On Sunday, Febuary 6th, over 100 million Americans will pack into bars and living rooms to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV. The most anticipated sporting event of the year draws interest from the face painting fanatics and the guys who couldn't tell what a safety means just the same. It is a time for nachos, hot dogs, and of course beer. You can wager on everything from the score, to the color of the Gatorade that gets poured onto the winning coach. And at a cost of $2.5 million per 30 second spot, lets not forget about the highly popular Super Bowl ads. For some, the commercials will be the highlight and most talked about theme around the water coolers on Monday, but not here.
Super Bowl XLV will bring us two of the most storied franchises in all of sports. Two fan bases whose passion for their teams is unmatched. Straight out of the heartland of America, these cities help build our country with a blue collar work ethic and a tough as steel attitude. It is only fitting that the demeanor of these teams represent the soul of their hometowns. Ranked as the number one and two defenses during the regular season, the Packers and Steelers play football the way it was meant to be played, hit 'em hard and hit 'em often. The games defensive player of the year, Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu will be hounding the offense and Aaron Rodgers every chance he gets, while runner up to the award, Packers Linebacker Clay Matthews will be wreaking his own havoc as he tries to get after the elusive "Big" Ben Roethlisberger. People love touchdowns, but keep an eye on these talented defenses on Sunday and you'll see the team without the football is just as entertaining as the team with the football.
The Steelers are looking for their third Championship in seven years and seventh over all, adding to their record. The key to success for the Steelers will fall on the wide shoulders of their quarterback, the 6'5, 240lbs Ben Roethlisberger. Put all of Roethlisbergers off the field troubles aside, and you'll find a competitor who can get the job done. Roethlisberger isn't as flashy as Peyton Manning or as well liked by the ladies as Tom Brady, but he's as strong as a grizzly bear. He already has two Super Bowl rings and he's still in his twenties.
The Steelers win in some of the ugliest ways imaginable - low scoring battles in which they turn the ball over, give up leads, and eventually come from behind. When the game is on the line, Ben Roethlisberger makes plays. That is why I consider him this generations Brett Favre. He may throw two or three interceptions, but with the game in the balance, he'll make one throw that will have you scratching your head and you'll temporally forget about the off field non-sense and appreciate the presence of a champion. That's exactly how I see it going down on Sunday. Pittsburgh wins 24-17, after a late touchdown strike from Roethlisberger to Mike Wallace with three minutes left in the game and the Steelers defense holding strong and fending off the Green Bay Packers final attack.
No comments:
Post a Comment