The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, two of the NFL’s most historic franchises, met yesterday for Super Bowl XLV in a heated and well-fought battle to become the next NFL Champion. While the game itself was played in Arlington, Texas at the $1.1 Billion dollar stadium owned by the Dallas Cowboys, there is a pretty good chance that you, like I, watched it from the comfort of your home with a bevy of drink choices and a smorgasbord of food all within an arms reach. Now that the countless amounts of food, beverages, and antacids have been consumed, we can begin to talk about our favorite parts of the Super Bowl festivities, along with things you might have missed because you arrived late, left early or had to go on a beer run.
The Game
The pre-game hype had this game dubbed as a low scoring, smash-mouth type of football game where each of the kickers were promised to get plenty of chances at splitting the uprights. What we got instead was big play after big play from each offense and defense to the delight of millions of fans watching at home. Winning this Super Bowl would have given the Pittsburgh Steelers their seventh title, most out of any other NFL franchise. 
In the end, the turnovers doomed the Steelers, capped-off by a game changing 37-yard interception returned for a touchdown late in the 1st quarter. Still, in the 4th quarter with minutes left on the clock, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger had his team in perfect position for a much needed touchdown drive. The Steelers offense sputtered at midfield and turned it over on downs, mainly due to the inaccuracy from Roethlisberger. The decision to wear a dark visor (even though the game was indoors he’d never worn it before) was at least partially responsible.
For the Green Bay Packers, this was a momentous occasion not just because they are newly crowned Super Bowl Champions (their 4th title), but because they realistically could have thrown in the towel early in the season. There are a handful of factors that could have kept them from competing for the Lombardi Trophy: their staggering amount of injured players being placed on IR, QB Aaron Rodgers never being able to win in the playoffs, and the franchise having to live beneath the enormous shadow of Brett Favre’s legacy. On Super Bowl Sunday, with stellar defensive plays at key moments in the game and the steady arm of Aaron Rodgers (Super Bowl MVP) all those factor were rebutted, with a final score of Packers 31, Steelers 25.
This Super Bowl might not have been one of the top 10 all-time Super Bowl games, but it was pretty darn entertaining. The highlight reel will show a great balance of offensive and defensive plays. Had the game moved to where most thought it was headed (overtime!), this Super Bowl would have surpassed many of the top games in the past. If you have forty bucks to spare and want to watch Super Bowl XLV over again in its entirety, along with every game of the past two NFL seasons, head over to NFL Game Rewind. It’s worth the moola.
The Ads
I was seriously disappointed in the quality of the commercials this year. (Watch all the Super Bowl ads online). Some tried too hard, most were strange and peculiar, and others didn’t even show their product until the last 5 seconds. Still, it can’t stop me from choosing one I loved, one I disliked, and one I can’t decide on either way:
Loved: Volkswagen: “The Force”
The spot features a pint-sized Darth Vader who uses the ‘Force’ when he discovers the all-new 2012 Passat in the driveway. It leverages humor and the unforgettable.
Disliked: Living Social: “It’ll Change Your Life”
This spot features a man so involved with savings from group coupon dealer Living Social, that it changes his life and him as well… into a woman. Reminds us of one of the controversial Holiday Inn commercial we referred to last week.
Can’t Decide: Chrysler: “Imported From Detroit”
Scenes from the city of Detroit with brilliant narration about where their cars are made, taking on the identity of the Motor City. This was thirty seconds too long, keep the Eminem beat and leave out Eminem.
The Strange & Everything Else
In sad and disheartening news, one of the four men featured in this amazing Visa’s “Never Miss a Super Bowl Club” commercial became ill and had to be hospitalized, breaking his amazing streak at attending every Super Bowl since 1967. 79-year old Robert Cook, a life long Packers fan, decided to send his daughters, instead. Lucky for him the Packers won it all:
Yes, Christina Aguilera was chosen to sing The National Anthem at the Super Bowl and no, it didn’t go according to plan. She hit all the right notes but botched the lyrics a bit. Most missed it completely while it was happening live, but see if you can tell exactly where and what she botched.
One of the hardest decisions each TV network broadcasting the Super Bowl (this year it was FOX’s turn) must make is deciding what show gets aired directly after the Super Bowl. In years past, this time slot made superstars out of Lost and Undercover Boss. With an already established fan base, Glee got it this year. If FOX’s goal was to clear out a Super Bowl party in record speed, then it succeeded mightily. Talk about a target audience with highly opposed TV interests.
With Super Bowl XLV comes an end to the National Football League’s 2010 season. It was a year that ended in heartbreak for the 31 other teams not hoisting the Lombardi, but each passing year invites the phrase, “There’s always next year,” only this time there might not be a next year. Advice to the suits handling the Collective Bargaining Agreement, get it together! Sincerely, Football fans everywhere.
