Steelers fan Joe Seneca of South Greensburg wants to see NFL history made Sunday, even if it overshadows those Super Steelers teams of the 1970s.
“I like Kansas City. I want to see history made in my lifetime. I did not get to see it in the 1970s,” when the Steelers won back-to-back Super Bowls twice but never a third in a row, Seneca said.
You can’t count Seneca as one of the Steelers fans who despise Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“I want to see Patrick Mahomes win it,” Seneca said.
On the opposite end, George McCully of Greensburg says he is sick of the Chiefs winning Super Bowls, just like fans tired of seeing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots repeatedly winning the big game.
“Heck yeah, I want the Eagles to win. I’m getting sick of the Chiefs. I hate the quarterback,” McCully said.
Not only is he rooting for a team from Philadelphia, typically forbidden for Pittsburgh fans, but he feels the Eagles have the offense with Saquon Barkley as running back and the defense to beat Mahomes and the Chiefs.
“I think they will win easily,” McCully said.
Chris Martin of Arnold said he’s not an Eagles fan but thinks they will win.
“They’re strong — way too strong. Their offensive line and defensive line are ridiculous,” he said.
For Kansas City to win, they’ll have to stop the Eagles’ run game, Martin said.
“If they don’t stop the run, they’re in trouble,” Martin said. “Kansas City should also run a quicker offense — which I think Andy Reid will do — to tire out Philly’s (defensive) line.”
The referees don’t hurt Kansas City either, Martin said.
“The refs are friendly, to say the least,” he said.
Martin also predicts that younger girls may be inclined to watch the game because of Taylor Swift, a massive pop star and girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Martin looks forward to the halftime show from rapper Kendrick Lamar.
“No one could top Prince’s halftime show — no one,” he said.
A die-hard Steelers fan, Martin acknowledges that things are different in Pittsburgh when the Steelers aren’t in the Super Bowl.
Martin remembered going to Detroit in 2006 for Super Bowl XL, when the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field. It was their fifth Super Bowl win and Jerome Bettis’ last game.
“If the Steelers are in, there’s a super party,” Martin said. “For this, I’ll just watch at home.”
A group of about 15 retired Lower Burrell residents who spend time walking and talking at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer agree — there’s a different vibe when the Steelers aren’t in the big game.
They reminisce that Super Bowls were more fun in the 1970s, when the Steelers were almost annual contenders. The Steelers’ first four Super Bowls came in 1975, ’76, ’79 and ’80.
“There’s a big difference when the Steelers are not in it,” said Jim Bennis of Lower Burrell.
Bennis, a lifelong Penn State fan, will root for the Eagles.
“I like Saquon Barkley,” Bennis said. “He’s a Penn Stater, and that’s enough of the Chiefs.”
Rich Tallarico of Lower Burrell likes the Chiefs’ quarterback, Mahomes, and their coach, Andy Reid.
“I’d like to see them win,” Tallarico said.
Joy Gezo of Lower Burrell also looks forward to Sunday.
“We have a huge TV,” she said, “and we get comfy on the couch, get all our snacks and watch the game.”