So... Who's going to Win XL?

[charlio lemieux]

Seattle or Pittsburg

Go Pittsburg!

[PDO]

Pittsburgh in a close one.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

Pitt 34-14 MVP: Troy Polamalu

Now watch as my pick is completely off.

[Amoroq]

Pitt over Sea 34-17

MvP-The Bus

[PDO]

31-27.

[charlio lemieux]

27-17

[The Insider]

Sorry to ruin the party, but Seattle is going to prove all of you wrong...

Go Seahawks!!!

Go Shaun Alexander...:boogie:

[Newfie John]

24-10 Pitsburgh. I don't watch much football, I'm a playoff only type of fan. That said, I think Big Ben will do well while the Seahawks try to shutdown Bettis.

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

It should be a good game. Seattle has one of the better defensive backfields in football, and they should give the Steelers problems in the passing game. If Willie Parker can break some runs off early the Steelers might be able to open some things up in the passing game. Of course that's what I thought they'd do in previous weeks and they came out throwing.

Seattle has struggled against the 34 defense in the past, and the Steelers 3-4 front is a lot better than the one they faced in Dallas earlier this season. If the blitzing Steeler linebackers get to come off the edge unaccounted for then it'll be a long day for the Seattle O. If their line holds up, it could be a big day for Shaun Alexander since he'll be able to run into the secondary before any tacklers come up on him.

I think both defense rise to the occasion. 17-14 for the Steel Curtain.

[charlio lemieux]

oops

[charlio lemieux]

Yay Pittsburg! 21-10

[MadDevil]

24-10 Pitsburgh. I don't watch much football, I'm a playoff only type of fan. That said, I think Big Ben will do well while the Seahawks try to shutdown Bettis.

Hey NJ, where did you get that crystal ball? Only off by a field goal...

It was a closer game than I thought it'd be, mainly because of a couple mistakes by the Steelers, but I think the better team ended up winning. I thought the Steelers would run away with it in the second half, but the Seahawks at least stayed in it. Seattle didn't help themselves with their clock management either. Overall, pretty good game (even though I didn't really care who won).

[wildboy26]

What a farce, the officials decided the game on their own. The quality was also awful, both teams played their worst game of the playoffs. The only good thing was Bettis finally got his Super Bowl ring. Everything else about the game sucked.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

I will agree that the officiating was pretty bad and that it has ben awful the entire season, but people are complaining about the wrong calls. Big Ben's TD could not have been overturned. There was in no way, any amount of indisputable evidence against the TD. And then the pass interference against Jackson, was almost the exact reason the rule was created. He put his hand directly on the defenders chest and pushed off. The defender even went backwards a little. It was the right call. The other calls were pretty pathetic. Not just phantom calls, but also penalties that weren't called. Something seriously needs to be done about these refs. It was really bad in the regular season, and the big stage of the playoffs just brought it out.

[charlio lemieux]

Some sports show was discussing this a few weeks ago. These refs are accountants and teachers. There was one there yesterday that was a retired cop and firefighter. Apparently these guys go back to their regular jobs through the week and then on Sunday come out and decide which millionaire's aren't playing by the rules. They aren't made to watch x number of hours of game footage or attend workshops put on by the league. They said on the sports show the refs get something like $30,000-40,000US per season. It was suggested that the league atleast double the salaries so that a NFL Ref's salary is a comfortable living, and then train them in how to properly ref a game. Make them watch a certain ammount of film each week etc.

It makes sense to me, when there is so much on the line each week. Then again, I will always be just a casual football fan. What do you hardcore fans think about the job of NFL Referee, becoming full time, and requiring minimum training?

[Newfie John]

I was praying for the Steelers to get that field goal because I was gaurunteeing people the score would be 24-10 Pitsburgh. Gah! Close anyway.

The refs were questionable on a few of those. The best team won though.

[LiAmTrAnSdEmOn]

I agree with the top part of your post charlio. The reffing needs some serious work because it is only gonna get worse.

