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Green Bay Packers triumph in Super Bowl XLV

By Paul Gittings
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Green Bay Packers beat Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl XLV
  • Packers claiming Vince Lombardi trophy for the fourth time
  • Quarterback Aaron Rodgers makes three touchdown passes and is named MVP
  • Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger denied his third Super Bowl ring

(CNN) -- Aaron Rodgers inspired the Green Bay Packers to a 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas Sunday night.

It is the fourth time the Packers have claimed the Vince Lombardi trophy, holding off a comeback by the Steelers, who had trailed 21-3 approaching the half.

Lombardi was a former coach of the Packers, leading them to the first two Super Bowls staged before succumbing to cancer in 1970.

Star quarterback Rodgers made three touchdown passes, two to Greg Jennings, as he won his personal battle with his Steelers' counterpart Ben Roethlisberger, who was bidding for a third Super Bowl ring.

Playing his first Super Bowl, Rodgers gave an immaculate display as he completed 24 of 39 passes for 304 yards.

Jennings finished with four catches for 64 yards and his two touchdowns while Jordy Nelson had a game-high 140 yards receiving for the Green Bay, who had waited 14 years since their last Super Bowl triumph in 1997.

This is a great group of men, who showed a lot of character
--Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers: MVP
Not so super tickets
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Named MVP, Rodgers paid tribute to his teammates, "this great group of men, who showed a lot of character."

The scoring began late in the first quarter as Rodgers picked out Nelson with a 29-yard pass after a nine-play 80-yard drive.

Their second touchdown quickly followed as Roethlisberger, under pressure from tackle Howard Green, saw his pass to Mike Wallace intercepted by Nick Collins at the 37, who proceeded to weave his way through for a fine score.

Sean Suisham cut the lead with a 33-yard field goal, but with just over two minutes left of the half, Rodgers picked out Jennings with a 21-yard pass to score the third touchdown for the Packers.

But Pittsburgh had enjoyed a lot more possession and gained more yardage and were rewarded when veteran Hines Ward burst over for a much-needed touchdown, his 10th in post-season.

The lowdown on Super Bowl XLV

21-10 at the half but the momentum shifted to the Steelers in the third quarter as Rashard Meldenhall skipped over from eight yards for their second touchdown of the match to cut the lead to four points.

But the Packers and Rodgers kept their nerve and took advantage of a fumble by Meldenhall, the quarterback's pass finding Jennings for his second touchdown.

Trailing again by 11, the Steelers needed something special and Roethlisberger connected again with Wallace who took his ninth catch of the game and a touchdown.

Steelers opted for the two-point conversion attempt and were successful as Roethlisberger found Antwaan Randle El on the outside.

But Rodgers drove the Packers back upfield and Mason Crosby slotted over the field goal from 23 yards for the final score of the game.

"It was a very emotional half-time. We had some bumps in the third quarter but Vince Lombardi's trophy is finally going home," was the verdict of Packers coach Mike McCarthy after they sealed their narrow but well-deserved victory.