Bringin’ Lombardi back (yup)
January 27, 2011
Now that we know the Green Bay Packers will play the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Sunday, let’s take a look at what each team is bringing to Texas and I don’t mean toiletries.
I’ll start with the history. First, the Lombardi Trophy, given to the winner of the Super Bowl, is named after the legendary Packer head coach. The Steelers have hoisted the trophy a league-leading six times, twice as many as Green Bay. If the Packers win, they would become the second No.6 team to win the big one. The previous team who managed the feat? Pittsburgh, in 2005 when they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10.
The quarterback controversy is a tough one. Roethlisberger has won the Super Bowl twice and has an overall playoff record of 10-2.
No doubt Big Ben is a good quarterback but he seems even better in the clutch. Roethlisberger is best known for rolling out on third or fourth down, when the terrible towels are at their worst, and convert.
Rodgers has been a very solid replacement to Brett Favre but is far less tested when it counts. Rodgers comes into Super Bowl 45 completing 71 percent of his passes (66-for-93) with six touchdowns in the three playoff games. This leaves the age-old question; the quarterback with experience, or the quarterback who is playing the best? You decide.
The secondary offers two different skill sets. The Packers boast a secondary made up of three Pro Bowlers, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams along with safety Nick Collins. The Packer defense as a whole hasn’t given up more than 21 points in a playoff game this season.
Clay Matthews finished with the fourth most sacks in the league with 13.5.
The Pittsburgh secondary has room for improvement and owes a lot to Troy Polamalu. The safety has been bothered by an Achilles injury but two weeks should have been enough time to heal. Despite the injury, Polamalu still managed seven interceptions. The weak point in the Steeler secondary is cornerback Bryant McFadden and Rodgers knows it. McFadden played for the Arizona Cardinals last season when Rodgers targeted him but ended up coming up just short losing in OT, 51-45.
Ike Taylor is the Steelers’ best corner, only giving up one touchdown all season. The linebacker position is anchored by Lawrence Timmons who made 135 total tackles, ranking him eighth for the 2010 regular season.
On the ground, Pittsburgh’s Rashard Mendenhall was one of 17 running backs to break the 1000 yard threshold with 1273. Green Bay’s leading rusher Brandon Jackson rushed for 703 yards this season but has only rushed the ball six times this postseason.
Out wide the Packer’s Greg Jennings (1265) and Pitt’s Mike Wallace (1257) finished fourth and fifth this season in total receiving yards.
If the game comes down to a field goal, the advantage is with Pittsburgh. The Steelers rank sixth while Green Bay is ranked 24th.
When game day rolls around, I just hope it’s a good one. It’s hard to go against Roethlisberger but c’mon Green Bay, bring home Lombardi.