With Super Bowl XLV not too far away many Green Bay Packers fans are champing at the bit to witness Aaron Rodgers capture his first Super Bowl ring, and bring the Lombardi Trophy back to title-town. But the other side of the field will be occupied by another title rich team in the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are champing at the bit for their third Super Bowl win in five years.
Nothing’s ever easy in this game, is it?
But for Aaron Rodgers, the past two weeks have in fact looked rather easy as he masterfully weaved his best career performance against the favored Atlanta Falcons two weeks ago, only to follow that performance with a stellar outing against a Chicago Bears team that seemingly had no answer for Aaron Rodgers’ methodical aerial attack.
Both the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing their best football right now which is perfect timing, but for the Packers things just look different. With each passing contest you get a sense of entitlement—as if Aaron Rodgers is quietly saying “It’s my turn; it’s my time.” You get the notion that this team and this quarterback are simply unstoppable right now—as if the inevitable is beginning to materialize.
Since his first snap under center, Aaron Rodgers has done more than enough to prove he is among the elite quarterbacks of the league, but without a Super Bowl ring his elite status will never be truly recognized. Since getting the nod as the new leader of this storied franchise, Aaron Rodgers has always played in the perpetual shadow of Brett Favre—but again—without a Super Bowl ring that shadow will always follow him.
But there is no denying the fact that Aaron Rodgers can in fact blow through the Steelers’ vaunted second ranked defense (number one ranked in postseason play) and capture his first career Championship ring.
Remember, we are talking about a guy who has thrown for 12,394 yards and 86 touchdowns in his last three seasons as a starter. We are talking about a team that has more weapons than any one defense can account for, and we are talking about a quarterback who took a significantly injured team through the mire only to lead them to the “promise land”.
To be honest, there really is only one thing left to do for Rodgers.
But defeating the Steelers will take more than just grit, luck and cleverness. It’ll take determination, flawless execution and a single minded approach built on team unity. Defeating Big Ben’s Band of Brutes will also take the cool hand of a leader who has shown himself to be unwavered.
Everything that defines Aaron Rodgers.
On February 6th, 2011 two of the most storied franchises in NFL history will take center stage in an epic battle for league supremacy. One team will be led by a battle tested ring bearer; the other team will be led by a rising star forged by his own battles in search of his own “precious”.
And as Napoleon once said: “Victory is always possible for the person who refuses to stop fighting.”
