Big Plays Uncharacteristically Doom Steelers

As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, explosive plays can be the difference between winning and losing.

During the 2010 season, no one was better at making big plays, and keeping their opponents from making big plays, than the Steelers. It's exactly what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's defense is designed to do -- create safe pressure that puts the quarterback on the ground without allowing big plays in return.

But for the first time all year, that formula didn't work on Sunday for Pittsburgh. In the Super Bowl, the Steelers were unable to get explosive plays (run or pass plays of 20-plus yards) themselves, but more importantly, they couldn't keep the Packers from getting them.

In 18 games this season, the Steelers had never allowed more 20-plus yard plays than they had put together themselves. They had only allowed more than three 20-plus yard plays twice all season (four in a win against the Bucs and six in a win against the Browns). Against the Packers, Pittsburgh allowed six while getting only two -- a 37-yard catch and run by Antwaan Randle El and Mike Wallace's 20-yard touchdown.

Green Bay had a much easier time busting out the big plays. The Packers' explosive plays included a 38-yard pass to Jordy Nelson that set up Greg Jennings' touchdown early in the fourth quarter (which gave the Packers a 28-17 lead) and Jennings' 31-yard catch and run that set up the final field goal that gave Green Bay a 31-25 lead. On that same drive, James Jones caught a 21-yarder that set up a first-and-goal.

Both of those plays came on third-and-10. Green Bay got another big third-down conversion when Nelson caught Aaron Rodgers' perfectly placed pass for a 29-yard touchdown on third-and-1. Green Bay's other offensive touchdown in the first half came on a 21-yarder from Rodgers to Jennings.

Throughout the game, Green Bay did not have the ability to string together a scoring drive without a big play. The Packers did not score on any drive that didn't include a 20-plus yard play. But if you can get six explosive plays, it overcomes a whole lot of other problems.