seattle killed them. I think if Seattle can avoid being shaken by quick plays, this will be short and brutal. Remeber, this isn't a set back and pocket pass all day team, they have the best running back in football and a blitz isn't worth squat against that.

We need more guys who know about football in this forum. I like you.

-----
West with NFC Championship Tickets imo

[Lord Anubis]

If there is a god, the Steelers will win. That way the world can rotate the right way and we get to harrass West

[West]

If theres a god, he's wearing a Trufant Jersey.

[Lord Anubis]

Bawkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk k!

[GhostBat]

Who else thinks the Steeler's first touchdown was bogus?

[Gilenea]

I do. Football never fuckin' broke the plane of the end zone.

Lame.

Gil

[Kirin Fenrir]

I had to work. For the whole game.

[GoddessWolf]

If you watch the tape, YES, the football does go over, it was just very very difficult to see. You had to pay careful attention.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!! !

I knew the Steeler's would win. :D

[GhostBat]

No way. Each time it was replayed, it was obvious the ball never even touched the line. Ridiculous.

[GoddessWolf]

No way. Each time it was replayed, it was obvious the ball never even touched the line. Ridiculous.


It doesnt have to physically touch the line, so long as it goes over, even in the air, it counts.

However, even if we wouldnt have gotten that touchdown, the steelers still would have won the game.

[Gilenea]

Maybe, maybe not. The entire momentum of the game might have changed. Shit like that happens, and the entire moral of the Seahawks went down. It was obvious that, not only did the Seahawk guy hit the Steeler's SHOULDER (effectively pushing the ball BACKWARDS), but the ball NEVER passed the PLANE of the end zone, which means NO TOUCHDOWN.

The end.

Seahawks are still winners in my heart. <3

Gil

[GoddessWolf]

I think it's actually kind of funny how much yah all are complaining that the steeler's won. Every year you guys vote for everyone BUT the Steelers, yet I have consistently voted for them year after year and hey, they finally won a superbowl this year. There were bad calls on both sides. Troy should have had that fumble late in the game, but they took that away too. Ben threw two interceptions, and yet our defense held the seahawks and kept them from scoring. So yeah, maybe the mood of the game would have changed, but maybe's don't win the game. Its all about heart, effort, and talent.

I'm sorry the seahawks lost the superbowl, it was sad for them being their first trip there, but don't knock on us Steeler fans because our team won.

The steeler's deserved the win as much as the seahawks did.

[DoubleStar3]

Ok, I'm not a football fan, nor was I rooting for one team over the other. I agree that the ball never crossed the plane, but I also think the seahawks are a very sloppy team. They had all the flags throughout the game, and the coach seemed to just throw the game not only at the end of the second quarter, but again at the end of the fourth.

[McKitty]

Goddess, if you claim that if a football is in the air over the end-zone counts as a Touchdown then the SeaHawks should have had a touch-down when He grabbed the ball in the end-zone before stepping out of bounds.

The Ref put the game in Steelers' favor. In my mind they cheated the Superbowl win and any honset football fan would feel the same.

Steelers STOLE!!

[Ves]

OK for those of you who were watching it on TV...

The lyrics are:-
"If you start me up
If you start me up I’ll never stop
If you start me up
If you start me up I’ll never stop
I’ve been running hot
You got me ticking gonna blow my top
If you start me up
If you start me up I’ll never stop
You make a grown man cry
Spread out the oil, the gasoline
I walk smooth, ride in a mean, mean machine
Start it up
If you start it up
Kick on the starter give it all you got, you got, you got
I can’t compete with the riders in the other heats
If you rough it up
If you like it you can slide it up, slide it up
Don’t make a grown man cry
My eyes dilate, my lips go green
My hands are greasy
She’s a mean, mean machine
Start it up
If start me up
Give it all you got
You got to never, never, never stop
Never, never
Slide it up
You make a grown man cry
Ride like the wind at double speed
I’ll take you places that you’ve never, never seen
Start it up
Love the day when we will never stop, never stop
Never stop, never stop
Tough me up
Never stop, never stop, never stop
You, you, you make a grown man cry
You, you make a dead man cum
You, you make a dead man cum"

I just thought I'd corrupt any young 'uns reading. (this made it to front page news in London - cause apparently nowt else is happening in the world)

[GhostBat]

The Ref put the game in Steelers' favor. In my mind they cheated the Superbowl win and any honset football fan would feel the same.

