Super Bowl XLV was as eventful as any other Super Bowl, and at the same time just as forgettable. The game had everything you could look for in a Super Bowl: two great teams with great quarterbacks, two passionate fanbases, typically over-the-top commercials, ridiculous performances by stale acts during halftime and a drawn out rendition of our national anthem (this year, some lyrics were optional).
This formula is so familiar and annoying. The only two things it was successful in accomplishing was making the NFL all kinds of money and alienating people who actually appreciate football.
In addition to the off-field nonsense, fans in the stands and viewers at home were treated to a well-played game that was up for grabs with a minute left.
This would be a different story if Green Bay receivers Jordy Nelson and James Jones hadn’t dropped three passes that could’ve been touchdowns. Even with the drops, quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a good game.
Rodgers went 24-for-39 for 304 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions, which helped him take home the most valuable player title in the 31-25 Green Bay victory. Nelson had nine catches, 140 yards and a touchdown in the game, but he could’ve had plenty more if not for drops on both the Packers’ first and final drives on Sunday.
Rodgers could’ve had more.
If two of the possible three dropped touchdowns were caught, Rodgers would’ve had an all-time Super Bowl performance with five touchdowns and no interceptions.
All of this coming against the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, a defense that may be the best in pro football. Rodgers carrying the team from 8-6 to winning the Super Bowl is amazing (winning six must-win games in a row), but the ease in which he did so might be even more remarkable.
On the other sideline, the Pittsburgh Steelers played a solid game (especially in the second half) to overcome a 21-3 deficit and make it a game. It was just a few mistakes with turnovers that had them playing from behind for the entire game.
On the play, Ben Roethlisberger’s arm was hit on the throw, the ball hung up in the air and safety Nick Collins was able to run it back for an early two-touchdown lead.
NFLMost likely, no games will be added to the schedule and no games will be missed. Everyone will get paid (the guys in the owner’s box first and most frequently). Until next season, I leave you with my prediction for next year’s Super Bowl.
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Nick’s Pick: Lions 50/1 to win 2012 Super Bowl.*
