Super Bowl XLV

Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers and the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the champion of the 2010 NFL season. Played on February 6, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Packers defeated the Steelers by a score of 31–25 to win their fourth Super Bowl title and thirteenth NFL championship overall. Aaron Rodgers, the Packers' quarterback, was named Most Valuable Player.

Background

The game was the culmination of the 2010 NFL season, which saw the Green Bay Packers finish with a 10–6 record, earning a wild card berth under head coach Mike McCarthy. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, and Chicago Bears to win the NFC Championship Game. Their opponents, the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by coach Mike Tomlin, finished the regular season with a 12–4 record, securing the AFC North division title before playoff victories over the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets in the AFC Championship Game. This matchup marked the first meeting between the franchises in a Super Bowl, though they had previously met in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. The venue, Cowboys Stadium, was selected by the NFL owners in 2007, marking the first Super Bowl held in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex since Super Bowl XXVIII.

Broadcasting

The game was televised in the United States by Fox, with the broadcast team of Joe Buck handling play-by-play and Troy Aikman providing color commentary. The broadcast was produced by Fox Sports and featured extensive pre-game coverage from studios in New York City and on site in Arlington, Texas. Internationally, the game was carried by networks such as BBC Sport in the United Kingdom, CTV in Canada, and ESPN America throughout Europe. The halftime show was produced by NFL Network and featured a performance by The Black Eyed Peas, joined by special guests Usher and guitarist Slash.

Game summary

The Green Bay Packers took an early lead, with Aaron Rodgers throwing touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings in the first quarter. The Pittsburgh Steelers responded in the second quarter with a field goal by Shaun Suisham and a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward. A critical interception returned for a touchdown by Packers safety Nick Collins extended Green Bay's lead to 21–3. Before halftime, Rodgers connected with Jennings again, making the score 21–10. The only scoring in the third quarter was a touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall for the Steelers. In the fourth quarter, a Mason Crosby field goal for the Packers was answered by a touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Mike Wallace, followed by a successful two-point conversion to Antwaan Randle El. The Steelers' final drive ended with a turnover on downs, securing the 31–25 victory for Green Bay.

Aftermath

The victory gave the Green Bay Packers their first Super Bowl championship since Super Bowl XXXI and their fourth overall, tying them with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the second-most wins at the time. Aaron Rodgers was widely praised for his performance, solidifying his status as one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks and successfully following Brett Favre. The Pittsburgh Steelers fell short in their attempt to win a record seventh Super Bowl title. The game was also noted for temporary seating issues at Cowboys Stadium, which led to litigation between the NFL and some affected fans. In the following season, the Packers finished 15–1 but were defeated in the Divisional Round by the New York Giants, while the Steelers lost in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Denver Broncos.

Officials

* Referee: Walt Anderson (#66) * Umpire: Chad Brown (#85) * Head Linesman: Kent Payne (#79) * Line Judge: John Hussey (#35) * Field Judge: Scott Edwards (#3) * Side Judge: Mike Weatherford (#116) * Back Judge: Scott Helverson (#93) * Alternate Referee: Carl Cheffers (#51) * Alternate Umpire: Undrey Wash (#96)

Category:Super Bowl