GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNIN' SEAHAWKS, STEELERS FINALLY TAKE CENTER STAGE TODAY IN DETROIT.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

DETROIT - All week long, a city that has taken its share of lumps has done its best to convince visitors that it is a worthy host for the NFL's biggest showcase.

Now, when the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers kick off Super Bowl XL at 3:25 p.m. today at Ford Field, they'll be in essentially the same position - trying to show the world they're worthy of being champions.

If it were teams with the track record of the Patriots, the star power of the Colts or the determination of the Panthers, there wouldn't be much question.

But the Steelers had lost four AFC title games - all at home - since their last Super Bowl appearance. Meanwhile, the Seahawks - who hadn't won a playoff game in 20 years - are in the Super Bowl for the first time since the franchise was founded in 1976.

``It's going to be a little different,'' Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. ``They're going to have more singers, more anthems, more salutes, whatever. We've got to remember there's a football game.''

With so few players having participated in the Super Bowl before, both teams are leaning heavily on the words of their coaches, Bill Cowher of Pittsburgh and Mike Holmgren of Seattle.

``Coach is just reminding us to stay focused,'' said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who at age 23 can become the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. ``He's just telling us to be smart.''

Yet both Holmgren and Cowher have something to prove. Cowher lost in his only trip to the Super Bowl, 10 years ago to Dallas. While Holmgren won a Super Bowl for Green Bay, he has been haunted by the loss the following season to Denver, when he believed his team was overconfident.

That shouldn't be a problem this time. The Steelers, despite being the No. 6 seed in the AFC, are four-point favorites and should be boosted by an huge influx of fans from Pittsburgh, only a 4 1/2-hour drive.

``Anybody who roots for another team - they can cheer for us,'' Hasselbeck joked.

He probably won't get much help from the locals, though. The story that has dominated newspapers here has been the return home of Jerome Bettis. Getting ``The Bus,'' as the Steelers running back is known, back to his hometown for his first Super Bowl has been a motivational cry for Pittsburgh all season.

In the playoffs, though, the Steelers offense has turned away from what its identity is built on: a bruising running game.

Instead, they've relied on Roethlisberger's arm to grab early leads in playoff wins over Indianapolis and Denver. Then they've turned to the battering 255-pound Bettis and the speedy Willie Parker to drain the clock.

While the Steelers have managed some key first downs running the ball, the Steelers averaged just 2.7 yards per carry the last two games.

``I do think we need to run the ball better than we have the last couple of weeks,'' Cowher said. ``But at the same time, I think we have that mentality that we like to be able to do it even when people know we are going to do it.''

The other attention-getter this week has been Porter, who took offense at Seattle tight end Jerramy Stevens' seemingly innocuous comment about denying Bettis a happy homecoming.

More interesting will be the impact Porter has on the field. An outside linebacker, Porter plays a key role in the often exotic blitzes cooked up by defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, the creater of the zone blitz.

The one the Seahawks will have their eyes on will be Troy Polamalu, the wild-haired safety from USC who has been spectacular in the playoffs, seemingly finding himself everywhere on the field.

``You always pick out their one or two best players,'' said Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell. ``When I was with the Rams, it was Lawrence Taylor - You had to know where he was. If they flipped him (from the left side) over to the right side, which they never did, you don't want the right tackle to wonder, 'Where did he come from?' With Pittsburgh, you have the safety that is stretching the limits as to where he is supposed to be and you have to know where he is.''

The Steelers, except against the Colts, haven't used much zone blitzing this season, but they could turn to it today. The defense, which adds rushers from the secondary while dropping linemen into coverage, was created as an antidote to the West Coast offense, of which Holmgren is a disciple.

The Seahawks offense has revolved around tailback Shaun Alexander, the NFL's leading rusher and MVP, and an offensive line that includes Pro Bowl tackle Walter Jones, guard Steve Hutchinson and alternate selection Robbie Tobeck.

Yet in the playoffs, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has been masterful. He picked the Seahawks up when Alexander missed virtually all of the win over Washington with a concussion. Then against Carolina, he was 20 of 28 for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

More unheralded is the speedy Seattle defense, which has allowed 24 points in its two playoff wins and led the NFL with 51 sacks. At the center of it is rookie middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

``You only play this game to win,'' said Tatupu, who won national championships in his two years at USC. ``I would be a fool to say I didn't think we could make it to the Super Bowl.''

A fool, but like those who said the same thing about Pittsburgh, not alone.

Billy Witz, [phone]

billy.witz(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1) The Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks get their chance at the Vince Lombardi Trophy (pictured) today in the Super Bowl.

Getty Images

(2 -- color) no caption (Steelers)

(3 -- color) no caption (Seahawks)

(4 -- color) no caption (Bill Cowher)

(5 -- color) no caption (Mike Holmgren)