The Table Is Set - A week from today, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will face one another on the NFL's biggest stage, as both teams prepare to take the field for Super Bowl XLV. Not only will the match-up feature two of the games elite quarterbacks as Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers oppose each other, but it will also showcase two of the more dominant defenses in the league. Though both teams and their respective leader have reached the title game behind completely different storylines, one thing they can relate to is the impressive obstacles they've had to overcome to get this far. While the Packers have won all three of their Postseason games on the road against higher seeded opponents (Philadelphia, Atlanta and Chicago), the Steelers won at home defeating two of the games premier defensive oriented teams, Baltimore and the Jets who similar to Green Bay, were also road warriors this postseason, beating both the Colts and Patriots away from home.
If Pittsburgh plans to distance themselves farther from the field by hoisting a record seventh Lombardi Trophy, they'll have to do so without their rookie Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey. Though he hasn't officially been ruled out by team trainers who've described his status as day-to-day with a high ankle sprain, fellow teammate Chris Kemoeatu is already saying how much the talented young center will be missed, as his Steelers get set for their third Super Bowl appearance in six years. Pouncey, a first round pick out of Florida, suffered an injured ankle in the AFC Championship game during Pittsburgh's opening drive that lasted nine minutes long and resulted in a touchdown.
Filling the void of Pouncey at the center position will be Doug Legursky who was called upon in Sunday's 24-19 victory over the Jets. Despite a number of bad snaps including one in the end-zone that resulted in a safety, Legursky has two weeks to practice and make both himself and Big Ben comfortable. However, the latest speculation surrounding Pouncey has the Pro Bowler as a game time decision. Personally, I think Mike Tomlin and company is trying to throw the green and gold off a bit, by getting them to prepare for the less experienced Legursky and make them think Pouncey will not play. There's no doubting he's injured, but do you honestly think he's going to miss the biggest game of his life? I don't.
Unlike years past, this Super Bowl could hugely impact the legacy of the winning quarterback. For Ben Roethlisberger, another Super Bowl triumph can put him in the elite category with New England's Tom Brady as the only active QB's to win three Super Bowl's. For Rodgers on the other hand, a Championship ring in only his third season at the helm would match the Super Bowl success long time Packers QB Brett Fave was able to accomplish in his 16 seasons with Green Bay, capturing his lone title in 1996. If playing the past two seasons with the rival Minnesota Vikings hasn't made Packer fans forget about Favre, perhaps a Rodgers led Super Bowl victory might be the perfect antidote to do the job.
Prediction - Playing away from the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field will be nothing new for the Pack, as they've played and won all three games this postseason on the road as mentioned. As for Pittsburgh, playing outside of Heinz Field might make them a little homesick. But if I'm going to bring that point up, I might as well bring up the point that Pittsburgh has the experience of being in this situation before, which means the location will have little to no effect on the outcome. Prior to the start of this season, I predicted a Ravens-Packers Super Bowl. Given my AFC pick has been bounced out of the Playoffs, I'm sticking with my NFC pick, Green Bay over Pittsburgh, 24-20. With that said, GO PACK GO!
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