RENTON, Wash. — Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka doesn’t expect to be much more than an interested observer in Super Bowl XLVIII if it snows at MetLife Stadium.
Hauschka told The Post on Thursday a dusting of snow during the Feb. 2 matchup with the Broncos would rule out any field-goal attempts from 50 or more yards, and even as little as an inch of the powdery stuff probably would eliminate any tries between 45 and 49 yards.
But a lot of snow probably would slow down Peyton Manning’s manic passing attack also, so Hauschka won’t be heartbroken if the Meadowlands becomes a winter wonderland the day of the Big Game.
“Snow wouldn’t be good for me, but it would be good for our team,” Hauschka said as the Seahawks prepared to depart for New Jersey this weekend. “It’s not easy to kick in, but I think it would give our team an advantage.”
Hauschka is a native of Needham, Mass., near Boston, but said he never has kicked in snow in a game because the high school football schedule in his hometown ended in November — before the snows came.
A sixth-year pro from North Carolina State, Hauschka also spent time with the Broncos and is used to kicking in cold weather and difficult conditions. But he’s still a little nervous about the possibility of a blizzard at MetLife.
“Anything more than a dusting is going to be a factor for the kickers,” Hauschka said. “Just look at the Philadelphia-Detroit [blizzard] game in December, when they couldn’t even kick extra points.”
Hauschka’s honesty is nothing new. After all, he famously told Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to pass up a 53-yard try in the fourth quarter of last week’s NFC Championship, a decision that paid off with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kearse on fourth down instead.
“I was just being honest in that moment,” Hauschka said. “I didn’t think it was the right decision for us to kick that ball, just because the wind was in our face and had picked up a little bit.”
If the conditions at MetLife don’t involve snow, the kickers could put on a show.
Hauschka was one of the NFL’s most accurate this season, converting 33 of his 35 attempts, while Denver’s Matt Prater excelled in the thin Colorado air and set the all-time league record with a 64-yard conversion.
Hauschka — who is friends with Prater from their time together in Denver — said he hasn’t been looking at Meadowlands weather reports because they’re unreliable this far out, but the Seahawks plan to practice outdoors at the Giants’ facility at least twice next week to get used to the conditions.
“I can’t wait to see how it turns out,” he said. “It could be a real adventure for the kickers.”
Percy Harvin practiced for the second day in a row for the Seahawks and said he expects to play in the Super Bowl after sitting out the NFC title game with a concussion.
“I’m not trying to save any season,” Harvin said. “I’m trying to go out there and win a Super Bowl.” … Marshawn Lynch (knee) and wide receiver Doug Baldwin (hip) missed practice for the second day in a row for the Seahawks, but coach Pete Carroll said they are just getting rest and will be available for the Super Bowl.