Staff picks for Super Bowl XL

Super Bowl XL Facts

Site: Ford Field - Detroit, Mich.

Date: Feb. 5, 2006

Game time: 6 p.m. EST

Halftime Entertainment: Rolling Stones

Cost of the Vince Lombardi Trophy: $25,000

Cost of Super Bowl rings: League pays for up to 150 rings at $5,000 per ring. League also pays for 150 pieces of jewelry for the losing team.

TV/Radio coverage: ABC will be televising its 7th
Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXXIX TV audience: Last year's game was watched by 133.7 million viewers. The 10 most-watched programs in TV history are all Super Bowls.

LaGuan Fuse

Why will the Seattle Seahawks win Super Bowl XL? That’s simple; the Seahawks have become a better team. Seattle finished the season 13-3 and had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Seahawks have finally shaken of the dust left from the implosion of the Kingdome in 2000 and are ready to win the big game.

Having the MVP Shaun Alexander healthy and ready to play will give the Seahawks the edge they need to fly past Pittsburgh’s defense. During the NFC Conference Championship game, Alexander had 34 carries for 132 yards.

The Seahawks also have five starting players in the Pro Bowl and two players who are injury replacements. The Steelers only have two starters and three injury replacements. All five of the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl players are on offense.

Nine years ago, Mike Holmgren led the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl win. This Sunday, he will attempt to become the first coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl with two different teams.

The Seahawks will have to put pressure on Ben Roethlisberger and not let him get into rhythm. Keeping Roethlisberger from being able to make a play will make the Steelers focus on keeping the ball on the ground. Jerome Bettis will be at home in Detroit, but the extra pressure may be too much for the veteran.

Look for the Seahawks to win Super Bowl XL.

Adam Wiseman

Give the ball to Shaun Alexander. 

The game plan for the Seahawks needs to be “by the legs of the NFL’s offensive MVP”.  Offenses win games, but defenses win championships?  This years Super Bowl will be different than past years, mainly because the Patriots will not be in it, but also because the NFC is going to be bringing home the trophy. 

The Seahawks play the leagues best West Coast offense and this is the game the Seahawks have been waiting for. 

Seattle has been an underdog since the franchise hit the scene in 1976, and that fact is what will win them their first championship.  Matt Hasselback is not the greatest quarterback, but he does not lose games, and the defense will be able to contain the one dimensional Pittsburgh Steelers offense.  Big Ben is a hero in Pittsburgh, but he is not ready for the big win, and he has plenty of things to improve.  The Seahawks defense is going to blitz, and put Ben on the run.  With the speed of the Seahawks’ defense, I predict four turnovers made by Ben. 

Also, let’s not forget the last time Jerome Bettis carried the ball in a dome.  Oh yes, he fumbled the ball on the one-yard line and almost cost the game for his team.  He is an outdoor runner, and will have trouble all game long.   But, let’s go back to the man of the hour.  The most underrated player in the history of the NFL and the player that rolled out 132 yards against a very good Carolina defense just a week ago. 

Shaun Alexander will be the MVP of the Super Bowl.  Seattle has been waiting, and they deserve it.  Matt Hasselback has been waiting, and he deserves it.  Shaun Alexander has been waiting and he deserves it.  Defenses don’t win championships, Shaun Alexander wins championships. 

Seahawks-27, Steelers-10.

Lindsey Barringer

What will happen this Sunday in Detroit? Well, it will not be Seattle getting rings or new hats or shirts that say Super Bowl Champions. It will just be the team’s first appearance in a Super Bowl and that will be the only thing the guys will be able to talk about after the Pittsburgh Steelers send them back to the West Coast. 

Though the Seattle Seahawks lead the league in sacks and turnovers, they are still the underdogs going into Sunday’s game. The talk is about their defense. Yes, it does consist of a high percentage of new players but what about the Steelers’ unstoppable defense? Can they compare? No.

Pittsburgh posted a 14-5 overall record to make them the AFC champions. They dominated all three post- season games. In the AFC title game, the only excitement in the game was in the last 15 minutes of the game. Denver scored which made it justifiable to watch the game.

Ben Roethlisberger has the ability to run the ball. Yes, the pressure will be on him Sunday but with veterans like Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward, the pressure will ease. Not to mention, Bettis will be at home and he wants nothing more to get the win in Detroit. Seattle might have a strong defense but Pittsburgh has proved to be unstoppable.

Sunday will be the sixth Super Bowl appearance for the Steelers. Bill Cowher will get the win for the Steelers. They will get their rings. Mike Holmgren will not be the first coach to win titles for two teams. He will only be the first coach to take the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Then, he will just take them right back home.

Kinyatta Jarrett

Who is going to ROCK Ford Field Stadium in Detroit, Mich. at the Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5? The Pittsburgh Steelers. They are going to Detroit to win the Super Bowl. They are the hardest playing team that I have seen this season. The Steelers met and lost against the New England Patriots last year but this year is different. They have shown what they can do when they played the Denver Broncos.

Who threw 275 yards in the Denver Broncos game? Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Who threw two touchdown passes to Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward that helped the Steelers win the game against the Denver Broncos? Roethlisberger. He is the second youngest quarterback in the NFL to start a Super Bowl.  The Steelers have young talent and experience on their side. The Steelers came from a 7-5 record to a 14-5 season end.  The Steelers have won seven straight games in a row and the Super Bowl will make their eighth. The Steelers are the first team to knock off the first, second and third seed playoff teams in a conference to make their way to the Super Bowl. They have ended the season with a great finish and now they have the chance at the Super Bowl.

This Super Bowl game might be Jerome Bettis’ last game.  This could be his last chance to win his first Super Bowl and he is also playing in his home town Detroit. Could there be a better time? It is also time for Head Coach Bill Cowher to win a Super Bowl. Ten years have passed since his last Super Bowl victory. The Steelers have a lot to play for.

Ford Field is going to be filled with Pittsburgh Steelers fans from everywhere. The Steelers fans are dedicated and loyal fans. They will be wearing their black and gold as another victory goes under their belt.