There is no bigger advantage in football than getting to play a team the week after they play the very physical defending Super Bowl champs and we are in the middle of a 3 game stretch of that.

Detroit
Week 5 Pittsburg
Week 6 GB

Cleveland
Week 6 Pitt
Week 7 GB

Minnesota
Week 7 Pitt
Week 8 GB

Hopefully Minnesota gets beat before coming here, it was obvious Detroit was.

That's a very good point. Nice catch with that. Hopefully, the previous week's film study will give the coaching staff an idea of how to physically beat those opponents and actually goes out and does it. The similarities in defensive schemes is especially nice.

The problem is that the Vikings are finding ways to win, and that the Steelers aren't the team they were last yar. Or, it could well be they are the team they were last year, but just aren't winning because they're not getting the same breaks they did last year. How do you get into the SB? Get into the playoffs, get on a hot streak, and make an appearance on the biggest stage in American sports. Just ask the Giants or Cardinals. Timing is everything.

I think Polamalu is a bigger part of that Steelers offense than everyone thought. Losing him definitely hurt. I have to agree, though, its not usually who has best team in September and October that wins the Superbowl, it's the teams that are good in November onward that win the SB.

With the Steelers playing the 3-4 zone blitz scheme. It makes for some good tape for the Packers to look at leading up to there games.

Scheduling advantages 'r' us! The Packers have played the easiest schedule of the decade (SOS) by far. No reason to stop now!

I think playing the Lions twice a year for the entire Matt Millen tenure (and not having to play ourselves) is why we end up having that advantage.

Conversely, what has hurt us scheduling-wise (speaking of Superbowl opponents) is that since the onset of the NFC North, Green Bay has been playing a team that was in the SuperBowl the previous year at 1.4 times the amount they would strictly by chance. (They play both SB entrees this year and also did last year). And I only counted Chicago one time (not twice) since they are in our division and we'd have to play them anyway.

That works both ways. I actually don't see it as an advantage to the Packers at all. One could argue the Vikings will be better prepared to face the Packers 3-4 defense, because they just played against it the week before.