[Canucklehead]

What a farce, the officials decided the game on their own. The quality was also awful, both teams played their worst game of the playoffs. The only good thing was Bettis finally got his Super Bowl ring. Everything else about the game sucked.

I agree.

The league needs to make sure that the refs aren?t arriving at the games in short busses. The biggest event of the year, and the NFL can?t even supply reasonable reffing. What a joke. Funny how all the bad calls and missed calls seemed to favour the team the everyone wanted to win. Coincidence?

[wildboy26]

Some sports show was discussing this a few weeks ago. These refs are accountants and teachers. There was one there yesterday that was a retired cop and firefighter. Apparently these guys go back to their regular jobs through the week and then on Sunday come out and decide which millionaire's aren't playing by the rules. They aren't made to watch x number of hours of game footage or attend workshops put on by the league. They said on the sports show the refs get something like $30,000-40,000US per season. It was suggested that the league atleast double the salaries so that a NFL Ref's salary is a comfortable living, and then train them in how to properly ref a game. Make them watch a certain ammount of film each week etc.

It makes sense to me, when there is so much on the line each week. Then again, I will always be just a casual football fan. What do you hardcore fans think about the job of NFL Referee, becoming full time, and requiring minimum training?

I am a casual fan myself, but I am all for training the officials and paying them like real employees. The NFL sure as heck has enough money to do this, they are overflowing with capital and assets! The players work too hard to not get the best officiating.

[wildboy26]

I agree.

The league needs to make sure that the refs aren?t arriving at the games in short busses. The biggest event of the year, and the NFL can?t even supply reasonable reffing. What a joke. Funny how all the bad calls and missed calls seemed to favour the team the everyone wanted to win. Coincidence?

That was my thinking too, same thing in the Indy-Pittsburg game except against Pittsburg this time. It is too obvious to be coincidence I believe sorry. I also think Seattle probably would have with better officiating, you think of the points they looked to lose by bad calls. Hasselback also certainly came up with many more big plays than Roethlisburger on this day, but alot of his were ruined by either bad officiating or clumsy hands Stevens.

[THE HACK]

I will agree that the officiating was pretty bad and that it has ben awful the entire season, but people are complaining about the wrong calls. Big Ben's TD could not have been overturned. There was in no way, any amount of indisputable evidence against the TD. And then the pass interference against Jackson, was almost the exact reason the rule was created. He put his hand directly on the defenders chest and pushed off. The defender even went backwards a little. It was the right call. The other calls were pretty pathetic. Not just phantom calls, but also penalties that weren't called. Something seriously needs to be done about these refs. It was really bad in the regular season, and the big stage of the playoffs just brought it out.

I totally agree with your points 100%!

Even though I won money on this game it was completely ruined by this horrible reffing and phantom calls from out of nowhere.The Hasselbeck illegal block call and some of the garbage holding calls really disturbs me and I feel bad for the Seahawks,they were robbed of a fair game!

Cheers

[J.R.]

No mention of Ben Roethlisberger's shitty play?

He goes 9/21, 123 yards and two interceptions and it seems like he's got off scott free. He recorded the worst passer rating in Super Bowl history with the pitiful 22.3. Antwaan Randle El was probably the best quarterback (other than John Elway in the pregame) on the field Sunday.

As mentioned already, the officiated continued to suck.
- Jackson's pushoff was a weak call and cost Seattle four more points.
- Roelisberger's ball didn't cross the goal line until he crawled.
- Countless holding calls.
- No call on the horse collar, when Seattle was within the 15?
- Next play, Pittsburgh intercepts the ball and Hasselbeck is pegged with an illegal tackle. That was insane.

No wonder Mike Holmgren was pissed.

We watched Family Guy on DVD at halftime, so I can't comment on that performance, but the best series of US commercial were from Ameriquest Mortgage Company and their "Don't Judge Too Quickly" spots. I also liked Buger King's Whopperettes and FedEx's Caveman commercials. Hummer's Giant Monsters was too wierd that it made me laugh.

