This year we're all set up to have one of the greatest Super Bowls of all-time. There are no more passionate fan bases than Pittsburgh and Green Bay. Pittsburgh has won more Super Bowls than any other team. The Packers won the first 2 Super Bowls, added a third, and by the way have the Super Bowl trophy named after their legendary coach. Aside from the history behi
nd this game, we have multiple storylin
es from this year that makes this game so interesting. The Steelers defense was 1st in the league giving up only 14.5 points per game, and the Packers were 2nd giving up 15 a game. Each team has a wild-haired USC alumi leading the defense with Troy Polamalu and Clay Matthews. Aaron Rodgers is trying to cement his status as the best young quarterback in the game. Ben Roethlisberger is trying to win his 3rd Super Bowl tying him with Tom Brady for most among active quarterbacks. This also has to be the first time a quarterback could win a Super Bowl in the same season in which he was suspended 4 games for sexual assault allegations, right? Don't forget to add to all of this the fact that whoever wins this game might be the world champions for 2 years if the owners and players can't come to an agreement and cancel football next year. So I guess what I'm saying is, get ready for a great game and enjoy it because it might be the last football you'll see for a while.Both the Steelers and the Packers are fully capable of winning this game. In fact, this year marks the smallest point spread (the Packers are favored by 2.5) for the Super Bowl in almost 30 years. What I've figured out is what each team needs to do in order to pull out a win in what should be a close game. Enjoy.
Steelers will win if they can
Guard receivers – The packers have 4 receivers with over 500 yards receiving. Whil
e Ike Taylor can swag all over anybody, he is the only Steelers corner capable of sticking with Green Bay's receivers. Bryant Mcfadden has been targeted and beaten throughout the season, and hes coming off a lingering injury. William Gay and Anthony Madison can’t run with the Packers 3rd and 4th receivers. The Steelers are going to have to use a lot of zone coverages to mask their inability to guard the Packers' receivers. That or let James Harrison decapitate Aaron Rodgers before giving the finger to Commissioner Goodell up in his luxury box. Don't rule this out. Harrison has been angry all week. He asked reporters if they could put pillows down on the field so he doesn't hurt anyone when he tackles them taking a shot at Goodell's fines for illegal hits.
Guard receivers – The packers have 4 receivers with over 500 yards receiving. Whil
e Ike Taylor can swag all over anybody, he is the only Steelers corner capable of sticking with Green Bay's receivers. Bryant Mcfadden has been targeted and beaten throughout the season, and hes coming off a lingering injury. William Gay and Anthony Madison can’t run with the Packers 3rd and 4th receivers. The Steelers are going to have to use a lot of zone coverages to mask their inability to guard the Packers' receivers. That or let James Harrison decapitate Aaron Rodgers before giving the finger to Commissioner Goodell up in his luxury box. Don't rule this out. Harrison has been angry all week. He asked reporters if they could put pillows down on the field so he doesn't hurt anyone when he tackles them taking a shot at Goodell's fines for illegal hits. Create turnovers – The Packers are not going to run the ball against the Steelers. End of story. The Steelers had the 3rd best season stopping the run since 1970. The Packers leading rusher in the playoffs didn't play in a game until December. Green Bay will be throwing the ball all over the field. Aaron Rodgers will drop back to pass on almost every play. If the Steelers defense gives him time and doesn’t confuse him with their coverages, he’ll have a field day. The Steelers need to create pressure and cause Rodgers to fumble or throw picks when he drops back to pass. If they can create some turnovers, they will win.
Run the ball – The Steelers have had an average offensive line at best all season. Now, the best player on that average line is hurt. If Maurkice Pouncey doesn’t play, the Steelers will be in the Super Bowl without 4 of their 5 starting lineman from the beginning of the season. This is not good because the Packers defense is coached by Dick Lebeau disciple Dom Capers who uses a lot of the same confusing blitzes the Steelers use. Ben will be under pressure every time he tries to throw the ball. The Steelers need to be able to run the ball to neutralize those blitzes.
