FIRST QUARTER
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RUSHING LEADERS
Seattle
Alexander...5 carries, 10 yards
Pittsburgh
Roethlisberger...1 carry, 10 yards
RECEIVING LEADERS
Seattle
Jackson...5 catches, 50 yards
Pittsburgh
Parker...1 catch, 1 yard
PASSING LEADERS
Seattle
Hasselbeck...8-11, 65 yards
Pittsburgh
Roethlisberger...1-5, 1 yard
* The lowdown: Could the first quarter have been more boring? Both teams looked nervous. Seattle did have a touchdown called back by a bad pass interference call. Overall, the Seahawks outplayed the Steelers, but neither team looked very good. Is it too late to get the Colts or the Patriots to play?
* Big play: Josh Brown kicked a 47-yard field goal. Yawn.
* Unanswered questions: Why would they start the game with a tribute to Dr. Seuss, starring Harrison Ford? Is the Super Bowl big with the preschool crowd? And why isn’t Harrison Ford off making another “Indiana Jones” movie instead of participating in lame opening segments?
* Did you notice? Tom Brady did the opening coin flip. He doesn’t get enough exposure? They should have asked Bart Starr or Roger Staubach to do it. So far, the commercials have been outstanding.
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SECOND QUARTER
RUSHING LEADERS
Seattle
Alexander...5 carries, 21 yards
Pittsburgh
Ward...1 carry, 18 yards
RECEIVING LEADERS
Seattle
Jurevicius...2 catches, 34 yards
Pittsburgh
Ward...2 catches, 49 yards
PASSING LEADERS
Seattle
Hasselbeck...6-10, 53 yards
Pittsburgh
Roethlisberger...4-7, 77 yards
* The lowdown: Roethlisberger seemed really nervous to start the quarter, making mistakes you would expect from a rookie. He had Hines Ward open in the end zone, but overthrew him. However, he seemed to get his confidence back after connecting with Ward on a 37-yard play.
* Big play: Ward’s catch. Roethlisberger did a stutter step to avoid crossing the line of scrimmage and threw off his back foot to Ward, who was open on the three. Nice play by both players.
* Unanswered questions: What kind of clock management was that by Mike Holmgren and the Seahawks at the end of the quarter? They cost themselves some points.
* Did you notice? John Madden is in the Hall of Fame! You might not have noticed, because Madden and Al Michaels only mentioned it about a billion times.
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THIRD QUARTER
RUSHING LEADERS
Seattle
Alexander...4 carries, 35 yards
Pittsburgh
Parker...3 carries, 81 yards
RECEIVING LEADERS
Seattle
Hannam...2 catches, 12 yard
Pittsburgh
Ward...2 catches, 31 yards
PASSING LEADERS
Seattle
Hasselbeck...6-13, 68 yards
Pittsburgh
Roethlisberger...2-7, 31 yards
* The lowdown: Who would have guessed that the Rolling Stones would sing “Start Me Up” as their first song? Way to be edgy, guys. The game finally became interesting. The Steelers scored quickly, and looked as if they’d put the game away until....
* Big play: The Steelers were looking to take a 21-3 lead, when Seattle’s Kelly Herndon intercepted Roethlisberger’s pass and returned it 76 yards to the Steeler 20. Three plays later, it’s 14-10, not 21-3.
* Unanswered questions: What is with Roethlisberger? He stands on the sideline, arms folded, and generally seems as if he’d rather be somewhere else.
* Did you notice? Madden’s expert analysis of Parker’s touchdown basically amounted to this: “He gets by that guy, then the safety misses him, and he’s got an open field for a touchdown.” Thanks for that insight.
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FOURTH QUARTER
RUSHING LEADERS
Seattle
Alexander...6 carries, 29 yards
Pittsburgh
Bettis...7 carries, 17 yards
RECEIVING LEADERS
Seattle
Jurevicius...2 catches, 48 yards
Pittsburgh
Randle El...2 catches, 14 yards
PASSING LEADERS
Seattle
Hasselbeck...6-15, 87 yards
Pittsburgh
Roethlisberger...2-2, 14 yards
* The lowdown: This was the most boring Super Bowl in history. The Steelers won despite a bad performance by Roethlisberger, who seemed off all game. The best Steeler pass was thrown by Antwaan Randle El.
* Big play: Randle El’s 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward (with a nice block by Roethlisberger that gave Randle El time to throw). That was the final touchdown and took the air out of the Seahawks.
* Unanswered questions: Could this group of officials have missed any more calls? How many people turned off their TVs out of sheer boredom?
* Did you notice? After a strong start, the commercials sort of fizzled out. Could ABC have had more promos for “Grey’s Anatomy?” And, don’t forget, John Madden is in the Hall of Fame.
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