This will most likely be the last post before the Super Bowl and we will try too analyze the game position by position.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers v. Ben Roethlisberger
This is very close, Rodgers is the hottest QB in the league and he is the hot hand. Ben, who has had to endure a ridiculous week of stupid questions, including “why did you go out to dinner with your teamates?”, and constant reminders of his past indiscretion, has done a great job deflecting. Clearly though, he has been there twice and has the “intangibles”.
Advantage: STEELERS
Running Back: James Starks v. Rashard Mendenhall
This is clearly the Steelers. Starks has done a great job, but Mendenhall has played against two outstanding defenses and is still banging around quite nicely. Special shout out to John Kuhn, former Steeler and Shippensburg graduate! Sorry John, have to go with the Steelers
Advantage: STEEELERS
Wide Receivers: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and James Jones vs. Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders and Antwaan Randle El
This is a toss-up as Driver and Ward have the experience, while Jennings and Wallace have the numbers. It is extremely close.
Advantage: EVEN
Tight End: Andrew Quarless v. Heath Miller
Are you kidding me?
Advantage: STEEELERS
Offensive Line:
With Pouncey out this is the first clear advantage the Packers have. The Steelers can hold their own on run blocking but lack in pass blocking. This could be an equalizer.
Advantage: PACKERS
Defensive Line: BJ. Raji, Cullen Jenkins and Ryan Pickett vs. Ziggy Hood, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel
This is also a very close matchup as Raji is a stud. But the Zig is on fire and so is Keisel and with Big Snack in the middle this is a clear advantage for the Steelers. They have size, speed and experience. Although, I have to admit when Raji scored I got excited. Love when fat kids get the ball!
Advantage: STEELERS
Inside Linebackers: A.J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop vs. Lawrence Timmons and James Farrior
Hawk and Bishop are solid players and while Matthews gets the press Hawk is no slouch. But, seriously Timmons is a bona fide star now and probably one of the best ILBs in the league. I could write ten pages on James Farrior and what he means to the Steelers and the kind of player he is. This is clearly the Steelers!
Advantage: STEELERS
Outside Linebackers: Clay Matthews and Erik Walden vs. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley
Clay Matthews is a killer! He is going to be disruptive all day. That being said Erik Walden is a backup filling in for Nick Barnett. While the Packers have one Clay Matthews the Steelers have two. He might not have cool hair but James Harrison and NOT Clay Matthews is the best Outside Linebacker in this game and the second best in this game is not Clay Matthews either, it’s Lamarr Woodley!
Advantage: STEELERS
Cornerback: Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams vs. Bryant McFadden and Ike Taylor
Woodson and Williams are ball hawks, Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden are caretakers who don’t allow big plays. Woodson is a Hall of Famer and he is the differentiator here. This one is clearly the Packers.
Advantage: PACKERS
Safeties: Charlie Peprah and Nick Collins vs. Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark
This is easily the weak link for the Packers. For the Steelers this is their differentiator. Troy Polamalu is simply the best player on the field Sunday. He now has had two weeks to recover and we expect him at full strength. Ryan “Crash” Clark is a big hitter and very experienced.
Advantage: STEELERS
Special Teams:
This is clearly the Packers. Neither team has a spectacular return game. While Suisham has been solid since his pick up his kickoffs are mediocre. Crosby is a safer bet. The punters are a wash, but I would lean towards a guy who wasn’t pumping gas when the Season started. Not to mention that every fan reading this blog has gotten a stomach ulcer watching special teams.
Advantage: PACKERS
Coaching: Mike McCarthy v. Mike Tomlin
I have written about this all season. Show me a Coach who loses both his Tackles 2/3 of his D-Line and his star QB for four games and still makes the Super Bowl and I will show you the best Coach in Football Mike Tomlin. With due respect to Bill Bellicheat he wouldn’t have won under these circumstances. I like McCarthy but he is not Tomlin!
Advantage: STEELERS
How we could lose: The Packers have the offensive machinery to jump any team and they will try right off the bat. There is no way they can run on the Steelers but if they get protection Rodgers will be trouble.
But why we will win: The defense is stifling and look for a huge push up front from the Steelers. The Steelers will run the ball with success and that will be what wins the game, keeping Green Bay’s offense on the sideline and hammering them when they get the chance.