Photo illustration by Michael Uribes/Matt Weir
For the 45th time, the Lombardi Trophy is up for grabs.
But for the first time since the mid-to-late 1990s, the Super Bowl will feature two of the NFL’s most traditioned franchises.
The Green Bay Packers enter Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the first time since losing Super Bowl XXXII, but the mean green have a new look and a chip on their shoulder. Led by heady quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packers sit as a 2-and-a-half-point favorite and momentum on their side. Green Bay took the most difficult route to the biggest game in American sports””All road contests, becoming just the second No. 6 seed to make it all the way in Super Bowl history.
Who was the other team to make it to the Big Dance as a No. 6 seed? The Pittsburgh Steelers five years ago, and the two teams are now pitted together in the Super Bowl for the first time in the teams’ storied histories.
The Packers’ claim to fame is their 12 NFL championships (three of them Super Bowls). Head coach Mike McCarthy’s squad needed to win its final regular-season game against the Bears to even qualify for the playoffs. Playoff road wins at Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago later, the Packers were Super Bowl bound behind the hottest quarterback in football.
Rodgers threw for nearly 4,000 yards in the regular season to go along with 28 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.
But the opposing quarterback, Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, has the Steel Curtain back in the Super Bowl for the third time in six years. Roethlisberger is 10-2 all time in the playoffs and has a pair of Super Bowl rings to show for it.
But as prolific as Rodgers’ offense is, the Steelers’ defense is arguably the most dynamic and feared in the league today. especially against the run.
Anchored by the 2010-11 NFL Defensive Most Valuable Player Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh gave up a league-low 63 yards per game on the ground.
But as Super Bowl history shows, stats, records and accolades go out the window. This year’s Big Dance pins Lombardi against Noll, Lambeau against Rooney and now Rodgers against Roethlisberger for all the marbles.
WHY WE WIN: BY TONY PETERSEN
We win because we’ve been playing elimination football for five weeks. After losing to the lowly Lions after Aaron Rodgers got injured, the Packers have won five games in a row against top-notch teams: They dismantled the New York Giants 45-17, defeated the NFC North Champion Chicago Bears 10-3, took out the Michael Vick-led Philadelphia Eagles 21-16, demolished the No. 1 seed Atlanta Falcons 48-21 and beat the Bears again, this time on their own turf, 21-14. Green Bay has been the best team in the NFL over this span. Rodgers has officially become an elite quarterback, the Pack have the best receiving corps in the NFL, and their defense features last year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson alongside Clay Matthews, Tramon Williams and B.J. Raji.
KEY PLAYER:
Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre three years ago, and since has been trying to play out of the legend’s shadow. If he plays well, the Packers will win and Rodgers will cast a shadow of his own.
PREDICTION:
Packers 24, Steelers 23
WHY WE WIN: BY BEN INGERSOLL
We win because we’ve been here before. The Steelers have 14 of their 22 starters with Pittsburgh Super Bowl rings already. Coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t need to change much because, well, if it isn’t broke, why fix it? Under Tomlin the Steelers are 5-1 in the playoffs, including a perfect 2-0 in the Big One. Ever heard of the term “defense wins championships?” We boast the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in Troy Polamalu, as well as arguably the most feared linebacker in the sport in James Harrison. We have taken the harder road to the game, going through two of the league’s premier defenses in Baltimore and the New York Jets. The most physical team wins the game, and the Steelers are rarely, if ever, out-physicaled.
KEY PLAYER:
Hines Ward is the definition of Steeler football. Ward has been instrumental in our two recent Super Bowl victories, and he is the emotional leader, both on and off the field. Whether it be downfield blocking or a huge first-down reception, Ward is as clutch as it comes.
PREDICTION:
Steelers 23, Packers 20