Convince all Green Bay guys with Pittsburgh ties to switch sides mid-game - The Packers have a distinctive Pittsburgh flavor. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is from Greenfeild,
PA just outside of Pittsburgh. Packers QB coach Tom Clements is from McKees Rocks just outside of Pittsburgh and used to coach the Steelers QBs. Tight Ends Coach Ben McAdoo went to Homer City High School and IUP. Former Steelers linebacker and pro wrestler Kevin Greene coaches Green Bay's linebackers. Former Steeler Darren Perry coaches the secondary. Former Steelers' Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers is the Packers' Defensive Coordinator. That's a lot of Pittsburgh influence on the Packers' coaching staff. I say the Steelers need to get someone to talk to all these Pittsburgh guys and convince them to betray the Packers. These guys need to stick to their hometown Pittsburgh roots and ensure that the Steelers win this game. And, since Kevin Greene is a veteran of the professional wrestling circuit, this kind of backstabbing turn should be familiar to him. Wrestlers switch sides in the middle of a match all the time. You know, like when a guy's reaches out to his tag-team partner for help, and the partner responds by hitting his supposed friend with a steel chair. Something like this needs to happen at the Super Bowl. This would be the greatest sporting event ever. The guys on ESPN would go insane. It would be the only thing on Sportscenter for weeks. I'm thinking something like right before the Packers' kicker goes out on the field for the winning field goal Coach McCarthy throws sand in his face and then Kevin Greene hits the kicker in the leg with a sledgehammer leaving Green Bay without a guy to kick the field giving the Steelers their 7th Super Bowl title. Something like this.
Packers will win if they
Bring Ben down – We’ve already discussed the state of the Steelers offensive line. The Packers will get pressure on Ben. What they need to do, is be able to tackle him when they get that pressure. This is no easy task as Ben is easily the fattest QB in Super Bowl history. When fat defensive lineman bounce off of Fat Ben, it's like when two guys in those inflatable sumo wrestler outfits bounce off each other. If the Packers can't wrestle Ben to the ground he'll find open receivers down the field.
Protect Rodgers - The Steelers will send guys at Aaron Rodgers. Like I said, the Packers won't be able to run the ball, so Rodgers will be throwing a lot. The Steelers like to get after the quarterback. Green Bay needs to be able to protect Rodgers. James Harrison is downright scary, and Lamar Woodley has more sacks in his first 6 playoff games than any player in NFL history. They will be coming after Rodgers. If the Packers can give Rodgers some time, he will find open receivers down the field. If they can't protect him, he will get hit hard and often. Also, Rodgers suffered two concussions this year and missed multiple games. If the Packers miss James Harrison just once, Rodgers could be headed for a 3rd concussion.
Get Ben drunk - This is perhaps the most foolproof plan the Packers could make. Ben seems to enjoy the occasional cocktail. He's been in trouble multiple times after a night out boozing. Just this week, he was caught at a piano bar with the Steelers lineman drinking and singing Billy Joel, Now granted, Ben didn't break any rules by going out with his linema
n, didn't miss curfew, and didn't get in any trouble, but this just reinforces the fact that he likes to party. In fact, with his questionable physique, history of getting in trouble, and fondness for alcohol, Ben reminds me a real-life Kenny Powers. He even briefly experimented with a greasy long hair look that rivaled Kenny's perm. This should be the Packers Plan A. Green Bay needs to send out a party squad with a bunch of young chicks to lure Ben out to the bars Saturday night and keep him out until 4am doing jagerbombs. It could definitely work. A hungover Ben Roethlisberger would make the Packers' defense a lot more confident. I'm just kidding about all of this of course. I mean it's not like Ben has a history of getting really drunk and making bad decisions.
Run the ball – The Steelers have had an average offensive line at best all season. Now, the best player on that average line is hurt. If Maurkice Pouncey doesn’t play, the Steelers will be in the Super Bowl without 4 of their 5 starting lineman from the beginning of the season. This is not good because the Packers defense is coached by Dick Lebeau disciple Dom Capers who uses a lot of the same confusing blitzes the Steelers use. Ben will be under pressure every time he tries to throw the ball. The Steelers need to be able to run the ball to neutralize those blitzes.
