Time For The Pack to Pounce?

Although the Pats couldn't quite pull through this year, the Super Bowl is still on my mind. Before I give my predictions for who's going to win, I'll let you know who I want to win. And why. First and foremost, I want Aaron Rodgers to win. Since the Pro Bowl teams were announced, I could frequently be found walking around my apartment, griping about how Aaron Rodgers wasn't picked. With a 101.2 QB rating, he was nestled in between Phillip Rivers and Michael Vick (both Pro Bowl selections), and I just couldn't understand where Rodgers went wrong. That rating was good enough for #3 in the league, above even Big Ben. That's why I want Aaron Rodgers to win, because he deserves it.

But on the other side of the ball, Big Ben deserves the big game as well. After a four-game suspension and questionable support from fans everywhere, Roethlisberger came through and led his team to the #2 spot in the AFC, giving them a bye before having to rack up wins against the Ravens and Jets. Let's not kid ourselves, the Steelers deserve this game as well.

Here's some keys to the game for both teams. First, Maurkice Pouncey. Strains in any muscle don't heal completely in two weeks. This will play some part in the Steelers game, if Pouncey plays at all. But on the other hand, I'm not completely decided on whether I'd rather have Pouncey limping around the field, getting knocked around by opposing tackles, or Doug Legursky fumbling into safeties left and right. Not to mention that whoever goes, they'll be staring down B.J. Raji all night.

Second. I know that most fans are more concerned with the match-up of wide receivers (Driver and Jennings vs. Wallace and Ward), but I'm most concerned about the match-up of the run-games against both teams' front-7. Rashard Mendenhall has been known to leave his game on the bus once in a while, so the Steelers better hope it doesn't happen this Sunday. Although his run-average was one of the lowest among the top 15 running backs this year, he's definitely the better back in this game. On the other hand, James Starks is hot and has a chance to use the spotlight to his advantage and have a breakout game. But will the pressure of a Super Bowl be too much for him?

I could write pages and pages on this year's Big Game, but I tried to keep it short and hit the most important points, in my opinion. Both teams have outstanding defenses. Both teams have championship caliber quarterbacks, one of which is searching for his third Super Bowl ring. So who takes the win on Sunday?

The Pack. They've won their past three playoff games on the road. They're hot. Aaron Rodgers is just as a good, if not better, than Big Ben, and now he has a chance to prove why he was snubbed of a Pro Bowl selection. I think Quarless and Starks have the ability to break the run-game wide open against the Steelers, but they need to prove it. Lastly, I like the Pack's depth at wide receiver. Often, the third and fourth receivers can be key in a big game, especially when the opposing team has such a solid secondary. Nelson and Jones provide Aaron Rodgers with two more reliable targets, and I definitely like them over rookie Emmanuel Sanders and Antwaan Randle El.

Oh, and on a side note, the average price for a ticket is a little under $5000. Which is about how much my car is worth. Or how much I pay per semester to live on campus, just to put things in perspective.