A Super important game

Getting nervous?

We're two days away from the most hyped up event in professional sports, and my favorite team happens to be involved. When I wake up Sunday from my alcohol-induced coma (kidding!), I can't even begin to explain to you how nervous I'll be. It's almost frightening. And if you're a die-hard sports fan like me, you'll feel the same way. I don't care how confident you feel about the Pack's chances...there will be thousands of tiny butterflies fluttering around in your stomach, and they won't leave until 5:29 PM Sunday evening. I have the same feeling that I've had the past five weeks: anything could happen. Good sign? For as much hell as we've been put through in the past years because of the rocky road that is Wisconsin sports, things haven't been all that bad lately. But please...for the love of God...let Sunday, February 6th be ingrained into Packer fans' minds for all the right reasons. Okay. Let's break this mother f***er down.

The Packers are going to lose because of the team photo controversy. It's just way too much of a distraction to overcome. Ben Roethlisberger being spotted at a bar Tuesday night will play a slight factor in how the Steelers prepare for this game, but man...Jermichael Finley and Nick Barnett really did it this time. Damn you, twitter. Steelers in a blowout.

Seriously. What a joke. I LOVE the media! (Ironic, I know)

Moving on. There are so many ways that I want to pick this match-up apart that I honestly don't know where to begin. I probably should have considered this before I started typing, but I don't like planning. I'm figuring that most of you have seen enough breakdowns of this game on ESPN...quarterbacks, running game etc...so I'll try and dig deep and get my fingernails really dirty while trying to find some unique aspects within this game that I think will play a key role.

I'll start with big plays. Both of these teams put food on the table with the help of big plays. Only one of them really gets food poisoning as a result of big plays. The Pittsburgh Steelers have waaaay too good of a defense for the amount of long balls they watch fly over their head, but nevertheless, it happens. Rather frequently. My only hope is that Mike McCarthy realizes this because with the scrambling ability of Aaron Rodgers, he will be able to keep plays alive. This allows for his deep threats, which can really be any of the four receivers, to maneuver around a little and possibly sneak behind the Steelers' secondary. Even if they don't, Rodgers and his receivers are almost always on the same page and guys always seem to find a way to get open. It's crazy to think about how studs like Troy Polamalu (apparently better than Clay Matthews), Ryan Clark and Ike Tayyyylor can allow this to happen, but they do. The Packers may allow a lot of annoying 1st downs on 3rd and 11, but they manage to keep everything in front of them and, to be cliche, bend but don't break. Don't get me wrong...Ben Roethlisberger is also known for his hard-to-believe scrambling antics because of his size, but I think Green Bay does a pretty solid job of containing scampering QBs. This is an area where I think the Packers can exploit the Steelers otherwise stingy D, and a big play or two could very well be the difference in this game.

(Some notable advantages for the Packers that have been drilled home by the media that I agree with: NT B.J. Raji vs. back-up C Doug Legursky, GB secondary over PIT secondary, GB receivers over PIT receivers)

I've mentioned the key for the Packers, but what is the area that Green Bay really has to clamp down on when it comes to facing Pittsburgh? Well, I kind of touched on it before, but if the Steelers start to find success running the football (which I think could be difficult with the loss of Pouncey), the Packers will have to be careful. By careful, I mean don't go away from the game plan to try and put more emphasis on stopping the run because that could end up hurting our chances even further. Let's think about it...why has Green Bay had success on defense this season? It's because they have always had the right personnel to plug into certain positions who know what their role is (THANK YOU, TED THOMPSON). We have to trust those guys just like we have all season long. They're the reason we've been in every game this season. If Rashard Mendenhall, who is a very solid back, starts to get on a role, Dom Capers has to have faith in his front line to adjust and start making plays. If we start stacking the box, our secondary might be in trouble. The deep ball can be stopped, but the one area where the Green Bay secondary has struggled at times is simply defending the opposing receivers. I think that if the Packers main rushers (Front three, Matthews and whoever plays at the other OLB spot (Zombo is back. Walden is battling injury.)) are able to contain Mendenhall, who in my mind isn't any better than LeSean McCoy or Michael Turner, they will have a great chance to win. Capers does a great job mixing in blitzes with a variety of different players, so this could also play a factor in slowing down the Steelers' running game.

By the way, I understand all the talk about Maurkice Pouncey and DE Aaron Smith being out, but there has hardly been any mention of Erik Walden's ankle injury, even during the Bears game two weeks ago when Robert Francois was forced into action. I personally believe that Walden is vital to the Packers' success. Frank Zombo is somebody that I feel kind of "eh" about when it comes to his ability on the football field, but it appears as though Walden will be limited heading into the Super Bowl. This means we'll basically be relying heavily on someone starting at outside linebacker for the first time since week 14 unless something changes in the next two days...uh oh.

(Some notable advantages for the Steelers that have been drilled home by the media that I agree with: PIT running game over GB running game, PIT front seven over GB front seven)

Speaking of the ground game...even though I agree that the Steelers have a more formidable running attack, James Starks has been HUGE for Green Bay. If the Packers can somehow formulate a decent running game against the Steelers on Sunday (which I kind of doubt), damn. Look out. We all know how much Coach McCarthy likes to set up that play action pass, which is why I'm not going to talk about it.

(Where the game could be decided/neither team has a real advantage: Quarterback play, Special teams)

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did I just say that the Packers aren't at a disadvantage when talking about special teams? I promise I'm not intoxicated or on drugs. I could break down these units, but I don't want to put you to sleep (that is, if you haven't already passed out on your keyboard).

A couple hours later, and my nerves are still rising. It's starting to sink in, but it feels so surreal. When thinking about all the injuries...all the adjustments...five weeks of playoff football...overcoming heartbreaking losses. We can only hope that the Packers avoid a late game letdown for one more game. One. More. Game. In the words of the great Bart Scott: CAN'T WAIT!

GOOOO PACK GOOOOOO!