It's almost impossible anymore. Title games never quite live up to the hype. I won't say that Super Bowl XLV definitely will, but it SHOULD. The Pack is 13-6, the Steelers are 14-4 and each team's first-rate credentials are nearly identical. First is the badass historical value of each team. It's old-school, cold weather, kick-you-in-the-teeth football. I hate to sound cliche, but you would be hard-pressed to find two more storied franchises. This game has NFL nostalgia up to it's nuts. As for the present, both teams have elite QBs who can sling it with anyone, but also make plays with their feet. Both teams run a blitz-heavy, hair-on-fire type of defense, and both teams counter that with a home-run passing game. This is the kind of matchup that makes any diehard football fan salivate, like they are about to dive into some Primanti's.
Obviously quarterback play will be key when these two teams roll into Dallas. Both QBs can put up big numbers, although Rodgers is putting up bigger passing numbers in the playoffs. But don't be misled by that stat. There wasn't much need for Ben to pass when the Steelers were up 24-0 last weekend, while the Pack was taken to the wire by a third string quarterback. Both are mobile, but Ben is much harder to bring down. Rodgers may have a slightly better receiving corps, but don't count out Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown who have been huge thus far. I'm giving a slight advantage to Roethlisberger for two reasons. One is experience. As Mike Tomlin would say, Ben's a "been there, done that" kind of guy. And two, Rodgers has been more prone to turnovers this postseason, even though he has not played against a pass rush like Pittsburgh's. The Steeler's defense will stop the run, as per usual, and force the Pack to be one-dimensional. In the end, the stats may lean in Rodgers favor, but Ben will do enough to get the W.
Next is the running back game. I'm not sure whether people haven't noticed yet, or if they just do not want to admit it, but Rashard Mendenhall is a feature back in the making. Mendenhall and Green Bay starter James Starks have been getting about the same amount of carries, and rushing for about the same amount of yards per game, but the one difference is that Mendy has found the end zone three times in two games while Starks has only hit paydirt once in three games. Granted Starks is equipped with sidekick, John Kuhn but the advantage still has to go to Mendenhall. He might not hit the 100 yard mark, but he will outrush Starks and put up enough yardage to make the Pack respect the run.
At big play receiver I'm going to match up Greg Jennings and Mike Wallace. So far in the playoffs Jennings has separated hiimself statistically, pulling in about 6 passes a game for around 80 yards. Wallace only has 4 catches for 26 yards in two games. Advantage Jennings, but Wallace can definitely break out.
With that matchup, I have to put Hines Ward up against Donald Driver. Both grizzled vets have become second options for their QBs. Driver has outperformed Hines thus far statistically, but don't you just feel like Ward is going to make his presence felt in his Super Bowl return? I know I do. He may not go for huge numbers, but look for Ward to make a big play at a big time in this game. Plus there is no WR in the league who can block like Hines, and you know he will be fired up.
At tight end, Green Bay is throwing out Andrew Quarless. This is a no-brainer. Heath Miller is one of the best TEs in the league and has made his presence known this postseason. There are mutters that he could be the Steelers unsung MVP of the playoffs so far. He is one of the best blocking tight ends in football and will be high on Ben's red zone pecking list. Watch for the Steelers to not only look for him in the end zone, but also to run the ball heavily to his side.
Now comes the people in charge of trying to stop all those guys I just mentioned, the defenses. This is going to be a slobber-knocker for sure. Obviously this game will come down to whichever defense is able to make the most plays. I think it will come down to run defense and pass rush. Pittsburgh definitely has a better chance of stopping Starks than the Pack does of stopping Mendenhall. As far as the pass rush goes, the proof is in the pudding. Pittsburgh has been picking, and sacking, and stripping all postseason long. And let's not forget number 43. If you think these defenses are evenly matched, then you have to consider him the x-factor. He has a knack for making huge plays in big games, when they mean the most.
I'm not going to sit here and guarantee a Steeler victory because Green Bay is a great team who is definitely capable of beating Pittsburgh. There is a reason they are in the Super Bowl. Throw all the stats out the window, this one will come down to quarterback play and turnovers. I think the Steelers experience in games like this and Ben's ability to be clutch like no other will be the deciding factors. Super Bowl XLV definitely has the makings of a classic. Let the hype begin.
Prediction - Steelers 27, Packers 17
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