The Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 at Cowboys Stadium to win Super Bowl XLV. The Packers claim the Lombardi Trophy for a fourth time aptly named after the late Vince Lombardi, who engineered many of the Packers Super Bowl wins following the AFL/NFL merger.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers went 24 of 39 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. The Packers built a 21-3 lead in the second quarter before Pittsburgh moved the ball to score a late touchdown with 39 seconds remaining. Packers led 21-10 at halftime.
Pittsburgh scored the only touchdown of the third quarter with a 10:19 drive, capped with an 8 yard touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall. Packers now saw their 18-point second quarter lead shrink to four (21-17). The Packers scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter with an 8 yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Greg Jennings to increase the lead to 28-17.
The Steelers answered with a touchdown of their own to cut the Packer lead to three (28-25) after a successful 2 point conversion by wide receiver Antwaan Randle-El. Packer QB Aaron Rodgers moved the offense on the ensuing possession that essentially sealed the win for the green and gold that ended with a field goal by Mason Crosby.
Green Bay clinched victory with a fourth down stop on defense. The Packers win for the first time since 1996 when then a younger Brett Favre led the Packers to a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots. QB Aaron Rodgers was named Super Bowl XLV MVP but the defense made game-changing plays for the Packers.
Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison were practically invisible.
Green Bay is the first 6 seed to win a Super Bowl since 2005 when Pittsburgh won Super Bowl XL. They are also the second team to join the Dallas Cowboys to defeat the Steelers in the big game.
The countdown to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis is now underway.
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