Super Bowl XL Discussion Thread and TFP Bowl Championship Thread

[dylanmarsh]

It's less than a week before what will most likely be the most boring Super Bowl in recent memory. Let's get the discussion started.

Some predictions:
Shaun Alexander will choke.
Jerome Bettis' thyroid will come into play, finally.

*********************************************************

Also,

This is the final week of the TFP Bowl Playoffs. All can post their picks, but only those listed below can eventually be the winner of the TFP Bowl Trophy(tm). If you make a mistake, it is your mistake, not ours.

The tournament is a single elimination format. Therefore, no one should have an advantage heading into the playoffs. Anyone in the tournament can win. Here are the match ups for the final week:

For first place: 4. maximusveritas versus 11. BonesCPA
For third place: 1. AvoiceofReason versus 3. Giant Hamburger

The games will be picked on winner of each game. The tiebreakers have changed since the regular season, and also since weeks one and two, so please read them carefully. Note that if both players tie on the games, the tiebreakers are taken in order until a winner is decided. You must pick the correct team/score in order to win the tiebreaker - if your pick is closer to the tiebreaker than your opponent, but still not correct, the next tiebreaker is used.

First Tiebreaker: First score of the Super Bowl. Pick type of score - there are three choices: touchdown, field goal and safety. You must pick the one of the three and it is for the first points scored in the first game of the weekend. (Do not name a team - name the type of scoring play.)

Second Tiebreaker: Last score of the Super Bowl. Pick type of score - there are three choices: touchdown, field goal and safety. You must pick the one of the three and it is for the last points scored in the second game of the weekend. (Do not name a team - name the type of scoring play.)

Third Tiebreaker: Total points of the Super Bowl. All points of all teams playing is the last number. Closest without going over. If both go over, then the closest.

All can participate in this thread, but the four players listed above should not post their picks directly into this thread. The players still in the race for the TFP Bowl Trophy should PM their picks directly to me and once I have received all of the picks, I will post them in this thread myself. I trust everyone’s sportsmanship, but as they say, it is better to be safe than sorry. Once picks are posted by me in this thread, they may NOT be changed, so choose carefully. Everyone else participating should post directly in this thread.

Good luck to everyone.

Super Bowl XL 6:00pm EST - February 5, 2006
Pittsburgh Steelers versus Seattle Seahawks

[dylanmarsh]

One more thing. This is what we all play for and what maximusveritas or BonesCPA will take home:

[Daoust]

Why is everyone so down on this Superbowl match up? Because of Seattle? I think Pittsburgh is a great team and an exciting team. I think Seattle deserves to be there too, but I haven't followed them much since I"m on the east coast.

So why is everyone so disinterested? Don't you think P-burgh is a good team? Personally I would not have been as interested if it was New England v. Denver or Indy v. anyone because I could care less for those big teams. It's nice to see some new faces in the big show... And you can't disagree that both teams deserve to be there...

For the record, I pick Pittsburgh to win 27-23

[crewsor]

Pissburg sucks and Seattle is obscure. But I'm looking forward to the game just hoping the Steelers get spanked so I can see the look on slobberin Bills' face as he stomps around spitting and crying.

Actually I expect it to be one of the more competitive and interesting Super Bowls, but I really do hope Pissburgh gets spanked.

[hunnychile]

Pittsburg could (and will! I hope-) do it...don't think that they aren't ready to go "all the way"!! It's been too long since they've won this title...

It's time for a good match-up and Seattle has never won it ...so, be ready for a decent match up /hopefully/ for a change.

For those of you who aren't interested, yah better just go to the Mall with yer Missus
HAHAHAHAH! LOL

[crow_daw]

I am so damn glad to see that some people actually think Seattle has a shot. EVERYONE I know personally is just completely counting them out entirely. Saying that they're going to get murdered.

