The 15-Play Drive

15 thoughts on Super Bowl XLV...

1. Fitting that Green Bay overcame injuries to key players like Charles Woodson and Donald Driver Sunday night to capture the Vince Lombardi trophy. This was after all the same team that was forced to place a league high 15-players on injured reserve this season.

2. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that turnovers killed the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger's two interceptions and Rashard Mendenhall's fumble directly led to 21 of the Packers 31-points.

3. Packers defensive tackle Howard Green's pass rush and hit on Big Ben caused the game's first turnover, when safety Nick Collins returned an underthrown ball for a touchdown. That Green made an impact is amazing when you consider this was the third team he played for this season. Green was cut by the Redskins in training camp, and later released by the Jets.

4. I understand they fell behind early, but I thought the Steelers got too pass happy, especially after they cut the deficit to 21-17 in the 3rd quarter. It's not like they weren't having success on the ground. They averaged 5.5-yards per carry. Yet after they pulled within 4, Pittsburgh ran 3-times and threw 8-times on their next two possessions.

5. Was it just me, or did the field turf at Cowboys Stadium appear to be very slick and hard as a rock?

6. When Aaron Rodgers walks outside today, he won't see Brett Favre's shadow anymore. Rodgers not only has as many Super Bowl victories as Favre now, but he has something the future hall of famer never picked up...a Super Bowl MVP.

7. James Jones needs to work on his hands and concentration this off-season. The Packers receiver dropped what could have easily turned into a long touchdown on the opening drive of the 2nd half. Jones has plenty of physical gifts, but he's way too inconsistent catching the ball.

8. I don't expect the officials to get everything right, but that was a phantom face mask call on Tom Crabtree. Bad guess work by Walt Anderson's crew.

9. Use your head Keyaron Fox. You're down 31-25 late in the 4th quarter, and only have 1-timeout left. That was a stupid unnecessary roughness penalty you took there.

10. Where was the communication between Roethlisberger and his wide-receivers? In the final minute of a Super Bowl game the Steelers were in pre-season form.

11. Let's be honest here...Big Ben did not play particularly well. For as much career success as he's had in the playoffs, this was not a shining moment for him. Too many wild throws, the turnovers and the final drive meltdown. He's a winning player, but this loss falls on his shoulders.

12. Stop complaining Pittsburgh...that wasn't pass interference on 4th and 5.

13. The rest of the NFL should be afraid...be very afraid. The Packers are the 2nd youngest team in the league. Unless something happens to Rodgers, they're going to be awfully tough for awhile.

14. Not that I pay all that much attention to the half-time show, but the Black Eyed Peas didn't sound good and weren't entertaining. Enough said.

15. I've got a 6-year old son, so maybe this hit home with me, but the Volkswagen commercial with the kid in the Darth Vader costume was by far my favorite.