The final obstacle: Steelers, in a word, are tough

The early line on the Super Bowl is Pittsburgh by 3-½. Even without it, the Seahawks know they are in for a hard-nosed game in Detroit.

When you think Steelers, you think Jerome Bettis. Joey Porter. Hines Ward. Troy Polamalu. And the developing, dependable sophomore quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

"[Coach] Bill Cowher always has those guys ready to go, each and every year," said Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard after Seattle's 34-14 NFC Championship Game victory over Carolina. "One thing I've always noticed is they're a tough team. They have a lot of toughness about them."

Indeed, the Steelers are one of the NFL's storied franchises, most renowned for their four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s with the touted "Steel Curtain" defense. They have a healthy 27-18 (.600) record all-time in the playoffs, and the total victories is second only to the 32 by Dallas.

"I think of toughness," echoed Seahawks fullback Mack Strong, regarding Pittsburgh. "The city of Pittsburgh ... steel town, tough town, and it has a reputation for having tough players on their team.

"It's going to be a very tough football game, but I believe in, and have every confidence in, the guys in this room as well."

Offensively, it will be a different kind of test for the Seahawks. They'll face Pittsburgh's 3-4 defensive front, as the Steelers are one of a handful of NFL teams that run it.

"We've just gotta see some more film, man," said receiver Bobby Engram, asked about the difficulties of adjusting to the 3-4.

But he added: "I feel we can match up with anybody. We've got so many weapons, three-receiver sets, two tight-end sets — it's just a tough package to defend, how we run out of it and how we pass out of it.

"You never know who's gonna step up and make plays. It's a different guy every game."

Defensively, cornerback Jordan Babineaux will no doubt see a big share of Ward, the Steelers' go-to receiver. The guys in the middle of the field will have to muscle up against second-year running back Willie Parker and the old warhorse, Bettis.

The Steelers love to control the ground and the clock, making it easier on Roethlisberger, although Cowher has been giving Roethlisberger increasing leeway with the offense.

"They're a smash-mouth type of team," said Babineaux, "the type of team that pretty much can beat you up all game. And defensively, we know they're one of the best in the business. It's power-type football."

While Pittsburgh seems annually a team deserving of respect, this will be its first Super Bowl in a decade, the Steelers having lost in 1996 to Dallas. Its four other Super Bowl appearances were during the glory run under coach Chuck Noll, ending with a title in early 1980.

There are few Steelers connections on the Seahawks. Reserve defensive tackle Rodney Bailey was with Pittsburgh from 2001-03 before spending the 2004 season with New England, then signing as a free agent with the Seahawks in 2005.

Engram said he has family in Pittsburgh, but added, "Pittsburgh, Denver, I'm just glad we're there."

As for the underdog role, it's nothing the Seahawks said they're ruffled about.

"I mean, people have been underestimating us all season," Babineaux said. "It's not a matter of what the experts or analysts have to say. We know we still have to go out and play the game."

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com

Super city
The Seahawks are headed to their first Super Bowl to meet the Pittsburgh Steelers, a franchise that is going for the sixth time:
Game	Year	Result
XXX	1996	Dallas 27, Pitt. 17
XIV	1980	Pitt. 31, L.A. Rams 19
XIII	1979	Pitt. 35, Dallas 31
X	1976	Pitt. 21, Dallas 17
IX	1975	Pitt.16, Minn. 6

Seattle all-time vs. Pittsburgh (8-6)
Date	Site	Score
Nov. 2, 2003	Seattle	W 23-16
Sept. 26, 1999	Pittsburgh	W 29-10
Sept. 27, 1998	Pittsburgh	L 13-10
Sept. 25, 1994	Seattle	W 30-13
Dec. 26, 1993	Seattle	W 16-6
Dec. 6, 1992	Pittsburgh	L 20-14
Oct. 20, 1991	Pittsburgh	W 27-7
Dec. 6, 1987	Pittsburgh	L 13-9
Sept. 7, 1986	Seattle	W 30-0
Oct. 23, 1983	Seattle	L 27-21
Nov. 28, 1982	Seattle	W 16-0
Nov. 8, 1981	Seattle	W 24-21
Sept. 10, 1978	Pittsburgh	L 21-10
Dec. 4, 1977	Pittsburgh	L 30-20