...rant coming......on......can't.....help....it


Who in the blue fuck decided that Seattle is such a sorry team?!?! I mean I know they haven't won a playoff game in over twenty years, but stilll, that was the past! All we're talking about is this year, and this year they have been pretty damn fucking good!!! Carolina was rolling hard, Steve Smith was raping ass, and Seattle tore the Panthers to ribbons!! I'm not even normally a Seahawks fan really, but I picked them early in the season, I'm sticking with them! And hell, the fact that, again, EVERYONE I KNOW is completely counting them out just makes me like them more, because it's bullshit man!! How in the hell does the #1 Seed in the NFC get to be the underdog against the God damn #6 Seed in the AFC?!? The only reasons that everyone is so pumped about the Steelers is because A) They've beaten the #3,#2, and #1 seeds, respectively, all on the road...and B) because Bettis's fat old ass is from Detroit!!! Well, dammit, as far as I'm concerned, that shit doesn't matter cause RIGHT NOW they're both 0-0, just like the fucking score!!!

Whew, sorry about that. I just had to freak a little bit.

But seriously, here's hoping that Seattle gives the Steelers, and all the doubters, one big juicy shit sandwich to eat.

[Mherlee]

Thank you crow_daw!!!! I am from NoCal originally and have been a Seahawks faithful through all the crappy years since 1980. Try being a Hawks fan near SF in the 80s...whew. I am soooo excited about just being in the SB I can't sleep. I just do not understand why Pittsburg is picked to win. I get the whole gee they ave been in the SB before...people it was 30 years ago! Even the mayor of Detroit is picking the Steelers, way to remain objective! I agree Seattle has been fair to middlin forever, but hello Shawn Alexander? Hasselbeck that I used to hate is on fire! Tatupu, Jones, Bernard...seriously! I am prepping myself for another let down, but I have my NFC champ hat so I am a happy girl. They win and I will have to buy a new couch...sure I will pee on this one lol.

[Glory's Sun]

I'm taking Seattle. How could anyone go against the league MVP?? Who cares about Jerome playing in his home town? Seriously. I'm so sick of that story. Since when do football players have emotion other than hate?

I think people are underestimating Seattle's defensive.. they are playing some nasty D right now. Watch as they cram a ball up worthlessburger's butt.

[AVoiceOfReason]

Don't know if I'm suppose to do this privately or publicly, but here goes:

Seattle

TD
TD

45

[snowy]

Originally Posted by crow_daw

But seriously, here's hoping that Seattle gives the Steelers, and all the doubters, one big juicy shit sandwich to eat.

Amen.

I'm sick and tired of all the analysts counting Seattle out. Hello? The No. 1 seed against the No. 6 seed? Puhleeze.

Seahawks by 10.

[Mherlee]

Originally Posted by onesnowyowl

Amen.

I'm sick and tired of all the analysts counting Seattle out. Hello? The No. 1 seed against the No. 6 seed? Puhleeze.

Seahawks by 10.

I am sooooo with you!! Doesn't make sense even if it is just by the numbers. On another note, wow from Corvallis? I have many friends there. Small world!

[grumpyolddude]

I've been on the Seahawk bandwagon most of the season. Seattle's offensive line earned Shaun Alexander an MVP, and kept Hasselback healthy all year. Pittsburgh has the 3-4 defense, but Holmgren has had 2 weeks to tinker with the blocking schemes.

I'm shoutin' out from Bettis' home town: Seattle 28, Pittsburgh 20!

[maximusveritas]

oops, I almost posted my picks here. I'll wait for dylan to post my picks instead like he says in the rules.

[dylanmarsh]

Championship Match-Up:

Originally Posted by maximusveritas

Seattle
FG
TD
40

versus

Originally Posted by BonesCPA

Here we go, for all the marbles (or plastic as the case may be)...

Seattle
Field Goal
Touchdown
38
__________________
I was away. I'm back. Look at the name and think about it.

Third Place Match-Up:

Originally Posted by Giant Hamburger

Hail Citizen!

I will choose the Seattle Seahawks to emerge victorious.

1st tb: field goal
2nd tb: field goal
3rd tb: 42 total points

Over and out,
-GH

versus

Originally Posted by AVoiceofReason

Don't know if I'm suppose to do this privately or publicly, but here goes:

Seattle

TD
TD

45
__________________
AVOR

A Voice Of Reason, not necessarily the ONLY one.