Steelers STOLE!!

The refs were obviously biased. It didn't help the Seahawks any when about 90% of the crowd was cheering on the Steelers. That's a big blow to morale.

I just wish I could have been there to cheer them on.

[Locksmyth]

Seahawk's lost. Steelers won. Essentially your arguments against that are, the Seahawks played badly because they gave up because their morale was damaged. Sorry doesn't fly, the ref makes a bad call you double your efforts to make sure you make up for it. Crowd doesn't like you? Too bad for them, you are there to win the crowd can get stuffed.

In sport I was always taught the worse off you are the harder you go. Not to mention you cannot claim the losers would have won had that first call not set the "momentum of the game", it's unpredictable what would have happened otherwise. I would say that if the event didn't fix their resolve and forge them into a stronger more determined team they would have lost anyway.

[West]

My rundown of how the game should have went, focusing on every point scoring play.


Offensive Pass Interference:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&defl=en&q=define:Offensive+P ass+Interference

NFL.COM:
1-10-PIT16 (2:08) M.Hasselbeck pass to D.Jackson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED by Penalty. PENALTY on SEA-D.Jackson, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 16 - No Play.

From the back view, Jackson in the endzone, Steeler has his left hand on Jackson's chest, probably planning on either tipping the ball off when it came or using the force off of Jackson's body to leap higher for an interception. Regardless the guy was moving to, as said from the back view to the left with Jackson. Jackson used his right hand on the Steeler's left forearm to get the hand off of his chest. Afterwords he ran for the left and caught the touchdown pass. The penalty was not called until the play was complete, several seconds after the incident.

Bogus call. Add 6 plus the extra point to Seahawks score. Subtract 3 because Josh Brown's field goal wouldn't have been able to happen after the touchdown.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 0

Ben Roethlisberger scored the next touchdown fairly. The ball, maybe a centimeter or two over the line was still over the line. Extra point.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 0

74 run by Willie Parker. Obviously a fair touchdown. Extra point.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 14.

16 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Jerramy Stevens, touchdown Seahawks plus the extra point.

Seahawks: 14
Pittsburgh: 14

Gadget play from Antwaan Randel El to Hines Ward, 43 yards. Touchdown Steelers plus the extra point.

Seahawks: 14
Pittsburgh: 21

----------

I think one of the Hawks dropped a pass in the endzone too, but I dont remember who. Fair and square drop.

Anyways, I feel like the pass interference call on Darrell Jackson was bull.

I just think it needs to be considered that if the referee didn't make the retarded, and obviously false call how differently the game could have been carried out. Cowher would have called different plays, Roethlisberger would respond to those plays, and who knows what could happen. Maybe a fumble, intercepion, doesn't matter. Game could have been different.

That one call was probably the determining factor in the game.

The Steelers also injured some very important Seahawks defensive players. Marquand Manuel, the secondary free safety filling in for the off-field related injured Ken Hamlin was injured and out for the game. This means that the Seahawks were forced to put in a third string free safety. Cornerback on that same side, Andre Dyson was also injured, along with the primary defensive lineman to give pressure on the QB, Rocky Bernard. Pittsburgh exploited the side they injured on almost every pass play.

Pittsburgh's entire passing game v.s. Marcus Trufant imo

Regardless, Pittsburgh one the game. Seattle played against in a hostile crowd of Steeler's fans with some bogus calls and still did pretty well. It just would have been fun to see how the game was played differently if the referee made the correct call.

[GoddessWolf]

My rundown of how the game should have went, focusing on every point scoring play.


