Did you hear? There is a lot of history surrounding the two Super Bowl teams. The Steelers, with their rings and towels, and steroid abuse in the Steel Curtain days. The Packers, with their Lombardi, and Lambeau Field and Diary. Anyway, after what seemed like the exact same game played out twice (team dominates first half, somehow the game stays close until the 4th quarter).
Players of the Week - BJ Raji/Cullen Jenkins
They comprise the defensive unit that usually does not get much love on the Packers. Yet, they were the most impressive of the day. BJ Raji and Cullen Jenkins applied constant pressure on all three Bears quarterbacks. They stuffed the run. They forced QBs into mistakes, and BJ Raji bailed out the Packers offense that was totally stagnant in the second half. BJ Raji perfectly executed his drop into the zone to pick of Hanie and get the winning score for the Packers. Cullen Jenkins was an absolute monster throughout the game. He was blatantly held on what should have been a safety early on. Cullen Jenkins and BJ Raji should be able to dominate the Steelers, especially if Pouncey doesn't play.
Goat of the Week - Lovie Smith
I didn't mind his first punt, passing up a 52 yard field goal and it was downed inside the 5. The next one, which was punted from the 31 and went into the end zone: that was too much. Lovie Smith's defense had no answer early for that same deep in play to Greg Jennings (not sure why the Packers didn't just use that route ten more times). Lovie also botched the QB situation. He should have asked Cutler to get into street clothes or whatever. He should have waited till the 4th quarter to bring in Caleb Hanie so if Hanie sucked, he could have switched back. Not a great day for Lovie Smith, who, though he deserves one anyway, was
Surprise of the Week - Rashard Mendenhall
Against a pass defense that was on an amazing hot streak, the Steelers needed their running game to step up. Mendenhall not only did that, but he abused the 3rd ranked rush defense. Why it was a surprise was because Mendenhall had not put up 100 yards since Week 11 against Buffalo and had only three 100-yard games all year. Of course, he got over 100 yards in the first half alone. He exhibited amazing patience, waiting for holes to develop. He was impossible to tackle on first contact. Mendenhall played inspired football, and with the ability of the Packers pass defense, the Steelers might need more of that later come Super Bowl Sunday.
Disappointment of the Week - Aaron Rodgers' Immortality
I guess it is hard to stay amazing in the playoffs. There is nothing wrong with Aaron Rodgers having a statistically bad game. It happens to every QB. Luckily for him his team won the game anyway, and he gets a Super Bowl in a dome, but after the first drive, Rodgers was not good. Other than that deep in to Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson, which was a great zone beater, Rodgers struggled. He struggled when the Bears went to man. His second pick was what really allowed the Bears to get back into the game, taking points off the board for the Packers. There is some say that he sustained a minor concussion after the helmet-to-helmet hit by Peppers, and that is why his accuracy went to shit late in the game, but even then, he could not put the Bears away with any third down conversions. Sadly for Aaron, the defense he faces only gets better.
Team Performance of the Week - Bears After Caleb Hanie Came In
Down 14-0, with the third string QB playing, most teams would have laid down. The Bears did the opposite. Every player upped his game. Peppers and the rest of the d-line started getting good pressure. The defense totally stuffed the run. Matt Forte ran like Mendenhall. The receivers started making plays. Caleb Hanie looked good because the Bears really raised their game, and good to them. They did not quit when Cutler got hurt, and it takes a great team to not. Brian Urlacher's defense played inspired football for a whole half, limiting the Packers to 110 yards in the second half, and the offense came really close to somehow forcing OT.
Team Letdown of the Week - Jets' Run Defense
Third ranked run defense? Against a team that was obviously going to run? That was awful. Rex Ryan should have just talked smack again, because his team was totally flat. The Steelers just smashed the Jets run defense in the mouth in the first half. It got better in the second half, but the damage was already done. I thought the Steelers could move the ball, but not that well in a confined period of time.
Story That Will Be Beaten Into the Ground the Next Two Weeks - Two Great QBs
This is a real storyline, but after their respective performances on Championship Sunday, they aren't exactly "hot" QBs going into the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers can become 2010's version of Drew Brees, version 2009. Ben Roethlisberger can join Tom Brady in the 3-Super Bowl club (amazingly, he's the only other guy with three - Bradshaw and Montana both have four). However, QBs don't "win" games, teams do. Ben Roethlisberger might own two Super Bowl rings, but he was abhorrent in the first one. Rings are not how QBs should be judged. Yesterday proved that well. Aaron Rodgers was outplayed by Caleb Hanie. Ben Roethlisberger was vastly outplayed by Mark Sanchez. Rodgers and Roethlisberger won. Sanchez had a whale of a second half against a tough defense on the road, and he's now a loser who can't win the big one (despite a very good track record in the playoffs).
Story That Should be Beaten Into the Ground - New Dynasties
The Steelers have a chance to win three Super Bowls in six years. That is dynasty status. The Steelers also have a pretty young team (Roethlisberger is only 28). They draft well, scout well and that defense is continually changing parts and staying great. The only problem with the case to make the Steelers a dynasty is that they aren't consistently great (the three non-Super Bowl seasons had two years where they missed the playoffs). The Packers also have a good stable of young players, and a good defense that churns out great players. The Packers have the ability to start a new dynasty, and rule the NFC along with the likes of Atlanta and such. These are special organizations right now, and should set up for a great Super Bowl.