[KB in Kelowna]

I disagree on the Jackson push off, he did make contact and it is against the rules. The call on the Hassleback tackle/block was bogus. Yet another Superbowl that fails to live up to the hype. Even if they had to manufacuter the hype (Jeremey Stevens vs Joey Porter). The Rolling Stones the Mark Messier of Rock and Roll. If I can hear Start Me up in its entirety on FM Clasiic Schlock radio why can't I hear the phrase "You make a dead man come" on the Superbowl broadcast?

[J.R.]

Yet another Superbowl that fails to live up to the hype.This one was boring, but we have been treated to some great games in the last few years.

XXXIX - New England wins by 3.
XXXVIII - New England wins by 3.
XXXVI - New England wins by 3.
XXXIV - St. Louis hangs on at last second/last yard.
XXXII - Denver hangs on for 7 point win.

And IF Seattle would have scored in the third quarter when they were close to go up 17-14, you'd have to think that XL would have had a much better finish.

[Newfie John]

My favourite commercial was the one where the sheep comes out with all its hair shaved off and the cowboys says its a streaker. lol. Those Budweiser commercials are always good.

[charlio lemieux]

I disagree on the Jackson push off, he did make contact and it is against the rules. The call on the Hassleback tackle/block was bogus. Yet another Superbowl that fails to live up to the hype. Even if they had to manufacuter the hype (Jeremey Stevens vs Joey Porter). The Rolling Stones the Mark Messier of Rock and Roll. If I can hear Start Me up in its entirety on FM Clasiic Schlock radio why can't I hear the phrase "You make a dead man come" on the Superbowl broadcast?
:laughing: The Stones. Man they are looking rough. The Super Bowl went from Janet to a Viagra & Geritol comercial. I saw the Breast went it happened. Much more entertaining than old Mick, and Keith-of-the-living-dead. A reporter asked him what he would do after a nuclear war and it was only him and the cockroaches left. Keith said he would eat the cockroaches. Way to go Keith! Mick's strut/run/convulsion around the stage was getting some chuckles around here. Didn't notice 'til near the end but the stage was the lips and tongue.

XXXIV - St. Louis hangs on at last second/last yard.
Three more feet and it was a brand new game. Gotta be my favorite Super Bowl. No seriously it HAS to be. I picked up my wife at that Super Bowl Party. :D

My favourite commercial was the one where the sheep comes out with all its hair shaved off and the cowboys says its a streaker. lol. Those Budweiser commercials are always good.
That one was good. The cell phone one was funny. And the Fed Ex caveman one was also good.

[Newfie John]

I laughed so hard at that caveman fed ex one. When he comes out and kicks the dinosaur.. oh man. lol.

[PDO]

We're talking superbowl commercials.. and not a single mention of the magical beer fridge?!

[KB in Kelowna]

This one was boring, but we have been treated to some great games in the last few years.

XXXIX - New England wins by 3.
XXXVIII - New England wins by 3.
XXXVI - New England wins by 3.
XXXIV - St. Louis hangs on at last second/last yard.
XXXII - Denver hangs on for 7 point win.

And IF Seattle would have scored in the third quarter when they were close to go up 17-14, you'd have to think that XL would have had a much better finish.

I was thinking of some older ones like XII, XXI, XXII,and XXIV ;) :laughing: :wave:

[J.R.]

I was thinking of some older ones like XII, XXI, XXII,and XXIV ;) :laughing: :wave:
Yeah it's not an accomplishment winning the AFC championship six times. :rolleyes:

[Leafs_Fa_Life]

Yeah it's not an accomplishment winning the AFC championship six times. :rolleyes:

I don't think KB is saying that it isnt' a great accomplishment. However, the Super Bowl itself probably didn't live up to the hype in those years.