Rathman, you make good points, but you should stick to baseball. You're horribly wrong on this one. It's time to get on the Green Bay bandwagon, America. Here's why Aaron Rodgers and company will win come Sunday:
1. The Packers secondary: Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams will quiet the Steelers' receiving corps. Hines Ward and Mike Wallace will be rendered useless by the impressive Green Bay tag-team that racked up eight interceptions and 149 tackles this season. Pressure will therefore be put on less-experienced Pittsburgh receivers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to be at the top of his game. Another problem for Pittsburgh is that even if (and this is a big if) Ward and Wallace can break free of Woodson and Williams, the Packers have one of the most athletic corners in the league in Sam Shields, as well as talented safety Nick Collins, there to help. The Packers' secondary — a large part of the overall team defense which ranked fifth in the league this season in passing yards allowed — will simply be too much for the Steelers.
2. The Rise of Aaron Rodgers: If he wins, Rodgers might soon be as beloved as the future Hall of Fame "No. 4," who won only one Super Bowl himself in the Packer green and yellow. Rodgers has got a chip on his shoulder the size of a wedge of cheese. Fortunately, he has one of the best receiving corps in the game to help out, including Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Rodgers' passing will be crucial because of the blitz frenzy that is the Pittsburgh defense. Yet even Troy Polamalu in the secondary can't be everywhere at once. There are enough quality Green Bay receivers to basically ensure that someone will be open.
3. Clay Matthews: With 14 sacks this season — just two behind the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware for the league lead — and in only his second year in the NFL, Matthews is an absolute beast. He's a game-changer for the Packers. If he can slice through the Steelers' offensive line and get to Roethlisberger, cutting down on the amount of time Big Ben has to find his receivers, it's going to be virtually impossible for the Steelers to convert big plays in the air. Matthews will help stop the running game too, and Pittsburgh's running attack isn't exactly top-of-the-line, at 11th in the league with approximately 120 yards per game.
4. They're a nonprofit organization: Is it honorable? Is it impressive? Whatever it is, it works. The Packers are the only nonprofit, community-owned professional sports organization in the major American sports. So Lambeau lovers don't just root for their team because of the pretty colors, cute quarterbacks or because Daddy said so. They actually have a stake in the team. It's a really cool idea, and it makes the Packers more loveable because you know there isn't a Steinbrenner-esque money-grubbing big man running the show. Will it make a difference in the game? Who knows, but it sure seems from "Media Day" that the Packers are playing for their fans more than themselves, and that's always something to root for.
5. Fate: It's simple. Fate wants the Packers to win. Fate wanted the Saints to win last year for the sake of New Orleans. Fate — and the 1972 Miami Dolphins — wanted the Giants to prevent the Patriots from having a perfect season. This year, fate wants the Lombardi Trophy to return to its original home. Fate doesn't want the Steelers to have seven titles when dynasty teams such as the 49ers and Cowboys only have five. And most of all, fate doesn't want a man allegedly associated with two rapes to be champion.
