Seahawks RB Confesses Steelers Had An Unfair Advantage In Super Bowl XL: “It Was Supposed To Be Neutral”

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a storied history filled with legendary players and six Super Bowl victories. Four of those Super Bowls, of course, came during Pittsburgh's legendary run in the 1970s. Pittsburgh fans got another taste of greatness during the 2005 NFL season. Entering the postseason as a sixth seed in the AFC, the Steelers embarked on a historic run that nearly ended in tragedy when running back Jerome Bettis fumbled at the goal line against the Indianapolis Colts.

However, fate was on the Steelers' side during that playoff run. Star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made an incredible tackle to save their Super Bowl hopes. The Steelers went on to defeat the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game, setting up a showdown with the NFC's top seed, the Seattle Seahawks.

Leading up to the big game, all the media focused on was the Seahawks' first appearance in the Super Bowl. Although the Steelers were the 6th seed, they were favored to win by Vegas. It was Bettis' final game, and he had a chance to go out in fairytale fashion by winning the Super Bowl in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. 

In the book by Sean Deveney, Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold, former Seahawks fullback Mack Strong detailed what it was like facing the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

“Just first being in a Super Bowl at all is a great experience… I felt like going to the Super Bowl, it is first class all the way. You are one of two teams still playing, so every article that gets written, everything that is said on ESPN or whatever networks, it is about you and your game and what you are about to do… You are one game away from being a world champion. That was my sentiment.”

Strong was thrilled to be playing in the Super Bowl. While the Seahawks acknowledged Pittsburgh's storied history, it didn't affect their mindset. They were not intimidated by the Steelers as they prepared for the big game.

“They had history on their side and everyone in the media was talking about that, but I didn't think it mattered. Every angle on every story, it seemed like was the fact that it was the first Super Bowl in history for the Seahawks, and they had won four. For us, I think we looked at it like the history does not affect us.” 

The Seahawks entered the Super Bowl as the NFC's top seed with a 13-3 record, while the Steelers were the sixth seed in the AFC with an 11-5 record. On paper, it seemed like Pittsburgh should be the underdogs. However, as Strong pointed out, the Steelers had history and more fan support on their side. Strong confessed that when he stepped on the field, he realized the Seahawks were at a massive disadvantage in Super Bowl XL.

“Where it was different, though, was on game day. Detroit is like an hour flight from Pittsburgh. There were probably 60,000 Steelers fans there and about 10,000 Seahawks fans. It definitely felt like a home game for them, an away game for us. That was the only time— I stepped out onto that field and I was like, 'This is different.' It was supposed to be neutral. But we were just building our fan base at the time, and the Steelers, of course, had 30 or 40 years of winning and history behind them. It was weird walking into a neutral stadium and literally trying to figure out, 'Wait, where are our fans at?'”

Pittsburgh would go on to win the game. Seattle struck first with a field goal in the first quarter. Pittsburgh responded with a 12-play, 59-yard drive in the second quarter, leading 7-3 at halftime. In the second half, Pittsburgh scored two more touchdowns while Seattle managed only one. Pittsburgh ultimately won 21-10, despite a subpar passing performance from Roethlisberger. Hines Ward was named Super Bowl XL MVP with five catches, 123 receiving yards, and one touchdown.

Willie Parker led the ground game with 10 carries for 93 yards and one touchdown. Bettis contributed with 14 carries for 43 yards in his fairytale ending. It was a total team effort that secured Pittsburgh's fifth Super Bowl title.

For the Seahawks, it was a challenging game. They didn't play poorly, but they felt many breaks went Pittsburgh's way. Some media even suggested that Pittsburgh benefited from favorable calls during the game, an opinion that Pittsburgh fans undoubtedly disagree with. Despite their strong effort, the Seahawks couldn't capitalize in crucial moments. Strong had a pedestrian performance with just two carries for seven yards and two catches for 15 yards.

Steelers Fans Helped Pittsburgh Win Super Bowl XL

Strong couldn't help but feel that Pittsburgh had an unfair advantage that day. However, he accepted it without complaint, understanding why Pittsburgh had more fans at the game. 

Steeler Nation showed up as they always do, helping Pittsburgh add another Super Bowl trophy to their collection. The Steelers fanbase is one of the greatest in all of sports. It is no secret that their support during Super Bowl XL contributed to helping the Steelers win that day. 

#SteelerNation