After 20 weeks of yet another entertaining NFL season, the matchup for Super Bowl XLV has been set. Sunday, Feb. 6, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will face off for the Lombardi Trophy.
Even though the Steelers caught the Jets on an off day, they are a proven veteran team with two-time Super Bowl Winner Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback, and feature a dominant defense reminiscent of anything coached by Rex Ryan.
The NFC Representative, Green Bay, features arguably the best quarterback in the NFL in Aaron Rodgers, coming off stellar performances against Atlanta and Chicago. Green Bay may have also caught a break, facing unproven Bears emergency quarterback, Caleb Hanie.
While many would have preferred to see the Jets win their first Super Bowl in 42 years, fans can still look forward to Feb. 6 as a result of these two teams featuring percolating quarterbacks and hard hitting, ferocious defenses.
In an eerie sort of way, both teams arrive at the Super Bowl after playing nearly identical Conference Championship games: the Jets and Bears furiously rallying in the second half and coming up short. While the Jets dug themselves a herculean hole in the first half that they simply could not get out of, the Bears turned the ball over at the wrong time, into portly hands of B.J. Raji.
There are a variety of parallels between the AFC and NFC representatives:
both feature a Wildman at linebacker (Clay Matthews, James Harrison), both did not deserve to get to the Super Bowl (New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons), both feature dynamic wide receivers that spent significant time on Revis Island this year, and finally, both teams wear yellow pants.
However, football fans, this is where the similarities end. Green Bay fought their way into the playoffs, caught fire, and won games on the road because of the Best Quarterback in the NFL not named Mark Sanchez (Rodgers), and cornerback play reminiscent of Revis Island and AlCROtraz (Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams).
The Steelers managed their way to the Super Bowl with consistent play from their female-friendly quarterback while also catching several breaks against the Ravens and Jets in the Division Playoffs and Conference Championship respectively (apparently the Steelers are exempt from unnecessary roughness calls).
While many are suspecting an incredibly entertaining (series of commercials) game, the difference makers will come from both defenses. Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu can erase a bad play and make an offense pay should they get lackadaisical, yet his name was rarely called in the AFC Championship game. Green Bay’s Clay Matthews is, to be honest, a wildman. He is relentless getting after the quarterback, and he cannot be tamed, by anyone. Except maybe D’Brickashaw Ferguson, but that’s a debate for another day.
Obviously both teams have great defenses and exceptional passing games. Pittsburgh can play ground and pound, Green Bay can put up points in a flash. Pittsburgh can pressure the quarterback. Green Bay can also pressure the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers can run, as can Big Ben. In the end, Green Bay is the hungrier team and prevails, 27-22, validating Aaron Rodgers as the best Quarterback in the NFL.
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