Throughout the 2005-’06 NFL season, the Seattle Seahawks have proven themselves to be dominant offensively. With league MVP Shaun Alexander running the ball and vastly underrated QB Matt Hasselbeck making the right throws, the Seahawks evolved into the league’s second-ranked offense and look to be firing on all cylinders heading into this Sunday’s Super Bowl XL.

However, the Steelers boast a ferocious defense that should prove to be as formidable as any unit the Seahawks have seen this year. Therefore, if the Seahawks are to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers to take home their first Super Bowl trophy, their defense will end up making the difference.

On paper, the Steelers appear to hold an advantage in terms of the running game. The Seahawks have not been noticeably impressive against the run this season, and there are statistics to support this. On the other side of the ball, the Steelers have one of the most dangerous rushing attacks in the league consisting of the double threat of not-so-cleverly nicknamed “Fast” Willy Parker and inside bruiser Jerome Bettis. However, over the last month and a half, the Seahawks have been giving up an average of only 60 yards per game on the ground. After struggling for much of the season, the Seahawks appear to have found a defensive scheme against the rush that works.

Parker, used mostly for runs to the outside, should be kept in check by an extremely fast Seahawk linebacker corps. However, in order to slow down Bettis, who has been on a tear as of late, the Seahawks will rely heavily on rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu to plug the interior running gaps. Strong safety Michael Boulware, who once played linebacker, could be used to provide additional help against Bettis if needed.

But if Boulware is to help out against the run, the Seahawks will need to take a firm stance early on against a Steelers passing attack that has seen the emergence of QB Ben Roethlisberger as an elite player. While the Steelers’ big, quick tight end Heath Miller will try to stretch the field down the middle as in previous weeks, the Seahawks will need to pressure Roethlisberger, who is aided by one of the league’s best group of receivers. Once again, Tatupu will need to provide a good deal of the pressure, as well as fellow rookie outside linebacker LeRoy Hill.

All season, the Seahawks have been carried by their unstoppable offense, but as they prepare to take on the hard-nosed defense, their own defensive squad will need to step up. If Tatupu is able to stop the inside rushing game and get pressure on Roethlisberger, Parker’s outside rushes are limited, and the Seahawks secondary comes to play, look for the Seahawks to leave Detroit on Sunday night with a set of shiny new Super Bowl rings.

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