Convince all Green Bay guys with Pittsburgh ties to switch sides mid-game - The Packers have a distinctive Pittsburgh flavor. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is from Greenfeild,
PA just outside of Pittsburgh. Packers QB coach Tom Clements is from McKees Rocks just outside of Pittsburgh and used to coach the Steelers QBs. Tight Ends Coach Ben McAdoo went to Homer City High School and IUP. Former Steelers linebacker and pro wrestler Kevin Greene coaches Green Bay's linebackers. Former Steeler Darren Perry coaches the secondary. Former Steelers' Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers is the Packers' Defensive Coordinator. That's a lot of Pittsburgh influence on the Packers' coaching staff. I say the Steelers need to get someone to talk to all these Pittsburgh guys and convince them to betray the Packers. These guys need to stick to their hometown Pittsburgh roots and ensure that the Steelers win this game. And, since Kevin Greene is a veteran of the professional wrestling circuit, this kind of backstabbing turn should be familiar to him. Wrestlers switch sides in the middle of a match all the time. You know, like when a guy's reaches out to his tag-team partner for help, and the partner responds by hitting his supposed friend with a steel chair. Something like this needs to happen at the Super Bowl. This would be the greatest sporting event ever. The guys on ESPN would go insane. It would be the only thing on Sportscenter for weeks. I'm thinking something like right before the Packers' kicker goes out on the field for the winning field goal Coach McCarthy throws sand in his face and then Kevin Greene hits the kicker in the leg with a sledgehammer leaving Green Bay without a guy to kick the field giving the Steelers their 7th Super Bowl title. Something like this.Packers will win if they
Bring Ben down – We’ve already discussed the state of the Steelers offensive line. The Packers will get pressure on Ben. What they need to do, is be able to tackle him when they get that pressure. This is no easy task as Ben is easily the fattest QB in Super Bowl history. When fat defensive lineman bounce off of Fat Ben, it's like when two guys in those inflatable sumo wrestler outfits bounce off each other. If the Packers can't wrestle Ben to the ground he'll find open receivers down the field.
Protect Rodgers - The Steelers will send guys at Aaron Rodgers. Like I said, the Packers won't be able to run the ball, so Rodgers will be throwing a lot. The Steelers like to get after the quarterback. Green Bay needs to be able to protect Rodgers. James Harrison is downright scary, and Lamar Woodley has more sacks in his first 6 playoff games than any player in NFL history. They will be coming after Rodgers. If the Packers can give Rodgers some time, he will find open receivers down the field. If they can't protect him, he will get hit hard and often. Also, Rodgers suffered two concussions this year and missed multiple games. If the Packers miss James Harrison just once, Rodgers could be headed for a 3rd concussion.
Get Ben drunk - This is perhaps the most foolproof plan the Packers could make. Ben seems to enjoy the occasional cocktail. He's been in trouble multiple times after a night out boozing. Just this week, he was caught at a piano bar with the Steelers lineman drinking and singing Billy Joel, Now granted, Ben didn't break any rules by going out with his linema
n, didn't miss curfew, and didn't get in any trouble, but this just reinforces the fact that he likes to party. In fact, with his questionable physique, history of getting in trouble, and fondness for alcohol, Ben reminds me a real-life Kenny Powers. He even briefly experimented with a greasy long hair look that rivaled Kenny's perm. This should be the Packers Plan A. Green Bay needs to send out a party squad with a bunch of young chicks to lure Ben out to the bars Saturday night and keep him out until 4am doing jagerbombs. It could definitely work. A hungover Ben Roethlisberger would make the Packers' defense a lot more confident. I'm just kidding about all of this of course. I mean it's not like Ben has a history of getting really drunk and making bad decisions.Now that I've told you what each team needs to do to win, I'm ready to give you my final prediction. After considering all of the players, schemes, team histories, injuries, and statistics, I've come up with what I think will be a remarkably accurate prediction.
Final Score: Steelers 76 Packers 3
GO STEELERS!! :)
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