Super Bowl 2011: Troy Polamalu and Others Who Need To Step Up

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers have seen their share of heroics already this postseason, but they’ll need more to come away with a Super Bowl win.  In a close matchup, expect the outcome to be decided by a few individual performances.  Here are four players who need to raise their games if they want to take home the Lombardi Trophy.

SS Troy Polamalu (PIT)

Playing with an injured ankle, Polamalu has had a quiet postseason.  He hasn’t factored into any of the four turnovers or seven sacks accumulated by Pittsburgh in these playoffs. With a week off to rest that ankle before the big game, though, Polamalu needs to make the big plays in Big D.  Aaron Rodgers and the pass-happy Green Bay offense will give him plenty of chances.  If Polamalu responds, expect yet another Super Bowl win for Pittsburgh.

TE Heath Miller (PIT)

Miller came up big at the end of the American Football Conference title game, catching one of the third-down conversions that helped Pittsburgh hold on for the win.

Of course, he caught only one other pass in the game.

The Steelers need a big game out of their sure-handed tight end to beat the Packers. With the Steelers line battling injuries, Roethlisberger can’t count on the time to throw deep, and that puts the pressure on Miller to make plays on short and intermediate routes.  If he comes up with the big third-down conversions, and maybe a short-range touchdown, the Steelers should be in good shape.

RB James Starks (GB)

Starks looked unstoppable for much of the first half last week against Chicago, but gained just 19 yards after halftime as the Packers’ offense sputtered.  If Dick LeBeau and the Steelers defense can ignore the running game to focus on hitting Aaron Rodgers, the Packers will be in deep trouble.  Starks must play at least well enough to be a useful decoy for Green Bay to have a shot.

LB A.J. Hawk (GB)

Green Bay’s leading tackler in the regular season, Hawk will have to make plays all over the field to contain the Pittsburgh offense.  Not only will the Packers need him to shut down Rashard Mendenhall, but he’ll have to make plays in pass coverage against the Steelers dangerous interior receivers.  He’s also likely to be one of the Packers tasked with shutting down the scrambling that proved to be Ben Roethlisberger’s best weapon last week.  If Hawk can handle all of that, the Packers should come away from Dallas with a victory.