Green Bay Packers Win Super Bowl XLV 31-25; Rodgers Named MVP

Aaron Rodgers and the quick strike Green Bay Packers proved too much for the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning Super Bowl XLV 31-25.

Rogers connected on touchdown passes twice to Greg Jennings and once to Jordy Nelson, compiling 304 yards passing. He was named the game's MVP. The Green Bay defense helped Rodgers by forcing three Steelers turnovers.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a chance to solidify his legendary status and lead a two-minute drive to win the game, but he was unable to covert a 4th down play and Green Bay took over on downs.

However, it was yet another in a recent string of very exciting Super Bowl games.

The Green Bay Packers controlled the first quarter in Super Bowl XLV, jumping out to a 14-0 lead.

Things started off slowly after the Pittsburgh Steelers received to start the game and quickly punted. The Packers punted their first possession as well. Following a second punt by the Steelers, the Packers drove 80 yards on 9 plays, capping the drive with a 29-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson.

Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception on the ensuing Pittsburgh drive which was returned by Green Bay's Nick Collins for a 37-yard touchdown to bring the Packers lead to 14-0.

The Steelers opened the second quarter driving and ended up having to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Shaun Suisham to cut the Packers' lead to 14-3.

However, later in the quarter, Roethlisberger threw his second interception of the game and Rodgers led the Packers on another scoring drive, capped by a 21-yard pass to Greg Jennings to make it 21-3.

Roethlisberger regained his composure though and immediately proceeded to lead the Steelers on their first touchdown drive, tossing a eight-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward to pull the Steelers within two scores, 21-10.

The Packers ran out the remaining 39 seconds on the game clock to bring it to the half, up by 11, and set to receive the ball to start the second half.

The second quarter was marked by injuries to both sides: Charles Woodson and Nick Collins went into the lockroom early for the Packers and Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was taken away on a cart. Woodson did not return to the game.

Following a three and out by the Packers to start the quarter, the Steelers took over in great field position, help by a facemask penalty on Green Bay.

The Steelers then drove 50 yards (all on the ground), and finished the drive off with a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run to make it a 21-17 game.

However, both teams' defenses tightened up for the rest of the quarter, and penalties and the game's first challenge took a lot of momentum away from the proceedings, ending the quarter with the score still 21-17.

The Steelers committed their third turnover at the start of the 4th quarter and the Packers immediately capitalized: driving downfield to score another touchdown (an eight yard pass to Greg Jennings) and increase their lead to 28-17, with just under twelve minutes to play. The drive was kept alive by a huge third down conversion by Jordy Nelson who ran for a huge gain after the catch to make it first and goal at the Steelers 1.

The Steelers responded quickly, scoring a touchdown (a 25-yard pass from Roethlisberger to Mike Wallace) and completing a two-point conversion to make it a 28-25 game.

Green Bay responded with a long drive that ended with Mason Crosby hitting a field goal to push the lead to 31-25 with just over two minutes left that proved to be the final margin.