.jpg)
Super Bowl Odds
It’s the game we have been waiting for all year. The biggest game of the year kicks off when The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers head to Dallas, TX to face each other in Super Bowl XLV. These are the two most decorated teams in the history of the NFL and each have a huge following coming from relatively small markets.
The Packers are the favorite by 2 ½ points which surprises some people as they come into the game as a 6th seed against a 2nd seed. But Aaron Rodgers has been on fire as of late running his team through three rounds of playoffs as they knocked off The Eagles, Falcons, and Bears in a very tough run. The high powered offense has proven too much for many teams to handle.
However, that high powered offense will have the daunting task of facing the number one defense in the league known as the Steel Curtain come Super Bowl Sunday. The Steelers defense has been nothing short of stupendous this season as they have allowed just 62.8 yards per game rushing and 214.1 passing. The Packers best chance at beating this defense will rest in their passing game – which just happens to be their strongest point.
Packers Offense vs Steelers Defense
Much of the weight of this game will rest on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. It is well established that even the best running teams in the league struggle to run on the Steelers. The front line is too big and too fast to effectively run against. The secondary, which finished 12th in the league for yards allowed, appears to be a weakness for The Steelers. But at closer inspection, the secondary allowed just 6.3 yards per attempt – good enough to land them the number one spot in this category in the NFL. They have also allowed the second lowest quarterback rating all season and have produced more interceptions than TD’s allowed this year.
Aaron Rodgers is without a doubt one of the most accurate passers in the league with 28 TD and 11 interceptions. But it is going to be difficult for The Packers to find balance on their offense if Rodgers is forced to throw the ball 70-80% of the downs. The Steelers secondary will quickly pickup on these tactics and have little trouble covering receivers.
Steelers Offense vs Packers Defense
The Steelers took a serious blow in their game against the Jets when an already injury plagued offensive line lost its pro-bowl center Maurkice Pouncey. The offensive line has been considered one of the weakest in the league all season, yet somehow the offense continues to put up points.
Ben Roethlisberger is the best quarterback in the league out of the pocket. His ability to scramble and make plays when nothing seems to be available makes him an extremely dangerous threat to defenses. However, The Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews and nose tackle BJ Raji pose are fast and strong – against a weak offensive line they will have their opportunities to get to Ben. The question is who is faster?
Let’s not forget the man who made the magic happen in the AFC championship, Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall. His third year in the league Mendenhall has developed into a premier running back. His quickness, speed, strength, and ability to run over opposing players have made him a favorite in Pittsburgh. He will be facing one of the best running defenses in the league on Sunday so it will be an interesting matchup to see how he handles them.
Overall, these teams are mirror images of each other - exceptional quarterbacks with fast receivers, strong secondaries and superior run defenses. The Packers may be favored in this matchup, but the line could just as easily be set at zero. These teams are so close in talent, it will come down to who shows up bigger on Sunday.
