For only the second time in eight tries, the Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t up to the challenge on the game’s biggest stage, dropping Super Bowl XLV to the Green Bay Packers 31-25.
If the Packers faithful haven’t forgotten about Brett Favre by now, the performance Aaron Rodgers gave the entire 
nation will erase him permanently from their minds.
Rodgers was close to unstoppable, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, en route to earning MVP honors. His numbers would have been even more impressive if the Green Bay receiving core could catch the football.
Both Jordy Nelson and James Jones attempted to hand the game to the Steelers with crucial drops throughout the game.
Considering how the festivities started out, with pop star Christina Aguilera botching the national anthem, it came as no surprise that both teams botched numerous opportunities throughout the contest.
Many thought the Steelers experience in Super Bowls would play a major factor, but for most of the game, Pittsburgh looked like the team that has never been on the big stage before.
The Steelers committed several first half penalties, but it was two costly turnovers that put them behind early.
After Rodgers hit Nelson with a 29-yard touchdown pass, Packers safety Nick Collins, who had a whale of a first half, picked off Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 37-yards for a score to put the Packers up 14-0.
The first half was marred not only by sloppy play, but by a rash of injuries on both sides.
Pittsburgh lost their slot receiver Emmanuel Sanders for the game, but Green bay suffered a more devastating loss losing cornerback Charles Woodson for the game. The Packers also lost another quality corner in Sam Shields for a while, until he returned in the fourth quarter.
Another Roethlisberger pick turned into a Rodgers to Greg Jennings 21-yard scoring strike to put Green Bay up 
21-3.
Once the Packers secondary thinned out, the Steelers offense got going as Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward with an eight-yard touchdown shortly before the first half ended to pull the Steelers within 11.
As both teams headed to the locker room, Green Bay had all the momentum and was ready to make this a laugher.
The Steelers snatched the momentum away though and dominated the third quarter. They did most of their work on the ground as Rashard Mendenhall scored from eight-yards out to pull the Steelers within 21-17.
Green Bay then got a case of the drops and begged the Steelers to win the game, but they couldn’t take advantage of the opportunities.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin questionably sent kicker Shaun Suisham out to attempt a 52-yard field goal which he missed badly.
The play of the game though happened the following time the Steelers had the ball.
With the Steelers driving deep into Green Bay territory, Packers linebacker Clay Matthews, who was snubbed in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, forced a Mendenhall fumble that pretty much ended the game.
Moments later, Rodgers hit Jennings again for a score to put Green Bay up 28-17. The Steelers turned the ball over three times on the evening, which the Packers turned into 21-points.
Roethlisberger added a late touchdown to Mike Wallace to pull the Steelers within three. After a Mason Crosby field goal put the Packers back up six, Roethlisberger got the ball back with two minutes to play.
Knowing Roethlisberger’s reputation for late heroics, Steelers Nation had to feel certain something special was about to happen, but it wasn’t to be as Roethlisberger’s fourth down pass to Wallace fell to the turf and the Packers began celebrating their fourth Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers- Easy choice. Hands down the best player on the field.
Unsung Heroes: Green Bay Offensive Line- This unit was very impressive. They handled the Steelers blitz with ease. Rodgers was rarely under pressure during the game and hit even less.
Goat of the Game: Pittsburgh Steelers Secondary- Every Super Bowl has its share of goats and for this one we look no further than the Steelers secondary. They were picked apart at ease, which was a concern coming in.
Even Polamalu was a non-factor. The only two times during the game that you noticed this season’s Defensive Player of the Year was when he was getting beat on Jennings two touchdown scores.
