Super Bowl 2011: Clash of the Titans as Packers, Steelers Bring Defensive Battle

Defense wins championships.

It's an often, arguably overused phrase to try bringing some sort of sense and formula to how a team can align themselves for a shot at the Lombardi Trophy.

More than any other Super Bowl in recent memory, tonight's game brings home that adage in startling clarity.

The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers dominated opponents' offenses this season, ranking first and second in points allowed. And the numbers don't stop there. Both teams ranked in the top five in yards allowed and combined for 67 turnovers in the regular season. They also topped the league list in sacks for 2010.

Pittsburgh's aggressive, smashmouth defense is as hard as their namesake.  With hard-hitting linebackers like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, the Steelers are a threat to hammer Aaron Rodgers on every play.

The Packers quarterback doesn't share this burden alone, as safety and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu roams the secondary looking for every opportunity to give receivers second thoughts about going up for a reception.

Green Bay has enforcers of their own, though, as Clay Matthews looks to add to his 3.5 postseason sacks. It's no surprise that Matthews finished only two votes shy of Polamalu, as he spent most of this season terrorizing quarterbacks.

And with the Packers' space-devouring nose tackle B.J Raji at the point of attack, and cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson, Matthews has plenty of support to help dismantle the Steelers' offensive attack.

As the coin is flipped, Super Bowl XLV promises a defensive slugfest that will be hard to forget.