FOOTBALL

The day we’ve all been looking forward to finally came:  Super Bowl Sunday.  The radio stations have been talking about it all week, and yesterday we got to see the amazing showdown between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The stories going into the game:  Would Aaron Rodgers reach elite status by winning a Super Bowl, thus officially putting the Brett Favre era to bed in Green Bay?  And would the Steelers defense be able to contain him?

The Packers got on the board first as Aaron Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson in the back of the end zone.  It was just the first of many key catches that made Jordy Nelson such an important player for the Packers.  Then, Pittsbugh got the ball deep in their own territory.  The Packers defense hit Ben Roethlisberger  and he was picked off by the Packers Nick Collins for a 37-yard run back for a touchdown.  And suddenly, in just the first quarter, it was 14-0 Packers.

The Steelers got a field goal, but Aaron Rodgers drove down the field again and hit Greg Jennings with a laser pass for another Packers touchdown.  Wow!!  It was 21-3 Packers.  Who would have thought this would be a blowout in the first half.  Many expected the Steelers defense to contain the Packers, but it was the other way around.  Fortunately for the Steelers, behind some solid running from Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers were able to drive late in the 4th quarter for a Hines Ward touchdown in the back of the end zone.  And we headed into halftime with the Packers leading 21-10.

Then, in the 3rd quarter, it was all Steelers.  They stopped Green Bay on the opening drive, then cruised down the field behind Mendenhall, capping it off with an 8-yard touchdown run by Mendenhall.  21-17 Packers.  At the same time, the Steelers were given chance after chance to take the lead, but their passing offense suddenly turned anemic.  They couldn’t get a long pass, and Big Ben wasn’t scrambling as well as he used to.  All those failed attempts allowed the Packers to score again in the 4th quarter as Aaron Rodgers hit Greg Jennings again for a touchdown.  28-17 Packers in the 4th.

So the Steelers, with their backs against the walls, had to get back in the game fast.  And, oddly, whenever they rushed their offense, they seemed to be able to move the ball easily.  They marched right down the field and Roethlisberger hit Mike Wallace for a 25 yard touchdown.  28-23 Packers.  Then they ran a beautiful lateral play for a 2-point conversion to make it 28-25 Packers.  If they could stop Rodgers, they could get the ball back to win the game.  But, Rodgers was just too good and captained the Packers all the way down to the Steelers 8 yard line.  Except, they couldn’t convert a touchdown and had to settle for a field goal.  Suddenly, the Steelers found themselves with the ball, 2 minutes to go, and all they needed was a touchdown to win the Super Bowl.  They did it 2 years ago against Arizona.  Could they do it again?

The answer:  No.  They looked horrible on their drive.  Some of the receivers didn’t even know what they play was.  They completely had a meltdown.  Then, on 4th and 6, Ben Roethlisberger tried to connect with Mike Wallace in traffic, and it was incomplete.  Game… over!  And the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl!  With the win, Aaron Rodgers immediately moves into the Brady, Manning, Brees ranks, and gets the Brett Favre monkey off his back.  Remember, the Packers drafted Rodgers in 2005.  He had to sit on the bench for 4 seasons before he finally got his chance.  He’s lucky he even got a chance to play.  He could have been traded to an inferior team and never received the chance to prove himself.  Of course, Rodgers was named MVP, throwing for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Congratulations to the Green Bay Packers.  They will be the team to beat next year.  Green Bay 31, Pittsburgh 25.