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The Vince Lombardi Trophy Goes To ...

By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

We know a lot about Super Bowl XLIII, but we don't know which teams will compete in the fourth Super Bowl staged in Tampa.

Or do we?

While the Patriots were seeking to carve out some history in Super Bowl XLII, a peek into the future reveals next year's game won't lack for intrigue as one club makes its Super Bowl debut and another sends off a legendary coach in style.

In the NFC playoffs, Seattle and Green Bay will earn bye weeks as the top two seeds. Washington and New Orleans are the other division winners, with Dallas and Philadelphia earning wild-card berths.

New England and Jacksonville are the top 2008 seeds in the AFC, Cleveland and San Diego will win division titles while Miami and Indianapolis advance to the postseason as wild cards.

The Cowboys and Eagles both win on the road in the opening round as Philadelphia upsets the Redskins and Tony Romo leads the Cowboys to a shootout win at the Louisiana Superdome, with new girlfriend Jennifer Aniston cheering from the sideline.

San Diego holds off Indy in Tony Dungy's final game and Cleveland turns away the Dolphins, who vaulted from 1-15 to 9-7 in their first year under Bill Parcells.

Dallas owner Jerry Jones agonizes on the sidelines as the Seahawks edge the Cowboys in the NFC divisional round. The Eagles advance to the conference title game by upsetting Green Bay in Brett Favre's final appearance before the Lambeau Field faithful.

In the AFC, San Diego avenges some recent setbacks against the Patriots by intercepting four Tom Brady passes. The Browns end a glorious season by losing to a Jacksonville club that led the league in defense.

With lame-duck coach Mike Holmgren on his final victory lap, Seattle ends Philadelphia's postseason run to guarantee a Super Bowl spot. The Jaguars shut down LaDainian Tomlinson in the AFC title game and hop a short flight to Tampa while the Seahawks cross three time zones.

On the evening of Feb. 1, 2009, Holmgren goes out a winner as Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is named Super Bowl MVP. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hands the Vince Lombardi Trophy to Holmgren and Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who both agree the trophy still smells fishy.

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