We're almost exactly five days away from the kickoff of Super Bowl XLV between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers. Both teams have arrived safely in Dallas, and have completed the first of many sessions with the media. The two teams will practice for the first time on Wednesday, but for the remainder of today, they'll continue interacting with the incredible swarm of media that has descended upon Dallas this week. I unfortunately had my flight into Dallas canceled today, so I won't be down there until tomorrow afternoon.
What follows is the first of several game previews as we countdown the hours to kickoff. We'll get into positional matchups, as well as outline our keys to a Steelers victory, but let's begin with an overview of the two historic franchises' series history, notes on Sunday's match up, and season stats for both squads.
SUPER BOWL XLV: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2011
PITTSBURGH STEELERS-AFC NORTH (14-4) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS-NFC NORTH (13-6)
SERIES
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STEELERS |
PACKERS |
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LEADER (REG. SEASON) |
|
18-14 |
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STREAKS (REG. SEASON) |
7 of past 9 |
|
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COACHES VS. OPP. (REG. & POSTSEASON) |
Tomlin: 1-0 |
McCarthy: 0-1 |
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COACHES PLAYOFF RECORD |
5-1 |
4-2 |
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VS. COMMON OPP. (REG. SEASON) |
Pit.: 3-2 (Atl. 1-0, Buf. 1-0, Mia. 1-0, NE 0-1, NYJ 0-1) GB: 2-3 (Atl. 0-1, Buf. 1-0, Mia. 0-1, NE 0-1, NYJ 1-0) |
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|
PLAYOFF RECORD |
33-19 |
28-16 |
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LAST WEEK |
W 24-19 vs. Jets |
W 21-14 at Bears |
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LAST GAME (REG. SEASON) |
12/20/09: Packers 36 at Steelers 37. Pit. QB Ben Roethlisberger completes game-winning TD pass to WR Mike Wallace as time expires. Roethlisberger (503, 3 TDs) & Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (383, 3 TDs) pass for combined 886 yds. & 6 TDs w/ 0 INTs. |
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LAST GAME AT SITE (REG. SEASON) |
N/A |
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LAST PLAYOFF |
N/A |
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BROADCAST |
FOX (5:00 PM CT): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver & Chris Myers (Field reporters). Westwood One Radio: Kevin Harlan, Boomer Esiason, Mark Malone & James Lofton (Field reporters). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 123 (Pit.), 125 (GB). XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (Pit.), 103 (GB). |
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REGULAR SEASON STAT LEADERS
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PASSING |
Roethlisberger: 240-389-3,200-17-5-97.0 (3C) |
Rodgers: 312-475-3,922 (3C)-28 (T3C)-11-101.2 (1C) |
|
RUSHING |
Mendenhall: 324-1,273-3.9-13 (T2L) |
B. Jackson: 190-703-3.7-3 |
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RECEIVING |
Wallace: 60-1,257 (3C)-21.0-10 (T3C) |
Jennings: 76-1,265 (2C)-16.6-12 (T1C) |
|
OFFENSE |
345.3 |
358.1 |
|
TAKE/GIVE |
+17 (2L) |
+10 (2C) |
|
DEFENSE |
276.8 (2L) |
309.1 (2C) |
|
SACKS |
Harrison: 10.5 |
Matthews: 13.5 (2C) |
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INTs |
Polamalu: 7 (T2L) |
T. Williams: 6 (T2C) |
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PR |
Brown: 5.8 |
T. Williams: 8.0 |
|
KR |
Sanders: 25.1 |
Nelson: 22.5 |
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PUNTING |
Kapinos: 41.9 |
Masthay: 43.9 |
|
KICKING |
Suisham: 61 (19/19 PAT; 14/15 FG) |
Crosby: 112 (46/46 PAT; 22/28 FG) |
Check back here, as well as at Behind the Steel Curtain, Acme Packing Company, and SB Nation's NFL Hub for round-the-clock Super Bowl news, notes and previews.