Super Bowl XLV: Yet Another Prediction...and other Stories

Leading up to the big game, there have been five prevailing storylines emerge.

1. The weather.
Hard to believe that it's been so atrocious down in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. People injured from ice falling off the top of the stadium. Airports temporarily shutdown due to ice on the runways. It's made travel an extreme headache. And those that have hosted radio and/or TV spots during the time there have experienced the adverse conditions.

I'd still rather be there in the cold than not at all.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

2. The saga of a team picture.
The Green Bay Packers were scheduled to have their team picture taken on Tuesday of this past week, media day. The issue became those players that were on IR for Green Bay would not be arriving until Thursday. Some Packers players voiced their frustration over the matter via Twitter (doesn't everybody these days?).

Packers captains Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers addressed the matter with head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers had the taking of the pic moved to Friday to include those players.

But the issue wasn't so quickly over. Someone asked Rodgers of his take (via NFL.com):

"I'll say this, I was on IR back in 2006 and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didn't," Rodgers said. "Some of the guys who were injured, they still are part of this team, but they didn't choose to stick around."

And he's right. It's like the family member that you really won't want to be in the family pic, but you give in because he/she "is family".

3. Ben and the piano bar.
Much was made when a TMZ report surfaced that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and some of his teammates went out to dinner and then made way to a piano bar. The report also stated that Big Ben missed the midnight curfew. That was quickly blown off by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (via Boston Herald):

“I am not concerned about that one iota,” Tomlin said when asked about the TMZ report. “It’s normal for guys to eat dinner, believe it or not, every now and then during the course of the week leading up to a game. So, this week is no different than any other.

“I understand that some things may be reported and viewed differently, but that’s not our concern, really. During the course of the season on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, or what have you, believe it or not, guys live lives.”

Case closed. Of course, there are those thast suggested that Roethlisberger not even go out due to his off-field occurrences. That's a load of crap. As Tomlin said, they have lives.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

4. Maurkice Pouncey.
Pouncey was ruled out for playing today due to a high left ankle sprain he suffered against the New York Jets in the AFC Championship. Ponucey was placed on IR and will not even be available for the game. So who would step in to replace the rookie Pro Bowler?

Signs were pointing to Doug Legursky, the same who replaced Pouncey in the Jets game. But I heard an interesting take on this just a couple of hours ago.

Trevor Pryce was on ESPN's First Take and was asked about Legursky and the potential of issues with Packer NT B.J. Raji. Pryce thought that Legursky might not even be the guy to snap the ball. He suggested that since there were two weeks to prepare, the Steelers could move a guard to play center. If that's the case, Legursky would be playing guard, his natural position.

5. Aaron Rodgers.
Has nothing to do with his take on the team pic. He's the hottest commodity in the NFL right now. He has earned it. If the Packers can win today, Brett Favre, still revered by some within the Packers fanbase, will become a smaller dot in the rear view mirror.

So...on with my outlook and prediction for the game.

Thanksgiving Day NFL Recap

Happy Friday. I hope eveyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I also hope you could find a way to enjoy the NFL games yesterday. I know, not much excitement. But there was if you were Lions QB Duante Culpepper. Read on if you're not sure what I mean.

 Packers (7-4) 34, Lions (2-9) 12

During pregame, Culpepper was informed that he would not be starting, and that Matthew Stafford would. Culpepper did not appear to be too pleased with the team's decision. He did practice with the first team for the short week. Remember, Stafford suffered a separated shoulder during Sunday's 38-37 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Maybe, Culpepper would have been the better selection based on the game Stafford had. 20 of 43, 213 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT. One of Stafford's INT was a pick 6 by Packers CB Charles Woodson. Overall the Lions had five turnovers.

One last quick (maybe not so quick) note from the game. There's 2:51 left in the game and the score is 34-12, Green Bay. Detroit has the ball on their own 28. It's 2nd and 10 and Stafford completes a pass to backup TE Casey Fitzsimmons. Upon being tackled, it appears that Fitzsimmons fumbles the ball but the officials ruled that Fitzsimmons was down by contact.

I know...not so quick. Sorry. I have to say this next part though. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) challenged the play. It was reversed and Geen Bay got the ball. I am massively irritated with McCarthy's decision to challenge that play. You're already winning 34-12 and there's less than three minutes left. What a heartless call by McCarthy. Happy Thanksgiving, Coach. You are no doubt, my Turkey of the Day. Congrats!

Some may say I'm off base. I say to you that you're as heartless as McCarthy. You already have the "W". What more do you need?

Game ball: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: 28-39, 348 yards, 3 TD