No.5 Rodgers and Packers outlasts Pittsburgh

Number 5 well it has to be Super Bowl 45, with two legendary franchises battling it out in a state where everything is more prominent. The two teams were the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers were looking for their seventh Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Packers were playing for their 4th Super Bowl win and 13th NFL title (they were one of the original members in 1921). These two teams were meeting up for the first time ever in the Super Bowl, but the history of them immediately caught America's interest. Another story that came out was how one corner of Pittsburgh had split loyalties as the Head Coach Mike McCarthy was born and raised in the city.

Out goes Holmes, incomes A.B. 

The Steelers were back two years after their last victory. However 2010 didn't start well for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he was suspended for the first 4 games, Pittsburgh ended up going 3-1 during his absence, but he rallied the team to a 12-4 record earning the number two seed in the AFC. However, it was all change as the MVP from their last Super Bowl Santonio Holmes was traded in the offseason. His new top receiver was Mike Wallace who had 1,257 yards from 60 catches along with 10 touchdowns. Hines Ward was still there however his numbers were down with 59 catches for 755 yards and 5 touchdowns. They even had as a rookie one of the best receivers at this very moment Antonio Brown. Their defence was still one of the best with the same defence as mentioned in the last blog except for this time they led the league in sacks, points allowed and rushing yards.

Rodgers and Nelson celebrating the touchdown

For the Green Bay Packers, however, their story had its roots in the 2007 playoffs. They lost the NFC Championship to the New York Giants which became the last ever game for Hall of Fame quarterback at the time Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers was made the quarterback, and after a mixed 2008 season, they went to the playoffs in 2009 losing to the defending NFC Champions Arizona Cardinals 51-45 in overtime. They finished as the 6th seed in the NFC with a 10-6 record. Rodgers had a great year with 3,922 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. His top targets were Gregg Jennings with 1,265 yards, and 12 touchdowns from 76 catches, veteran Donald Driver with 51 catches 565 yards and 4 touchdowns, Jordy Nelson with 582 yards from 45 catches and James Jones 676 yards from 50 catches and 5 touchdowns. The Packers defence was also ranked highly considering they were second in terms of fewest points allowed with 15 per game.

Rodgers in his 3rd season as quarterback for Green Bay

Their line was dominated by Cullen Jenkins who had 7 sacks in eleven games along with 338-pound defensive tackle B.J. Raji who had 6.5 sacks. Their primary linebackers were Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk, Matthews was 4th in the NFL in sacks with 13.5 and Hawk led the team in tackles with 111 along with 3 interceptions. Three of the secondary went to the Pro Bowl with Tramon Williams having 6 interceptions, Nick Collins with 4 interceptions and 70 tackles and veteran Charles Woodson had 92 tackles forced 5 fumbles and had 2 interceptions.

The road for the playoffs for the Steelers was home games all the way starting off with them defeating the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs with Roethlisberger throwing 225 yards and the Steelers defence forcing 3 turnovers and sacking Joe Flacco 5 times. Then in the AFC Championship, they had to survive a comeback from the New York Jets as they went out to a 24-0 lead and then the Jets score 19 unanswered points. However, Pittsburgh's offence had the drive to hold on to the end of the game. 

Rodgers running in for a touchdown against the Bears

For the Packers, they had to go on the road three straight weeks. They started off by going to Philadelphia defeating the Eagles 21-16 thanks to James Starks who had 101 yards for the whole season go 123 in one game. They then went to the top-seeded Atlanta Falcons and came from 14-7 down to win 48-21, Rodgers was nearly perfect going 31completions from 36 attempts for 366 yards 3 touchdowns and ran one in himself. For the NFC Championship, they faced their biggest rivals the Chicago Bears defeating them 21-14. After the game, Woodson threw down a challenge after hearing the Fmr President Obama who's a Bears fan said he was going to the Super Bowl if the Bears were playing in it. He famously said "The President doesn't want to come to watch us, guess what? We'll go see him!", the team then broke meeting going "White House". That's a true story by the way.

Collins celebrating his pick-six

The first quarter of the game started slowly with 3 consecutive punts, then on the Packers' second drive Rodgers led them 80 yards and finished the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson. Then on the first play of the next drive for the Steelers, Roethlisberger was hit by Howard Green as he threw the ball which made the ball go short of his target and intercepted by Nick Collins who took it 37 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers would have the ball for the remaining time of the 1st quarter. However, despite taking another 4 minutes of the clock, they only got a 33-yard field goal for their effort. After the Packers were forced to punt the ball on their next drive the Steelers went to midfield then Roethlisberger was intercepted again this time by Jarrett Bush.

Then the Packers decided to make the Steelers pay with Starks running for 12 yards and Rodgers gaining 20 yards on 3 plays then on the next play Jennings got free of Polamalu and caught a 21-yard pass for a touchdown to make it 21-3 Packers with 2 minutes left in the game. Roethlisberger then led the Steelers down the field and on the stroke of halftime connected with Ward on an 8-yard pass to make it 21-10. The half was taking a toll in terms of injury as Pittsburgh would lose Emmanual Sanders and the Packers lost Sam Shields and Charles Woodson.

Black Eyed Peas with Slash and Usher was the halftime show.

The 3rd quarter was all Pittsburgh as they would limit Rodgers and the offence to two consecutive punts. For the Steelers, their first drive of the second half culminated in an 8-yard touchdown by Rashard Mendenhall after going 50 yards in 5 plays. Then on the Steelers next drive, they went all the way down to the Packers 29-yard line. Then the Packers held them there for three downs. Suisham's field goal attempt went wide left. The Packers were looking around confused and without their chief captain Woodson, there was no clear leader on the pitch for both offence and defence.

Mike Wallace scoring a touchdown

Then on the first play of the 4th quarter, Mendenhall was fumbled while being tackled by Matthews and Ryan Pickett then Desmond Bishop returned it to the Packers 45-yard line. The Packers went 55 yards in 8 plays, with Nelson catching a 38-yard pass and Jennings finished it with an 8-yard touchdown pass. This made it 28-17 Packers with 9 minutes to go. Roethlisberger then went 6-7 on the next drive culminating with a 25-yard pass to Mike Wallace and then Antwaan Randle El scored on a 2 point conversion to make it 28-25 Packers. Rodgers and the Pack offence went 70 yards in 10 plays taking 5 minutes off the clock and went to the Pittsburgh 8-yard line courtesy of a 31- yard pass to Jennings and a 21-yard to Jones. Crosby then kicked the field goal to make it 31-25 Packers. The Packers then held the Steelers as they turned over on downs (they didn't get the 10 yards in 4 plays) and the Packers won their 4th Super Bowl and 13th NFL title extending their home city's nickname as Titletown USA.

Rodgers was the MVP with 24 completions for 304 yards for 3 touchdowns. His top receiver was Jordy Nelson with 140 yards and a touchdown from 9 catches. Running back James Starks ran for 52 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger had 25 completions for 235 yards 2 touchdowns but also 2 interceptions. Mike Wallace was his top receiver with 9 catches for 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Mendenhall was the top rusher with 63 yards from 14 carries however he had 1 fumble to his name.

I'll be back with more.

KRO Mark