Aaron Rodgers and Packers Can Repeat In 2011
Monday, February 07, 2011
by BetUS.com
The Green Bay Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy home on Sunday, covering the line as -2.5 favorites in Super Bowl XLV betting with a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. More importantly, they did it despite losing their second best skill player on offense and their leader on defense. Absences such as those would usually derail most contenders, but for Green Bay it was business as usual.
Leading up to Super Bowl XLV betting, there was much adieu made about Green Bay having sixteen players on the injured reserve.
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Most notably, the team was without tight end Jermichael Finley, starting tailback Ryan Grant and the emotional leader Nick Barnett.
Still, the Green Bay Packers walked in to The House That Jerry Built with a pair of veterans that would surely lead them over the hump. But both Charles Woodson and Donald Driver – who have 25 years of professional experience combined and no Super bowl trophies on their mantles – failed to survive the first half of the game. It seemed as if the injury bug would bite the Packers at the worst time possible, in their biggest game of the season.
As was always the case, however, unexpected heroes stepped up and made big plays when it mattered. Super Bowl XLV was no exception.
Third receiver, Jordy Nelson, saved his best game for the last of the season while making 9 catches for 140 yards and the game’s first touchdown of the game. Star receiver Greg Jennings notched 4 catches for 64-yards and a pair of huge touchdowns.
The Steelers were riddled by mistakes that cost them the game. Ben Roethlisberger was on the verge of becoming one of the all-time greats, but threw two costly picks in the first half. Rashard Mendenhall, who had 63 yards and a touchdown, also doomed the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV betting with a lost fumble in the second half thanks to a rock steady shot from linebacker Clay Matthews. All three turnovers were turned in to touchdowns by Green Bay.
In essence, when the Steelers stumbled, the Green Bay Packers capitalized. They had lost their two veteran leaders, a bevy of starters throughout the regular season, but their most important player was still alive and well. Aaron Rodgers threw for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns while posting a 111.5 quarterback rating.
Rodgers was crowned the MVP of the game and there was little debate in that department. It’s also hard to argue that Rodgers is one of the best passers in the game today, but I’m just repeating what everyone already knows and something that most people in my position have already said.
While injuries slowed the Packers down at times during the regular season, they still produced when it mattered most. It doesn’t get bigger than Super Bowl XLV betting, and on the grandest stage of them all, the Green Bay Packers claimed victory.
If the union and owners can realize how much money both sides stand to lose if a lockout stifles the 2011 season, there’s no reason that the Green Bay Packers shouldn’t be the favorites next year as well. Ryan Grant will be back to balance out the offense if his rehab goes to schedule, and the defense should be back with Clay Matthews emerging as the definitive leader.
Those projections are for later. As impatient as our attention spans can be in the era of social networking, you can’t help but stand back and reflect on the 2010 Green Bay Packer and realize their achievement was nothing short of remarkable. Overcoming obstacles, no matter what form they take, is the mark of a champion.
For now, the Lombardi Trophy has gone home. If the Packers can retain the competitive nature that helped them defy the odds during the 2010 season and in Super Bowl XLV betting, there’s no reason to think they can’t do it again.
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aaron rodgers - ben roethlisberger - charles woodson - clay matthews - donald driver - green bay packers - greg jennings - jermichael finley - nick barnett - pittsburgh steelers