I) Game started slow with the teams trading punts back and forth. Finally, Rodgers throws a beautiful touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson on a go route to make it 7-0 in the first quarter. I was pumped because I predicted Nelson would be the first Green Bay player to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl-that was my only good gambling moment of the day.
II) Ben Roethlisberger was shaky early, but his interception return by Nick Collins for a touchdown on the ensuing drive was not his fault. He got drilled as he was about to throw it, and the ball fluttered up there. Collins made a nice play and an even better return to give the Packers a big 14-0 lead heading into the second quarter.
III) Pittsburgh seemed to be able to run the ball effectively early with Rashard Mendanhall. I felt like they gave up on the run a little too much early in the game. They did manage to get some points on the board and make it 14-3 in the second though.
IV) Big Ben's second interception was his fault. He threw into double coverage and the Packers were just sitting on the underneath route. Green Bay took advantage and Rodgers' throw to Greg Jennings to make it 21-3 was just sensational. He zipped in between the linebackers and the safeties and it was as big of a throw as any NFL QB could make. Huge turnaround right there.
V) The Steelers and Big Ben never quit and they keep fighting. The Steelers needed a touchdown there in the worst way right before the half down 21-3. Plus, GB was getting the ball to start the second half. Big Ben was great on the drive and so was Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El. Ben's throws to Ward for the touchdown was a great adjustment and a huge play to make it 21-10 at the half.
VI) James Jones' drop on third down on the first possession of the third quarter was a big play at that moment. If he catches it, then is gone for an 80 yard touchdown. That was a key moment right there.
VII) The Steelers got Mendanhall going again on the next drive. He scampered untouched into the endzone to make it 21-17 in the third quarter, and all of the momentum was now in the Steelers' favor.
VIII) I thought the Steeler defense stepped up and took advantage of some timely Packer drops in the third quarter to get the ball back; however, what was Mike Tomlin thinking asking Shaun Suisam to make a 52 yard field goal in the Super Bowl. The kick wasn't even remotely close, and the Steelers missed a huge opportunity.
IX) Big Ben's overthrow to an open Mike Wallace looms large as well. He had him open, but didn't lead him in the right direction. Big time missed chance for the Steelers right there.
X) The fourth quarter comes around and the Steelers are now driving at the Packers 33, and this is the biggest play of the Super Bowl. Mendanhall fumbles after getting hit by Clay Matthews, and the Packers recover. The Steelers were down four points, in GB territory, and threatening to take the game over, but Mendanhall's fumble changed all that. That will be a play that will haunt the Steelers all offseason. If the Steelers score a touchdown on that drive, then they probably win the game in my opinion.
XI) Once again, the Steelers defense was no match for the Packers offense on the next drive. Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson on a big in route on third down, and then he hit Greg Jennings for the touchdown to make it 28-17 and a two possession game again. Huge turn of events there.
XII) The Steelers showed their resolve and toughness once again. Big Ben drives the Steelers right back down the field, but I do question their sense of urgency. He hits Mike Wallace on a beautiful go route for a touchdown on third down. Pittsburgh follows that with a gorgeous two point conversion- A zone read option out of shotgun in which Big Ben pitches to Randle El. Great call and great execution. Now the game is at 28-25, and the pressure goes back on the Packers.
XIII) Up by three points and facing a third and 10, Rodgers made the second biggest play of the game. He hits Jennings on a seam route for a big first down. The Steelers knew that play was coming, but Rodgers still was able to make that throw. Just an amazing performance by Rodgers.
XIV) After a big completion to James Jones, Green Bay missed a chance to really put the game away. You have to give the Packers credit, they had a first and goal and instead of running it twice to make Pittsburgh use timeouts, the Packers went for the kill shot. They threw the ball three times, and he just missed Nelson for a touchdown on third and goal. As a result, the Packers kicked a field goal and took only a 31-25 lead instead of a 35-25 lead, thus leaving the door for the Steelers to come back and win it late.
XV) Big Ben gets the ball with two minutes to go at about his own 20 and down six with one timeout. I really thought Big Ben would at least drive the ball down to the Packers 20 or 25 yard line. He completed his first pass to Heath Miller for a first down. After that, there was a lot of confusion. They were wasting time, there was disorder in formations, and the receivers weren't on the same page with Ben. It brought up a fourth and five and Ben's last pass was incomplete for Mike Wallace, and that was it. Green Bay wins the Super Bowl and gets a stop on Big Ben late in the game. I would've like to seen Pittsburgh drive more and get at least four cracks from the inside the Packers 20.
XVI) Overall, I thought it was a good Super Bowl. It wasn't a great game, but I could make a case for it that it is a top ten Super Bowl. Anytime you get a Super Bowl where it is a six point game with two minutes to go then you have a good game and good Super Bowl. I liked the game, but it most well played game of all time. I would grade this as a B+/A- Super Bowl.
XVII) Ben Roethlisberger falls to 2-1 in Super Bowls, and Mike Tomlin loses his first Super Bowls. I wouldn't feel too sorry for the Steelers and their fans because this team will be back for sure. As long as Ben and Tomlin are around, the Steelers will simply reload and retool for their next run. I would expect the Steelers, Big Ben, and Tomlin to win another Super Bowl in the next 3-4 years.
XVIII) Aaron Rodgers was the best player on the field and he deserved the MVP. His numbers were fantastic (24-39, 304 yards, 3 TDs, 0 Int, 111.5 rating) and he would have had more yards and more completions if it weren't for at least five big drops by Green Bay receivers. Rodgers is the story of this Super Bowl, and he has now put himself into the elite group of NFL QBs, joining Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
XIX) It is amazing to think that the Packers were 8-6 and out of the playoff picture and they wouldn't have made the playoffs if the Giants didn't collapse to Philly in the fourth quarter of Week 15. Think about it: The Giants were up 31-10 with 7 minutes to go in the game, and we all remember how they just fell apart late in the game, and Desean Jackson's punt return as time expired gave the Eagles the miraculous win 38-31. That game dropped the Giants to 9-5, and all the Packers needed to do was beat the Giants and Bears at home to make the playoffs at 10-6. If the Giants hold on to beat Philly, then there is a really good chance the Packers miss out. Even Tampa Bay's loss to Detroit at home in Week 15 helped the Packers make the playoffs. It is just amazing how some things just work out.
XX) The Packers are primed to make a second straight Super Bowl appearance and win back to back Super Bowls. They have Rodgers, a great core of players coming back, and a lot of depth to become possibly the new dynasty in the NFL. It is very hard to repeat in the NFL, but it will be hard to think that the Packers won't be at least be back in the playoffs next year and making a run.
XXI) The 2010 season is now over, and the NFL always delivers a great product and leaves the fans wanting more. There will be a lot to discuss over the next few months, but the possibility of a lockout will really make this the longest offseason ever. I have had so much fun blogging and writing about my beloved Broncos and about the NFL in general. It has been a fun ride and now the long offseason begins. In the next few weeks, I will blog about the CBA and the potential lockout, review the winners and losers of the 2010 NFL season, review my picks and predictions from 2010, and start to look ahead to what the Broncos need to do in the draft and how they can get back in the playoffs and back to the Super Bowl.
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