Aaron Rodgers passed for three touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers took advantage of three Pittsburgh Steelers’ turnovers to triumph Super Bowl XLV 31-25. Rodgers for 304 yards without an interception and was designated the game MVP, considerable vindication for a quarterback that spent three years as backup to former Packers’ starter Brett Favre. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger replied with two touchdown passes and 263 yards passing, though threw two costly interceptions that had his team playing from behind from early in the contest.
NFL betting enthusiasts who backed the Green Bay Packers as -2′ point prefers were rewarded by the Super Bowl victory. The cover improved the Packers ATS record on the period to 13-7, while the Steelers closed with a 12-7 record against the point spread. The 56 combined points went OVER the posted total of 46. Despite their character as a high scoring team, the Packers went UNDER in 12 of their 20 games this season.
Rodgers’ teammates were quick to praise their quarterback after the contest including veteran wide receiver Donald Driver:
“You can stop it now. Aaron’s proved that he’s one of the most excellent, if not the best, quarterback in this game today.”
Receiver Greg Jennings supposed that the Packers had overcome danger of all season to win the championship:
“We’ve been a team that’s overcome adversity all year. Our principal captain goes down, touching in the locker room. Our No. 1 receiver goes down, more emotions are going, flying in the locker room. But we discover a way to bottle it up and exert it all out here on the field.”
Head coach Mike McCarthy made his own unique contribution to the win with an unprecedented motivational ploy-he had his team fitted for their Super Bowl rings the night before the game. Packers’ Charles Woodson said it made an impact:
“That was just a vote of loyalty for us. Get fitted for your ring. I don’t know when we’ll get them, but it’ll fit.”
Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took the loss firm:
“I feel like I let the city of Pittsburgh down, the fans, my trainers and my teammates and it’s not a good emotion.”
Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews summed up the triumph and the season:
“You play to be the best, the world champions and that’s what we are today.”
Assuming that a labor dispute doesn’t delay or cancel the 2011 NFL season, the Packers will be looking to be first team to defend their Super Bowl title since the New England Patriots won the 2004 and 2005 games.
Daniel Scott is a freelance sports writer and respected authority on price per head. His writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and pay per head sites. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
