Super Bowl XLV Offensive Matchups
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Super Bowl Sunday is almost here. The 2010-11 regular season was interesting to say the least and produced some unfamiliar faces in the postseason. The playoffs began with 12 teams and just Green Bay and Pittsburgh remain.
Check out the latest Super Bowl XLV Odds here.
The Packers beat the Bears 21-14 in an NFC Championship game white out to solidify their spot in this year’s Big Game, while the Steelers edged out a defensive 24-19 battle with the New York Jets to punch their ticket to Super Bowl XLV.
In a different article, I will take a look at each team’s defense, but for now, we’ll focus on the offensive talent that each team will bring to the table on February 6, in Dallas.
Six foot-two, 225-pound quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the epicenter of the Packers offense and has, in this writer’s humble opinion, already cemented his place among the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. A Super Bowl ring will just punctuate his abilities. Rodgers, a true leader with a laser arm, threw for 3,922 yards and 28 TDs, with just 11 interceptions, for a 101.2 QB rating during the season. As impressive as those numbers are, they don’t quite match his 2009 totals of 4,434 yards, 30 TDs, a mere seven interceptions, and a QB rating of 103.2. However, in a frigid AFC Championship game at Soldier Field his leadership and persistence was crucial in helping the Packers get to the barn dance in Dallas.
The confident playmaker will rely heavily on his favorite target, Greg Jennings who has been unstoppable the past two weeks. Jennings is one of the fastest players in the NFL with an undersized 5’10″ 198 lb frame and this will be his toughest test of the postseason.
Rodgers will also need a little help from his running game to take the focus off the Green Bay passing attack. He will count on sixth round draft pick, James Starks who did not see any NFL action until Week 13 with the Packers, but in the first round turned in an impressive performance, rushing for 123 yards on 23 carries against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Finally, the Packers offensive line isn’t a tremendous strength for the team and giving up 51 sacks in 2009, had nowhere to go but up. They decreased that number to 31 in 2010, so they seem to be moving in the right direction. They are a competent group, but not outstanding, and are led by veteran left tackle Chad Clifton who is still a very effective blocker.
For the Steelers, standing in at 6’5″, 245 pounds, Ben Roethlisberger, “Big Ben”, is a mountain of a man. He possesses exceptional play calling abilities, a strong arm, and good downfield vision.
Although only starting in 12 regular season games due to a suspension at the beginning of the season, Roethlisberger had a great year throwing for 3,200 yards and 17 touchdowns, with only five interceptions, good for a 97 QB rating. He was impressive in the both divisional games, but seemed a bit shaky in the AFC Championship match up against the Jets, tossing just 133 yards with two picks.
He shouldn’t feel too much pressure as the Steelers offensive scheme is designed to take the heat off Roethlisberger by implementing a solid rushing attack and short range passing attack spearheaded by Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall makes the Steelers’ offense flow. When he is running the ball hard and for positive yards, it opens up the deep pass for Roethlisberger just like in the team’s win over the Jets.
And boy, that’s where the Steelers have a couple of outstanding weapons in Hines Ward and Mike Wallace. Wallace was one of the Steelers best playmakers during the regular season, but has been slowed down in the playoffs. After recording 60 catches for 1,257 yards and 10 TDS in the regular season, but has only four catches for 26 yards in the postseason. Ward, who has stated that he would retire if the Steelers won the Super Bowl, had 59 receptions for 755 yards and five touchdowns this past season. A drop off from past years, but Ward, who has made his living catching short-range passes, still poses a danger for the Packers within the first ten yards of the line of scrimmage.
The weak link for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season is their offensive line. The line has suffered several key injuries and has a host of has-beens rounding out the healthy remainder. Football Outsiders has the Steelers offensive line ranked No. 19 overall on run blocking and No. 29 in pass protection. They could struggle against the Packers Cullen Jenkins and NT B.J. Raji.
So what’s the final verdict?
Matt’s Prediction: The Packers offense has been the most impressive in the playoffs thus far, and is anchored by the playoff leaders in passing and rushing yards. If the offense turns out to be the key ingredient in bringing home a Championship in Super Bowl XLV, I have to give the edge to Green Bay.
The odds makers have the Green Bay Packers as a -3 point favorite with an over/under of 44.5.
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