Super Bowl XLV - Rodgers That! Lombardi Trophy Heads Home to Titletown - Packers 31 Steelers 25
Super Bowl XLV - Packers 31 Steelers 25

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers throws for three touchdown passes and Nick Collins returns an interception for a touchdown leading the Green Bay Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

"It feels awesome. It's great to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay." -- Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy

Rodgers Leads Packers Past Steelers | Return to Titletown | MVP: Aaron Rodgers | Super Bowl Records Set or Tied | Play-By-Play | Box Score & Statistics

Aaron Rodgers' three touchdown passes and Nick Collins interception returned for a touchdown were the deciding factors in leading the Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.

Rodgers opened the scoring late in the first quarter on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson.

On the Packers second possession of the game, Rodgers orchestrated a 9-play 80-yard touchdown drive to stake the Packers to a 7-0 lead with 3:44 remaining in the first quarter. Rodgers and his Packers where the model of efficiency as they marched down the field in slightly over four-and-half minutes. On the drive, Rodgers was 5 for 6 for 63 passing yards connecting with Nelson three times. Crosby converted the PAT.

On the Steelers' ensuing possession, Ben Roethlisberger's pass to the deep left intended for Mike Wallace was intercepted by Nick Collins and returned for a touchdown. The Packers extended their lead to 14-0 with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

After a few possessions, the Steelers finally responded early in the second quarter with 33-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham. The teams continued exchanging the ball for the remainder of the second quarter until Packers defensive back Jarrett Bush intercepted Roethlisberger's errant pass at mid-field.

Rodgers took advantage of the interception scoring another touchdown in four plays. The drive culminated when Rodgers tossed his second touchdown pass of the game, a 21-yard strike to wide receiver Greg Jennings to put the Packers ahead 21-3.

With 2:24 remaining in the first half, the Steelers engaged a hurry-up offense and were able to march the ball from their own 23-yard line for a touchdown. Ben Roethlisbereger connected with Hines Ward on a short pass to the right for an 8-yard TD with 47 seconds remaning in the half.

Rodgers finished the first half of play with 11 completions on 16 pass attempts for 137 yards, two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 134.6 as the Packers took a 21-10 lead into halftime. In the second half, Rodgers completed 13-of-23 passes for 151 yards and another key touchdown pass to Jennings.

Early in the third quarter, the Steelers scored a touchdown on 5-plays on a handful of key running plays by Roethlisbereger, Mendenhall and Redman to close the gap to 21-17. The Packers scored another touchdown in the 4th quarter to extend their lead to 28-17. However, the Steelers responded immediately with 7-play 60-yard touchdown drive followed by a successful 2-point conversion putting the Steelers only a field-goal behind, 28-25.

In the pivotal drive of the game with the Packers holding a 28-25 lead, Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaaron Rodgers marched the Packers 75 yards in 10 plays, completing four-of-five passes on the drive for 64 yards. On the drive, the Packers consumed 5 minutes and 27 seconds off the clock on their final scoring drive to widen their lead to 31-25 after Crosby's 23-yard field goal, which proved to be the final margin.

Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers was outstanding earning the game's MVP honors as he completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rodgers' counterpart Ben Roethlisberger completed 25 of 40 passes for 263 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the 2 interceptions in the end cost the Steelers dearly.

With the Packers Super Bowl XLV victory and the MVP of the game, the Packers can lay the Brett Favre era to rest. While never previously acknowledging on getting the Brett Favre monkey off his back, Rodgers did say the following after thgame:

"I've never felt like there's been a monkey on my back. The organization stood behind me, believed in me. That's what I did on the podium; I thanked Ted (Thompson) and Mark (Murphy) and Mike (McCarthy) really for believing in me and giving me an opportunity. I told Ted back in 2005 he wouldn't be sorry with this pick. I told him in '08 that I was going to repay their trust and get us this opportunity."

As expected, Rodgers also gave most of the credit to his coaches and teammates:

"Mike (McCarthy) really got the plays flowing. The line did a good job giving me time and guys made big plays. Greg (Jenning) had a couple real big plays. That one there late in the game -- huge play. Jordy (Nelson) played great. James (Jones), big catch on that last drive. It was just a fun night."

Understated Indeed. In leading the Packers to their first NFL championship in 14 years, Rodgers' postseason performance arguably is one of the greatest by a quarterback ever.

The Packers are the first No. 6 seed in the NFC to advance to the Super Bowl since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990. They join the 2005 Steelers as the only other No. 6 seed to play and win in the Super Bowl (Super Bowl XL).

The Green Bay Packers now sport a 4-1 Super Bowl Record and have won 13 NFLL Titles overall, including victories in Super Bowl I, Super Bowl II, and Super Bowl XXXI. The Packers' loan Super Bowl defeat was against the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII.

Super Bowl XLV Scoring Summary

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers0107825
Green Bay Packers 14701031

 

Super Bowl XLV Scoring Plays

Team Qtr Time Play Description (Extra Point) (Drive Info) Steelers Packers
Source: NFL
Packers 13:44J.Nelson 29 yd. pass from A.Rodgers (M.Crosby kick) (9-80, 4:33)07
Packers 13:20N.Collins 37 yd. interception return (M.Crosby kick)014
Steelers211:08S.Suisham 33 yd. Field Goal (13-49, 7:12)314
Packers 22:24G.Jennings 21 yd. pass from A.Rodgers (M.Crosby kick) (4-53, 2:04)321
Steelers20:39H.Ward 8 yd. pass from B.Roethlisberger (S.Suisham kick) (7-77, 1:45)1021
Steelers310:19R.Mendenhall 8 yd. run (S.Suisham kick) (5-50, 2:20)1721
Packers 411:57G.Jennings 8 yd. pass from A.Rodgers (M.Crosby kick) (8-55, 2:53)1728
Steelers47:34Wallace 25 yd. pass from Roethlisberger (A.Randle El run) (7-66, 4:23)2528
Packers 42:07M.Crosby 23 yd. Field Goal (10-70, 5:27)253

Super Bowl Titles & NFL Championshipss

Team Super Bowl Titles Team NFL Championships
Source: NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers6Green Bay Packers13
Dallas Cowboys5Chicago Bears9
San Francisco 49ers5New York Giants7
Green Bay Packers4Pittsburgh Steelers6

Super Bowl XLV: Packers vs. Steelers Highlights

NFL Football: "Super Bowl XLV - Rodgers That! Lombardi Trophy Heads Home to Titletown - Packers 31 Steelers 25 "