Ben Roethlisberger threw two picks and missed on several passes. One interception was returned to the house and the other cut short a drive. But despite all that, if Rashard Mendenhall doesn’t fumble early in the fourth quarter, you get the feeling the Steelers win the game.Pittsburgh had all the momentum scoring 14 consecutive points and they were in good field position again. The Packers hadn’t scored in the second half. The Picks were bad…the fumble was a killer. And again it was the old story…turnovers lose championships.
The biggest surprise of the day might have been that the Packers won the game while running the ball just 13 times. What’s was also surprising was that the Steelers knew Aaron Rodgers was going to throw the ball, he did and they still couldn’t stop him.
I heard some talking heads on the radio Monday morning speculating that if not for all the dropped balls by the Packers, Rodgers throws for over 400 yards. Maybe a stretch
But Jordy Nelson alone did drop at least three balls.
I have to give credit to Mid Valley Staffer Saile Ramirez. Last week on the Mid Valley Sports Show he was the only one that said he didn’t like Roethlisberger. He said he had some flaws that could be exposed in the big game and that Rodgers would rule the day. Coincidentally, or not, Ramirez is the only quarterback on staff. Good call Saile.
You can read Saile’s column “High School Quarterback” every week on the Mid Valley Sports website.
It’s funny how when it comes to quarterbacks one game can put you on a different level. Before Sunday Roethlisberger was being mentioned as one of the all time greats on the verge of winning his third Super Bowl. Monday morning Rodgers was the guy in the same sentence as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees while Roethlisberger was on the B level with Phillip Rivers and Eli Manning.
It might be true but I as I was listening, I was thinking…wait a minute hasn’t Big Ben still won two?
If nothing else the game lived up to the hype. Green Bay – Pittsburgh was truly a clash of the titans coming in and they didn’t disappoint. Although it wasn’t the best Super Bowl ever it ranks right up there. Green Bay jumped out to a big lead; Pittsburgh battled back with a chance to win in the end.
The only thing better, at least from an unbiased fan’s point of view, would have been Roethlisberger leading the Steelers on a game winning drive in the last minute. But not this time. This was Rodgers’ time. I had a great headline for the game story: Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood!…ok maybe not.
No I wasn’t interested in the commercials. As far as I’m concerned they were all terrible. But it’s not really the commercials that bother me. It’s everybody talking about the commercials. Who cares? Can’t we talk about the game?
Doritos, Chryslers, websites, I don’t care. I want to talk about how Rodgers performed under pressure not about how some guy sucked some guy’s finger after he just ate a nacho cheese chip.
Sunday morning prior to the Super Bowl I decided to conduct a coach’s poll as to who would win the game. I received 25 responses from local coaches in about an hour. Some responded with one word answers like “Pittsburgh.” Others actually sent me a preview like “I think Green Bay has a better run defense and a better pass offense. I don’t think Pittsburgh can stop Rodgers. Packers 31-24.”
Ted Clarke picked Green Bay because he didn’t want to sleep on the couch. Roddy Layton’s response topped them all. “I only follow Diamond Ranch football,” Layton said. A true Panther until the end.
That’s my principle.
Tim can be reached at tim@midvalleysports.com.
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