As I predicted before the year started, we have the Green Bay Packers meeting the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. There are so many similarities between these two teams, it’s almost fitting they will be playing in the biggest game of the year. Both teams have tough big-armed quarterbacks, in Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers. Both have stout defenses lead by veteran leaders, James Farrior and Charles Woodson. They both also have deep receiving corps, where any player could be a “play-maker”. With all these similarities, this is going to be a game that goes down to the wire…and any play could be the potential game changer. Steelers fans should be used to those by now…
Jump for our writer’s thoughts and predictions on Super Bow XLV…
Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Green Bay Packers:
Matt:
As I stated earlier in my intro, these are two teams that are very much alike. Thinking ahead to this match-up, I tried to compare the two teams, here is what I figure…
Quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger Vs. Aaron Rodgers (Slight Advantage to Ben)
-They both seem to “just win”
-Both can beat you with arms or legs
-Ben has 2 Super Bowl wins… enough said.
Running Backs: Rashard Mendenhall Vs. Brandon Jackson (Advantage Mendenhall)
– Rashard racked up 1,200 plus yards, Jackson 700
– Both Defenses will be tough to run on, but you have to think Mendenhall will have the better day
Wide Receivers: Steelers Vs. Packers (PUSH)
-Both Receiving corps has role players for every situation
-Ben and Aaron trust every receiver they have
-Seems like every receiver has had a big play (or two) this year.
Offensive Line: Steelers Vs. Packers (Advantage Packers)
-Everyone knows that the Steelers weak point should be their O-Line
-It doesn’t help that Pouncey is out
-Both lines aren’t great, but Rodgers’ protection is a bit better
Tight Ends: Heath Miller Vs. Andrew Quarless (Advantage Heath)
-Quarless is a Receiving tight end at heart, blocking is a bit suspect
-Heath can do it all, and does it well
-Both can make big plays….but Heath gets the advantage
Defensive Line: Steelers Vs. Packers (Advantage Packers)
-This one is tough to give to the Packers, but it’s the right call
-Packers D Line is big, and active (Not as good as Baltimore’s though)
-Steelers D Line is more to clog up defenders/holes so LB’s can make plays
Linebackers: Steelers Vs. Packers (Advantage Steelers)
-No Question about it!
-Packer’s fans might whine that they have Hawk and Matthews, but the Steelers have the obvious advantage with Woodley, Harrison, Farrior, Timmons, and the rest of the LB’s.
Secondary: Steelers Vs. Packers (Advantage Packers)
-Even with Troy Polamalu, the Steelers secondary can’t compete head to head against the Packers secondary.
-Even though Steelers secondary can play the run better than Green Bay’s, Green Bay’s pass defense is among the best in the league.
Special Teams: Steelers Vs. Packers (Slight Advantage Pittsburgh)
– Shaun Suisham has been exactly what the Steelers have needed in a kicker, a reliable 3 points if a drive stalls…Mason Crosby is also a pretty reliable kicker, but has had a few blocked kicks this year.
-I give the edge to Suisham (What a storybook year this would be for him if the Steelers win)
-As far as kick-offs go…I give Steelers the edge.
-Punters, I give the advantage to Green Bay.
As you can see, it’s going to be close but I am taking the Steelers to win. It won’t be an explosion of points, as the defenses will star. The team that makes the big plays will win, and it’s hard to pick against the Steelers, because it seems like they always make the plays they need to.
Steelers 24 Packer 20
Brian:
Obviously I’m picking the Steelers here. Green Bay’s a real good football team. Watching them is like watching… well, the Steelers. Each team has a powerful (if slightly inconsistent) offense led by super-talented quarterbacks with their own knacks for winning. Their defenses can be suffocating, the major difference in my mind being the Packers’ talent in the secondary versus the Steelers’ front-7 dominance. I believe the game will hinge on which Aaron Rodgers shows up to play: The one who had a near-perfect outing against the top-seeded Falcons, or the one who led one great drive to start out against the Bears and proceeded to not really wow me the rest of the game?
In the end, I think the Steelers’ big game experience across the board will put them over the top against the Packers. The Pack is really good. Aaron Rodgers is really good. But Ben Roethlisberger has done it before. The defense has done it before. And even though a lot of offensive Steelers didn’t play in the big game in 2008, you know Big Ben is going to find a way to put the Steelers ahead. It’s just what he does.
I don’t like making long, bold predictions about the Steelers, usually, but this is the Super Bowl. If you’re not going to be bold now, then when will you?
Steelers 27, Packers 21
George:
The Football Outsiders Playoff Odds algorithm gives the Steelers a 50.6% chance to win, while Advanced NFL Stats gives the Steelers a 50.5% chance to win. That’s about as close to a coin flip as you’ll ever see in a football game, and it would be kind of fitting to see the game potentially decided by a coin flip in overtime. That being said, I think it’ll be close, but won’t go to overtime. Field position will be the biggest factor in this game, simply because it’s the one area where one team (the Steelers) seems to have a clear advantage. Both teams have very good pass offenses and elite defenses. The Packers’ poor kickoffs will determine the winner of this game, in a contest that is much lower scoring than their 2009 clash. Shaun Suisham will kick a 41-yard game-winner.
Steelers 27 Packers 24
Bam:
I’ve been going back and forth on this game for the past two weeks. I really thought Green Bay had the advantage, but the more and more I’ve researched the match-ups and stats, I’ve swayed back towards Pittsburgh (and the whole being a Steelers fan thing doesn’t hurt). Green Bay’s offense is good, but they aren’t an all time great or even elite unit. I think the Steelers defense will keep Aaron Rodgers off balance early in the game and frustrate the Pack. Dick LeBeau is a better coach than anybody on Green Bay’s sideline and the Steelers defense is a better unit than Green Bay’s offense. On the other side, Big Ben will do his thing. It won’t be pretty and he may even throw an interception or two but he’ll make pass rushers miss and churn out first downs. Green Bay has had issues stopping the run and Rashard Mendenhall is hitting his peak for the season. This is going to help the Steelers control the clock for most of the game. I like the Steelers to get up early in this one and hold on late…much like what happened against Arizona in Super Bowl XLIII. The Steelers always play well defensively early and if Roethlisberger can put up a couple scores in the first half, I like our chances.
Pittsburgh 24 Green Bay 17
STAFF PICKS
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Playoffs Wild Card |
Bam |
Brian |
George |
Matt |
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2010 Record Regular Season Record |
165-91 1st place |
156-100 4th place |
157-99 3rd place |
161-95 2nd place |
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2010 Playoffs Record |
7-3 |
6-4 |
6-4 |
7-3 |
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Pittsburgh Steelers Vs. Green Bay Packers |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
