My thoughts on Super Bowl XLV…
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on February 7, 2011
In a reoccuring theme that seemed to mirror their 2010 season, the Green Bay Packers once again stepped up to the challenge with another key player hurt.
Once Charles Woodson left the game with a broken collarbone right before halftime, many people (including myself) thought that Ben Roethlisberger was in line for a big second half.
Problem is, it never happened.
While Roethlisberger did bounceback from a first half that included a pair of first-half interceptions (which Green Bay both convereted into touchdowns), it was running back Rashard Mendenhall that had the biggest turnover of the game on the first play of the 4th quarter.
Dom Capers’ defense has forced critical takeaways in key moments during this year’s Packer playoff run, which now has them as Super Bowl champions for the first time in 14 years.
Aaron Rodgers looked unfazed in his first Super Bowl appearance, as he completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards & threw for 3 touchdowns, as he becomes the 4th different quarterback (Peyton Manning, Eli Manning & Drew Brees are the other three) in the last 5 years to win Super Bowl MVP on his first try, which is something Brett Favre never did in his 17-year career as a Packer.
With the exception of 36-year old Donald Driver & 34-year old Charles Woodson, the main core of Green Bay’s stars are still in their primes, which bodes well for their immediate future.
The Packers will have some upcoming big free-agent decisions to make though involving players such as Cullen Jenkins, Atari Bigby, John Kuhn, James Jones & Mason Crosby.
Pittsburgh does not have that same luxury, as they have several players (Hines Ward, Flozell Adams, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton & James Farrior) who could be inching closer to retirement.
The Steelers will also have big free-agent decisions to make on Willie Colon, Keyaron Fox, Mewelde Moore, Ike Taylor, Lamarr Woodley & William Gay.
I think overall, fans should be happy with the turnout of Super Bowl XLV, as it was the highest-scoring game over the past 7 years. Ben Roethlisberger may someday become just the 5th player ever to win 3 rings, but Sunday evening proved that it’s Aaron Rodgers’ time to shine in the spotlight.
