Super Bowl 2011: Keys To the Game for the Packers and Steelers

On Feb. 6, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers will take the field for Super Bowl XLV in a matchup of epic proportions. Green Bay won the first two Super Bowls and has won three Super Bowls all-time. The Steelers boast a 6-1 all-time record in Super Bowls, with their only loss coming in Super Bowl XXX.

The Steelers come into Super Bowl XLV with a ferocious defense that has only given up 202 yards per game in the playoffs and 276 yards per game during the season. Their defense is led by Troy Polamalu, who had 63 tackles on the season and also recorded seven interceptions. 

The Pittsburgh offense is led by Ben Roethlisberger, who has had a very consistent year after sitting out the first four games of the season for a suspension. Big Ben threw for over 3,000 yards this year and likely would have crossed the 4,000 yard mark had he not been suspended.

The Packers come into Super Bowl XLV led by the arm of Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers took his Pro Bowl snub and turned it into motivation that has carried the Packers from the sixth seed to the Super Bowl.

The secondary has responded well for the Packers in their run, totaling six interceptions and nearly having two more against Bears quarterback Todd Collins. 

Keys to the Game:

1. Big Ben vs. the Packers' secondary: Roethlisberger threw two interceptions last week against the Jets and nearly helped the Jets pull off a huge comeback. The Packers' secondary, as I mentioned, has been on fire as of late, and Ben cannot afford to make ill-advised throws in Dallas. 

Big Ben only had five interceptions in 11 games during the season, so something has to give when the Packers' secondary and Ben cross paths.

2. James Starks: Starks will be the X-factor for Green Bay when it hits the field next Sunday in Dallas. Starks, so far this postseason, has rushed for 123 yards, 66 yards, and 74 yards respectively. 

The Packers in the regular season averaged 100 yards per game (but that includes Aaron Rodgers rushing yards), and Green Bay will need to run the ball well if it wants to beat the Steelers. 

As bad as Green Bay's rushing attack was this season, Pittsburgh's run defense was out of this world, as it only gave up 62 yards per game. Starks will get the bulk of the carries for the Packers this week; he will not only need to be effective, but also needs to be sure to hold onto the ball. 

If Starks doesn't rush for at least 75 yards, it will be tough for Green Bay to win.

3. Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers had one of the best performances by a quarterback against the Falcons, but had an average effort against the Bears defense. Chicago appears to have Rodgers's number, so you know Dick LeBeau will be looking to see what Chicago did to slow Rodgers down. 

If the Packers want to win the Super Bowl, they will rely on the arm of Rodgers to carry them to the promised land. 

Pittsburgh's pass defense was ranked 12th against the pass during the season and is slightly weaker than its run defense, so it wouldn't be much of a shock if Mike McCarthy lets Rodgers throw more than 40 times.

4. Clay Matthews vs. LaMarr Woodley vs. James Harrison: Both these quarterbacks are tough to bring down and have the tendency to hold onto the ball a little too long, so the pass rush will play a key role in this game. 

All three of these players came up big during the season with double digit sacks, and they will have their numbers called on the blitz early and often.  

Getting pressure on both of these quarterbacks is essential to throwing them off their games. Both quarterbacks are very good at reading opposing blitzes and escaping pressure, so these players will not only need to put pressure on the opposing quarterback, but be able to bring them down for a sack.

5. Shaun Suisham vs. Mason Crosby: Field goals will be crucial in this game with both defenses performing well as of late. Suisham will forever be remembered as the guy who missed a 29-yard field goal for the Redskins against the Saints last season, but now has a chance to make his own legacy and win a Super Bowl with the Steelers. 

Suisham is 2-of-3 so far in the playoffs, but missed his only attempt over 40 yards.

Crosby is also 2-of-3 this postseason, with his miss coming from over 50 yards.  Crosby has been quoted as saying he wants to kick the game-winning field goal, and he may get the opportunity. If the opportunity approaches itself, both of these kickers need to be able to step up and make the kick. 

Prediction:

Packers, 20-17, with Rodgers leading the Packers on a game-winning drive with Crosby connecting on a field goal in the final three minutes of the game to secure the Packers their fourth Super Bowl title.