Super Bowl XLV, Packers Vs. Steelers: Two Historic NFL Franchises Will Share Dallas Stage

It's official: the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet with a Super Bowl on the line.

The Packers and Steelers each won their respective conference's championship game on Sunday to claim a Super Bowl berth.

Both survived rather than stomping. The Packers led the Bears 14-0 in the first half, then held on as third-stringer Caleb Hanie staged an improbable rally late, winning 21-14. The Steelers built a 24-0 lead in the first half, then hung on as injuries and miscues helped the Jets shrink that lead to its final margin, 24-19.

This sets up one of the better Super Bowl matchups in recent memory. Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger give Super Bowl XLV two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and each has a full complement of offensive talent capable of putting points on the point.

But both defenses are very good, and, better yet for the average fan, aggressive. Dick LeBeau and Dom Capers' affinities for blitzing should produce fireworks both on defense and offense.

Moreover, there's a lot of history on the line. The Steelers will be aiming for an NFL-record seventh Super Bowl win, while the Packers can move into sole possession of fourth place on the all-time Super Bowl list with their fourth win.