Welcome back Mr.Lombardi
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have conspired to deny the Pittsburgh Steelers their third title in 5 years, taking out Super Bowl XLV in Arlington Texas.
The win adds to the already imposing legacy of champion Packers teams and more importantly it returns the Vince Lombardi Trophy to its spiritual home in Green Bay, Wisconsin - at the same time sending the league’s smallest town into raptures.
Rodgers now joins the elite company of Packers legends Brett Farve and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr as winning Super Bowl quarterbacks. His performance that included 300 yards and 3 touchdown passes was enough to see him claim his own piece of history as a Super Bowl MVP – a feat Farve never achieved. Rodgers total of 9 postseason touchdown passes also leaves him tied for third-most in a single postseason in NFL history.
Both teams made a nervous start, highlighted by a fumble from Pat Lee off the kick off but it was Green Bay that settled into stride faster. The first half was all Rodgers. He had the ball on a string - his two touchdown passes for receivers Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings pinpoint. But it was Nick Collins’ 37 yard intercept return that left
Pittsburgh reeling and seemingly with little hope of arresting a green team now with major momentum at 21—3.
Injuries though began to play a part for the home team with Centre Back Sam Shields, key defensive organiser Charles Woodson and strike weapon Donald Driver all returning to the sheds before half time.
Despite mounting a second half comeback and giving themselves a faint chance to steal an undeserved victory with 1:59 left on the clock, the Steelers looked out of sorts for the most part.
Roethlisberger started slowly but began to find his aim as the game wore on. Pittsburgh's ever reliable rushing game which was employed to some effect in the first half was used only sparingly post half time.
For his part Rashard Mendenhall was underutilised, carrying for 63 yards and 1 touchdown. In the first half his presence alone twice created space for Roethlisberger to rush from the pocket, converting to first downs on both occasions.
But it was Green Bay’s day. Their determination to succeed was undeniable. Fitting then that this article should finish with a quote from the very man who instilled such passion and whose name adorns the NFL’s most coveted item.
“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious” – Vince Lombardi.
- DJK
The win adds to the already imposing legacy of champion Packers teams and more importantly it returns the Vince Lombardi Trophy to its spiritual home in Green Bay, Wisconsin - at the same time sending the league’s smallest town into raptures.
Rodgers now joins the elite company of Packers legends Brett Farve and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bart Starr as winning Super Bowl quarterbacks. His performance that included 300 yards and 3 touchdown passes was enough to see him claim his own piece of history as a Super Bowl MVP – a feat Farve never achieved. Rodgers total of 9 postseason touchdown passes also leaves him tied for third-most in a single postseason in NFL history.
Both teams made a nervous start, highlighted by a fumble from Pat Lee off the kick off but it was Green Bay that settled into stride faster. The first half was all Rodgers. He had the ball on a string - his two touchdown passes for receivers Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings pinpoint. But it was Nick Collins’ 37 yard intercept return that left
Pittsburgh reeling and seemingly with little hope of arresting a green team now with major momentum at 21—3.
Injuries though began to play a part for the home team with Centre Back Sam Shields, key defensive organiser Charles Woodson and strike weapon Donald Driver all returning to the sheds before half time.
Despite mounting a second half comeback and giving themselves a faint chance to steal an undeserved victory with 1:59 left on the clock, the Steelers looked out of sorts for the most part.
Roethlisberger started slowly but began to find his aim as the game wore on. Pittsburgh's ever reliable rushing game which was employed to some effect in the first half was used only sparingly post half time.
For his part Rashard Mendenhall was underutilised, carrying for 63 yards and 1 touchdown. In the first half his presence alone twice created space for Roethlisberger to rush from the pocket, converting to first downs on both occasions.
But it was Green Bay’s day. Their determination to succeed was undeniable. Fitting then that this article should finish with a quote from the very man who instilled such passion and whose name adorns the NFL’s most coveted item.
“I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious” – Vince Lombardi.
- DJK
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