Super Bowl 49: Ranking the most dramatic finishes
By Will Osgood
- Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25
Super Bowl XLV is the only Super Bowl I’ve ever bet on. That’s one of the primary reasons I remember the game. But it was also a classic, in line with so many that we’ve seen in the last two decades.
As has been the case with many of these dramatic finishes, the game seemed like a bit of a dud at halftime, when the Packers led 21-10. But Ben Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion himself, and would not go down without a fight.
The game was Jordy Nelson’s coming out party, as he had a game high nine catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was one of three Aaron Rodgers threw on the day. But the Steelers were aided in their comeback efforts by the loss of Charles Woodson, who had to leave the game early in the third quarter.
The game was actually a blood bath all around, as both teams lost key performers on both sides of the ball.
Pittsburgh would battle to make it 28-17, and then 28-25, before the Packers’ Mason Crosby would stretch the Green Bay lead to six with a 23-yard field goal at 2:07 to play.
Roethlisberger was able to usher the Steelers to his own 33-yard line but would be discontinued at that point.
Next: My favorite Super Bowl ever