How Would Steelers Fare In 2015 Super Bowl?
The Steelers are sitting at home this Sunday while the Seattle Seahawks take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 49.
But, what if the Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round and marched their way up the ranks to represent the AFC in Sunday’s Super Bowl? How would the Steelers fare against the Seahawks?
For the Steelers to be in this big game, they would had to have overcome the demons that plagued them all season – not throwing the ball down the field and attacking, constant pressure on the opposing offense’s pocket, a secondary that can’t lockdown even the tamest of wide receivers.
Well, let’s say they did. Let’s say the offense was clicking on all cylinders. The defense was stout and did more than their usual “just enough” that allowed the team to squeak by with a win. Would it be enough to beat the defending Super Bowl champions?
The Steelers have been to Phoenix before. On February 1st, 2009, the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in an epic game that rivals all Super Bowls. The Steelers have played the Seahawks before too, back in Super Bowl XL. The Steelers came out on top in that contest, but both of these teams are built differently.
Steelers Offense vs. Seahawks Defense
It would be pretty much the top offense vs. the top defense in the league. Man for man, the Seahawks would be able to line up against the Steelers top wide receivers – Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, TE Heath Miller, and RB Le’Veon Bell. Ben Roethlisberger would need to be tops on his game and avoid throwing “floaters.” Seattle’s defense is hungry and opportunistic to those mistakes.
This all comes down to coaching and calling the right play in each situation. That has not been a strong suit for offensive coordinator Todd Haley for the majority of the season. His largest critique has been not attacking at the point of weakness and never letting up on the pedal.
I would think that Seattle has the slight edge and would keep the Steelers offense from being effective in the red zone, if an when they would get there.
Advantage: Seahawks
Steelers Defense vs Seahawks Offense
The Seahawks offense is a sleeping giant, and that became very clear during the NFC Championship game. All it takes is a few big runs from Marshawn Lynch, and like a switch, the offense comes alive. Russell Wilson is not the caliber quarterback that Roethlisberger is at, but he can get the job done – he’s one a Super Bowl already, after all.
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The Steelers defense struggled with their run defense early in 2014, but appeared to buckle down after the halfway point of the season. The pass defense has been atrocious since Week 1, but improved slightly when Antwan Blake and Brice McCain took over for Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen.
I think Wilson is allowed the same successes that other quarterbacks had against this Steelers secondary. Sure, the Seahawks don’t have the receiving core that could just crush this defense. But, they would be able to execute across the middle and sustain long drives.
Advantage: Seahawks
It’s clear the Seahawks have the advantage – slight or mild. But, as we’ve seen time and time again in big games that those kinds of statistical comparisons can be turned on their heads. It’s why they play the game.
However, I would expect the seasonal trends to hold with these two teams. The Steelers struggle in the red zone, the Seahawks wear down the defense. Nothing is really splashy about the game. It’s a big battle of field position. The Steelers could crack the goal line once or twice were they to flip the field on special teams. The Seahawks string together numerous long drives and put points up every quarter.
As much as I would love to say, even in a hypothetical situation such as this, that the Steelers would end up triumphant, I still think these Seahawks come out on top.
Potential score? 24-16 Seahawks.
Back to the world of reality, I hope the Seahawks take it to these Patriots.