NFL Network just gave an important stat 5-17 on 3rd down conversions. What's especially important about that is Seattle faced fewer 3rd downs than any team in the league this season. That's really the game right there, as you say the big plays, being forced to more 3rd down than the other team (Steelers were 8 of 15, remarkable when you consider their first 3 possessions) and converting on less than 1/3 will cost you the game.
And let's not forget the gadget plays. I've never seen one gadget play build off another like that before. The 1st half reverse then the 2nd half fake reverse to the TD throw were pretty impressive, Seattle had to respect the reverse the second time around.
Were their bad calls? Yes. Did some go against Seattle? Sure. Is that why they lost? No. Again I go back to Cowher, if you lose "because" of the refs then you really lost because you put yourself in a position where the refs mattered too much.
Seattle reminded me of the Pats loss to GB in Super Bowl 31. They just gave up too many big plays.
Were their bad calls? Yes. Did some go against Seattle? Sure. Is that why they lost? No. Again I go back to Cowher, if you lose "because" of the refs then you really lost because you put yourself in a position where the refs mattered too much.
I would agree with you, but MOST of the bad calls were all critical calls that overturned scoring possibilities for the Seahawks or gave the steelers second chances to score.
I can take a few bad calls a game, the refs are human, but this is the superbowl, and the refs were horrible and handed the Steelers the game on a silver platter.
The Steelers are a great football team, and while I congratulate them on their victory, this had to be one of the worst officated superbowls I have ever witnessed.
Holmgren laid a giant strategic egg...he cost his team this game. That's very hard, because he is a great coach -- he just wasn't great...heck he wasn't even passable, as a strategist, in this game.
Holmgren's offense game plan was poor...especially in the red zone, where he had been great with his plan all year long. It was Holmgren's game plan that allowed the Steelers to use the big plays to beat him. None of the Steelers players had any kind of a big game, and they weren't even as physical as the Seahawks were...imagine that!? They just kept there heads and played within themselves...and let the Seahawks beat themselves, for the most part. And most the time, that's how you get to be champions. For Holmgren....well, he SHOULD hang his head, it was his poor game preparation and strategy that was the biggest factor of the day. A terrible thing for any coach to absorb.