From college to professional, from baseball to basketball and everything in between, “For the Love of the Game” is an opinionated look at sports throughout the nation and in the St. Louis area. This twice-monthly column discusses topics pertaining to the phenomenon of sports and what they mean to the writer.
Tim Doty
– Copy Editor –
It’s time once again for Super Sunday. Super Bowl XLV looks to be an intriguing match-up between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh, the NFL franchise with the most Super Bowl victories ever, is going to its second Super Bowl in three years and third in six years. The Packers, winners of three straight road playoff games, are making their fifth overall visit, but have not won it all since Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. These two historic franchises made it to the big game by different means, but there were some similarities. On Feb. 6, the winner will be crowned in Dallas and receive the Vince Lombardi trophy. Which team has what it takes to claim victory? Below are my analyses of each team and my pick for Super Bowl XLV.
Steelers: Offense steps up to help infamous defense
The Steelers, led by two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, is usually known for its “steel curtain” defense which allowed greater than 22 points only once in the regular season. Though the defense features pro-bowlers Troy Polamalu, who had seven interceptions and a forced fumble, and James Harrison with six forced fumbles and 100 tackles, the offense has pitched in to make Pittsburgh a more well-rounded team. After the preseason trade of wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who made the game-winning catch for Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII, to the New York Jets, second-year receiver Mike Wallace helped the offense with 10 touchdown catches in the 2010-2011 season. Running back Rashard Mendenhall started all 16 games this season and scored 23 touchdowns.
Pittsburgh’s biggest challenge in the Super Bowl will be holding a big lead. They allowed the Jets to climb back into the game late in the AFC Championship game, but also proved they can claw their way back from a deficit as evidenced by the Steelers’ comeback win in the divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens. They were victorious with a 31-24 final after trailing 21-7 at halftime. Getting out to at least a two-score lead and letting Polamalu and company keep it that way is crucial for a seventh Super Bowl ring for the steel city.
Packers: Resilient team needs rhythm, balance on both sides of the ball
Green Bay’s accomplishment of winning three road playoff games has only been done three other times since merger. What’s even more incredible is that they did this with 16 players on injured reserve, 11 of which are on defense. The road warriors squeaked by the Eagles in the first game of the playoffs but trounced Atlanta in the second. The offense was held in check by the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship game, but the team edged the Bears 21-14. Leading the Packers is quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the successor to Brett Favre. Rodgers has thrown for 790 yards and 6 touchdowns to five different receivers in the postseason. The hodgepodge defense, led by second-year linebacker Clay Matthews with 13.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and veteran cornerback Charles Woodson who is playing in his first Super Bowl in his 13-year career, has been able to help keep the offense, which scored more than 27 points in 9 games in the regular season, in contests.
In order for the Packers to win, they must keep an offensive rhythm throughout the entire game. They need to match or beat the Steelers with every score. Putting sevens up on the board instead of threes will make the game much easier for the team from Wisconsin. The defense needs to do its job, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers needs to call for blitzes and the secondary to cover if Big Ben runs out of the pocket. Rhythm on both offense and defense will make it a beautiful day in Aaron Rodgers’ neighborhood.
Prediction:
A clash of two great offenses and defenses should keep the contest close. While the defense of the Packers may not match up as well with Pittsburgh, Rodgers has more offensive weapons and receivers than Roethlisberger. Green Bay’s air attack will outshine the defense of the Steelers, but the big game in big D should be a battle of the ages. Score: Steelers 24, Packers 28.
