1. Well...Steeler fans are going to be hard to live with now...as if they weren't already. As I was watching them close out the Jets yesterday, I started asking myself if it was time to start really hating Pittsburgh. I happen to know plenty of Steeler fans, and I actually like them. But when you start adding up their ridiculous dominance of multiple eras of NFL football with their takeover of FedEx a couple seasons ago, combined with my complete distaste of the Penguins, I find myself not liking Pittsburgh too much these days. And with no hope of really competing with that franchise on the field any time soon, hating the Steelers is a real exercise in futility.
2. So yeah...I'll be rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl.
3. I was more than a little shocked to see Green Bay become unable to score after they notched 14 points early against the Bears. I imagine Pittsburgh will go to work on whatever it was that Chicago was doing to stifle Aaron Rodgers. And you know the Steelers have the manpower to match the Bears' defensive effort, so I would expect them to start strong against the Packers in the Super Bowl.
4. It's all I can think about, so I am going to say it...again: How unfair is it that the Packers go from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and we suffer through a decade of hilarity at quarterback? They lost their starting running back and starting tight end early in the year--both players are excellent talents--and they still end up in the Super Bowl? As usual, it comes down to drafting. The Packers have one of the highest percentages in the league of players on the roster that were drafted by the franchise. Looks like there are a few different numbers floating out there as I look it up, but I am pretty sure it is over 30...perhaps as high as 36 players on their roster were drafted by the Packers.
5. Did anyone actually think that Chicago had a chance to win that game? Outside of Chicago of course.
6. Early obvious observation: This game is going to come down to Aaron Rodgers vs. Ben Roethlisberger. And yes, I know they don't play on the field at the same time. Mark Sanchez still does not have the chops to match games with Big Ben. When Ben was scrambling for that game-deciding 3rd down toss, I knew it was over. He was on the run, with the game on the line...you could have turned the TV off before the ball left his hand. It was going to be on the numbers to a receiver running across the field in 1st down territory. That's what he does. It is fitting that his nickname is the same as a famous clock because when it is 3rd down and the game is on the line, Roethlisberger is like clockwork. Aaron Rodgers can match that I think. He can run to both extend plays in the pocket and for positive yardage when the defense gives it to him. He will find open guys and he will pull the trigger at the exact right moment. Both defenses in the Super Bowl are quality units and will give their opponent fits. So the ability of these two quarterbacks to convert on 3rd downs and make something out of nothing will decide the game.