Green Bay Packers take down Steelers, 31-25
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ARLINGTON, Tex. -- Three killer turnovers proved too much to overcome as a furious comeback by the Steelers fell short and so too did their quest to win a seventh Super Bowl.
Green Bay ran out to a big early lead and held off the Steelers to win their fourth Super Bowl, 31-25, Sunday night.
Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, two to Greg Jennings. Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes, but he also threw two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown.
The Steelers came back from deficits of 21-3 in the second quarter and 28-17 in the fourth quarter to trail by just 28-25. A 23-yard field goal by Green Bay's Mason Crosby put the Packers ahead by six with 2:07 left.
Roethlisberger and his offense had another chance to pull out a second Super Bowl in three years with one, final drive starting from their 13 after the kickoff -- eerily similar to their comeback victory against Arizona two years ago.
However, this time it was not to be. After a 5-yard pass completion to Hines Ward, Roethlisberger threw three consecutive incomplete passes toward Mike Wallace and the Packers took over with 49 seconds left and ran out the clock. The Steelers, who have a record six Lombardi trophies, had lost the Super Bowl for just the second time.
The Steelers jumped right back into a Super Bowl they looked almost hopelessly behind when they scored a touchdown in the third quarter to trail the Packers 21-17 entering the final quarter.
A quick turn of events, however, stunted the Steelers comeback try and launched the Packers to their fourth Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the Green Bay coach who led the franchise to victory in the first two games between the old NFL and AFL.
Rashard Mendenhall, running like an MVP to that point, fumbled on the first play of the fourth quarter on second-and-two at Green Bay's 33. The Packers recovered at their 45 and eight plays later, Jennings beat Troy Polamalu and was wide open to catch his second touchdown pass of the game to put Green Bay back on top 28-17 with 11:57 left in the ballgame.
The Steelers, however, kept coming back. They moved 66 yards on 7 plays for yet another touchdown. Roethlisberger threw 25 yards to Wallace for the touchdown with 7:34 left. Roethlisberger then pitched out to Antwaan Randle El on an option for the two-point conversion that cut the Green Bay lead to a field goal at 28-25.
First Published February 6, 2011 7:24 pm
