Fred Bowen's "The Score" column,
Friday, February 3, 2006, Washington Post

Offense and Defense -- Special Teams

To get ready for Super Bowl XL (that's 40 in Roman numerals), here are some facts you might not know about America's biggest sports event:

• The first game, played in 1967, was not even called the Super Bowl. It was called the AFL-NFL World Championship game. The name was changed to the Super Bowl in 1969.
  
  
• The halftime entertainment at the first game in 1967 was just like any other football game. The bands from the universities of Michigan and Arizona marched around while many fans went to the restrooms. Now the halftime show is as big as the game. This year the Rolling Stones will perform. They're the greatest rock-and-roll band in the world. Just ask your parents!
  
  
• Twenty-six of the National Football League's 32 teams have been to at least one Super Bowl. The six sad teams that have never made it: Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and New Orleans Saints.

Here's one more fact you might not know about the Super Bowl: I have picked the winner in this column the last five years. That's a pretty good record.

So, who is it going to be this year, the Seattle Seahawks or the Pittsburgh Steelers? Let's take a look.

Offense: The Seahawks scored more points than any other NFL team this season, averaging more than 28 points a game. They can move the ball on the ground with star running back Shaun Alexander or through the air with underrated quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks are great at scoring touchdowns when they get the ball inside the 20-yard line. Their offensive line is super.

The Steelers like to keep the ball on the ground, grinding out yards with running backs Willie Parker and Jerome "The Bus" Bettis. Their second-year quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, has been terrific in the playoffs. If he doesn't stay hot, the Steelers are in trouble.

Defense: The Steelers have one of the top defenses in the NFL. The Seahawks aren't bad either. Seattle gave up 16.9 points a game, while Pittsburgh gave up 16.1. Not much difference there.

The Steelers love to blitz. Troy Polamalu (the one with all the hair sticking out of his helmet) is great at rushing the quarterback and tackling him before he can pass. But the Seahawks led the NFL in sacks. One key will be whether the offensive lines can keep the defenses away from the quarterbacks so they have time to throw.

Prediction: The game should be close and might be decided by a late field goal. I know that the Steelers are the favorites, but I think the Seahawks' terrific offensive line will get Seattle in the end zone enough to win.

Final score: Seattle 24, Pittsburgh 20.