No one saw this coming. Don’t try to tell me you did. Think back to late summer, the days you spent lounging at the beach, days where your only worry was if that cloud overhead was going to affect your tan, and try and tell me you correctly predicted this year’s Super Bowl matchup—Steelers and Packers fans, you don’t count.

Back when Cowboys fans could still boast about their team in public, Panthers fans thought Jimmy Clausen was the quarterback of the future and Redskins fans “knew” Donovan McNabb was going to lead them back to glory; try to tell me you saw this coming.

But, sure enough, on Feb. 6, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers are going to battle it out for exclusive rights to the term “world champion” and a trip to Disney World. For any NFL traditionalist, this matchup has us more excited than Rex Ryan in a Foot Locker.

 

ANALYSIS

Considered a legitimate post-season contender before the season started, the Green Bay Packers were quickly left out of Super Bowl discussion due to many key injuries. Ten of the Packers Week 1 starters are now on the injured reserve list, meaning they won’t play in the big game.

Starting running back Ryan Grant and star tight end Jermichael Finley were just two of the Packers starters that were injured early in the season. Seemingly unfazed by the injuries the Pack won when they needed to, facing four win-or-go-home situations the last four games and winning them all. This Sunday, they’ll look to make it a stellar five-for-five. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has stepped up big time for the cheese heads; making them forget that quarterback who played before him (I think his name was Bill, or maybe Bob or Brett. Whatever. He threw a lot of interceptions).

The Packers will line up against a team that is no stranger to the biggest of stages. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing in their eighth Super Bowl, the most of any team in the NFL.

Before the season started, Steelers fans had little to be optimistic about. Not even picked to make the playoffs by most NFL “experts,” the news got even worse when star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s conduct policy.

Backup quarterback Charlie Batch stepped in and kept the Steelers afloat until “Big Ben” could return. (I am still in the process of finding someone who appreciates Charlie Batch, no luck so far.) The Steelers cruised from then on, winning their division and two playoff games, setting up a spot for them in Super Bowl XLV and in the history books once again. The defense, led by borderline-crazy linebacker James Harrison and hard-hitting safety Troy Polamalu were once again one of the top-ranked defenses this year—one of the main reasons the Steelers are in the Super Bowl.

This championship game is much more intriguing than some of the recent ones. With all the history between these two teams, a neutral fan cannot be disappointed. Will the Packers return the trophy to Green Bay? After all, the Lombardi Trophy is named after iconic Packers coach Vince Lombardi. It seems only right that the Packers return Lombardi to his home.

On the other hand, the Steelers know how to win big games, and after six previous Super Bowl victories they will be determined to win lucky number seven.

 

PREDICTION

This one is tricky. Green Bay is favored by 2.5 points, but with a spread that small it doesn’t mean too much. The Packers have more determination. They’ve been fighting critics all year, and with their backs to the wall the last month or so they’ve learned how to respond when they need to.

Regardless, I’m going with the Steelers. Pittsburgh has Super Bowl experience, and that’ll prove enough for the Steelers to take home trophy number seven. Pittsburgh wins 20-17, and college rooms across the world blast Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow.”