Super Bowl 2006 Feature

Mike Holmgren versus Bill Cowher. "Big Ben" Roethlisberger versus the outspoken Matt Hasselbeck. Motormouth Joey Porter versus "specialist" Jerramy Stevens. An AFC power with a trophy-laden history versus a transplant NFC team looking to establish the roots of its own legacy. Super Bowl XL might not be the stuff legends are made of, but for the football faithful, there are plenty of great storylines to follow. Seattle comes into the game as the dominant force in the NFC, slicing through an easy schedule with the help of a powerful offensive line, a superstar running back, and a quarterback who just doesn't like to lose. Over in the AFC, deep play-off runs are nothing new for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since Bill Cowher took over the Pittsburgh coaching duties in 1992, the Steelers have made it to the postseason a remarkable 10 times, won their division eight times, and been to the Super Bowl twice.

Here in our GameSpot Sports Spotlight of Super Bowl XL, we take a look at the keys to the game for both teams during this weekend's upcoming championship game, and we give you a look at how Madden NFL '06--the only NFL football game on the market these days--predicts the action will unfold this Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.

If you're looking for even more NFL action, be sure to check out our special Super Bowl XL video feature, which will take you from start to finish for this year's simulated Super Bowl. With no further ado, let's take a look at each of the teams in Sunday's game, and break down the keys to their Super Bowl success.

Good News
In his fifth year as Seattle's quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck has helped to turn Seattle into one of the most successful offenses in the NFC--one that is just as deadly on the ground as it is when going to the air. In the regular season, the Seahawks put together one of the most prolific offenses in the conference, averaging 369.7 yards (2nd in the NFC) and 28.3 points (1st in the NFC) per game.

Shaun Alexander busted heads and broke records on his way to becoming the all-time single-season touchdown record holder, as well as leading the league in total yards, yards per game, and rushing attempts. A head injury took the NFL MVP out early in the divisional play-off game against the Redskins, but Alexander came back strong against the Panthers, racking up 132 yards on the ground--and making the Panthers' vaunted defense look silly in the process.

Bad News
Seattle's success lies with its sterling offensive line. If the Steelers can find a way to penetrate and deliver some punishing hits to Alexander up the middle, the Seahawks just might crumble completely. Shaun Alexander's "phantom" concussion in the divisional play-offs had critics questioning his toughness.

No News
Forget the talk of the Seahawks' cream puff NFC schedule. Thirteen regular season wins in the NFL is still 13 wins (unless, of course, you're the Indianapolis Colts, where 14 wins means jack squat). The Seahawks didn't often win big during the regular season--eking by the 49ers by two in Week 11 and barely squeezing by Tennessee in week 15--but they saved their best for last, outlasting both Washington and Carolina by a combined score of 54 to 24.

Here's a stat: In Seattle's ignominious one-and-done play-off performances of 2003 and 2004, running back Shaun Alexander averaged just 42.5 yards rushing per game. In two playoff games in 2005, Alexander is averaging 70.5 yards on the ground (that number, despite a paltry nine-yard performance against the Redskins in the divisional game).

BOTTOM LINE

Seattle wins if...its offensive line can keep up the sterling play that has lead Shaun Alexander to a rushing title and helped Matt Hasselbeck become the kind of QB his coach always hoped he'd be.

Seattle loses if...they can't find a way to get pressure on Big Ben.

Look out for...Darrell Jackson. If Madden NFL '06 is any indication, the Seahawks' wideout could have a monster game at a time when his team needs him most. Jackson struggled through a chunk of the regular season with injuries, only to come up huge in the divisional game with nine receptions, 143 yards, and a touchdown. Hasselbeck will need that kind of production from D-Jack on Sunday.

Good News
In just his second year as field general of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger has marshaled the terrible towels in Steeltown to 26 wins and just four losses as a starter (counting the postseason). Despite posting 14 straight wins last year, the critics still doubted Roethlisberger's ability as a rookie. Though this season hasn't seen the same number of wins as 2004, the quality of those Big Ben-lead victories--including consecutive wins against the top-three-seeded teams in the AFC during the play-offs--indicates that Roethlisberger is for real.

Bad News
Losing four more games than in 2004 has made the Steelers a gutsier team--in fact, their play-off performance in knocking off favorites has been nothing short of remarkable. Part of the team's success has been attributed to a slight shift in Bill Cowher's philosophy--he's letting Big Ben open up the offense and throw the ball on first down every once in a while. Cowher isn't afraid to mix in a trick play here and there, as well. Still, one can't help but wonder when the wheels on the bus will quit going round and round. Have the Steelers, in playing such amazing football to get to Detroit, finally run out of gas?

