Super Bowl XLV features the Pittsburgh Steelers vs the Green Bay Packers. Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu and the Steelers seemed to be getting most of the hype this year as they are playing in the Big Game for a record eighth time, but Aaron Rodgers and the Packers aren’t flying under anybody’s radar anymore. The way Green Bay dismantled Atlanta and Chicago in the divisional round and NFC championship made it very clear to the rest of the NFL they are a team to be reckoned with.
2011 Super Bowl Analysis
Preview of the Green Bay Packer Offense
Packer head coach Mike McCarthy has been called an offensive genius and a quarterback guru, and he has employed his skills to good effect molding a powerful offense in Green Bay. Led by 6’2″, 225 lb quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Packer offense racked up 5961 yards in total offense in the 2010 season. Rodgers threw for 3922 yards, 28 TDs,and 11 INTs. Aside from Rodgers, the Pack are not a well-known or flashy group of athletes, just solid NFL caliber players who know and execute their role in the offensive system. The offensive line and skill players like WRs Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, and TE Greg Jennings just plain get the job done. Green Bay’s running attack is their one potential achilles heel, as RBs Brandon Jackson is just returning from an injury, and rookie James Starks is the only real back up (although Starks has performed well in the 2011 NFL playoffs so far).
Look for Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to have cooked up a few surprises for the Pittsburgh defense in Super Bowl XLV. Maybe even a halfback pass or a fake field goal or onsides kick. Also expect the Packers to run the ball a good bit, especially in the first half, as they need to keep the Steelers defense honest to keep the pressure off Rodgers.
Preview of the Green Bay Packer Defense
Green Bay’s defense has developed into something special. In just his second year with the Packers, defensive coordinator Dom Capers has turned a solid defensive unit into a fearsome offense-stymying machine that eats opposing quarterbacks for lunch. The Packer defense really came together in the last few games of the season, and has been ferocious in the playoffs. Like the offense, the defense is not composed of many big name players, aside from Charles Woodson and A.J. Hawk most NFL fans would not recognize most names on the defensive roster. But they are all NFL caliber athletes who know their roles in Capers’ system and get the job done.
Super Bowl 2011 Predictions and Pick
My Super Bowl Pick – While Pittsburgh will keep it close with their strong D, the Packers simply have the better team and that will make the difference in the game. The Pack pull away in the fourth quarter to win the 2011 Super Bowl 24-13.
For more on the 2011 NFL playoffs or Super Bowl XLV see:
Super Bowl 2011 Preview – Green Bay Vs Pittsburgh-Duel in Dallas
2011 Super Bowl Preview – Quarterback Match Up – Rodgers Vs Roethlisberger
