Green Bay Packers, 31 Pittsburgh Steelers, 25
The Vince Lombardi Trophy (as every media outlet, talk show and neighborhood dog have repeated ad nauseum) is "going home".
Rodgers was hot to start, quickly striking to WR Jordy Nelson up 7-0. Rothlisberger was not hot to start, throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown by S Nick Collins and a 2nd interception to CB Jarrett Bush. Rodgers capitalized quickly for another 7 to WR Greg Jennings. The Cowboys Stadium scoreboard read 21-3 with 2:31 left in the 2nd quarter.
The heels of the Steelers reeled, but as veterans of the bright lights, they put together a touchdown drive through the air to WR Antwan Randal-El and WR Hines Ward (76 combined yards on the drive) to close out the half 21-10. Pittsburgh stopped Green Bay out of the 2nd half gate and put together another touchdown drive. After hardly 8 minutes of game-time since Rodgers' 2nd TD, the Steelers had scored 14 unanswered points.
Up 21-17, Green Bay's offense was stalling and Pittsburgh's freight train momentum continued to gather steam. But they play this game with a very odd-shaped football, and Mendenhall fumbled to start the 4th quarter, de-railed by LB Clay Matthews. Aaron Rodgers clicked back into gear and again converted to Jennings for another TD to resume the 11 point lead. Not to be outdone, Big Ben & Pittsburgh responded again, a 25-yard sideline dart to WR Mike Wallace, and a 2pt conversion to boot. With 7:40 left to play, 31-25.
This was the stuff of two heavyweights swinging late round punches. There were very few penalties as two well-disciplined teams fought in what can confidently be called the fourth in a wonderful run of Super Bowl games.
In the thrilling finish, down by 6 after K Mason Crosby tacked on another 3, the Steelers had exactly two minutes to drive the length of the field for 7. This time (as opposed to 2009 v. Arizona) it didn't come to fruition, and the confetti guys in the rafters loaded green with the gold, instead of black.
I place the credit for the victory squarely on the shoulders of Coach Mike McCarthy and D-Co Dom Capers. With injuries piling up during the season, and then in the game (CB Charles Woodson left after a well defended pass, WR Donald Driver left after a hard fought 3rd down play) they still found a way to get it done with the combination of franchise QB Aaron Rodgers and incredible homegrown depth provided by GM Ted Thompson.
As for the Steelers, they were just inconsistent. QB Ben Rothlisberger battled back from all 3 turnovers, but the Steelers were playing from behind and seeing only flashes from WR Mike Wallace and inconsistency from WR Hines Ward. LB James Harrison was invisible, recording one sack midway through the 3rd, his only tackle. S Troy Polamalu was no match for the Green Bay aerial attack. Yet still, the Pittsburgh D played solid at crucial times, especially when Green Bay was ahead and not throwing.
Both teams did most of their work through the air. RB Rashard Mendenhall, so brutal against the Jets ran hard, but was limited by the necessary catch-up mode. Meanwhile, RB James Starks touched the ball only 11 times for 52 yards. He ran well enough to keep the Steelers off balance.
KEY PLAY: There were three key plays. The turnovers. The interception returned for TD by S Nick Collins, the interception to CB Jarrett Bush at mid-field and the Mendenhall fumble forced by LB Clay Matthews. The latter two both led to Rodgers/Jennings touchdowns. 21 Super-Bowl-winning points.
MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers had 3 touchdowns and is being hailed as having had one of the greatest ever postseasons for a QB. While I don't agree that his postseason is on par with 2006 Peyton Manning, 1999 Kurt Warner of even 2009 Drew Brees it did end with the same flash and confetti, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Now, Rodgers obviously was officially awarded the MVP so it quite presumptuous of me to choose another player. The only others in consideration would be WR Greg Jennings (2 TDs) or WR Jordy Nelson (140 yards, 1 TD) but those footballs had to come from somewhere... and they came from Rodgers.