No News
Sorry, sports media. Beyond putting the "extra large" in Super Bowl XL, Jerome Bettis won't be much of a story once the big game is over and done with. "The Bus" is best saved for short-yardage situations, and Bill Cowher--by placing more trust in Roethlisberger's decision making--seems to be pointing his Steelers toward a pass-first philosophy these days.

Here's a stat: Willie Williams, the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback, is the sole remaining player from the team's 1996 Super Bowl XXX appearance. Though the media has made much of Williams' Super Bowl experience, one wonders how much wisdom he'll have to share with his teammates based on his mediocre performance against the Cowboys, which saw him record just three solo tackles and no interceptions.

BOTTOM LINE

Pittsburgh wins if...it puts the brakes on Shaun Alexander and forces Hasselbeck to go to the air. The Steelers can outscore Seattle's wideouts; things are trickier when #37 starts finding the end zone.

Pittsburgh loses if...its only viable offensive weapon is Hines Ward. In order to put up the points, the Steelers are going to need to spread the love among their receivers. And eat up some clock in the process.

Look out for...Heath Miller. The rookie tight end out of Virginia has quickly become one of Ben Roethlisberger's favorite targets. Like all receiving TEs, Miller is a big target with good hands and even a few moves in the open field. Expect to see him catch a few clock-chewing first downs in the game and maybe even a touchdown if the opportunity presents itself.

Curious as to how Madden NFL '06 for the Xbox calls the game? Turn the page for a quarter-by-quarter recap!

GameSpot Simulated Super Bowl Recap

Our simulated Super Bowl was run on the Xbox version of Madden NFL '06, using full 15-minute quarters and the default difficulty level. If you're looking for extended coverage of our simulated Super Bowl, be sure to check out our GameSpot Sports Spotlight: Super Bowl XL video feature.

First Quarter

The Seattle Seahawks should have been up by two touchdowns early in the simulated Super Bowl. After a number of three-and-out performances by both sides, the Seahawks finally mounted a sustained drive midway through the first, mainly on the back of NFL MVP Shaun Alexander. Matt Hasselbeck got the 'Hawks close to the end zone after connecting with Joe Jurevicius, but couldn't seal the deal--tossing an interception in the end zone to the Steelers' Deshea Townsend.

On Seattle's very next possession, Hasselbeck once again found his rhythm, this time connecting with Bobby Engram on a pair of first down throws. A costly face mask penalty on the Steelers brought Seattle into the Pittsburgh red zone where Shaun Alexander had another gutsy run, taking the ball to the Steelers' 2-yard line for yet another first down. Hasselbeck tried a play-action and was stuffed on his rollout; on second down, Shaun Alexander was met at the line of scrimmage by a host of Steelers defenders; and on third down, Hasselbeck once again tossed an interception in the end zone, this time to Steelers linebacker James Farrior.

Second Quarter

In the second quarter, the Steelers came out strong, mounting a sustained drive, thanks to the deft hands of Hines Ward and some strong runs by Willie Parker. Now, within field goal range, the Steelers tried to push the ball farther down the field, but the Seahawks' coverage was too strong, disrupting Ben Roethlisberger's rhythm and forcing Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal.

Pittsburgh - 3, Seattle - 0

Hasselbeck's struggles early in the game didn't seem to faze him as he came out throwing more confidently than ever, hitting Engram, Jerramy Stevens, and Darrell Jackson all for first down strikes. More great runs from Shaun Alexander and fullback Mack Strong put the Seahawks in scoring range, where Josh Brown tied the game with a field goal kick of his own.

Pittsburgh - 3, Seattle - 3

Another three-and-out for Pittsburgh meant Seattle's offense could stay in the rhythm it was quickly establishing. Jackson and Engram were quickly becoming a two-headed monster for the 'Hawks offense, as both wideouts had big catches on this drive, one of which set up yet another field goal for Seattle and gave them their first lead of the game.

Seattle - 6, Pittsburgh - 3

Each time Pittsburgh's defense seemed to be in a position to take the ball away from Seattle on this drive, they faltered. A costly defensive pass interference call on Larry Foote kept Seattle alive and resulted in the fourth straight field goal of the game. As the Steelers headed into the second half of the game, their only solace was that they hadn't allowed the Seahawks into the end zone... yet.

