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Super Bowl XL (40) was played on February 5, 2006, at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Pittsburgh Steelers, champions of the AFC, faced off against the Seattle Seahawks, champions of the NFC.
The game was coached by Bill Cowher for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Holmgren for the Seattle Seahawks.
Super Bowl XL saw the Steelers return to the big game after a 10-year absence and the Seahawks made their Super Bowl debut.
The Steelers had a down season after their 15-1 2004 campaign, finishing with a decent record of 11-5. They had to rely on a Wild Card berth to enter the playoffs and then beat the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. They won the AFC Championship Game against the Denver Broncos to advance to the big game.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was efficient in his 12 games compared to his stellar rookie season. The offense relied on Hines Ward and running back Willie Parker for production. The defense was led by safety Troy Polamalu, who recorded two interceptions and three sacks under defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
The Seahawks had a successful regular season, finishing with a record of 13-3. They won their division and then defeated the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers in the postseason.
Running back Shaun Alexander won the NFL MVP after recording 1,880 rushing yards and scoring an NFL record 28 touchdowns in 2005. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck also had a good season, completing 268 passes for 3,445 yards and 24 touchdowns. The defense was solid, led by defensive end Bryce Fisher, who recorded nine sacks that season.
The Steelers dominate the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL
It was a one-sided affair, with the Steelers dominating throughout. Pittsburgh's defense held the Seahawks to just 10 points. Roethlisberger threw for 123 yards and two touchdowns, combined with a strong running game. They went on to win by a score of 21-10.
Hines Ward, the Steelers' star wide receiver, was named the MVP after his five receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown. He also added 18 yards on the ground. The win marked the Steelers' fifth Super Bowl victory in franchise history, tying the NFL record of the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.
