*SUPER BOWL* Packers vs Steelers

J-Mike88 · 01-24-2011, 10:22 AM

Let's get it started.
Two long, but great weeks ahead of us.

Some early notes:

Vegas insiders install Packers as slight Super Bowl favorite

Quote:

The Glantz-Culver line made the Packers an early 2 1/2-point favorite and put the total score at 45 1/2 points for the Feb. 6 game in Arlington, Texas.

Jay Kornegay, executive director of the race and sports book at the Las Vegas Hilton, said his book made the Packers a 2-point favorite and quickly moved the line to 2 1/2 points as bettors gambled on Green Bay.

"That steam engine is still rolling," Kornegay said. "It's going to be a very interesting Super Bowl because you have two heavyweights as far as popularity goes."

Oddsmaker Andrew Patterson of Las Vegas Sports Consultants said the firm, which provides betting lines to most casinos in Nevada, made the Packers a 1 1/2-point favorite to try to encourage action on both teams.

"I think it's a good number, but a lot of us feel it's a little high," Patterson said.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1ByBIO3JS

Quote:

Still, the memory of Rodgers remains fresh for the Steelers.

"I wish we were playing them in the snow, sleet, rain," Pittsburgh free safety Ryan Clark said of the upcoming Super Bowl meeting. "And I wish Aaron Rodgers forgot to catch the bus to the game and didn't go. [The game is] going to be inside, and they are going to be throwing that ball all around. Two very good defenses, two amazing quarterbacks, two storied franchises in the NFL."

How the Steelers plan to attack Rodgers will be one of many Super Bowl storylines -- the league's most feared defense standing across the line from the league's hottest quarterback. "This is the team, going into the playoffs, nobody wanted to face them," Clark said of the Packers. "[That's] why Chicago played their starters all game [in Week 17] because they knew [Green Bay] wasn't a team you wanted to play in the playoffs."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1ByCQLlx5

This is funny:

TimmG6376 · 01-24-2011, 10:31 AM

Our WRs vs Steelers DBs is an advantage Rodgers can exploit. The Jets were able to get some big plays and Sanchez is no Rodgers, BUT Harrison/Woodley vs Clifton/Bulaga is a tilt in their favor and they will have to be handled to allow Rodgers to get the ball out to them.

Mr.Regular · 01-24-2011, 10:50 AM

Pack (obviously) in a close one.

Our tackle play will be huge in this game. Containing that edge passrush could be the key. Also, establishing any form of a run game is important. I know we likely won't run down their throats, but a couple big runs, and some first down conversions on the ground will be key.
On defense, Ben Roethlisberger scares me. We'll be able to pressure Ben, but he's so elusive... he definitely scares me when he buys extra time.

PS, can Nick Collins please play a better game? He hasn't had the best year, and he blew a couple big plays yesterday. Roethlisberger can take advantage of his overaggressiveness. I wan't the big plays to be kept to a minimum.

umphrey · 01-24-2011, 11:39 AM

I'm probably in the minority in thinking there are going to be some points scored in this game. Rodgers and his recievers will get big plays pretty easily against the Steelers secondary despite their blitz and the Steelers offense can move the chains pretty consistently. I think we grab the lead early and don't give it up though.

tjsunstein · 01-24-2011, 12:23 PM

I see this as a high scoring affair as well. Packers won't be able to run and will need to pass to put points up on the board and Big Ben will be chasing the Packers all night to catch up. I see us winning in a close one but it will be a shootout. Game ending interception to seal it. End it in 2010-2011 Packers fashion.

J-Mike88 · 01-24-2011, 03:36 PM

We all still remember the final play last year to lose to the Steelers, with Mike Wallace on the edge in the end zone, beating Josh (who) Bell.

But I still VIVIDLY remember the play before that, and that's the key to stopping the Steelers.

Anyone else remember the play before that final one?

PackerLegend · 01-24-2011, 04:03 PM

Didnt it involve Cullen Jenkins and he got a penalty for some BS on 3rd down?

TimmG6376 · 01-24-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PackerLegend

Didnt it involve Cullen Jenkins and he got a penalty for some BS on 3rd down?

I think Cullen whiffed on a sack of Big Ben.

BloodBrother · 01-24-2011, 04:26 PM

the last play, Jolly was busting through the line and got held by 2 Steelers Olineman and it went uncalled. That pissed me off. You couldn't even read the number on his jersey because they grabbed a hold of it to stop him from gettign to BEn

PackerLegend · 01-24-2011, 04:43 PM

I really wish I wouldn't have watched that. Hopefully we get revenge in 2 weeks.

TimmG6376 · 01-24-2011, 04:50 PM

I just watched the highlights here http://www.nflrush.com/video/steelers/1290

But they skip the play just before the game winner. If I recall correctly Cullen has Ben is his grasp but doesn't get him down and that allows Ben to throw it away and stop the clock. If Cullen gets the sack, time runs out.

cvv84 · 01-24-2011, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmG6376

I just watched the highlights here http://www.nflrush.com/video/steelers/1290

But they skip the play just before the game winner. If I recall correctly Cullen has Ben is his grasp but doesn't get him down and that allows Ben to throw it away and stop the clock. If Cullen gets the sack, time runs out.

