At the beginning of the 2010 NFL season few people outside of Pittsburgh thought the Steelers would even make the playoffs, much less the Super Bowl.  After an off-season of turmoil that included trading away troubled star receiver Santonio Holmes and the four game suspension of Ben Roethlisberger, it was widely believed that the team would struggle to match last season’s 8-8 record.  Apparently the players in the locker room didn’t get the memo because they finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and are now once again in the Super Bowl for a record-tying eighth time, “knocking on seven’s door.”

For the Steelers to indeed capture their seventh Super Bowl title they must play a very physical game against the Green Bay Packers and run the ball down their throat.  The Packers defense is one of the best in the league and the Steelers will most likely be without starting center Maurkice Pouncey who suffered a high ankle sprain in the AFC Championship game two weeks ago.  Rashard Mendenhall will need to have another big game just as he did last time out against the Jets, which was probably his best overall game as a pro.  Unlike in the match-up between these two teams at Heinz Field last season (a 37-36 Steelers victory), Pittsburgh does not want to get into a shootout with Green Bay.  Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been on fire since the beginning of the playoffs and could potentially pick apart the Steelers biggest weakness, their cornerbacks.  That is why it is essential for the Steelers offense to run the ball with success and have long-sustained touchdown drives to keep Rodgers off the field.

Many Steelers fans seem to be a bit uneasy about the fact the team was named three point underdogs to the Packers, but there is no reason for concern.  Seemingly everybody has doubted this team from day one and so far the players have really thrived in the position, so why change now?  Also, it should be noted that the Steelers have 25 players on their current roster who have been to a Super Bowl while the Packers only have two.  Previous experience can be key on such a big stage and the Steelers certainly hold that advantage with this being Ben Roethlisberger’s third Super Bowl and coach Mike Tomlin’s second.  So what will happen on Sunday?  Well, the Steelers are 6-1 in Super Bowls and the big game success shall continue on in another nail biter.  Prediction: Steelers 24 Packers 20