Super Bowl 2011: Five Things Each Team Must Do To Win on Sunday

Months of blood, sweat and tears have led to this. Sunday pits the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers. One game to decide the champion of football.

Each team has certain things they must do to win this game.

Here is the list of five things the Packers must do and five things the Steelers must do in order to walk away World Champions.

Which team do you think has the edge? Let us know.

5. Steelers: Sack Aaron Rodgers at Least Three Times

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is hit by Julius Peppers #90 of the Chicago Bears in the helmet as Peppers was called for a personal foul in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field

The Packers have done a great job of protecting Aaron Rodgers this year, but in their six regular season losses they gave up 19 total sacks including 18 in four of those losses.

If the Steelers can get Rodgers to the ground it will bode well for Pittsburgh.

Rodgers also had two concussions this season, so the more he gets hit by the Steelers front seven the more likely Pittsburgh gets the win. 

5. Packers: Run the Ball for Four Yards a Carry

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Running back James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers runs the ball against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

James Starks has really been a surprise for the Packers. He has been a consistent running option for a Green Bay team that had been without one for pretty much the entire regular season because of the injury in week one to Ryan Grant.

For the Packers to win they need to make the most of their time with the football.

If Starks can run for over four yards per carry it would give them a chance to control the clock and sell the play-action pass better.

The reason I say four yards per carry is because the Steelers only gave up an average of three yards per carry during the regular season and of the six games the Packers got over four yards per carry, the they won four of them.

4. Steelers: No Interceptions

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the

Ben Roethlisberger has become one of the smarter quarterbacks in the NFL, as long as he isn't in a bathroom stall or Lake Tahoe.

If Roethlisberger is able to keep from turning the ball over then he will not put his team in bad situations.

The Packers do have a very talented secondary and I could see them getting Roethlisberger to make a mistake or two but if he is able to keep the ball in Pittsburgh possession, it is a good thing for the Steelers.

During the regular season, Pittsburgh was 6-1 in the seven games Roethlisberger didn't throw a pick.

4. Packers: Keep Roethlisberger from Scrambling on Third Down

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs down field against the New York Jets in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 24 to 19. (Photo b

Multiple times during the Steelers' win over the Jets, Ben Roethlisberger picked up big first downs rushing on third down plays.

If the Packers can find a way to keep him from escaping on third down and force him to throw the ball into coverage, or maybe even sack him, it would spell disaster for the Steelers.

While it is difficult to game plan for a scrambling quarterback, especially one who can also throw the ball well, the Packers have a smart defense and I think they are a group of guys capable of keeping Roethlisberger's running ability in check.

3. Steelers: Keep Rodgers in the Pocket

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers dives into the corner of the endzone for a one-yard touchdown run against Danieal Manning #38 of the Chicago Bears in the first quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Soldi

This game is very interesting from the standpoint of the similarities between the two quarterbacks. Both guys are very capable of throwing the ball and finding guys for big plays, but they are also both very skilled at escaping pressure and finding a guy when the play breaks down.

Rodgers is probably the better rushing threat but if you re-watch the game against the Falcons you will see just how Rodgers can escape the pocket and either rush or find a guy for a first down.

For the Steelers to win this one they need to keep Rodgers between the tackles and force him to make throws from the pocket under duress. If he is on the run and making throws, this could be over early.

3. Packers: Less Than 10 Penalties

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers talks with referee Terry McAulay #77 in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Pho

The Green Bay Packers had been one of the most penalized teams in the NFL over the last three years. That problem seemed to rear it's ugly head in week three when they were penalized 18 times.

Since then they have been one of the least penalized teams in the league. However, if that problem returns in the Super Bowl it could spell trouble for the Pack.

I am not predicting penalties but it could be a problem if the Steelers really bring the heat.

2. Steelers: At Least One Interception by Troy Polamalu

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 18: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers returns an interception 40 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game on January 18, 2009 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, P

Troy Polamalu is one of the best defensive players in the league and the Steelers are at their best when he is able to freelance as a safety.

Polamalu is always a threat to pick off a pass and for the Steelers to really be dangerous against the Packers I think they need to force Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball into coverage.

The Steelers were 6-0 during the regular season when Polamalu had an interception.

2. Packers: Convert on Third Down at Least 60 Percent of the Time

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: (L-R) Aaron Rodgers #12 and Donald Driver #80 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate a play against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 15, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo b

The Packers need to avoid being forced off the field in third down situations. Obviously that will kill any team's momentum, but against a strong defense like the Steelers it is paramount.

If the Packers can complete at least 60 percent of third down plays, it will spell success.

The Packers were 6-0 when they had a third down conversion percentage over 50 percent during the regular season. This year the Packers were awful on third down and if they can buck that trend it could be key to the outcome of the game.

1. Steelers: Find Heath Miller and Hines Ward

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NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 19: Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes a catch under pressure from Jason Babin #93 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on September 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson

Hines Ward and Heath Miller are both guys that have been with the Steelers for a long time. They are both reliable targets for Ben Roethlisberger and they both have Super Bowl experience.

If Ward and Miller both find space it would be similar to the running game. It would soften things up for Roethlisberger to attack down the field more.

While I don't expect huge numbers from either of these guys, don't forget that Ward is a former Super Bowl MVP.

1. Packers: Score First, Score Last

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after James Starks #44 of the Packers scores on a four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Fiel

Scoring first for any team is not really an end-all-be-all, but it would absolutely give the Packers confidence against one of the stronger defenses in the NFL. It would also put a lot of pressure on a veteran Steelers team that has two Super Bowl crowns.

I think it would provide a huge lift for Green Bay if they are able to get on the board first. Even a field goal is better than facing a deficit.

The Packers have an explosive offense and they need to rely on it as much as possible to win the Super Bowl. An early score could end up snowballing the effort much as it did against the Falcons. 

The Packers also have a tendency to give up leads. Five of their six regular season losses were games in which they scored first. If they can not only get an early lead, but also hold it, they will have no problem in this one.