Super Bowl XLV: Five Keys To Ensuring a Cheesy Green Bay Super Bowl Title
While most of the country continues to be set in a deep freeze, the anticipation to Super Bowl XLV is heating up in the Dallas area. With the ice finally melting away, throngs of fans donned in either green-and-yellow or black-and-gold will be entering Jerry's World in what can be described as one of the most anticipated Super Bowl match-ups in recent memory.
The Green Bay Packers are making their first trip to the big game since John Elway broke the hearts of cheeseheads around the world in 1997, depriving the Pack of a back to back championships. They are led by Aaron Rodgers, who most believe is only 60 minutes away from becoming one of the elite quarterbacks in the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have done their best to tell the world that America's team resides in the steel city. With two Super Bowls in the past five years, the Steelers will be going for a record seventh-championship, being led by the controversial, but remarkably clutch quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
With a match-up that could quite possibly come down to the last possession, each team will need to exploit the weaknesses—however small they are—of the opponent.
In order for the Pack to succeed, and bring the Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay, here are five keys to a Super Sunday for the Packers.
1) Putting Pressure On Big Ben
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Ben Roethlisberger might very well be the best quarterback in the league in terms of evading a pass rush.
Between his sheer size—deflecting would-be tacklers, or his tremendous knack for avoiding pressure, Roethlisberger constantly gives the opposition trouble. While he will never have the flashy numbers of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, he has an unbelievable ability to come through in the clutch.
You'll often hear coaches and analysts say that in order to win, the defense must get sacks on the quarterback.
The Packers don't necessarily have to pile up those kind of numbers to succeed against Rothlisberger.
What they do have to accomplish is putting pressure on him—getting hands in his face and making life miserable. If they can do this, then perhaps thy can neutralize the ability Big Ben has to consistently snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
2) KUUUUHHHNNNNN
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There's been a lot of talk about all the weapons the the Packers possess including Pro-Bowl receiver Greg Jennings, veteran Donald Driver and others like James Jones and Jordy Nelson.
However, one person that hasn't received much publicity these past two weeks, is fullback/running back John Kuhn, the five year veteran from Division-II Shippensburg University.
Kuhn was actually a Steeler once, spending much of his time on their practice squad before getting cut, and eventually signing with the Packers.
Though he was seldom-used his first year, Kuhn has performed well enough to earn the position of starter for much of this year, and has been a feature player in the red zone. He's now become a cult figure with the Packer faithful, as they chant his name every time he touches the ball.
While everyone may talk about the Packer receivers, Kuhn may in fact be one of the key players if Green Bay is to emerge victorious. The Steelers defense is one of if not the best in the NFL, and every yard will be tough to get. Kuhn may be the guy needed to convert 3rd and 1's whether it's on the ground or being used in play-action passes.
If the Packers win the Super Bowl, it is very possible Kuhn will end up in the end-zone before the game is done.
3) The Offensive Line
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While it's vitally important to put pressure on Big Ben, it will be just as important for the Packers' offensive line to keep Steelers defenders like Troy Polamalu, Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley and Brett Keiser off of Aaron Rodgers.
While it's the skill players that always get the headlines, it'll be players like Scott Wells, Brian Baluga and Chad Clifton that could decide who wins or loses the Super Bowl.
This will surely be easier said than done, given that the Packers offensive line is one of the "Achilles' heels" of the team. Rodgers has already sustained two concussions this year—no thanks to protection from the offensive line. The offensive line gave up two false starts and two sacks against the Bears in the NFC Championship, which had no where near as many sacks as the Steelers had this season.
Regardless of if it's Rodgers throwing the ball or James Starks and company running it, it is absolutely imperative that the Packers' offensive line gives its skill players a chance to succeed.
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4) Third Down Defense
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If you watch any game with Ben Roethlisberger, you can understand why this is a tremendously important part of the game. Like it was said in a previous slide, there is maybe no better clutch quarterback in the game, and Big Ben routinely makes a killing on 3rd downs.
Just ask Rex Ryan and the Jets who were drooling at the chance to get the ball back late in the 4th quarter. On third and long, Roethlisberger was flushed out of the pocket and it looked like a certainty he'd have to throw the ball away.
That was until he hit Heath Miller on a sideline pattern to convert for a first down to end the game.
It's plays like this the Packers cannot afford to give up. When they get the Steelers to a third and long, they have to finish the job and force a punt. Whether that is getting pressure on the quarterback, or great coverage by defenders like Charles Woodson, the Packers must simply get it done.
If the Steelers can convert over half of their 3rd downs, they will likely win this game.
5) Have a Two Possession Lead Heading Into The 4th Quarter
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This goes back to the ability of Rothlisberger, who has never seen a fourth quarter deficit too imposing. Since his rookie season, Rothlisberger has consistently led his team to game winning drivers, none bigger than the one just two years ago when he threw an unbelievable pass to Santonio Homes in the endzone, a Super Bowl moment that will never be forgotten.
Many believe that this game will be so close, that the last team to possess the ball will win. However, this belief could be null and void if the Packers can play a dominant first three quarters and have more than an eight point lead.
The fact is, is if this is a one possession game late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers should consider themselves heavy favorites. Much of the team already has Super Bowl experience, and the Steelers are quite used to playing in tight contests. The Packers meanwhile have won a fair amount of their games in blow out fashion, including a wipeout of the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.
It's this columnists opinion that if the Packers win, they'll have to win by at least ten points. If they can head into the fourth quarter leading by that much, then the Lambeau Field faithful should get ready to welcome back the Lombardi Trophy home.
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