Well, it’s that time of the year again!
The most anticipated football game of the year: The Super Bowl. Every year, the top dogs from each conference slug it out in what tends to be an exciting, hard-hitting game. This year, the NFC champion Packers (10-6) take on the AFC leading Steelers (12-4) in what looks to be a vicious, physical matchup.
What to Look for:
The game this year has a lot going on so catch up now on what has been going on.
Defense wins Championships
Steelers
The Steelers have a stifling defense, gaining the most sacks in the NFL while allowing the fewest points and rushing yards per game.
Troy Polamalu, NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is a ball-hawking safety who takes charge of the entire secondary. He has a nose for the ball, and reads quarterbacks well. Not only that, but he delivers some of the hardest hits in the game.
Pittsburgh has the league’s top linebacking corps, led by James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley. Their knack of getting to the quarterback is incredible, and should give Green Bay some trouble
Packers
The Packers, on the other hand, had the second ranked defense, allowing only .5 more points per game than the Steelers (15 and 14.5 respectively). The defensive line was led by rookie BJ Raji (6.5 sacks) and Cullen Jenkins (7 sacks in 11 games).
Meanwhile, the linebackers were led by Clay Matthews (13.5 sacks, led the NFL), and AJ Hawk (3 interceptions). The Packers front 7 is indeed a top-notch group, but the real talent is in the secondary consisting of 3 probowlers including Charles Woodson, Future Hall of Fame cornerback, and Tramon Williams, the dynamic playmaking safety.
On Offense:
Packers
Aaron Rodgers and the Pack have had success throwing the ball to a wide array of receivers such as Pro-Bowl wideout Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Donald Driver.
All caught 50 or more passes through the season. The running game was hurt by the loss of Ryan Grant in week 1, but the passing game and defense have carrier this team on their backs.
Steelers
Big Ben Roethlisberger was suspended the first four games of the season, but the Steelers still managed to win three of those games. Roethlisberger came back and threw for 17 touchdowns through the remainder of the season, often looking to speedy deep threat Mike Wallace (10 touchdowns) and veteran Hines Ward.
Rashard Mendenhall has been an unstoppable runner, totaling 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns behind rookie Pro-Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey (injured in the championship game, inactive for the Super Bowl), and an offensive line that was shuffled around all year.
Prediction:
The Packers dynamic passing offense takes advantage of the Steelers secondary, taking an early lead, forcing the Steelers to test the daunting Packers secondary.
