Your 2010-2011 Super Bowl Matchup: Packers-Steelers

by Dave Choate on Jan 24, 2011 8:01 AM EST in NFL News

If you were to poll players, staff and fans from around the NFL about the most well-run teams, I'm guess the Packers and Steelers would each get a few votes.

The Steelers need no introduction. For years, they've been one of the NFL's best teams by virtue of a terrific defense, a handful of playmakers on offense and playing in a division with only one other perennial contender. They rely heavily on the draft and rarely make huge mistakes come April. It adds up to a complete football team.

The Packers aren't really much different. Their defense isn't quite as sharp and their offense is a little more dynamic, but Ted Thompson is infamous for putting all his eggs in the metaphorical draft basket, too. He's also not terribly sentimental, having jettisoned Brett Favre back before that was considered a wide decision in favor of one Aaron Rodgers. Smart move, as it turned out.

What can the Falcons learn from the two teams who made it to the Super Bowl? Nothing they don't already know. It takes time to build a great NFL team, and once you do, it's exceedingly difficult not to screw it up. The Falcons are on track.

But this should be a great game, either way. Given the way the Packers have played as a sixth seed, I have a hard time believing they can't handle the Steelers, but I have been wrong many, many times before.

Discuss who you want to win in the comments.

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Comments

Dave, the Packers aren't going to win

I’ll bet you $100 the Steelers win XLV.

At least I don't have to drive to Dallas and try to sneak in Superbowl XLV anymore....

by Kashberry on Jan 24, 2011 8:18 AM EST reply actions

oh, and I pay my debts

I have character.

Once, I bet my friend $200 me and my ex wouldnt get back together.

Some great make up sex later, we were back together, and then I gave my friend $200. I don’t mess around.

At least I don't have to drive to Dallas and try to sneak in Superbowl XLV anymore....

by Kashberry on Jan 24, 2011 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

I'll join that bet

100 bucks say the packers win

"The only problem with invading America isn't getting past their military, but dealing with the 80 million snipers once you're in."-Joseph Stalin

by dirtybirds233 on Jan 24, 2011 8:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Go Saskatchewan RoughRiders!

by FLA_Falcon on Jan 24, 2011 8:55 AM EST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Steelers in the superbowl, hmm, I wouldn't bet against em'.

Be nice to see the NFC team win but I don’t know if they will.

Rule #1: Double tap.

by Ball Hawk on Jan 24, 2011 9:10 AM EST via mobile reply actions

I want Packers obviously.

But I would’ve cheered for the Bears… As painful as that is to say.

I can’t stand the Steelers. Or Jets. Or most of the AFC teams. I want to see this whole AFC superiority thing get knocked out of the picture.

Also, I think the Falcons are like the Packers and Steelers now. They have a great coach and a staff that builds the team well. I think you guys just need new coordinators, at least on D. But I don’t follow close enough to be an expert.

by Pack Man on Jan 24, 2011 10:30 AM EST reply actions

Really?

I am also a packers fan and about the only thing that could get me to pull for the Bears is if they were going to play satanic demons, or some other such thing.

by dullgeek on Jan 24, 2011 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

Its understandable

some fans around here pulled for the Saints last year

Jason Heyward can light fire on fire.
Roddy White's dreads have dreads and those dreads have a beard.

by a hooter's baby on Jan 24, 2011 2:31 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Bears are our biggest rival

But I don’t hate them like I hate the Vikings. For the most part I respect the team.

Just not Julius Peppers. That was a cheap shot on Rodgers.

by Pack Man on Jan 24, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

I WANT the Packers to win

Hate the Steelers. I think it’ll be close.
But in the end, my prediction is a 27-23 win by the Feelers…

Also, on a side note, Jay Cutler is the biggest wuss in the NFL.
Just thought I should throw that out there.

"My parents do a lot of things behind the scenes that go unnoticed"- Cam Newton, Heisman acceptance speech. No, this is not a joke.

by TurnerTheBurner on Jan 24, 2011 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Agree...

My opinion of Cutler did not change after watching him sit out against the Packers: he’s a wuss and a punk. (I would combine those words into one, but I don’t want to offend anyone.)

