The Pittsburgh Steelers will kick the ever-loving cheese out of the Green Bay Packers in Sunday’s Super Bowl XLV.
Well, maybe not a rout or even a romp. More like a squeaker. But Pittsburgh has enough to outlast Green Bay in one of the more competitive championships like 2009 when Pittsburgh beat Arizona, 27-23.
Indeed, this game looks much like the Steelers’ previous title victory. Pittsburgh is just a little better. Slightly fresher. A little more experienced.
Most of all, Green Bay’s wild-card run may be a little short. Three straight road playoff games takes something away from a team. A little less left for the finale. That may be the difference.
Maybe it’s that the Steelers have a better defense than the Packers have faced all season.
That Pittsburgh endured the tougher bracket of the playoffs. Beating Baltimore and the New York Jets trumps Green Bay surviving Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago. None of the NFC opponents were as good as Baltimore or New York.
Ben Roethlisberger versus Aaron Rodgers? Roethlisberger has two rings and big-game experience. Rodgers is red hot, but nothing beats Super Bowl experience.
Steelers sack master James Harrison will devour Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton.
Fergie will distract Rodgers coming out of the tunnel for the second half. Rodgers will bump his head and miss the rest of game.
Pittsburgh has a huge edge in running back Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers can grind it out all day to play keep-away from the Packers.
Green Bay has the deeper receiver corps, but there’s only one ball. If picking one receiver off either team, take Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace. He’s sitting on a touchdown catch.
Troy Polamalu: Defensive player of the year; game changer; and the best hair on the field.
Steelers kicker Shaun Suisham could win the game because that’s just the Washington Redskins’ type of luck. They cast off a player, he succeeds elsewhere.
Antonio Brown gives Pittsburgh a clear advantage in returns. Green Bay’s James Starks is not a game-breaker.
On the sidelines, I’ll take Steelers Mike Tomlin over Packers Mike McCarthy, who lost to the Redskins this season. Enough said there.
The Steelers are plus-17 in turnovers; the Packers plus-10. Pittsburgh’s pass rush gives it a better chance for an interception.
Seriously, this is the toughest Super Bowl to pick since Denver beat Green Bay 13 years ago. Neither side has a key advantage. Both sides have a vulnerability. Each team played the second half of their conference championship on fumes.
Forget the numbers. Choosing a team comes down to a feeling, and the feeling here is Pittsburgh (+2 1/2) wins outright 27-24. Take the over-44 points, too.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSnider Report.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