Seattle - 9, Pittsburgh - 3

Third Quarter

Jerome Bettis' homecoming in Detroit didn't really get started until the second half, as "The Bus" didn't see any action in the game until midway through the third quarter, coming in to relieve Willie Parker. Pittsburgh's adjustments in the locker room at halftime meant more yardage for the Steelers, but they weren't yet adding up to touchdowns, as Jeff Reed kicked his second field goal of the game.

Seattle - 9, Pittsburgh - 6

Would Super Bowl XL remain a battle of the placekickers? Not if Darrell Jackson had anything to say about it. On Seattle's very next drive, Hasselbeck hooked up with D-Jack on a 52-yard touchdown strike as the 'Hawks found the end zone for the first time. It would be an omen of things to come.

Seattle - 16, Pittsburgh - 6

A few promising drives by Pittsburgh fizzled out, thanks to sterling defensive play by the Seahawks. Seattle's Lofa Tatupu intercepted a Roethlisberger pass toward the end of the quarter to put the ball back in the Seahawks' hands--and Shaun Alexander made the most of it, bowling over the Steelers' Chris Hope on his way to his first touchdown of the day.

Seattle - 23, Pittsburgh - 6

Fourth Quarter

If this was indeed Jerome Bettis' last game before his retirement, at least he could say he scored a touchdown in the Super Bowl. In typical fashion, Bettis got the ball in a goal line situation after the Steelers managed to bring the ball down the field. Pittsburgh was back in the mix, now only down by 10, but they would need to find some way to stop a Seattle offense that was just getting warmed up.

Seattle - 23, Pittsburgh - 13

We simply can't write a sentence short enough to illustrate how quickly the Seahawks scored next, but we'll try anyway. Hasselbeck to Engram, 69 yards--touchdown.

Seattle - 30, Pittsburgh - 13

By now, with the game well in Seattle's hand, Mike Holmgren could afford to put the ball in Shaun Alexander's hands and eat up the clock. Instead, Holmgren decided to channel the ghost of Steve Spurrier (circa 1996) and run the score up on Bill Cowher's team. Hasselbeck connected with Bobby Engram in the end zone to put Seattle up by 24. And they weren't done yet.

Seattle - 37, Pittsburgh - 13

This time around, however, at least Seattle had class enough to eat up some clock. Maurice Morris, in for Shaun Alexander, had a few decent runs on this drive, but Hasselbeck still seemed intent on putting the ball in the air--and finding receivers like Engram and Stevens in the process. Seattle garnered just a field goal here, but the pain wasn't done for the Steelers.

Seattle - 40, Pittsburgh - 13

Willie Parker doesn't like to lose in the Super Bowl, apparently. During his 81-yard touchdown-scoring run, Parker was running like his score would be somehow worth 27 points and keep his team in the game. Too bad it was only worth six.

Seattle - 40, Pittsburgh - 20

Darrell Jackson's third touchdown of the game garnered the wideout Super Bowl MVP honors and nailed the final spike in Pittsburgh's coffin. Despite the embarrassing loss, Pittsburgh ownership immediately renewed coach Bill Cowher's contract for another decade and a half, while Mike Holmgren returned to his familiar spot on the proverbial hot seat for not beating the Steelers by 30.

Final Score: Seattle - 47, Pittsburgh - 20

FINAL TEAM STATS
	Steelers	Seahawks
Total Offense	464	681
Rushing	254	227
Passing	210	454
1st downs	25	27
Giveaways	3	2
Takeaways	2	3
3rd down conv	6 of 27	12 of 29
Possession	24:09:00	35:51:00

FINAL INDIVIDUAL STATS
SEATTLE
Hasselbeck	31 of 60, 459 yds, 4 TD, 2 ints
Alexander	176 yds, 47 attempts, 3.7 avg.
Jackson	10 rec, 212 yds, 21.2.0 avg, 3 TD
Engram	14 rec, 143 yds, 10.2 avg, 1 TD
Jurevicius	4 rec, 63 yds, 15.7 avg
PITTSBURGH
Roethlisberger	19 of 44, 215 yds, 1 INT
Parker	145 yds, 4.1 avg, 35 attempts, 1 TD
Bettis	45 yds, 4.5 avg, 10 attempts, 1 TD
Ward	8 rec, 80 yds, 10 avg
Miller	5 rec, 32 yds, 6.4 avg
Randle El	5 rec, 45 yds, 9 avg