20 Post-Game Thoughts: ***SUPER BOWL EDITION***

[ramsbruce]

Seattle lost the game, the refs weren't great but Seattle missed FGs, dropped passes and had ridiculous clock management at the end of the half and at the end of the game.

[Nick]

For what it's worth, NFL analysts Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan both agree that the Big Ben TD was, in fact, a TD.

[ramsbruce]

For what it's worth, NFL analysts Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan both agree that the Big Ben TD was, in fact, a TD.

It was so hard to tell, so it was a good call to not overturn it.

[r8rh8rmike]

Well, Super Bowl XL will most definitely not go down as a classic. Both teams looked tenative and did not play anywhere near their best football.

The mentally tough Seahawk team I expected was a no show. Critical mistakes, inept execution and horrible coaching decisions tainted everything they worked so hard to achieve this season. IMO, there is nothing worse than losing a Super Bowl as a result of poor play.

The Steelers were not much better, but they made some great play calls when they needed them and found a way to get the ball in the endzone. Despite the officiating, they deserved to win.

[ramsbruce]

Well, Super Bowl XL will most definitely not go down as a classic. Both teams looked tenative and did not play anywhere near their best football.

The mentally tough Seahawk team I expected was a no show. Critical mistakes, inept execution and horrible coaching decisions tainted everything they worked so hard to achieve this season. IMO, there is nothing worse than losing a Super Bowl as a result of poor play.

The Steelers were not much better, but they made some great play calls when they needed them and found a way to get the ball in the endzone. Despite the officiating, they deserved to win.

Don't forget we bet and you owe me 100$. LOL

[r8rh8rmike]

Don't forget we bet and you owe me 100$. LOL

I sure didn't make a very good call did I? Darn those Seahawks!!

[Seehawkrun]

what about the 15 yard penalty for tackling the ball carrier after an INT? How can you be called for a low "block" when you're making a perfect tackle? Bullsh*t call.

You can't score a TD with your helmet. (unless you're Big Ben or Vinny Tesdeverde and you're playing against the Seahawks.)

Djack caught the first TD of Super Bowl 40. Both players were pushing each other and the flag was only thrown after the Pitt defender pleasded to the ref. Terrible call.

[ramsbruce]

what about the 15 yard penalty for tackling the ball carrier after an INT? How can you be called for a low "block" when you're making a perfect tackle? Bullsh*t call.

You can't score a TD with your helmet. (unless you're Big Ben or Vinny Tesdeverde and you're playing against the Seahawks.)

Djack caught the first TD of Super Bowl 40. Both players were pushing each other and the flag was only thrown after the Pitt defender pleasded to the ref. Terrible call.

What about all the dropped passes? What about the missed FGs? What about the bad clock management? Sure there were some bad calls, but Seattle lost that game.

[r8rh8rmike]

What about all the dropped passes? What about the missed FGs? What about the bad clock management? Sure there were some bad calls, but Seattle lost that game.

I agree. You can add the Hasselbeck interception to the list. A lot of the calls were questionable, but not blatently bad, with the exception of the penalty on Hasselbeck and the hold on Locklear. Those were horrible calls. However, if the Seahawks had taken care of the things they had control over, they would have won the game.

[Nick]

what about the 15 yard penalty for tackling the ball carrier after an INT? How can you be called for a low "block" when you're making a perfect tackle? Bullsh*t call.

Very questionable, but Hasselbeck wasn't being called for blocking the guy he was tackling. He was being called for blocking one of the other players.

You can't score a TD with your helmet. (unless you're Big Ben or Vinny Tesdeverde and you're playing against the Seahawks.)

There's a case to be made that the tucked-in side of the football crossed the line while Ben was in the air. The video review did not show inclusively that it did not.

Djack caught the first TD of Super Bowl 40. Both players were pushing each other and the flag was only thrown after the Pitt defender pleasded to the ref. Terrible call.

How can you say D-Jack caught the first TD of the game but then concede that pushing was occuring? If there was pushing, a flag needed to be thrown to penalize it. D-Jack obviously put his hands up to the defender, and then his body moved away so he could catch the ball. That sounds like a perfect example of a push off to me. I don't recall the defender doing anything that drastic though.

Also, the official reached for his flag well before the Steeler complained, but didn't grab it. It took him another second to get it out, and thus begins the idea that it was brought about by the complaining.

Bottom line is your team left 13 points on the board. Two missed field goals and a missed opportunity at a touchdown when Hasselchoke overthrew his receiver and the Steelers picked it off. If they convert those opportunities into points, it's a 23-21 Seahawks win.

1) Even if you're arguing the D-Jack interference call was bogus, the Seahawks still had three downs and the possibility of a new set of downs to score. They didn't get it done, settle for a FG.

2) End of the first half, HORRIBLE clock management that results in a missed 54 yard field goal.

3) First drive of the second half, Seahawks aren't penalized once, but Brown misses another field goal, this time from 50 yards out.

4) Third drive of the second half, Mr MVP commits a poorly timed false start and puts Seattle in a hole they can't get out of, three and out.

5) Seahawks driving to start the fourth quarter, Stevens catch is called back for "phantom hold." Seattle still has first down inside the Steelers 30 and has no reason to not come out with at least three points. Instead, Hampton OWNS your center and gets to Hasselbeck, and two plays later, Hasselbeck overthrows the receiver and turns the ball over. Missed opportunity for points.

6) On first down, the Steelers run a play they used back in Week 10 against the Browns and have ARE pass to Ward downfield. Trufant didn't stay with Ward, and he had no safety help. Seahawks defense got burned bad, and paid with a large deficit.

7) The Seahawks got the ball back with a little under nine minutes to go, and couldn't get passed midfield. Punt.

8) Seahawks get the ball back with less than two minutes, and once again gave a clinic in what NOT to do in clutch. Six foot seven, 260 pound Jeremy "Joey Porter was Right" Stevens catches a dump off pass and can't get out of bounds before five foot eight 190 pound Tyrone Carter tackles him.

I don't care if Seahawk fans are mad at the refs for poor officiating. But the refs did not cost Seattle this game; Seattle's own poor play did.

[cowboyhater]

Big Ben’s performance: worst ever by a Super Bowl winning QB?

Uh, I think Trent Dilfer still holds that title.

[general counsel]

Tom Brady did basically nothing in sb 36, although i admit he didnt make any mistakes either.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[laram0]

Hats off to the Steelers.

Recap:

Knocked off #3 seed in the AFC- Bengals
Knocked off #1 seed in the AFC- Colts
Knocked off #2 seed in the AFC- Broncos

Won the SUPERBOWL by knocking off the #1 seed in the NFC- Seahawks.

All road game wins !

That playoff run will never be topped. Very impressive.

[AvengerRam]

what about the 15 yard penalty for tackling the ball carrier after an INT? How can you be called for a low "block" when you're making a perfect tackle? Bullsh*t call.
.

Perhaps, but on Herndon's return there was a clear block in the back that took out Big Ben that was not called.

[RAMMAN68]

I've gotta disagree with you GC. On that holding call Locklear (I believe) grabbed the shoulder pad of the Pittsburgh player stopping him from a would be sack.

I've watched all of the hawk post season games and Locklear got away with a lot of holding during those games. It was holding, a little ticky tacky but he got what he deserved.

Seattle's receivers have been killing hasselbeck for years and they did it again today.

That's what happens when you have a former safety as your WR's coach. Nice job Cromwell.