Super, no doubt

SEATTLE – Matt Hasselbeck was on target throughout, Shaun Alexander finally got untracked in the postseason and the defense smothered Carolina at every turn.

The Seattle Seahawks left no doubt who is the best team in the NFC, pummeling the Panthers 34-14 on Sunday in front of a raucous Qwest Field crowd of 67,837 to earn the 30-year-old franchise’s first Super Bowl berth.

Fullback Mack Strong, the longest-tenured Seahawk, jogged off the field modeling an NFC champions T-shirt to a group of fans yelling his name.

“I’m speechless, what can you say?” Strong said. “You dream from the time you’re a little kid of playing in the Super Bowl. I’ve put in 12 years in this league with this organization and we’re finally there. I feel like going into that locker room and collapsing.”

Center Robbie Tobeck said he was almost moved to tears. Almost.

“I’ve got cold chills,” Tobeck said. “I’m not going to cry right now. I almost cried with about five minutes left. It’s just the greatest feeling in the world. This is why I came to Seattle. All the hard work, the ups and downs we’ve had together, every bit of it has been worth it. Every sprain, every sore muscle, it’s all worth it.”

The Seahawks advance to Super Bowl XL having won 13 of their past 14 games. The lone loss during that streak was the regular-season finale at Green Bay, when Seattle rested numerous starters to prepare for the postseason run.

Seattle will face Pittsburgh at Ford Field in Detroit. The Steelers defeated Denver 34-17.

The Seahawks, sluggish at times while defeating Washington 20-10 last week, dominated Carolina from the opening kick.

Hasselbeck, who finished 20 of 28 for 219 yards and two touchdowns, connected on his first eight passes, including 3 for 3 on Seattle’s initial scoring drive. One of those completions went to backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, who lined up as a receiver and made an acrobatic 28-yard reception against tight coverage by cornerback Ken Lucas, a former Seahawk. On the next play, Hasselbeck fired over the middle for tight end Jerramy Stevens, who extended his 6-foot-7 frame to make the touchdown catch.

While Hasselbeck was picking Carolina apart, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme was searching for his first completion. It didn’t come until early in the second quarter. By that time, he’d been picked off twice.

Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith, Carolina’s most dangerous threat, was held in check – save for one stunning punt return for a touchdown. Carolina didn’t attempt to throw Smith’s way until its third possession. On that play, middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu snagged an interception and his 21-yard return set up a Josh Brown field goal, putting Seattle on top 10-0 with 2:23 left in the first quarter.

Marquand Manuel’s interception and 32-yard return gave Seattle the ball at Carolina’s 17. Three Alexander runs covered those 17 yards, the last a 1-yard scoring plunge for a 17-0 lead.

Alexander, who suffered a concussion against Washington, finished with 132 yards, nearly 40 more than in his three previous postseason games combined.

“He played a very tough football game,” head coach Mike Holmgren said. “Certain things were said after last week’s game that I thought were unfair. He’s just had a phenomenal year.”

Seattle’s dominance was reflected in the first quarter statistics. The Seahawks had 127 total yards to Carolina’s 6.

The only turbulence Seattle encountered came early in the second quarter when Smith fielded a line-drive punt and dashed 59 yards for a touchdown, though most believed the play would be nullified by a flag near midfield. After a brief conference, the officials waived off the penalty and Smith’s return stood.

The Seahawks answered immediately with another Brown field goal and a 20-7 edge at halftime.

“I told them at half that as poorly as we played and the way the game had gone we were only 13 points down,” Carolina coach John Fox said. “So we felt like still had an opportunity.”

Fox’s optimism was quickly extinguished as Hasselbeck guided a 65-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter. He capped the drive by hitting Darrell Jackson for a 20-yard touchdown, bumping Seattle’s lead to 27-7.

Carolina didn’t make a first down on seven of its first nine possessions. Seattle led 34-7 when the Panthers offense generated its only touchdown with five minutes left.

Seattle outgained Carolina 393-212 and had nearly a 24-minute edge in time of possession. Delhomme was intercepted three times and Carolina, which lost starting running back Nick Goings to a first-quarter concussion, rushed for just 36 yards.

“We showed the world that we have a good defense, too,” said Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who sacked Delhomme twice. “The ends were getting a lot of pressure. We were just working together and we all get a piece of the credit. It’s been that way all year long.”

Seahawks 34, Panthers 14

First Quarter

Sea—Stevens 17 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), 5:31.

Sea—FG Brown 24, 2:23.

Second Quarter

Sea—Alexander 1 run (Brown kick), 14:53.

Car—S.Smith 59 punt return (Kasay kick), 9:05.

Sea—FG Brown 39, 4:03.

Third Quarter

Sea—D.Jackson 20 pass from Hasselbeck (Brown kick), 11:09.

Fourth Quarter

Sea—Alexander 1 run (Brown kick), 6:00.

Car—Carter 47 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), 5:09.

A—67,837.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Carolina, Robertson 4-19, Delhomme 3-15, Goings 5-2. Seattle, Alexander 34-132, Hasselbeck 6-27, Morris 7-24, Strong 4-7.

PASSING—Carolina, Delhomme 15-35-3-196. Seattle, Hasselbeck 20-28-0-219.

RECEIVING—Carolina, Robertson 5-37, S.Smith 5-33, Carter 2-88, Proehl 1-19, Mangum 1-10, Hoover 1-9. Seattle, D.Jackson 6-75, Stevens 6-66, Engram 3-34, S.Wallace 1-28, Hannam 1-7, Jurevicius 1-6, Strong 1-3, Alexander 1-0.

MISSED FIELD GOAL—Seattle, Brown 49 (SH).