Offensive Pass Interference:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&oi=defmore&defl=en&q=define:Offensive+P ass+Interference

NFL.COM:
1-10-PIT16 (2:08) M.Hasselbeck pass to D.Jackson for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN NULLIFIED by Penalty. PENALTY on SEA-D.Jackson, Offensive Pass Interference, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 16 - No Play.

From the back view, Jackson in the endzone, Steeler has his left hand on Jackson's chest, probably planning on either tipping the ball off when it came or using the force off of Jackson's body to leap higher for an interception. Regardless the guy was moving to, as said from the back view to the left with Jackson. Jackson used his right hand on the Steeler's left forearm to get the hand off of his chest. Afterwords he ran for the left and caught the touchdown pass. The penalty was not called until the play was complete, several seconds after the incident.

Bogus call. Add 6 plus the extra point to Seahawks score. Subtract 3 because Josh Brown's field goal wouldn't have been able to happen after the touchdown.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 0

Ben Roethlisberger scored the next touchdown fairly. The ball, maybe a centimeter or two over the line was still over the line. Extra point.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 0

74 run by Willie Parker. Obviously a fair touchdown. Extra point.

Seahawks: 7
Pittsburgh: 14.

16 yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Jerramy Stevens, touchdown Seahawks plus the extra point.

Seahawks: 14
Pittsburgh: 14

Gadget play from Antwaan Randel El to Hines Ward, 43 yards. Touchdown Steelers plus the extra point.

Seahawks: 14
Pittsburgh: 21

----------

I think one of the Hawks dropped a pass in the endzone too, but I dont remember who. Fair and square drop.

Anyways, I feel like the pass interference call on Darrell Jackson was bull.

I just think it needs to be considered that if the referee didn't make the retarded, and obviously false call how differently the game could have been carried out. Cowher would have called different plays, Roethlisberger would respond to those plays, and who knows what could happen. Maybe a fumble, intercepion, doesn't matter. Game could have been different.

That one call was probably the determining factor in the game.

The Steelers also injured some very important Seahawks defensive players. Marquand Manuel, the secondary free safety filling in for the off-field related injured Ken Hamlin was injured and out for the game. This means that the Seahawks were forced to put in a third string free safety. Cornerback on that same side, Andre Dyson was also injured, along with the primary defensive lineman to give pressure on the QB, Rocky Bernard. Pittsburgh exploited the side they injured on almost every pass play.

Pittsburgh's entire passing game v.s. Marcus Trufant imo

Regardless, Pittsburgh one the game. Seattle played against in a hostile crowd of Steeler's fans with some bogus calls and still did pretty well. It just would have been fun to see how the game was played differently if the referee made the correct call.

Nicely said west.

[West]

Nicely said west.

I'd like to thank the academy

[GhostBat]

Seahawk's lost. Steelers won. Essentially your arguments against that are, the Seahawks played badly because they gave up because their morale was damaged. Sorry doesn't fly, the ref makes a bad call you double your efforts to make sure you make up for it. Crowd doesn't like you? Too bad for them, you are there to win the crowd can get stuffed.


The refs didn't make /a/ bad call, they made many. There's no way the Seahawks could have won a game the refs didn't want them to win.

[West]

NFL Referees (especially in the Superbowl) are not suppose to make bad calls, and alot is riding on their honesty and professionalism. It's not an "oh big woop it's a bad call" situation. One bad call can determine a game, and one bad call in the biggest game of alot of these players lives is not an issue to look at lightly.

Imo

[McKitty]

NFL Referees (especially in the Superbowl) are not suppose to make bad calls, and alot is riding on their honesty and professionalism. It's not an "oh big woop it's a bad call" situation. One bad call can determine a game, and one bad call in the biggest game of alot of these players lives is not an issue to look at lightly.

Imo

Regardless of the bad calls, the Seahawks wooped the Steelers in effort and skill.

I mean, in the first half it took the Steelers 19 minutes to get a first down. We ran more, passed more, and would have made more touchdowns. So, they may not have the trophy, but they were the better team hands down.

If the Steelers had got the win fair and square, I wouldn't be bitching. But they got it off of a bad ref.

