Because the two quarterbacks in Super Bowl XLV are in different conferences, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers don't get many chances to face off with each other during the regular season. In fact, they've only met once before.
And if it goes anything like the last meeting near the end of the 2009 regular season, it could be a dandy. Check out their stat lines from the last matchups, a game that was decided on the final snap.
Rodgers: 26 for 48, 383 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, three rushes for 22 yards and a rushing score
Roethlisberger: 29 for 46, 503 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns.
NFL Week 15 2009 - Packers vs Steelers Highlights (via pitbullz66)
What makes those numbers even more impressive is the quality of the defenses that were served up in those games. According to Football Outsiders, the Steelers had the 14th best pass defense and 8th best overall; the Packers were the 4th best defense and third overall.
Can we expect similar numbers in the ultimate matchup between two of the NFL's best quarterbacks? Well, Football Outsiders projects the Packers with the best pass defense and the second best overall offense, while the Steelers have the second best pass defense and the best overall defense. Looks like Rodgers and Roethlisberger will have to be at the top of their games to take advantage of the league's best.
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