Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Let's get it out of the way, as a Giants and Jets fan, I am disappointed over the outcome of the playoffs and the teams playing in the Super Bowl; (I can hope for a Giants/Jets Super Bowl AT THE MEADOWLANDS in 2014) shouldn't be a surprise.

Now that the gripes are out of the way, both teams deserve a well-earned tip of the cap for making it to the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers: During the 2010 season, this team was injury riddled, and even had to turn to a backup quarterback in Matt Flynn, against the New England Patriots, but despite the loss, he put in an inspiring performance that showed heart (and also raised his personal stock). With their strong defense led by Dom Capers and the phenomenal play of their starting quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, the Packers won the games that needed to be won during the tail end of the season and were able to earn the final spot in the playoffs (they really should be sending the Chicago Bears some champagne since they didn't show up in that regular season finale). Head Coach, Mike McCarthy, has significant playoff experience, leading the Packers to an NFC Championship game at Lambeau in 2007, so he was able to impart knowledge on how to survive in the playoffs. They faced some very tough teams in the playoffs and survived each one, earning their trip to the Super Bowl, again, thanks to the Chicago Bears.

Pittsburgh Steelers: I may be no fan of Ben Roethisberger because of his disgusting off-the-field behavior, but they have a darn good head coach in Mike Tomlin. With the trade of Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes to the Jets and the four game suspension of Roethlisberger, Tomlin appropriately filled the quarterback position, held the team together and came away with a 3-1 record before Big Ben came back. He also kept a close watch on Roethlisberger and acted like a mentor to him, and there have been accounts that his off-the-field behavior is improving as a result. With their bruising defense coached by Dick LeBeau and led by the likes of Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, along with an offense that can move the ball and a mobile quarterback, the Steelers performed well in the playoffs (and yes, the Jets played a good game) and despite the criticisms they did not have to play the Patriots, they also earned their trip to the Super Bowl.

With two coaches who are strong leaders, mobile quarterbacks, strong defenses, accurate receivers and potent running games, along with fans who travel well, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will give the world a great Super Bowl! After what they did to the Giants, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm rooting for the Packers to win Super Bowl XLV. We'll see if that actually happens.