With their ‘terrible towels’ and irritating theme tunes, they manage to make Jets fans seem agreeable.
Then there are the players. James Harrison, Troy Polamalu and, officially the most-hated player in the Super Bowl, Ben Roethlisberger. They are all exceptional players – possibly the best in the league in their respective positions – but are also instantly dislikeable.
On the other hand, in the good old Green Bay Packers, we have the only team in the NFL owned by their fans. With their cheesehead hats and willingness to brave the most extreme winter conditions, Packers fans get a warm welcome wherever they go.
Packers players are almost universally loved too. Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and, now, BJ Raji and his dancing feet are all players we’d all like to invite ‘round the house for a beer after the game.
There’s a very simple reason for this though. Up until now, this Packers team weren’t very good, whereas the Steelers are hated so much because they can rightly lay claim to being the best team in the NFL over the past decade.
This is their third visit to the Super Bowl in the six years. They won the other two. Big Ben and his band of not-so-merry-men get the job done when it comes to the big show.
Taking care of business
As I showed in yesterday’s feature on the most memorable Super Bowl plays, they can win games on both sides of the football. If Roethlisberger can’t pass his way to success, the Steelers defence will more than compensate.
Playing David to Mike Tomlin’s Goliath is Mike McCarthy. The quietly spoken Packers head coach was raised a Steelers fan but will set out to break Pittsburgh’s heart on Sunday night.
To do so, he must put faith in Aaron Rodgers. The QB with a penchant for professional wrestling has proven he’s a player for the big occasion having seen his team through five must-win games in a row to get here.
Only two other 10-6 teams have reached the Super Bowl – 49ers (Super Bowl XXIII) and Giants (Super Bowl XLII). Guess what; they both won. For that reason, and the undoubted pressure that will come from the Packers defence, a lot of money has gone on the Packers in the last fortnight.
But Tomlin, Roethlisberger and company have been here before. No less than 25 of the current Steelers squad have played in a Super Bowl, compared to two Packers. While Big Ben might not be as marketable as Rodgers, he has two Super Bowl rings. It might not be pretty with the Steelers, but there’s no doubt that it’s effective.
Verdict: The heart says Green Bay. Rodgers has the chance to exorcise the ghost of Brett Favre once and for all. He’s taken a team that looked like they were going nowhere this year and marched them all the way to the Super Bowl.
The head says Pittsburgh. They find a way to win. They did so against the Ravens, they did so against the Jets and, in all likelihood, they’ll do so against the Packers. I might not like them, put that’s just because they’re so good at winning.
After 21 weeks of blood and sweat, someone’s year is going to end in tears this Sunday. The Steelers will win Super Bowl XLV, but it will be close. So close, in fact, that I’ve put money on it being the first Super Bowl to go to overtime.
Steven O’Rourke is the offensive coordinator of Tullamore Phoenix American Football Club. When not obsessing with football he can be found at 4fortyfour.
