“Steeling” A Victory!

Sunday is Super Bowl 45 (and I wish I knew how to write that in Roman numerals, but, let's be honest . . . not even the Romans use Roman numerals anymore)!  The Green Bay Packers are set to battle the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboy Stadium!  So, who's gonna win?  Have you made your pick?  A look back at the history of the Super Bowl suggests that Pittsburgh just may "steel" a victory!

It's fitting that Super Bowl 45 is taking place at Cowboy Stadium, because the Dallas Cowboys have made the most appearances in the Big Game.  Yep!  The Cowboys have played for Super Bowl rings 8 times and have taken home the hardware 5 times.  The only team with more Super Bowl victories??  You guessed it . . . the Pittsburgh Steelers, who, with their appearance in Super Bowl 45, will tie the Cowboys for most Super Bowl appearances.  Not too shabby!

In the history of the franchise, the Steelers have gone on some amazing Super Bowl streaks!  Consider this.  In the 1970's, the Steelers won 4 Super Bowl titles in just 6 years!  That impressive run started in 1975 when they beat the Minnesota Vikings 16 to 6.  (Poor Vikings . . . groomsmen often, never the grooms).  The Steelers repeated in 1976 by beating the Dallas Cowboys (eerie how they keep coming up!) 21-17.  In 1979, the Steelers edged the Cowboys again (okay, this is freaking me out!) 35-31!  Then, in 1980, the Steelers' streak reached its peak with a 31-19 beatdown of the L.A. Rams.

While the Steelers have historically rocked and rolled in the Big Game, there have been some other Super Bowl streaks to mention.  I mentioned the Minnesota Vikings.  Remember the time span between 1974 and 1977.  They played for the title 3 of 4 years and LOST everytime.  Someone get a Band-Aid!

Oh, and how about the Denver Broncos?  They suffered the same fate between 1987 and 1990.  They played for the title 3 times in 4 years and LOST each time.  Someone get an Ace Bandage!

And what about the Buffalo Bills?  The poor, poor Bills!!  They made 4 straight Super Bowl finals from 1991 and 1994 and could never take home the gold!  That has to sting like a hornet in a bad mood.

On the positive side, there have been some streaks just as impressive as the Steelers run in the mid to late 70's!  How about those Dallas Cowboys (OMG!  Really!)?  They won 3 of 4 Super Bowl titles from 1993 to 1996.  And the New England Patriots careered it early last decade when they won 3 of 4 from 2002 to 2005.

And, now, a new streak . . . by a team that's had one before!  With their AFC championship earlier this month, the Steelers made their 3rd Super Bowl game in the last 6 years!  And when they've made it to the Big Game, they've taken home the rings.  They've recently added to their aforementioned haul.  In 2006, they beat the Seahawks 21-10 and in 2009, they clipped the wings of the Arizona Cardinals 27-23.

See, historically, if the Steelers make it all the way to the Big Game, they win.  You can't argue with their record 6 Super Bowl titles and, counting this Sunday, their record-tying 8th Big Game appearance. 

So, wait a minute!  They've won 6 titles, but have made 7 Super Bowl appearances to date.  Who beat them?  You guessed it!  The Dallas Cowboys!  In 1996!  Final score 27-17.

There's something very peculiar about the numbers, the history and the upcoming Big Game.  It seems the stars have aligned to drop the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboy Stadium for Super Bowl 45.  And, while the Packers have a pretty solid Big Game history too (they won the first two Super Bowls in 67 and 68, then another in 1997), I think fate's working against them.

I think Sunday's game has the potential to be close, even thrilling.  But I believe that, in Super Bowl 45, history will repeat itself for Pittsburgh and they're going to "steel" away with another title!