Super Bowl 40: Decided in the Trenches
Sunday’s Super Bowl is likely to be won by the team with the most rushing yardage. Winning the battle of the line of scrimmage is as basic it gets, but it’s also a tried and true method for victory. Last season the Patriots won the rushing battle 112-45 in their 24-21 win over the Eagles. The year before, the Pats outrushed Carolina 127-92 on their way to the title. Even in their stunning upset of the Rams five years ago, the Patriots won the rushing battle against Marshall Faulk and their strong St. Louis offensive line, 133-90. This Super Bowl is so interesting because both teams love to run the football behind mammoth offensive lines and bruising running backs like Jerome Bettis and rushing champ Shaun Alexander. Both coaches, too, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher, have a propensity to run the football and take away the opponent’s running game. Both offensive lines are solid. Seattle was third in the NFL averaging 153 yards rushing per game, while Pittsburgh was fifth averaging 139 yards per game. In the all important yards per carry, Seattle averaged 4.7 yards (second) while the Steelers averaged 4 yards per pop (12th). One aspect of the game that could be key is that Seattle has faced only one good team all season (Dallas) that ran a 3-4 defense. So does Pittsburgh. In that game against the Cowboys, Shaun Alexander had his worst game of the season with 61 yards rushing on 21 carries. Seattle needed a late miracle in the final minute, and a timely Drew Bledsoe turnover, to win that game 13-10. You can bet the Seahawks have watched game film of that one again to try and figure out what they did wrong and what adjustments they need to make. Pittsburgh’s run-stuffers and quick, aggressive linebackers are as good as any in the league, and better than the Cowboys! The Cowboys continually controlled the line of scrimmage by putting as many as nine defenders within 4 yards of the ball, even on passing downs. The Seattle offense, averaging 407 yards coming in to that game, finished with 289. In addition, QB Matt Hasselbeck was 23-of-42 for 224 yards, with one TD and two interceptions. He’ll likely have to put up better numbers than that Sunday if Seattle is going to win a championship. Notice that Dallas RB Marion Barber ran for 95 yards on 22 carries in Julius Jones' place. The Steelers would love to repeat that kind of production with Jerome Bettis or Willie Anderson. One final thought is the explosive war or words that’s been going on. Seattle TE Jerramy Stevens took a foolish shot at Bettis, after which Pittsburgh LB Joey Porter retorted, “I think we can go out there and beat them.” Porter also added, "I've got my first taste of blood, and now I'm thirsty for more.” Does anyone smell FIREWORKS? Said Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren when asked about the rhetoric between the two players, "You won't hear Jerramy say any more about it the rest of the week.” Which means he told Stevens to keep his yap shut! Enjoy the game, and remember that the dog has covered 4 straight Super Bowls, with three of the last four decided by a field goal.
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