Super Bowl offers great matchup (again)

Let's be honest here. 2010 was a disappointing Super Bowl.

Yes, it did have the nice story of a city once hit by a devastating hurricane winning it all. But it just wasn't that interesting. The game was short and not all that special, other than its circumstances.

It certainly didn't lead up to those which came before it.

Let's examine, if we will, why it did not work as well.

A key element to a successful Super Bowl is contrast between teams. In 2007 it was the offensive Colts against the defense-first Bears. In 2008 it was the unstoppable New England Patriots against the underdog New York Giants. And in 2009, perhaps the best Super Bowl of all, it was the powerhouse Pittsburgh Steelers and their all-powerful defense against the mega-surprise Arizona Cardinals and their formidable passing attack. All 3, with the possible exception of the first, were classics.

But last year, the Saints faced the Colts, basically playing their reflection. Two highly likeable teams whose main attractions were their big quarterbacks.

Now it's the humble, quiet, Aaron Rodgers against the stained reputation of Ben Roethlisberger. It doesn't matter that both teams have great, comparable talent on both sides of the ball, the contrast in quarterbacks does enough. The two are different not only in their off-the-field personas, but also in style. Rodgers is the guy who wins by putting up pinball numbers. Big Ben is less the type to show up loud in statistics, and more the type to make intangible plays like keeping plays and drives alive and delivering under the clutch.

Now, if we see a blowout, then all this writing will be dismissed and confirmed as a waste of time. But I don't expect that to happen. The teams are evenly matched on both sides of the ball, and let's remember, we haven't really seen a Super Bowl blowout since 2003, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers laid a thrashing on the Oakland Raiders.

Their contrast in quarterbacks and tightness in abilities make these two teams a great match for the biggest game of the year.

And maybe we'll see some better commercials this year too.

Super Bowl Forecast Coming Up Soon!