Even more so what pissed me off was that sack and FF that Clay had which got overturned.

vidae · 01-24-2011, 06:03 PM

I'm a Packers fan right now! I'm not a fan of the Steelers as a whole and I hope you guys whoop some ass.

GO PACK GO!

BloodBrother · 01-24-2011, 08:38 PM

Packers will be wearing their Green uni's in the SB, so says Mike McCarthy

J-Mike88 · 01-24-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmG6376

But they skip the play just before the game winner. If I recall correctly Cullen has Ben is his grasp but doesn't get him down and that allows Ben to throw it away and stop the clock. If Cullen gets the sack, time runs out.

Exactly. He had him dead to rights, nobody blocking him..... and he just ran so fast he was semi-deked out and glances off Ben. Had he just clutched onto him, you're right, game over. Clock would have expired.

In the end, that game didn't mean anything in the end result as far as playoffs and seeding.

But just watching some right now, I think it was Tyrone Carter instead of Polamalu. He makes a huge difference as Fox pointed out.

jackalope · 01-24-2011, 10:24 PM

Prediction: BJ Raji has a receiving touchdown.

GB12 · 01-24-2011, 10:39 PM

No way. Seriously, we better not throw to him. I'll be pissed if we do. We have 4 good WRs. There's no reason to ever throw it to a defensive lineman.

McCarthy joked about it after the game (perhaps to make Pittsburgh at least consider pass if we use that formation), but the chances of actually doing it are very slim and should be zero.

jackalope · 01-24-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB12

No way. Seriously, we better not throw to him. I'll be pissed if we do. We have 4 good WRs. There's no reason to ever throw it to a defensive lineman.

McCarthy joked about it after the game (perhaps to make Pittsburgh at least consider pass if we use that formation), but the chances of actually doing it are very slim and should be zero.

I actually didn't hear McCarthy mention it. I'm not advocating for it, but it just feels like something that would happen with the formation they've used recently and Raji showing some hands and being a fan-favorite.

GB12 · 01-24-2011, 10:51 PM

Yeah, but this is the Super Bowl. Maybe if we somehow get a huge lead. Otherwise, no.

Crickett · 01-24-2011, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB12

There's no reason to ever throw it to a defensive lineman.

J-Mike88 · 01-25-2011, 09:18 AM

Who's excited by this?

Still, I want to see each of our front 7, plus Woodson, get sacks on Big Ben.

Raji, smash him.
Jenkins, pound him.
Pickett, smother him.
Walden, crush him.
Bishop, blow him up.
Hawk, flatten him.
Matthews, KO him!

BloodBrother · 01-25-2011, 10:39 AM

NFL Network had a replay of the 2009 game. Rodgers took quite a few shots in that game, especially early, but once he got time he really burned the Steelers

I think the OL is improved compared to last season, but Woodley/Harrison will still be a nightmare for the OL to stop. Can't put too much stock in that game last year, either, as the Steelers D is completely different with and without Polamalu. It's ridiculous how much better the Pack secondary is this year compared to last, as well. Shields speed should be able to match up well with Wallace. Heath Miller really hurt the Packers in that game, along with Ward. Still, I think this group will do a much better job of stoppin both of them. Pack have really done well this postseason stopping some solid TE's(Celek, Gonzalez, and now Olsen). Woodson should be all over Heath while Williams and Shields rotate on Ward/Wallace. Mendenhall will be the key, along with obviously Ben's improvising/avoiding sacks. When the Pack get to Ben, they need to make sure they hit that right arm of his...make sure he doesn't get a clean pass off or hope to cause a fumble.

TimmG6376 · 01-25-2011, 11:17 AM

I watched NFL Replay last night too. Forgot how back and forth that game was. The talking heads have been saying that Rodgers is the highest rated QB vs the blitz. That will be tested for sure. I still like our WRs vs their secondary (even with Troy) as long as Rodgers can make the right reads we should be able to score points.

Defenses have been able to get to Roethlisberger. Matthews, Cullen, Woodson, etc., will get their chances. As has been discussed, when they get there first priority has to be to get him down. Ben is susceptible to getting the ball stripped but if they go after the strip and miss he can extend and make a big play.

I'm a little worried about Mendenhall. The Steelers would much rather run it 30+ times and not rely on Ben to chuck it. The best defense against that is to score early and often. In 2009 Tomlin called an onside kick because he realized that his defense wasn't able to stop Rodgers that night. I think the Packers D is enough improved that if the Packers offense can put the same kind of pressure on the Steelers offense to keep pace Tramon/Shields/Collins/Woodson will get their hands on some errant throws.

BloodBrother · 01-25-2011, 11:25 AM

Yeah, containing Mendenhall is priority #1. Stop the run, score early and often. Doubt the Packers will be able to run the ball effectively vs Pitt, so the Pack can't let Pitt establish their run game, either

drowe · 01-25-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BloodBrother

Packers will be wearing their Green uni's in the SB, so says Mike McCarthy

I don't know why, but I was very curious about this.

Couple of notes.

White jerseys have a 6 game super bowl winning streak.

The Packers have a 3 game white jersey winning streak.

Mike McCarthy doesn't give 2 shits about streaks.