[West]

I tried to commit seppaku after the game but the blade broke when it hit my Matt Hasselbeck Jersey.

[Lord Anubis]

Ya wanna whine about the ref's go ahead.But ya better whine about your beloved QB looking fricking lost at the end of that half and couldn't get a play off. That cost them huge. But go ahead and blame the ref's. They got lucky the Steelers called a TO. And what about the 2 botched field goals?....

[West]

Never said Josh Brown played a good game.

[Lord Anubis]

Hassleback pullled a McNabb at the end of that half....

[Locksmyth]

The refs didn't make /a/ bad call, they made many. There's no way the Seahawks could have won a game the refs didn't want them to win.
There is one really bad call every one is going on about. And there is nothing a ref can do to completely prevent a team from winning. I've seen many teams win against that kind of presure. A ref can only influence the maybe calls.
If the ref appears to be too giving when they nearly get a touch down, don't let them near the line. Period. If you stopping them on the line was more then just luck you can stop them before they get near the line. They only absolutely deserve to win if they can do that.

Besides I doubt (regardless of how many bad calls there may have been against the Seahawks) that the ref was actually bias against them rather then just incompetent or having an off day.

As I said before if you can let that type of thing effect HOW you play the game you never deserved to win in the first place.

Bad calls happen, it because a ref is a human and not a collection of cameras. Either the team is able to play in the conditions created on the field by the way the game is run or they can't. If you don't like it start writing letters demanding the camera be used on all calls. American football is already played so slowly I don't imagine getting an opinion from the camera room would slow it down much more.

[West]

Last jab was pushing it.

Not being American and not having the aspects of football be a daily conversation over there, i'm not suprised that you don't completely understand the impact of how a referee behaves on the field.

I think I see what you are saying, that the Seahawks could have won even with bad calls. This is true. It's not that the Seahawks were completely stopped from achieving victory, what is upsetting is that there was still an unfair advantage that the Steelers should not have had.

The National Football League spends an entire year making sure they get a good referee for one, and setting everything up just perfect to keep both teams fair without any sort of advantage. Obviously, it failed this time.
(By good referee, I mean a referee who is basically, yes, a camera with legs. The Superbowl is the biggest, most watched event for the entire year in the entire country, and they want to make sure they get a guy who sees the right thing.)

Nobody is complaining about Seattle's loss, I think we are all very happy that they got to be one of the two teams to get that far. We are upset with the unfair advantage.

[Locksmyth]

First what jab? About American Footbal being a slow game that wasn't a jab it's a matter of fact. Why is that percieved to be an insult to the game? Cricket is played very slowly, I wouldn't say that was a bad thing. It's a part of the game.

Not being American and not having the aspects of football be a daily conversation over there, i'm not suprised that you don't completely understand the impact of how a referee behaves on the field.
Not that different from a bad ref in Cricket, Football, Rugby, or Soccer. FYI Australia is a sporting nation it's what we do, the office I work in practially shut down during the superbowl, I have many friends that are fans even some that even play American football. Imagine the passion you feel towards Gridiron, take that and apply it to every sport you have ever seen. Then you might have a glimpse of what Australian culture feels towards sport. American football is a topic of daily discussion at this time of the year.

A bad ref, is a bad ref, is a bad ref. We see them in every sport we play, especially in overseas Cricket matches. So I am full aware of the impact a bad ref can have. However I also know, being raised in a nation that puts sport as it's highest priority, they are a factor in the game and as such it is most unsportsman like to complain about the calls a refs makes.

I admit we still have people here that complain about the outcome of a match but it is highly discouraged and the people who do so are not thought of nicely.

[Lord Anubis]

Nobody is complaining about Seattle's loss, I think we are all very happy that they got to be one of the two teams to get that far.

Funny you should say that West. For all the crap yopu gave me after Philly lost...Kinda of being a hyprocrat ?.......

[West]

I felt like it was valid treatment for an entire season of Bawks.

[Lord Anubis]

I felt like it was valid treatment for an entire season of Bawks.

BAWK!!!!