Super Bowl XLV: Is Experience an Advantage for the Pittsburgh Steelers?

The Pittsburgh Steelers traveled roughly 1,200 miles to Dallas, beginning a week of preparation for Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. But they're feeling right at home in the championship spotlight.

"Just like last time when we were in this game, it’s our intention to enjoy all of the elements this week has in store for us and not fight against it," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said. "Part of you is somewhat resistant to some of the things, but we’re not going to make a negative out of what a wonderful week we have awaiting us. We are going to embrace it all, enjoy it all, and of course, ultimately prepare and play in the football game."

The "goes with the territory" demeanor Tomlin is talking about during Super Bowl week is everything that's involved in potentially distracting a team from its ultimate mission—winning the biggest game of the season—or a lifetime.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be making his third Super Bowl appearance Sunday and thinks a little bit of experience can't hurt.

"It can be overwhelming," he admitted. "You get off the plane and you’ve got helicopters, you’ve got police and media. If you’re not used to it, it can be overwhelming. I think it helps a little bit to at least have some prior knowledge and experience with it."

Advantage, Steelers? Kind of.

But Packers head coach Mike McCarthy thinks it comes down to preparation.

"The preparation is the prize," he said. "That’s what we’re after. We want to be the best-prepared football team. We understand they have been through it; that is an advantage to them. But we feel we do a very good job preparing our team to play games, so we’re going to stay true to that."

Understanding these two head coaches and the way they kept their football teams focused throughout the 2010 season, I'd be very surprised if either is affected—positively or negatively—by the events of this week.

Sure, the Steelers have to feel more comfortable in these surroundings. It's almost routine for them to be playing in this game. This is their third trip in the past six years. But ultimately, it's going to come down to what happens between the lines at Cowboys Stadium on Sunday that decides who walks away with the Lombardi Trophy as the winner of Super Bowl XLV.