THE FRONT ROW WITH JASON ELLIOTT: Feb. 1, 2014

Being punched in the stomach.

Disturbed.

Angry.

Those were just a few of the feelings that I had boarding a plane almost eight years ago in Detroit following the Seattle Seahawks' 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL.

Just hours away from the next time they'll play for the top honor in professional football - it just feels different this time around.

THERE WON'T be a cross-country trip on the day before the game for me this time, nor the lavish Super Bowl parties at restaurants of former NHL players in my future.

This time, it will be a quiet day - or so I think - just watching on television like so many others and hoping for the best.

A little over eight years ago, there was no doubt in my mind that the NFC's top-seeded Seahawks had enough talent to beat the AFC's sixth-seeded Steelers in the game.

But the Steelers had the tradition and a fan base that I underestimated.

How wrong I was.

Offense wins games, but defense wins championships, and that's what the Steelers did on that day - won.

It also helped having more fans of the Steelers at Ford Field than Seahawk fans.

Seattle had its chances - so many chances - but didn't finish the job.

The referees didn't cost them the game, no matter what I was told in the Detroit, St. Louis and Minneapolis airports I walked through, still wearing the Super Bowl ticket around my neck and Darrell Jackson jersey from the night before.

Finally, after years of wanting another shot, they'll get it Sunday.

THIS TIME around, there hasn't been the bulletin board material that was created when Jerramy Stevens opened his mouth about Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter.

There has been nothing but mutual respect between the teams for entire week, making for one boring week leading up to the game.

The closest thing was Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman telling Denver quarterback Peyton Manning that he throws "duck" passes, which Manning later agreed with pride.

But there's just something about this time that feels different.

Neither team has seemed to have been caught up in just how big this game is, and are playing like they have so many times this season, with nothing to lose.

At times in Detroit, it felt as if the Seahawks got away from the running game that got them there. If they do that this time, it will be up to Russell Wilson and the rest of the passing game to make something happen.

The Lombardi Trophy is coming out west after Sunday's game, that is a fact.

It just feels like time for it to reside in the Northwest.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.