Here's the deal with the championship match-up: max and Bones both picked the tie-breakers the same all the way to the points. Since they both picked so damn close, the rules state that it's the closest point total without going over. Therefore, Bones will win the match-up if the game is a combined 39 points or fewer and max will win if it is 40 points or more.

Somebody shoulda pick Pitt.

[BonesCPA]

Originally Posted by dylanmarsh

Somebody shoulda pick Pitt.

I guess that explains why you aren't in the final four....

[maximusveritas]

It is kinda weird that everyone in the contest and almost everyone at TFP in general is picking the Seahawks. Here's hoping for a high scoring game. Good luck Bones.

[yournamehere]

Originally Posted by crow_daw

The only reasons that everyone is so pumped about the Steelers is because A) They've beaten the #3,#2, and #1 seeds, respectively, all on the road...and B) because Bettis's fat old ass is from Detroit!!! Well, dammit, as far as I'm concerned, that shit doesn't matter cause RIGHT NOW they're both 0-0, just like the fucking score!!!

Actually, A) matters quite a bit. And B) is the media's doing, not Jerome's

I've been a Steelers fan since before most of the members of this community were born - I've been a fan thru the good times (the fabulous 70s) and the bad times. I think the team, Bill Cowher, and the Rooney family deserve this win, for all the loyalty they've shown each other (except you, Plexico - how'd that move to the Giants work out for ya?)

Seattle is a great team - they've won 13 of their last 14 games, and Holmgren rested the starters during the game they lost. They certainly deserve to be at the big game.

As far as a 1 seed being an underdog to a 6 seed, remember that Pittsburgh tied with Cincinnati, the 3 seed in the AFC. The tiebreaker was the Division record, which went to the Bengals because the Steelers lost three in a row during Roethlisbergers' 5-week injury absence. And don't forget that this is basically the same team as last year's 15-1 team - with a much more experienced quarterback.

Also, another reason Pittsburgh is getting more press is because anyone who pays attention knows that the AFC is the stronger Conference this year, so it's natural for some people to assume that the best AFC team is better than the best NFC team.

They're both good teams and both deserve to be there.
That being said,
GO STEELERS!!! (um . . . . 27-16)

[ChrisJericho]

Seattle.

33-10

[dylanmarsh]

Originally Posted by BonesCPA

I guess that explains why you aren't in the final four....

Har har har. We'll see who will get the last laugh when Pitt wins 40-0.

[maximusveritas]

Looks like you did get the last laugh dylan, but congrats are still in order for BonesCPA.
I still think Seattle was the better team, but they choked when it mattered. Just like BonesCPA, Pittsburgh came through in the playoffs and proved its mettle.

[Jadedfox]

Wow...that was a major choke by Seattle. I haven't seen Pittsburgh play so poorly since they were 7-5 during the regular season.

But grats to Pitts anyway, helluva playoff ride!

--jaded

EDIT: Forgot to include my vote for MVP: The Ref Crew. What a debacle.

[AVoiceOfReason]

Well, I had thought the final would be 24-21 Seattle. Pittsburgh got the 21, but Seattle had a TD taken from them (although they got a field goal on that possession, didn't they? I missed the first quarter) and then blew another chance to score on the interception deep in Steeler territory.

Enjoyed the contest here this season. It caused me to pay more attention to the NFL than I have in years.

[Bobaphat]

MVP of the game, the men in black and white. Seattle was played poorly, but they were robbed.

[saut]

The officiating didn't cost Seattle the game, sorry. I'm tired of hearing this. There were two bad calls made -- the Clark Haggans holding call that brough back a big play and the Hasselbeck block that added 15 yards to an already momentum swinging Ike Taylor interception. Some of the other calls were very close, but they were the right calls to make. The ball obviously crossed the goal line on Ben's TD dive (the officials even reviewed it) and there was a pretty obvious push off on the offensive pass interference in the end zone. The Steelers didn't play nearly as well as they have for the past 7 weeks, but if any team deserves this game, they do.

