Quarterbacks On a Roll

Both Super Bowl XLV quarterbacks have been en fuego as they head down a collision course that will end in Dallas on February 6th.

However, both have playoff histories that are polar opposites. Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers has lived in the Brett Favre shadow ever since being drafted to the Packers. Rodgers was dubbed the next franchise quarterback as soon as he was drafted out of California in 2005.

Rodgers took over the starting quarterback role in 2008 when Favre left for New York. After a couple of up-and-down years, Rodgers has finally settled into his comfort zone under center and led the Packers to their first post-Favre playoff win this season.

Rodgers out dueled the red-hot Mike Vick in the divisional round, took out the NFC's No. 1 seed Atlanta in the conference semis, and finished it off with another victory over the arch-rival Chicago Bears in the NFC championship game.

As for Roethlisberger, things are kind of ho-hum. Roethlisberger has been here before as he is a two-time world champion. The Steelers can go into this game, knowing that Roethlisberger is unflappable and has ice in his veins.

That is yet to be seen of Rodgers, but the kid shows all the signs of being pressure free. Rodgers has fought through a concussion already this season and through injuries to some of his star offensive players.

Roethlisberger seems to always catch the breaks that he needs, especially late in games as displayed in Super Bowl XLIII with his game-winning TD pass to Santonio Holmes to ground the Arizona Cardinals.

It is yet to be seen if Rodgers can handle the bright lights, and with Big Ben already having two titles under his belt, I have the slight, and I do mean slight edge to Pittsburgh at the quarterback position.

I do, however, expect huge things from Rodgers and I also do think that he will be ready and step up for Green Bay when it matters most. Green Bay 24, Pittsburgh 17, in case you forgot or haven't been following along.