I don’t know the severity of his apparent knee injury, but it didn’t look that bad, especially since he continued to play and doesn’t even remember when he hurt it. The Bears were one win away from a Super Bowl; he should have been played until they had to cart him off the field.

I recall a game when Leftwich was at Marshall where his teamates had to carry him down the field — And that was a game was against Akron. Akron!

I am a fan of the Dawgs, Falcons, and Braves...oh...and tacos, but I like the other three more.

by Jman781 on Jan 24, 2011 12:40 PM EST up reply actions

I'll combine em Jman! He's a wunk!

Yea, I said it!

by aces666high on Jan 24, 2011 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

You said it...not me.

Rec’d.

I am a fan of the Dawgs, Falcons, and Braves...oh...and tacos, but I like the other three more.

by Jman781 on Jan 24, 2011 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

Reports say

It’s a torn MCL – is he still a wuss?

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 24, 2011 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

No.

The severity of the tear is still in question, but, for the sake of discussion, I will assume that MCL tears are game-ending injuries.

Thus, he has beend downgraded from a wunk to a punk.

I am a fan of the Dawgs, Falcons, and Braves...oh...and tacos, but I like the other three more.

by Jman781 on Jan 24, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I think the problem is perception

If Cutler was visibly hurt, in agony, couldn’t get up, we’d give him a pass. The fact that he’s more stoic actually might be working against him.

by Dave Choate on Jan 24, 2011 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

Packers.

I will be rooting for the Packers, but I think the Steelers will win; it will be a close game, though. I am looking forward to it.

Why am I rooting for the Packers? I generally root for the underdog, and I believe GB will the underdog. Additionally, I root for teams that beat my team in the playoffs. It makes me feel better when the team that knocks my team off beats every other team they face as well. Thus, I rooted for the Giants in MLB, and I am rooting for the Cheeseheads in two weeks.

I am a fan of the Dawgs, Falcons, and Braves...oh...and tacos, but I like the other three more.

by Jman781 on Jan 24, 2011 11:37 AM EST reply actions

Im the opposite

I always root against the team that beats the falcons in the playoffs. After what they did to us, I’d root for the Saints if they were playing the packers. I wanted the bears to win this last game (and they failed me), so I’m most definitely going with the Steelers. I did the same thing when the Cardinals beat us in 08-09, and ironically, also ended up rooting for the Steelers.

by Starrk on Jan 24, 2011 9:02 PM EST up reply actions

If Monte Kiffin was walking through the door

Atlanta will win a championship....someday

by maxxj3 on Jan 24, 2011 11:58 AM EST reply actions

I'll be rooting for the Packers

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 24, 2011 2:10 PM EST reply actions

I am gonna root for the ambulance drivers

I dislike both teams.
Rodgers….lost in first quarter…concussion.
Big Ben…..lost in first quarter….Groin injury….penis ripped off.
Dixon enters game for game winning drive Steelers over Packers 3-0.

Just kidding,
I could care less who wins as long as everyone leaves in pain.

by Funballad on Jan 24, 2011 4:45 PM EST reply actions

Boring

I don’t think I could care less about a Super Bowl less than I do this one. Thankfully I don’t live in the US and won’t have to put up with the endless repetition of grainy footage of Lombardi, Starr, Bradshaw and Franco Harris, and numbing interviews with players upholding “the legacy of this great franchise” blah, blah, yawn zzzzz….

by Sabre on Jan 24, 2011 6:08 PM EST reply actions

Really??

I’m a total sucker for all that old NFL Films footage… Am I the only person here who thinks this is a fantasic matchup? Actually, I’d go so far as saying (excluding the Falcons) this is my favorite possible matchup of all the teams that made the playoffs.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by orang3b on Jan 25, 2011 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

by Dave Choate on Jan 26, 2011 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

Steelers Win

This should be a good low scoring game. It has been a sensational season for A Rod and the Packers. However, I don’t think they pull off this win against the Steelers. Big Ben isn’t one of the best quarterback’s in the league in terms of stats, but he is one the best in two stats in particular, playoff wins and superbowl rings. He just wins. The Packers will not have a running game and The Steelers will run all over them controlling the clock, but the Packers can score quickly with explosive receivers. I hope this is a great game. In the words of Bart Scott “Can’t Wait”.

by Quan on Jan 25, 2011 10:59 AM EST reply actions