Super Bowl Champions!

Finally! That is the word that first pops into my head. I have finally witnessed one of my teams win a championship (that I can remember watching) and who better than the team I love most of all: the Green Bay Packers. And what a feeling it really is. When Roethlisberger's pass hit the turf and there was no yellow on the field, I leaped out of my seat and shouted YES!! and hugged the first person of many that I could get my arms around at my Packer party. I couldn't take it anymore. After a couple minutes of celebrating I locked myself in the bathroom and teared up, while telling myself repeatedly, "We are Super Bowl Champions. Thank You!" It was the greatest moment of my sporting fandom career and I have a hard time believing that feeling will be surpassed. Think about it: With all the injuries that the Packers suffered, and then just sneaking into the playoffs by the slightest margins. Then, they won three straight road games against the top 3 teams in the NFC in back to back to back weeks on their route to the Super Bowl. That time of adversity that the team overcame...I mean wow, it just doesn't get much better than that. I get goosebumps and a wide smile on my face just thinking about it. Now, when I look back on my blog in the future, I can remember the exact feeling that I had when the Packers had captured Super Bowl 45. Here are my thoughts of the greatest Packer game that I have witnessed as a fan:


1) Aaron Rodgers is unbelievable. I know I gave him high praise after the Falcons game, but I need to do so again. There is no better player in the NFL than Aaron Rodgers. That is right. I truly believe Rodgers is the best player in the league. Brady may have something to say about that, but he looked older in that Jets game. Peyton Manning, on the other hand, is actually old and may only have five years left in his tank. Manning did not have a great season this year, and I wouldn't think twice taking Rodgers over him. Brees was phenomonal last season, but he made some questionable decisions this season with the football that led to many interceptions. Face it. Quarterback is the most important position for a football team, and there is not better quarterback in football than Aaron Rodgers. He is only 27 years old and he has no glaring weaknesses. His accuracy allows him to make any throw on the field, which was demonstrated in that championship game. The third touchdown before half to Greg Jennings over the middle had me saying to myself, "How did he make that throw?" There were three guys in a very tight window and Ryan Clark was one inch from tipping that ball. The amount of velocity on that ball with the pinpoint accuracy makes that throw just about impossible to defend. Rodgers also has the best poise of any quarterback in the league, which I think many people tend to underrate. Rodgers looked very calm on the Packers final drive and made the biggest throw of his career on a 3rd and 10 pass to Greg Jennings that was fit right down the seam. It was superb coverage by Ike Taylor, but the throw was just better. It was just a normal day for Rodgers: He was better than everyone else on the field, earning Super Bowl MVP honors and a new slick convertible on top of that.


2) The biggest plays of the game. There are 2 huge plays that stand out in my mind, and I cannot decide which one was more important. The first play of the fourth quarter Rashard Mendenhall took a carry to the right side, where he was met by Clay Matthews and the deep penetration by Ryan Pickett. Matthews put a stick on Mendenhall, jarring the ball loose before being picked up by Desmond Bishop. That play stopped all the Steelers momentum that they had gained in a tough 3rd quarter for the Packers. Without that fumble, I have no doubt in my mind that the Steelers would drive down and score to take their first lead of the ball game. The Packers were once again able to take advantage of the Steelers' third turnover and turned it into a touchdown (they finished with 21 points off turnovers).


The Packers were pinned back at their only 25 yard line on 3rd and 10 with only 6 minutes left to play and needed a first down to take some more time off the clock, since the Steelers only had one timeout. Rodgers took the snap and found only a three man rush, giving him loads of time to find Jennings down the seam who had half a step on Ike Taylor. Taylor reached out and barely missed the ball, allowing Jennings to gain 32 yards and keep the clock moving. If the Packers do not convert there, they go 3 and out and give the ball right back to the Steelers, who would have all the momentum in the world. Sam Shields was done for the game after his last drive where Mike Wallace abused him. With the Steelers momentum, I would not have liked Pat Lee and Jarrett Bush out there while the Steelers had a chance to tie or take the lead late in the ball game. Remember, with only six minutes left, the Steelers probably would have had the ball around their own 35 and could have had a steady drive that took just enough time off the clock. A Steelers touchdown, and the Packers and Aaron Rodgers may not have had enough time to go all the way down and score a touchdown again, no matter how great Aaron was playing. Just something to think about.


3. I am so happy for Charles Woodson and Donald Driver. The two are veterans, warriors, leaders, and just tough football players. I feel awful that they could not finish the game, but they finally were able to get that ring that they were coveting their whole careers. Charles Woodson broke his collarbone, covering a deep route since he was forced to play out wide with the departure of Sam Shields. Driver was tackled by two Steelers defenders where his ankle got caught underneath and buckled. Neither went back in the game and were left in tears at the prospects of not returning. Woodson gave an emotional halftime speach that he could not finish because he was choked back by tears. His Packer teammates were extremely motivated and told the veteran that they would win it for him. After the Steelers scored on their first possession of the third quarter, Woodson approached his defensive teammates on the sideline and shouted at them, "Damnit, I thought you were going to do this for me!" FOX cameras captured a great shot (and no I'm not talking about A-Rod being fed by Cameron Diaz) when they saw Woodson celebrate Suisham's missed field goal and then wince in pain. That is the kind of leader Woodson is, and it really speaks volumes of what he means to this team. I really think he will be a future Hall of Famer now that he has the ring. He has a Defensive MVP, multiple Pro Bowls, and now that Super Bowl ring. And what is great is that he got the MVP and Super Bowl ring with Green Bay, meaning he will probably go in as a Green Bay Packer.

4. It was a long halftime for me. Man,and I thought watching Shields leave the game with a shoulder injury would be bad. It caused Charles Woodson to leave his corner/blitzing/slot hybrid and force him to play on the outside where he is much less dangerous. The Steelers went after him on the first play on a vertical route to Mike Wallace. Woodson outstretched for the ball and landed awkwardly on his arm, breaking his collarbone. Knowing how tough Woodson is, I thought it would only be a stinger. Yet, Fergie wasn't enough to distract me from the game at halftime. I kept thinking what if Woodson and Shields are actually unavailable to play the rest of the game? I kept having flashbacks of last season's game between these two teams where Roethlisberger threw for 503 passing yards against our beat up secondary with the likes of Jarrett Bush and Josh Bell. Now it was Bush and Lee along with Tramon Williams who seemed like the only healthy defensive back starter. Roethlisberger just drove down the field on the last drive of the first half with ease on that secondary, and sure enough score to cut the lead to 11 and give the Steelers momentum heading into halftime. It sure did not feel like an 11 point lead because I really fearing if Woodson and Shields would be back. Sure enough, Pam Oliver says Woodson broke his collar bone. Shields did return to the game but only played with one effecive arm, which wasn't enough to stop Mike Wallace from abusing him on his touchdown. Thankfully, the defense held together and I have to give my due to Bush and Pat Lee. The probably weren't expected the play much, but they held their own for the most part in the second half when they were in the game. Bush actually generated some decent pressure playing the Woodson blitzing role, and made Roethlisberger a little uncomfortable. Despit being burnt by Ward for a touchdown in the first half, Bush played his best game as a Green Bay Packer.

5) This video should explain it all. Again, tears to my eyes. After, I watched this video it finally hit me. As Jim Irwin would say, "WORLD CHAMPION, GREEN BAY PACKERS!"

With the season finally over, I will keep posting random football thoughts weekly whether that be about the Packers or the draft. The scouting combine is my next focus!