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Coaches' playoff records: Mike Holmgren, Seattle, 11-8 Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh, 11-9
Last meeting: November 2, 2003 at Seattle Matt Hasselbeck completed 18-of-31 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown, leading the Seahawks to a 23-16 victory over the Steelers. Darrell Jackson had 69 of his 85 yards receiving in the second half, including a 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter. The Steelers got little from their running game as Jerome Bettis rushed for 50 yards on 18 carries. Pittsburgh's Tommy Maddox completed 21-of-35 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown. He was 14-of-19 for 163 yards in the fourth quarter.
Seahawks' playoff road: NFL MVP Shaun Alexander set franchise playoff records with 132 yards rushing on 32 carries as the Seahawks advanced to the Super Bowl for the first time in their 30-year history with a 34-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Alexander also had one-yard touchdown runs in the second and fourth quarter, respectively. Hasselbeck completed 20-of-28 passes for 219 yards and two TDs without a turnover. Rookie linebacker Lofa Tatupu and free safety Marquand Manuel had first-quarter interceptions to set up a field goal and touchdown.
Hasselbeck passed for a touchdown and ran for another score and Jackson set a club postseason record with 143 receiving yards as the Seahawks posted a 20-10 victory over the Washington Redskins for their first playoff win since December 1984. Jackson had nine catches, including a 29-yard touchdown. The Seahawks were able to win despite playing most of the way without Alexander, who went down in the first quarter with a concussion.
Steelers' playoff road: The first quarterback to start in a conference championship game in his first two seasons, Ben Roethlisberger directed four scoring drives in the first half when the Steelers built a big lead en route to a 34-17 victory over the Denver Broncos. The Steelers became the first sixth seed to advance to the Super Bowl. They also joined the 1985 New England Patriots as teams to win three straight road games en route to reaching the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger completed 13-of-17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the first half when the Steelers scored on all of their possessions and built a 24-3 lead. He then sealed the win with a four-yard touchdown run with 2:59 left in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger completed 21-of-29 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh also forced four turnovers.
Roethlisberger passed for 197 yards and two touchdowns and the Steelers recorded five sacks of Peyton Manning in a 21-18 victory over the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts in the divisional playoffs. Jerome Bettis scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter, but his fumble late in the fourth quarter nearly cost Pittsburgh the game. With 1st-and-goal at the Indianapolis 2 with 1:27 left, Bettis had the ball knocked out of his hands by linebacker Gary Brackett. Cornerback Nick Harper recovered it and raced 35 yards. Harper could have gone all the way if not for a lunging tackle by Roethlisberger. Mike Vanderjagt then missed a potential game-tying 46-yard field goal in the final seconds.
Roethlisberger completed 14-of-19 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-17 win at Cincinnati in the wild-card round. Cedrick Wilson caught three passes for 104 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown. Safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Farrior each had an interception.
Seattle offense vs. Pittsburgh defense Key Matchups: QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. NFL's 16th-ranked pass defense RB Shaun Alexander vs. NFL's 3rd-ranked run defense WR Darrell Jackson vs. LCB Ike Taylor TE Jerramy Stevens vs. SS Troy Polamalu C Robbie Tobeck vs. NT Casey Hampton RT Sean Locklear vs. LEs Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel
The Seahawks are the NFL's highest scoring team with 28.3 points per game. Against Carolina in the NFC championship game, Holmgren used the passing game in the first half to help set up the running game. Alexander finished with a franchise-record 34 carries, running behind Pro Bowl fullback Mack Strong. Alexander loves to run left behind Pro Bowlers Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson. Suited to make quick reads in the West Coast offense, Hasselbeck could feel comfortable against the Steelers' blitzing schemes. He will look for Stevens and Jackson on quick routes. Jackson has been Hasselbeck's favorite target in the postseason, catching 15 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the postseason. Hasselbeck also has shown to be adept at scrambling.
Pittsburgh offense vs. Seattle defense Key Matchups: QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. NFL's 25th-ranked pass defense RBs Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis vs. NFL's 5th-ranked rush defense WR Hines Ward vs. LCB Andre Dyson TE Heath Miller vs. SS Michael Boulware C Jeff Hartings vs. MLB Lofa Tatupu LG Alan Faneca vs. RDT Rocky Bernard
The Steelers no longer are just a run-oriented team. Roethlisberger has been given the chance to make plays in the passing game and has demonstrated that he is more than capable. In the AFC championship game at Denver, Roethlisberger came out throwing and was effective. He did the same against top-seeded Indianapolis in the divisional playoffs. Pittsburgh's offensive line provided superb protection, picking up all the blitz schemes. Now they go up against a team that led the league with 50 sacks. The key to offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt's game plan is spreading the ball around to Ward, Antwaan Randle El, Cedrick Wilson and Miller. Fullback Verron Haynes also is effective as a receiver on third down. The Seahawks are difficult to run on, but Parker and Bettis will get their carries. If the Steelers have the lead in the second half, then Cowher will opt to unleash the speed of Parker and power of Bettis at the Seahawks. Whisenhunt also has been known to throw in a trick play from time to time.
-from Yahoo Sports Go !
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