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Originally Posted by mlyons
Game prediction:
Pittsburgh, thinking the Seahawks are soft against the run, comes out concentrating on their rushing game. This doesn't work, and they gain only 25 yards in their first two possessions. In the meantime, Seattle starts off using a lot of short passes and play action, moving the ball relatively well, and end up going ahead 7-0 when Troy Polamalu jumps a double move, allowing Darrell Jackson to come free on a deep post.
In the second quarter, the Steelers start to shift away from the run a little and start moving the ball better, hitting field goals on consecutive drives. The Seahawks, having forced Pittsburgh's defense to think pass a little, start exploring the running game, and Shaun Alexander starts to pick up large chunks of yardage, mostly off the left side. The Seahawks have one sustained, 8:00+ drive culminating in an Alexander TD. At the half it's 14-6, Seattle.
Pittsburgh comes out throwing in the second half, using a lot of quick outs to their wide receivers, looking to exploit Seattle's weak corners. It works well, and the Steelers pick up another fieldgoal and a touchdown, but the Seahawks manage to control the clock for the third quarter with Alexander rushing and short passes from Hasselbeck. At the end of three quarters, the game has tightened to 17-16, Seahawks.
Both defenses tighten down in the fourth quarter, and the score remains the same until four minutes remain in the game, at which point Roethlisberger, starting to press a little bit, makes an off-balance throw while scrambling to his left. It's behind Hines Ward coming over the middle, who manages to get a hand on it, but it deflects into the hands of Lofa Tatupu. The Seahawks easily score with the resulting short field, and Pittsburgh is unable to come up with an answer as time expires.
Final score: Seahawks 24, Steelers 16
Matt Hasselbeck is named MVP, although Tatupu deserves the honor.
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