Super Bowl

If you weren’t sure, the Super Bowl is Sunday, 6:30 PM. Maybe all six of you that read this blog have been wondering why I haven’t written about the big game all week. Truthfully, I’ve been so sickened by all the hype that I haven’t had the will, nor the desire. I would much rather focus my attention on the Pro Bowl and Blake Griffin…that’s the kind of stand-up guy I am. Or it might just be because I’m not cool and I don’t get to go to Media Day and fawn over all the players and eat Texas Barbeque and witness the greatness that is Jerry Jones’s new shrine to football awesomeness. I’m not bitter, I swear.

Without further ado, my pick and rationale (not exactly in that order):

Something unique happened leading up to the championship game. Green Bay has been so overhyped over the course of the season that people are starting to move over to the Steelers side because they are more experienced and have a defense people believe is unbeatable. So all of a sudden Pittsburgh has become the favorites. That’s BS if you ask me, for several reasons.

This is why the Green Bay Packers will win:

1) Dome Field: The Cowboy’s new stadium isn’t exactly a dome, but it pretty much is—so just go with it. The Packers have scored 32 a game when they’ve played in domes. Their offense is fast as hell, and dome-like conditions only enhance that speed. They have a 99’ St. Louis Rams feel, and playing in ideal field conditions will only help them.


2) It’s the year of Lombardi: Seriously, how can the Green Bay Packers not win in a year commemorating the greatest football coach of all time who happened to lead the Packers to five league championships in the 1960’s. It would be inconceivable.


3) Aaron Rodgers—the executioner?: Anyone else noticed that Rodgers—the ultimate good guy, from bench warmer to Super Bowl quarterback –has dispatched two quarterbacks with bad reputations (Cutler and Vick) and now has a chance at Big Ben—the ultimate villain? How awesome would it be for Rodgers to beat the dog torturer (he’s turned his life around, I’ll give you that one), the “I’d rather be in Egypt right now than on this field” quarterback, and then to end his crusade with the defeat of Rapist-berger. It would the greatest 40 day tear of all time. Mark my words, the football gods will make this happen.


4) Pittsburgh’s defense has shown weakness against the spread offense: As long as Green Bay can hold against the blitz and protect Aaron Rodgers, which I believe they will (Steelers only sacked him once in their 2009 meeting) then they can expose Pittsburgh’s secondary. The Pack won’t have a chance to run against the Steelers incredible front (attempted only 12 in the 2009 meeting), but they will take a page from the Patriots and use a spread attack full of quick slants and digs. Green Bay’s wide receivers are simply more talented than Pittsburgh’s defense backs, and that will be the difference in the game. Assuming, of course, Rodgers is suitably protected.


5) Pressure on Ben: It’s official, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the Super Bowl. That leaves Pittsburgh with two back up tackles on each side and a backup center. They got to the Super Bowl with such a morbid line, but this is the week if finally falls apart—the loss of Pouncey being the domino. With B.J Raji and Cullen Jenkins commanding double teams from the inside, coupled with Clay Matthews relentless pressure look for Big Ben to be under heavy fire all game. This can often be a bad thing for the defense as Roethlisberger is so good on broken plays, but I believe Green Bay will be able to manufacture pressure without the need for extensive blitzing. Therefore, it will be easier to contain Ben and force him to throw from the pocket.

The Green Bay Packers have everything going for them except experience. Meanwhile, the Steelers have been there, done that—appearing in their third Super Bowl in six years. As Trent Dilfer pointed out, that “been there, done that” feeling can sometimes cause complacency. With most of the Packers roster experiencing their first Championship game, they may be more locked in and focused. No one knows that for sure, but it’s something to think about.

Green Bay has both the ability to pressure Ben without sending the house, and can exploit perhaps the only weakness in the Steeler’s vaunted defense. With the spirit of Lombardi watching over, the Packers dominate Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Packers-34, Steelers-24

Hope you enjoyed reading my picks over the past couple months; let’s hope we’ll have a season to enjoy next year.