Thirteen things I learned from Super Bowl XLV

I chose the number thirteen because it matches the Packers total number of championships. I figured it was appropriate...

1. The National Anthem needs to have limits

Christina Aguilera butchered it. Not because she messed up the words, stuff like that happens. What upset me is that she sang it as if she were trying to impress Simon Cowell instead of honoring the United States with the respect and reverence that our country deserves (see: Dixie Chicks, Jennifer Hudson, or the greatest rendition ever - Whitney Houston).

2. Big defensive plays are the end all be all of big games

James Harrison two years ago, Tracy Porter last year, and Nick Collins on Sunday. Big defensive plays have proved to be the difference in the Big Game. And the numbers don’t lie: Losing teams have had 30 turnovers since Super Bowl XXXV.

3. Ben Roethlisberger is a supporting actor

Ben at his finest

I’ve be arguing against Roethlisbergian supremacy since his 13-0 rookie year. Ben rides the tide that his defense creates. In three games this past season against blatantly better quarterbacks (Brady, Brees, Rodgers), the Steelers’ defense was unable to make big plays and Ben was unable to outduel. The defense is Mickey Mouse and Ben is just Goofy.

4. Aaron Rodgers is the star of the show

The championship belt that ARod throws on after running for a touchdown is well-deserved. I’d take the Green Bay signal-caller over anybody right now. If you need me to back this up just read the archives of this blog. I’ve been all about Rodgers since day one.

5. It is impossible to hate the Packers

They are classy – well, besides Tramon Williams. They smile and help the opposition up. They respect and revere their veterans, especially Chuck Woodson and Donald Driver, and treat their non-stars like gold – even after dropping mad passes. The best part is that they are owned by the fans.

6. Goodbye A.J. Hawk and hello Desmond Bishop

A.J. Hawk was the fifth pick of the ’06 draft and has a hot wife. But he has not fulfilled that top-pick potential. His contract is up as of March 3^rd and Desmond Bishop was all over the field as soon as he stepped on the field to replace Nick Barnett and he hits like a ton of bricks. Bishop played his way into a contract extension and played Hawk out of one.

Grown man stuff...

7. The Steelers’ offensive line deserves a lot of respect

The Pittsburgh offensive line came to play throughout the playoffs. People said Flozell Adams was too old but somehow that old head kept the NFL’s should-have-been Defensive MVP in check in Fort Worth. And when Maurkice Pouncey went down the world was supposed to end. But the Big Legursk took care of B.J. Raji too the ring of zero sacks and zero tackles. I’m sure Rashard Mendenhall’s playoff numbers would back up the o-line’s play as well.

8. Super Bowls are won in the front office

Teams win the Super Bowl, not star players. These two teams especially have done it right.

9. The New York Super Bowl will be won by a cold weather team

I’m so used to seeing warm weather or domes for the Super Bowl. Teams on these fast tracks running wild. East Rutherford is going to be a little different. It will be a game set up for smash-mouth offense and physical defense. Not too many of those on the West Coast or down south. Looks like the cold weather boys will enjoy February 2014.

10. Social networks are a whole new monster on Super Bowl Sunday

Facebook and Twitter were exploding. I’m curious if that’s the most action that the sites get all year including Christmas. Status overload.

How is this conniving nerd a billionaire? Nonetheless,
he loves Super Bowl Sunday.

11. As Troy goes, the Steelers go

I don’t even know if the league’s Defensive MVP played in the playoffs. When he’s playing the Bengals he’s a pick-six waiting to happen – but against big-game quarterbacks, not so much. When he’s quiet the Steelers are silenced.

12. The “We get no respect” complex needs to go

All I’ve heard since Rodgers took a knee is how “disrespected” the Steelers were and how nobody cares about them. Joe Buck and Troy Aikman hate Pittsburgh according to Steeler fans. No, there just wasn’t much to say about them Sunday.

The best part was on my ride back to school Sunday night. I was in the car listening to Pittsburgh sports-talk radio and people were calling in left and right claiming that Pittsburgh “got no respect.” Finally the radio host said something like “If you are going to cry about being disrespected, don’t bother us. Get over it. It’s not disrespect – it’s called a loss.”

13. A dynasty could be born

The Packers are the second-youngest team in the NFL and have one of the top five quarterbacks. They played this season without the league’s most athletic tight end in Jermichael Finley and will only get younger via the draft. If they can keep Chuck Woodson to lead that defense for a few more years and keep Aaron Rodgers healthy, the sky is the limit for Green Bay. The NFC is up and coming and (what I think) already better than the AFC. But the Packers should sit at the top and keep rising. They really have no ceilings.

- DQ