Packers Take the Lombardi Trophy Home

The Lombardi Trophy is heading home!  The Green Bay Packers edged out the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 31-25 win to claim the Super Bowl XLV title.  Aaron Rodgers was named the Super Bowl XLV MVP winning a shiny new Chevrolet Camaro.  However, Rodgers appeared to be more excited as teammate, Clay Matthews, gave him a boxing/wrestling style black and gold title belt.  Rodgers often celebrates touchdowns by making the motion of putting a championship belt on his waist.

While not all of us can take home the Lombardi trophy, a shiny new Camaro or a title belt, you can have a piece of the Super Bowl to remember the experience.  Be sure to get your Super Bowl XLV Championship gear to remember the fun--even if it was just as a spectator from the comfort of your own couch.

In the aftermath of all that partying and celebration, here is a recap in the form of stats from the NFL Network research crew. 

• The road less traveled: The Packers joined the 2005 Steelers as the only No. 6 seeds to win a Super Bowl. They’re the sixth Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl, and the third team to do so after winning three road playoff games.

• Teams with a positive turnover differential are 33-3 all-time in the Super Bowl. The Packers were +3 against the Steelers and +6 during the 2010 playoffs.

• Credit the Steelers for nearly winning a Super Bowl despite those three turnovers. The Packers failed to convert a third-down attempt (0-for-4) in the third quarter and had one first down before regaining the momentum late.

• Mike McCarthy improved to 5-2 in the playoffs and joins Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as coaches to win Super Bowl with the Packers.

• Charles Woodson is the fourth player to win a Heisman Trophy, college national title and a Super Bowl.

• Outside of two drops, Jordy Nelson had an MVP-type performance. Nelson tied a franchise playoff record with nine receptions, and his 140 receiving yards are the fourth-most in franchise history. Nelson and Jennings each had 21 receptions during the 2010 playoffs,  a new franchise record.

• With his 37-yard INT return for a TD, Nick Collins is the second player in franchise history with INT return TD in Super Bowl. He joins Herb Adderley, who had a 60-yard INT return TD vs. the Raiders in Super Bowl II.

• The Steelers extended their streak to 17 consecutive playoff games without allowing a 100-yard rusher (tied with Redskins for longest active streak in NFL). The Packers ran the ball 13 times, which tied a Super Bowl record for fewest attempts. 

• Here’s a sign of the longevity and production of Hines Ward: He now has 88 receptions, 1,181 yards and 10 TDs in his playoff career, all ranking in the top five in NFL playoff history. He has 17 consecutive playoff games with a reception.

• LaMarr Woodley recorded a sack, his NFL record seventh straight game with a sack. His 11 career postseason sacks ties Charles Haley for fourth all-time.

Only 363 days until the next Super Bowl in Indianapolis (assuming a CBA is reached and there is a next season).  Let the countdown begin!