I agree with everyone who has been blaming the officials for the Seahawks' loss in Super Bowl XL.

At first I was skeptical. But then I went back and watched a tape of the game. In case you missed it, here's what happened:

*The referee lined up to kick two field goals for Seattle, and missed them both.

*With the Seahawks poised to take the lead, the side judge threw the worst Super Bowl interception since Neil O'Donnell almost single-handedly handed Dallas a victory last time Pittsburgh made The Big Game.

*The Steelers' love of gadget plays was discussed to death leading up to the game, and yet still the officiating crew got caught napping on defense and Antwaan Randle-El threw that crippling touchdown pass to Hines Ward.

*The zebras also misread a play that allowed unheralded Willie Parker to sprint untouched for a Super Bowl-record, 75-yard touchdown.

*All day long, Matt Hasselbeck fired pinpoint lasers to referees who were out of position, had their back turned, or let the ball bounce right off the stripes of their shirts while they were wide open.

*And it was the referees who sauntered down the field with no sense of urgency with the Seahawks trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter, then decided to punt.

Oh wait! My bad ... I just checked again and it wasn't the referees who made all these mistakes. It was the Seahawks. Josh Brown missed two field goals. Hasselbeck threw an all-time bonehead interception. It was the Seahawks defense that got toasted on big plays. It was the Seahawks receiving corps that looked like it had no business playing in the Super Bowl.

And worst of all, the Seahawks loafed with their chances of winning a Super Bowl on the line in the fourth quarter, like the Philadelphia Eagles last year. If Seattle didn't seem to want it when it mattered most, then the Seahawks have no legitimate claims about getting jobbed.

Was the officiating bad? Sure was. But just like the Patriots' playoff loss to Denver had far more to do with being on the wrong end of five turnovers than being on the wrong end of bad calls, the Seahawks have no one to blame but themselves for losing the Super Bowl.

--DAVE DOYLE

Somebody asked me the other day who was going to win the Super Bowl.

And, without any thought on the matter whatsoever, the word "Seahawks" just came out of my mouth.

At the moment, I stand by that impromptu pick.

Before all you dedicated, die-hard, sometimes a little nuts, Steelers fans get all up in arms, ponder that I reserve the right to totally change my mind without warning.

The more thought I give to the game, the more I think it will be one of the all-time classics.

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Bettis is returning to his hometown of Detroit. We already know that, and will hear more about it to the point that it will get beaten over our skulls without any indicaton of an end.

For all of Bettis' qualities, and there are many, Shaun Alexander is a much better back. Alexander has one NFL MVP award. Bettis doesn't have any. Seattle has an advantage in the running game department.

I know what you are thinking ... the running backs don't necessarily play against each other. Alexander will have to hope his offensive line (arguably the best in the game) can open holes against the Steelers defensive linemen (who are underrated) and linebackers (who get an adequate amount of respect). This will be the first big aspect of the game to enjoy.

The next big aspect?

How about Ben Roethlisberger's abilities to hurl the pigskin at a variety of talented pass catchers? The Steelers were known as a running team. Not anymore, football fans. They are now a line-Big Ben-up-in-the-shotgun offense. They pass first (Jason Sehorn, of FSN's Pro Football Preview show, pointed that out poignantly in the latest Instant Analysis piece on FOXSports.com). Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El, Cedrick Wilson ... watch out for these guys. You can sound smart around your friends at this year's Super Bowl party by mentioning that Ward and Randle El both played some quarterback in college and to look for the Steelers to utilize their abilties at some point in SB XL.

The best part about this game is that for the sixth time in eight years the Super Bowl will feature a first-time participant. How have those previous five first-timers fared? They're batting .400. The Ravens and Buccaneers got wins, while the Falcons, Titans and Panthers all lost.

Think the Seahawks can get that record up to .500?

Right now, we're saying, "yes!"

-- JIM REINEKING

Lost in all the hype over Kobe Bryant's 81-point performance in a win over Toronto on Sunday night was an overlooked aspect of his all-around game:

His two assists.

And you thought Kobe was selfish.

If he had held on to the ball both times instead of dishing the rock, he might have scored 85 points instead of 81. Or 87. Or even 89, had he hit two 3-pointers, been fouled on both, and made the free throws.

So never let it be said that Kobe isn't a team player.

Incidentally, this was the second time the Raptors left Los Angeles as losers this season. Back on Nov. 23, they dropped a 103-100 decision to the Clippers.

Five Clippers reached double figures in that game. The Clippers are ahead of the Lakers in the standings. Go figure.

-- DAVE DOYLE

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