The Vince Lombardi trophy is back home.
In one of the greatest postseasons for any quarterback, Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to their first NFL championship in 14 years Sunday, 31-25 over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
Rodgers, the Super Bowl MVP, overcame incredible adversity on the heels of six–count them, SIX–elimination/must-win games in order for the Packers to not only make the playoffs, but to reach and win the Super Bowl. In doing so, he extended the Packers’ NFL record count to 13, with 9 coming pre-Super Bowl era. The Pack are also just the second No. 6 seeded team to win the Bowl–the first being the 2005 Steelers’ team.
“Wow, it’s a great day to be great, baby,” said Packers’ WR Greg Jennings.
Rodgers was unconscious tonight, completing 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. Rodgers’ showcased his incredible accuracy and timing throughout the game, make great passes through closing windows, and creating separation between his receivers and the defence. Unfortunately for the Packers’ receiving corps, a number of dropped ‘gimme’s’ killed any chance of potential big plays. Hanging onto those tosses would’ve given Rodgers 400+ yards and 4 TDs on the night–all against the league’s best defence. The Packers scored 21 points off Pittsburgh’s three turnovers, with the last of Rodgers’ three touchdowns slowing the Steelers’ momentum and producing an 11-point lead. Rodgers consistently outplayed QB Ben Roethlisberger, posting a 111.5 passer rating to Big Ben’s 77.4.
WR Jordy Nelson led the packers with 15 targets, and finished with 9 receptions, 140 yards and a TD. Rodgers manhandled CB William Gay all night, constantly getting the ball to Nelson in spots where he could make plays. Nelson started the scoring with a 29-yard TD over Gay, and his 38-yard catch-and-run set up WR Greg Jennings’ second touchdown. If not for three drops and a near catch on a diving end-zone attempt, Nelson would have easily had 200+ yards and 2 TDs. With WR James Jones due to hit free agency and WR Donald Driver losing a step, Nelson’s 2011 outlook is great.
On the downside, CB Charles Woodson suffered a broken collarbone before the half. Like a true warrior, Woodson responded by saying, “I’m a champion. It doesn’t matter.” Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers’ leader tried to address his teammates at halftime but was too emotional to continue. The injury came at a good time, as the 34-year-old Pro Bowler has all summer to recover.
In all truthfulness, the Packers never should’ve gotten this far. This team was incredibly depleted by injuries, and were underdogs to even clinch a Wild Card spot, let alone make it this deep.
“We’ve been a team that’s overcome adversity all year. Our head captain goes down, emotional in the locker room. Our No. 1 receiver goes down, more emotions are going, flying in the locker room. But we find a way to bottle it up and exert it all out here on the field,” said Jennings.
Green Bay continued their dominance in domes, as well as beating teams while being labelled as “underdogs,” but what’s fascinating is that Green Bay was able to win under so many circumstances. They can win in domes (twice against Atlanta, once against Minnesota), they can win low-scoring games (9-0 over the Jets, 10-3 over the Bears.), they can win blowouts (45-17 over Giants, 31-3 over Vikings, 48-21 over Falcons.), and they can make big 4th-quarter plays (31-28 over Vikings, 21-16 over Eagles, 21-14 over Bears). The only thing the Packers didn’t do was a have a come-from-behind win–which they didn’t have to do, as these dominant Packers never trailed by more than 7 points all season–they’re the first team since the 1962 Lions to do that. They also haven’t lost any games by more than 4 points. In reality, this team should’ve gone undefeated this year.
The only way that the Packers could’ve won today was with an elite quarterback. Ravens’ QB Joe Flacco and Jets’ QB Mark Sanchez don’t fit the bill. Realistically, Pittsburgh has only faced two top-level quarterbacks all season: Patriots’ QB Tom Brady and Saints’ QB Drew Brees. The outcome? The Steelers went 0-2, and the Brady/Brees combo carved up the Steelers for 655 yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT. Not to mention that this team faced six consecutive do-or-die games, which makes this feat even more remarkable.
With a ring and a Super Bowl MVP under his belt, Rodgers has etched his name into the list of elite NFL QB’s heading into 2011. Or, at least, he should. But he won’t.
Just now, after this incredible run, are people finally starting to see Rodgers and what he’s capable of. Because he’s not a media-giant that hogs the spotlight, he’s not considered in the same class as quarterbacks Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees. Even with a Super Bowl ring and an MVP award, he’s still considered a level below them.
And it’s unfortunate. When 49ers’ QB Joe Montana won two Super Bowl rings and eventually retired, many doubted what QB Steve Young could do. No one thought that he could fill the shoes of such a hero and an icon. And what happened? Young emerged as one of the all-time NFL greats, and he also led his team to a Super Bowl ring. In Green Bay, a similar problem is being faced–this time, with QB Brett Favre. He holds just about every record a quarterback can hold, and also led the Packers to a championship. And like Young, everyone doubted that Rodgers was the man to take over the reigns for the greatest quarterback to ever take a snap. But in just his third full season, Rodgers led his Packers to a championship, as well as winning the MVP award, something Favre never did. Already, he and Favre are tied with one championship apiece.
The funny thing is, Rodgers, 27, isn’t even in his prime yet. He’s still new–wait and see what he can do when he really gets going. This 28-touchdown, 101.2-rating pivot isn’t even running on all cylinders yet.
It took Young years to finally shake the Montana monkey off his back, to finally emerge from Montana’s shadow. Rodgers has already done that, and it’s about time that we start treating him as an elite NFL quarterback.
NHL
2007-08: 12-3 (80%)
2008-09: 10-5 (67%)
2009-10: 9-6 (60%)
Total: 31/45 = 69%
NBA
2007-08: 11-4 (73%)
2008-09: 9-6 (60%)
2009-10: 11-4 (73%)
Total: 20/30 = 67%
MLB
2008: 5-2 (71%)
2009: 4-3 (57%)
2010: 3-4 (43%)
Total: 12/21 = 57%
NFL
2008-09: 9-2 (82%)
2009-10: 7-4 (64%)
2010-11: 8-3
Total: 24/33 = 73%