Packers win Super Bowl XLV

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers raises their newly won Vince Lombardi trophy.
(Image via Yahoo! Sports)

Who would've thought the Green Bay Packers would return to the Super Bowl and win? While many have predicted the Pittsburgh Steelers would be victorious in Dallas, seems some have already forgotten about the many titles the Packers have through the years. Some have doubted they can't win without legendary Quarterback Brett Favre -- or so they thought.

The Packers roster have been plagued with injuries and that certain fact lead to pundits leaning on the Steelers for the championship. Since Favre bolted (after unretiring) to teams like the New York Jets and the Minnesota Vikings, Packers fans turned to a dude named Aaron Rodgers in the hopes of bringing the glory days back to Green Bay. For a couple of years, the team had struggled with Rodgers at the helm. At least, somehow they almost had their chance at going back to the Super Bowl last season but was not to be.

This season was different and the Packers were definitely on a mission. What fell short last season was the drive and motivation to cruise past NFC teams. This was the chance for Rodgers to prove he's no Brett Favre and that he's now the main man in Green Bay. He dreamed of the moment perhaps.

The only thing standing in the Packers Super Bowl run was Ben Roethlisburger and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers. While some would assume the Packers were the underdogs in the championship match, they played pretty well in the Playoffs. The repeat performance was expected and Steelers were obviously looking to dominate the game.

The packed Dallas Cowboys stadium witnessed the clash of two of the best teams in the NFL and up for grabs was the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Green Bay surprised Pittsburgh as they dominated the game kicking off with 14-o lead. It was clear that the Packers were the hungrier team to winning the championship. Soon enough the Steelers would start making their run in the 3rd quarter. They made a couple of touchdowns and field goal conversions then late in the 3rd they were almost at striking distance with the Packers.

Fourth quarter came and the Packers scored yet another touchdown and a field goal to extend their lead to 28. Barely 5 minutes in the 4th, the Steelers scored to cut the Packers' lead to 3. The Packers would make another scoring run but Rodgers' wasn't able to complete a touchdown pass and settled for a 3-point field goal instead. The score was now 31-25 with just a couple of minutes in the game. When clock ran out, it was all over, the Green Bay Packers have wins Super Bowl 45.

The Vince Lombardi trophy comes home to Green Bay. The Packers have beaten all the odds but this time they didn't all short like last season -- they went all the way, literally.

As for Aaron Rodgers he not only won the Super Bowl and MVP plum but also a brand new car. Now that the Packers are the Champs, Rodgers welcomes the challenge of the defending their newly won title:

“I always look for challenges,” he said. “The challenge goes to repeating. We’ve got one, so now what? Let’s go get another one.”

Rodgers guided the Packers to three straight away victories in the NFC playoffs before Sunday’s win over AFC champion Pittsburgh. He threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers’ second-ranked defense, and the Packers displayed a resilience that marked their season.

Green Bay had lost 16 players to injury heading into the Super Bowl, then defensive leader Charles Woodson(notes) (collarbone) and veteran receiver Donald Driver(notes) (ankle) went down Sunday.

The ability to rally when faced with adversity will serve the Packers well as they defend their first title since the 1996 season.

“I think the core and nucleus of this team is intact to make a run like this for a few years,” Rodgers said.

On the Steelers' side, Ben Roethlisburger feels that he's to blame for their loss to the Packers:

“Tough game,” Roethlisberger said. “There are probably a lot of ‘what ifs?’ There are a lot of throws I’d like to have back.

“I don’t put the blame on anybody except myself. I feel like I let the city of Pittsburgh down, the fans, my coaches, my teammates, and it’s not a good feeling.”

One of those throws Roethlisberger likely would love to have back was an overthrow to a wide-open Wallace on first-and-10 from the Green Bay 44-yard line midway through the third quarter.

The play could have easily gone for a touchdown.

As the 2010-2011 season of the NFL officially ended, The Packers are once again the powerhouse in American Football today. With Aaron Rodgers no longer in Brett Favre's shadow, all the doubts are all gone now. Indeed it was a team effort. The city of Green Bay is glad that the Vince Lombardi trophy will be back to where it belongs.

And yes, Cheese heads rule!