February I. 2006
^'ÏJortlanb (Jibseruer B la c k H lS tO ry M o n t h
Page A 7
ow
Seahawks, Steelers
Face Off Sunday
% •
~ - 'Ä
Kickoff at 3:30 p.m. on ABC-TV
Pittaburgh Steelers
The Steelers, in the playoffs fo u r o f the last five years,
will play in their Super Bowl since ¡995.
S£K
* •!
Season record: 11-5
O verall play off record: 27-19
L ast gam e: Beat the Denver Broncos, 34-17, at Denver for the AFC title.
M om entum m eter: The Steelers are peaking just in time for the Big Game.
As the first number six seed ever to reach the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh had
to win three road games to get here. Prior to that, the team won four “must-
win” games just to reach the playoffs.
Last S uper Bowl: Lost to Dallas 2 7 -17 in Super Bowl XXX ( 1996)
H onors: Guard Alan Faneca and strong safety Troy Polamalu were
selected to the Pro Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks
Winners o f a franchise-best 13 games this season, the
Seattle Seahawks will represent the NFC in this y ea r’s
Super Bowl fo r the first time.
Seattle Quarterback — Matt Hasselbeck
The NFC’s Pro Bowl starting quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck finished
the year with a 98.2 passer rating, good fo r fourth in the NFL. Yet
nobody talks about just how good Matt Hasselbeck is. It's not as if he's
a rookie, or that h e ’s come out o f nowhere; Hasselbeck has been
starting fo r five years now, and the last four h e’s thrown fo r more than
3,000 yards and had a passer rating o f at least 80.
Season record: 13-3 Overall playoff record: 5-7
Last game: Beat the Carolina Panthers, 34-14, at home for the NFC title.
Momentum meter: The Seahawks kept their momentum going aftera first
round-bye, picking-up two big wins at home to earn a trip to Detroit.
Last Super Bowl: The Seahawks will be playing in the first Super Bowl
in their franchise’s history.
2005 Season Stats: Passing - 294-of-449 for 3,459 yards; 24 touch­ Honors: Five players were selected for the Pro Bowl this year; running
downs; nine interceptions; 24 sacks; 98.2 rating
back Shaun Alexander, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, fullback Mack
Strong, guard Steve Hutchinson, and tackle Walter Jones will all start on
offense for the NFC. Alexander was named NFL Most Valuable Player
Seakhawk Backfield
and Offensive Player if the Year in 2005.
Profile — Shaun
Pittsburgh Quarterback — Ben Roethlisaberger
In his second season. Big Ben is 26-4 as an NFL starter, including the
playoffs. He doesn t do it with big numbers; only twice in his career has
he passed fo r 300 yards in a game. Instead, he does it with great
accuracy. His career regular season completion percentage is a lofty
64.7 percent.
2005 Season Stats: Passing- 198-of-268 for 2,385 yards; 17 touch­
downs; interception; 23 sacks; 98.6 rating
Steeler
Defensive
Profile -
Joey Porter
Alexander
Queen of Soul to
Reign Supreme
Shaun Alexander set an NFL
record with 28 touchdowns and
led the league in rushing with 1,880
yards. The six-year veteran has
averaged more than 17 rushing
touchdowns per season as a starter
the last five years. He said he con­
sidered winning the MVP Award a
group effort, further endearing him
to fans and teammates.
2005 Season Stats: Rushing -
370carries for 1,880 yards; 5 .1 yard average carry; longest - 88 yards; 28
TDs; Receiving - 15 catches for 78 yards; I TD.
Aretha Franklin will sing the National
Anthem at the Super Bowl XL being
held in Detroit on Sunday, Feb. 5 at
3 pm (PST). “ The Queen of Soul“
will be joined by one of New Orleans ’
“favorite sons,“ Aaron Neville. The
Grammy-Award winning twosome will
team up to perform live in front o f an
estimated worldwide audience o f over
130 million viewers.
Linebacker Joey Por­
ter talks a big game at
times, but he can back
it up, too. After jaw ­
ing about the Colts
and their plays. Por­
ter recorded 1.5
sacks in the AFC Divisional Playoffs as Pittsburgh knocked India­
napolis out o f the playoffs. Named to the All-Pro team in 2005. Porter
tied career highs with 10.5 sacks and fourforced fumbles. The Steelers
had the AFCs top-ranked defense in 2005, allowing a paltry 284.0
yards o f offense per game andjust 4.6 yards o f offense per play to their
opponents.
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