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Recent Super Bowls have all delivered top moments or
storylines:
Super Bowl XLIV brought a championship to a city that has
been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the New Orleans Saints
defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.
Super Bowl XLIII was decided by a touchdown that should
have been ruled an incomplete pass when Santonio Holmes touched the line in the
endzone before having control of the ball. The Pittsburgh Steelers went on to
beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.
Super Bowl XLII spoilt us with rookie David Tyree’s
incredible leaping catch to keep New York Giants winning drive alive and
prevent the New England Patriots from having a perfect season. The Giants won
17-14.
Super Bowl XLI kicked off with a kick-off return touchdown
from Devin Hester however, it was the Indianapolis Colts who left the field
victorious, beating the Chicago Bears 29-17.
So what will Super Bowl XLV have in store for us? I cannot
predict a top moment of the Super Bowl obviously, but I can try to break down
both teams and predict the outcome.
Green Bay Packers (13-6) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4)
This game features two of the best quarterbacks in the
league. In his 3rd full season as starter, Aaron Rodgers led the
Green Bay Packers to the Super Bowl. Many quarterbacks are much hyped when they
leave college and fail to deliver when they join the pros. Aaron Rodgers is not
such a case. Having been Brett Favres backup for 3 years helped him to develop
his potential and to live up to the expectations.
Ben Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl winner and
persistently consistent. He is strong as an ox and almost impossible to tackle.
Aaron Rodgers has Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and Jordy
Nelson at his disposal. Green Bay’s potent and effective pass offense of the
regular season has been just as good in the playoffs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t exactly known as a passing
team and so they average only 179.5 yards per game through two playoff games.
It should be noted that Hines Ward (5), a disappointing Mike Wallace (4) and
Antwaan Randle El (2) have a combined 9 catches, that’s fewer than Greg
Jennings (17) or Donald Driver (12) have accomplished individually in 3 games.
The Green Bay Packers seem to have the better pass offense
but the Pittsburgh Steelers might have the edge in the running game. Rashard
Mendenhall sometimes reminds me of a lighter version of Jerome Bettis "The
Bus”, a Steelers running back legend. He may not be the most exciting back to
watch but he is strong and can make necessary yardage over the middle.
The Green Bay Packers will probably go with rookie James
Stark, who missed all but three regular season games, however starred in every
playoff game as the main running back. Granted, he had an outstanding Wildcard
game against Philadelphia Eagles, in which he ran for 123 yards, but the
Atlanta Falcons and the Chicago Bears held him well below 100 yards. It is a
concern though that in the past two games he’s averaged just 2.9 yards per
attempt. He is a gamble but Brandon Jackson has just 6 attempts for 28 yards in
3 playoff games.
While the Pittsburgh Steelers have always been known for
stellar defense, the Green Bay Packers are no less impressive in this
department. In fact, we are going to see the best defensive players this game
has to offer right now. Both offensive lines will have their hands full,
literally and figuratively. Green Bay’s run defense improved from 114.9 yards
per game during the regular season to 69.7 yards per game in the playoffs.
The Steelers will want to focus on NT B.J. Raji and DE
Cullen Jenkings who are a threat to any quarterback. Raji in particular will be
a major obstacle for Rashard Mendenhall when he tries to run through the
middle.
Pittsburgh’s defensive ends Ziggy Hood and Brett Keisel in
particular will be first in line to bring Aaron Rodgers down but only Ziggy
Hood has a sack in this postseason.
Both linebacker corps are some of the best in the league
and feature this year’s runner-up in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year
voting Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers and third placed James Harrison
of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Clay Matthews, who had 14 sacks in the regular
season, accounts for 3.5 sacks in the playoffs. Middle Linebackers A.J Hawk and
Desmond Bishop are outstanding tacklers and will be ready for Mendenhall if he
gets past B.J. Raji.
Pittsburgh’s outside linebackers LaMarr Woodley and James
Harrison will be a constant threat for Aaron Rodgers throughout the game. Both
players have a combined 5 sacks in the postseason and Harrison is the
linebacker who probably reads the game the best. Middle linebackers James
Farrior and Lawrence Timmons are a nearly impenetrable wall in the middle and
have the ability to get to the opposing quarterback.
The Green Bay Packers may have Charles Woodson in the
defensive backfield, who possesses Super Bowl experience, but it is the other
cornerback, Tramon Williams, the Pittsburgh Steelers may want to treat with
caution. Williams already has 3 interceptions this postseason and one of them led
to a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Playoffs.
Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu won this year’s Defensive
Player Award and is the heart and soul of the Steelers defensive backfield.
Apart from intercepting passes he will often appear in blitzing schemes. CB
Bryant McFadden is match fit but will likely be used in the nickel formation
rather than starting at corner.
Keys to success:
James Starks needs to establish a running game so Aaron
Rodgers can mix up the offensive play options.
Green Bay’s run defense needs to shut down the middle and
force Rashard Mendenhall to go outside.
Green Bay’s linebackers need to eliminate TE Heath Miller.
Green Bay’s defensive backfield must focus on the
receivers and keep the blitzes to a minimum.
Control the clock.
Rashard Mendenhall needs to find ways to break through the
defense or at least push them back for that matter.
Pittsburgh’s entire defense needs to put pressure on Aaron
Rodgers.
Pittsburgh needs to shut down Green Bay’s running game and
come up with different blitzing schemes.
The key factor of the game will be how well the Pittsburgh
Steelers can establish a running game and how well the Green Bay Packers can
stop it. It promises to be an exciting game to watch. Stellar run defenses will
force both teams to use the passing game often. It’s hard to pick a winner but
I suppose you have to:
Prediction: Green Bay Packers 24 vs. Pittsburgh
Steelers 20
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