Pittsburgh heads to Arlington with a shot at its seventh title.
Pittsburgh heads to Arlington with a shot at its seventh title.
Defense: Defense has played a key role in each of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl appearances and 2011 is no different. The Steelers finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in total defense and first in the NFL against the run. Opponents averaged only 14.5 points per contest on Pittsburgh, with only one opponent (New England) scoring more than 24 points in a game this season. Much of the Steelers’ defensive success is built on pressuring the quarterback with playmaking linebackers LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison. Woodley and Harrison combined for 20.5 sacks during the regular season, along with forcing nine fumbles. Veteran James Farrior and fourth-year pro Lawrence Timmons join Woodley and Harrison as starting linebackers and finished as the team's leading tacklers.
Aaron Smith is one of the league’s most underrated ends, but missed most of the year with an arm injury. The Steelers kept Smith on the active roster, in hopes he could return for the Super Bowl. Even if Smith cannot go in Super Bowl XLV, the Steelers are in good shape up front with the emergence of Ziggy Hood and solid play from veteran Brett Keisel. Nose tackle Casey Hampton is still one of the NFL's top run-stuffers at age 33. If there is a weakness in the Pittsburgh defense, it lies with the secondary. Safety Troy Polamalu is one of the league’s top defensive playmakers, while Ryan Clark provides big hits from the free safety spot. Cornerback Ike Taylor is solid, but Bryant McFadden has been picked on all year with success by opposing quarterbacks. William Gay was moved from starter to nickelback this season, but was forced to start in the AFC Championship due to McFadden's injured hip. Considering McFadden’s struggles this season, the deep group of Green Bay receivers could be able to exploit this matchup. However, veteran coordinator Dick LeBeau is the mastermind of the 3-4 defense and should have some tricks up his sleeve when Super Bowl XLV kicks off on Feb. 6.
Super Bowl Record: 6-1
2009: XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
2006: XL: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10
1995: XXIX: Cowboys 27, Steelers 17
1980: XIV: Steelers 31, Rams 19
1979: XIII: Steelers 35, Cowboys 31
1976: X: Steelers 21, Cowboys 17
1975: IX: Steelers 16, Vikings 6
Last matchup with Green Bay: 2009 – Pittsburgh 37, Green Bay 36
The Steelers were coming off five-straight losses and their playoff hopes were on thin ice entering last season’s mid-December matchup. Stopping Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay receivers was a difficult task for Pittsburgh, forcing Mike Tomlin to call an onside kick with a 30-28 lead late in the fourth quarter. The Steelers didn’t recover the onside kick, allowing Rodgers to hit James Jones for a 36-30 lead with 2:06 remaining. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 503 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown toss to Mike Wallace on the game’s final play to give Pittsburgh the 37-36 victory.
How the Steelers will win Super Bowl XLV: This matchup is similar to Pittsburgh’s 2009 game against Arizona. The Steelers assumed control early on, before the Cardinals found their rhythm on offense. If the Steelers are to hoist their seventh Super Bowl title, the defense needs to set the tone early. Woodley and Harrison cannot allow Aaron Rodgers to get comfortable in the pocket or it could be a struggle for Pittsburgh’s secondary to slow down the Green Bay receivers. Although containing Rodgers is atop the priority list for Pittsburgh, the emergence of James Starks has given the Green Bay offense balance in the playoffs. The Steelers have made key plays on defense all year and a turnover or touchdown could be the deciding factor in this game.
Even with a patchwork offensive line, the Steelers continue to click on offense. Roethlisberger is having an outstanding season and will be hungry to bounce back after a so-so performance in the AFC Championship. The Packers finished the regular season 18th in the NFL against the run, and Mendenhall has momentum coming off a huge performance against the Jets. If the Steelers are able to run the ball, control the clock and slow the pressure from Green Bay's defense, this will only help Pittsburgh's defense in containing Rodgers. Roethlisberger’s ability to extend plays has been on display in his previous two appearances in the Super Bowl and should play a key role in deciding this game once again.
If the Steelers find a way to get pressure on Rodgers and Mendenhall gets on track on offense, Pittsburgh should be well on its way to winning Super Bowl No. 7.
