The time has come you cheese-head, rust belt, gridiron freaks. In the words of my great grand pappy, “Are you ready for some football?” — Hank Williams III's unborn son.
That's right folks, the Socialist Super Bowl is upon us, and even though Bill Maher took the concept a bit to heart and made what was mine his, there is still reason to celebrate this clash of the small-market titans. The Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet this Sunday in Super Bowl XLV (that's 45), and American Football fans around the globe understand that these are two iconic teams, filled with history, championships, and lots of yellow. So who will win this battle of the mustard-accented greats?
A lot of people have made a big deal about both team's defense, and with good reason. It's the first time the No. 1 and No. 2 scoring defenses have faced off against one another. Add to that the fact each team will be handicapped in the running game (the Packers are average at best, and the Steelers look to be without starting center Maurkice Pouncey), and we're looking at a tight, low-scoring game, right?
Wrong.
Despite making it to the Super Bowl, Aaron Rodgers is still trying to shake off the Favre-skinned coat that has cloaked him since his arrival in Green Bay. Meanwhile, Ben Rapelisberger is trying to become one of the games iconic figures, winning his third Super Bowl in his first seven seasons. Not to mention, trying to shed that whole rape allegation thing. So you can expect a lot of passing, which could lead to a shoot-out, especially if those high-scoring defenses come into play. This makes it a bit hard to predict. In fact, the only thing you can depend on is a heavy dip in halftime ratings when the Black Eyed Peas perform. Seriously, how good is The Who looking right now?
While I think the Packers have the better offense, in games that feature a lot of passing all it takes is one or two series to get out of hand. I expect a high-scoring affair, eventually dictated by the Steelers experience and ability to run the ball late in the game to hold a lead. As much as I hate to root against my old alum, James Starks, and as much passing as I expect, Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendenhall will be the unspoken hero of the game with his ability to keep the Steelers offense consistent.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 34 – Green Bay 24
