2005 Seattle Seahawks: Franchise’s First Super Bowl

2005 Seattle Seahawks: Franchise’s First Super Bowl

[paypal_donation_button]2005 Seattle Seahawks: Franchise’s First Super Bowl

We want the ball, and we’re going to score,” proclaimed Seahawks quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck. The Seahawks won the coin toss in overtime and elected to receive against the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field. On the sixth play of the drive, the Packers’ Al Harris intercepted Hasselbeck and returned the ball for the touchdown ending the game and the Seahawks’ season. Hasselbeck made a bold move that didn’t pay off. His overconfidence got the better of him, but soon that confidence would be channeled positively and lead the Seahawks to one of their most successful seasons in franchise history.

Following the playoff loss to the Packers, the Seahawks won the NFC West with a 9-7 record. They made the playoffs, but again they lost in the Wild Card round. The 2005 season didn’t begin well. The Seahawks lost their season opener on the road to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They lost again two weeks later to the Washington Redskins pushing their record to 2-2. That would be the last time the Seahawks would lose for twelve weeks. They won eleven consecutive games before losing to the Packers in Week 17.

The Seahawks offense was led by their star running back, Shaun Alexander. Alexander led the league in rushing yards with 1880. He also had an astounding 28 rushing and receiving touchdowns. His stellar season was recognized by the league and Alexander was awarded Most Valuable Player honors. Alexander was a touchdown waiting to happen, but the Seahawks were not a one dimensional team.

Matt Hasselbeck had another terrific season leading the Seahawks offense. Hasselbeck completed 66% of his passes for 3459 yards and 24 touchdowns. Alexander and Hasselbeck made the Seahawks one of the best offenses in the league. They scored 28.2 points per game which ranked first overall. The Seahawks rode their top ranked offense to a 13-3 record, another NFC West title and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The Washington Redskins faced the Seahawks in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Redskins were one of the few teams to defeat the Seahawks in the regular season. They hoped to carry over that success into the playoffs. The Seahawks committed three turnovers, but they were still able to move the ball against the Redskins defense. Hasselbeck threw one touchdown and ran for another as the Seahawks defeated the Redskins 20-10 to advance to the NFC Championship game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers hoped to return to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, but the Seahawks used their superior offense and opportunistic defense to stifle the defending NFC champions. Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme threw three interceptions when Hasselbeck had none. Hasselbeck threw two touchdown passes and Shaun Alexander added two more rushing touchdowns as the Seahawks routed the Panthers 34-14 to advance to the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

The Seahawks would face a franchise who was no stranger to the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Steelers were making their sixth appearance in the final game.
Super Bowl XL started with a series of punts until Seahawks’ kicker Josh Brown kicked a 47-yard field goal near the end of the first quarter. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger scored a rushing touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 7-3 lead at halftime. Willie Parker and Jerramy Stevens exchanged touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to make the score 14-10 for the Steelers heading in the final quarter. The Steelers opened up their playbook and called a play utilizing their wide receiver’s quarterback skills. With less than ten minutes to play, Steelers running back Willie Parker handed the ball to Antwaan Randle El. With the Seahawks defense confused and shifting, Randle El gathered himself and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to a wide open Hines Ward. The Steelers went ahead 21-10 and the Seahawks were unable to mount a comeback.