Super Bowl XLV: Dallas Goes Green ...Bay; Plus My Daily Dilemma on Who To Pick

This has been a stressful week!  I have been trying to decide who I believe will win the Super Bowl this year and I seem to change my mind almost everyday!  I've had a decent playoff season with my picks, going 6-4 and 2-0 in the championship round.  Normally, I would not be happy with 6-4 but this year has been so strange, I'm just happy that I'm still over .500 for the post season.

So, since I had such a hard time coming to my conclusion, I thought I would let you backstage, deep into my twisted mind, so you can see why I think this may be the closest Super Bowl matchup in recent history, if not all time.

Monday: The Steelers Have Experience On Their Side

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PITTSBURGH - FEBRUARY 03: Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds up six fingers to represent the six Super Bowl titles the Steelers have during a parade to celebrate winning Super Bowl XLIII on February 3, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Pho

Sure the Packers are a solid team, but let's face it, Pittsburgh has won SIX Super Bowls in their history including two with Big Ben and company.  They are big game tested and will not choke under pressure.

Steelers  35   Packers 20

Tuesday: Then Again, The Packers Have Looked Very Tough Lately

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: B.J. Raji #90 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after scoring on a 18-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Ch

Maybe the Steelers have been their before, but dang, the Packers put a beat down on the Bears in Chicago.  The punished Jay Cutler, and for the most part, completely out classed the Bears at home.

Steelers 17  Packers 31

Wednesday: The Steelers Defense Stuffs The Run

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CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 02: Defenders Larry Foote #50, Lawrence Timmons #94 and James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackle tailback Peyton Hillis #40 of the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (P

The Packers have been able to run the ball a little lately, this is true.  It is equally true that they have not done it against a defense like the Steelers possess.  Look for the Packers to be a one dimensional offense and the Steelers to pin their ears back and get after Aaron Rodgers.

Steelers  27   Packers 24

Thursday: Packers Play Defense Too

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Linebacker Clay Matthews #52 and Cullen Jenkins #77 of the Green Bay Packers sack quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears in the first half of the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Ill

The Steelers have a great defense, but so do the Packers.  These defenses are almost identical. Both defenses stop the run well, with the edge going to the Steelers.  Both teams get to the quarterback with no real edge to either team.

Where I see a bigger difference is the pass defense.  If given time, I don't see the Steelers stopping Rodgers.  Ben is good with time as well, but I don't think his line will hold up with a backup center and a very large target to hit with a big number seven on both sides.

Yes, Big Ben is tough and has a tendency to break tackles and extend plays, but the heat may be too intense for him to have much success. 

Rodgers tends to elude tacklers and scampers for first downs on his own.  That makes it more likely that he will not throw picks.

Steelers 18  Packers 24

Friday: Steelers Seem Loose And Packers Have Had Issues

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers uses his phone as he is up on the pdium during Super Bowl XLV Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 1, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Pitt

The Steelers have made it through Super Bowl week with very little drama.  The Packers have had real issues concerning how they treat their injured reserve players.  First they try to keep the injured players out of the team photo, then they keep them off the team plane!  I understand wanting to stay focused, but these guys got hurt playing for your team, this year!  Give them a break.

Steelers 28   Packers 20

Saturday: The Final Decision

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 27: An image of Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers outside of Cowboys Stadium on January27, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. Cowboys Stadium will host Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green

Alright, I'm out of time. I have to quit screwing around and come up with my final decision!  Here is the way I see it.  Here are the 10 things that have shaped my final decision.

1. Both teams deserve to be there.
2. Both teams have a great chance to win this game.
3. Both teams have solid defenses and offenses.
4. Big Ben is clutch, but doesn't often play that well in big games.  He can make a big throw when he needs too, but may not be able to sustain enough drives throughout the game to keep the Packers high powered passing game off the field.
5. The Packers won't be able to run the ball.  No problem.  They struggled to run all year.  Look for Rodgers to throw 45 times or more.  The last time he was in a dome, he was 34-38!  That is just stupid good.
6. The Steelers are without their starting center and have several guys on their offensive line who were not projected to be there in the beginning of the year.  They may not be able to hold up against the daunting Packers blitz package.
7. The Packers will have a hard time keeping the Steelers off of Rodgers, so they will throw quick passes all day long and "matriculate the ball down the field!"
8. The Packers will be able to use their passing game to control the clock and win the time of possession battle.
9. Neither teams can afford to turn the ball over.  I see Pittsburgh throwing at least one pick.
10. Aaron Rodgers may not have ever played in a Super Bowl, but he has already shown that he is a confident quarterback who can handle pressure.  Not since Steve Young has a QB stepped in and lead a team this well after the team had lost an icon.  Rodgers' numbers may not ever match Brett Favre's, but he may wear more rings by the time he retires.

Obviously, this game is tough to call and I see it being very close.  In fact, I see this being the first overtime game in Super Bowl history!  The game will be tied at 20 at the end of regulation.  The Steelers will win the toss and fail to move the ball.  The Packers will get the ball after a punt, dump and dive down the field and win the game on a 44 yard field goal.

Steelers 20  Packers 23 (OT)

(Why not pick a crazy finish?  The whole season was full of crazy games, wasn't it?)