[Mherlee]

Seattle outplayed Pittsburgh the first half just the score didn't show that. If we can't get in the endzone and keep the refs out of someones pocket then can't expect to win. Pittsburgh had some great big plays and so deserved the win. Without the stupid call that robbed Seattle of the td early and then the td given to Pitt even after a review that clearly shows Ben losing the ball then being down and never getting the ball across the line it would have been a different game. When I was a kid, my Dad always said the team with the nicknames and hype always win, guess it shows he was a wise man. Here's hoping Seattle watches the film, gets mad and resigns all those wonderful probowlers that are up for free agency, come back and kick the crap out of everyone next year!!

[saut]

Clearly shows Ben losing the ball? I don't see him losing it at any point, and the ball just barely crosses the goal line -- making it a TD and the right call.

[Mherlee]

Watch it again. The ball, not his body language. Ball is not in his control, just happens to land on it and roll it, oh yeah after his knees are down.

[saut]

It doesn't matter because that is not when the ball crossed the plane -- it crossed when he was still in the air. I haven't heard anyone else argue that he didn't have possession.

[blar]

it was a good game i was just happy 2 "new" teams made it

[AquaFox]

Originally Posted by blar

it was a good game i was just happy 2 "new" teams made it

huh? what the heck are you saying? it might have been afew years, but the steelers are not new to the superbowl...


the steelers got a bit of a "heavier" hand than most teams





GO STEELERS!!

[AquaFox]

and for the seatle kids...

[ChrisJericho]

If the Stealers didn't have the help from the refs, Seattle wins.

[MontanaXVI]

One of the problems was that the officiating DID suck most of the game. The Ben TD run, was ruled a TD intially on the field, after a review the play stood, why? Not because the ball crossed the plane of the line, but, because THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH INDISPUTABLE visiual evidence to overturn it. People seem to forget that the replay is there to provide concrete, solid proof that something did or did not happen, and by them ruling the play a TD they just could not prove 100% without a shadow of a doubt that it did not happen, had it been ruled a non TD on the field, I think it would have stood as well under review.

I thought SEA had a great season, but they always bothered me they play in a weak division, let alone weak conference, they almost lost to the niners early on in the season, they play STL and ARI two times along with the niners, I would HOPE they could win all 6 of those games right there, they played a Carolina team that was just worn out, they did a great job of controlling Steve Smith, but these guys just looked like they ran out of gas when they played the Seahawks.

I could go on and on for both Seattle and Pittsburgh, but I thought going in the Steelers would win it, and they did, congrats Steelers.

[eye0620]

No game comes down to simply the Refs -- Seattle played a sloppy game, not executing on offense, playing spotty defense, and poorly managing the clock. The 'Hawks were not the Seahawks that dominated the (although weak) NFC playoffs, and if they were planning on beating Pit, they needed to be on top of their game

[BonesCPA]

Thanks. It's good to be the king.

I wasn't necessarily rooting for either side, but I did get a negative Seahawks vibe from the refs. Of course, if you just play a good game, you take the refs out of it. Interceptions aren't the refs fault.

[AquaFox]

it was THIRD DOWN, and if it wasnt a touch down, it would be be LESS THAN AN INCH!


even if they didn't get it that play, they would have got it next play! and even if they didn't get it on 4th down, the seahawks would be in no good position, and it would have been a quick turn-over to let the steelers back at it again

[yournamehere]

Originally Posted by ChrisJericho

If the Stealers didn't have the help from the refs, Seattle wins.

C'mon.

That's a tired excuse for not showing up.
The game was theirs for the taking for the whole 60 minutes.
Even tho it didn't seem that the Steelers wanted it; Seattle played like they wanted it even less.

Ever hear of clock management?
Holmgren sure didn't on Sunday.

Just admit they got outplayed (barely), and be happy for a great season.

[hunnychile]

It was one of the better football seasons IMHO. The Steelers are a great bunch of guys & they are nice families, too.

So, yeah...Hooray Steelers! And the Bus does Rock! Yee haw!!!

It's all good....