It has been 15 years since the Packers won Super Bowl XLV.
For a lot of Packer fans, it doesn’t seem like that long ago.
But it is amazing how much time has passed since that faithful day in 2011.
For me it is a special time in my life.
I was a freshman in college when the Packers won it all.
Unfortunately I was going to school out of state in Michigan but I was able to watch the game with some Packers fans I was friends with.
The feeling of watching of back and forth game come down to one play had my heart rate all over the place.
To make it even more nerve-racking, it was on the Packers defense to win Super Bowl XLV.
But once Tramon Williams deflected Ben Roethlisbergers’ pass for Mike Wallace, Packers Nation went wild.
For the Packers, it was their first championship since the 1996 season.
Furthurmore, a new generation of fans got to feel the excitement of winning a Super Bowl.
As the dust of Super Bowl LX settles and the Seahawks celebrate their victory, we’ll take a look back at the Packers’ victory in the Super Bowl 15 years ago.
Most Memorable Play
I mentioned one play in the beginning, with Williams sealing the game for the Packers.
But that is not the most memorable play for the Packers.
Clay Matthews forced fumble at the beginning of 4th quarter was a turning point in the game.
The Packers without their defensive leader Charles Woodson out, the Packers defense needed a momentum shifter.
Going into the Fourth quarter down by 4, the Steelers offense was driving, potentially to take the lead.
But Matthews took the words of his position coach, the late great Kevin Greene.
It was time to step up.
Matthews did just that jarring the ball lose on Steelers Running back Rashard Mendenhall.
This set up the Packers on their final touchdown drive, with it ending with a Greg Jennings touchdown.
Without this play, the momentum could’ve shifted, instead Matthews stepped up stop the Steelers momentum.
The next man up mentality
The Packers that season battled injuries all season.
During the season, the Packers in-stored a next man up mentality.
People like Erik Walden, Charlie Peprah, Howard Green and James Starks were thrusted into starting roles.
Relatively unknown players, they took the challenge and were able to step into those roles.
That same attitude was needed during the Super Bowl with Charles Woodson out of the game with a broken collarbone.
Sam Shields, who was an un-drafted free agent, stepped in and filled in nicely in Woodsons absence.
Shield, would go on to become a starting corner for the Packers next season.
A lot of credit goes to the Packers coaching staff at the time, who were able to coach up those players.
The Legend of Aaron Rodgers
Just in his third season as the starting QB Aaron Rodgers started a legendary run during the 2010 season.
While his regular season stats were average, his playoff run was something else.
In the 2010 playoffs he had 9 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
Furthermore he had a passer rating of 109.8.
That all capped off with a “Super” Super Bowl XLV performance.
Against the Steelers he was 24-39 for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Two of those were to WR Greg Jennings, while the other was the Jordy Nelson.
The performance earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.
He became just the second Packers QB to win the Super Bowl MVP since Bart Starr.
Conclusion
Super Bowl XLV will live forever in Packers fans.
It has been a while since the Packers have made it back to the big game.
In fact it has been more heartbreak, than anything.
The Packers have had multiple chances to make it back but have come up short in recent years.
——————
Hau Khuong has been a Packers fan since 1996. He currently works as a video editor in Green Bay and writes for PackersTalk.com and you can follow him on twitter at @HauKhuongSports.
——————
