Steelers, Packers Super Bowl Appearances

On Feb. 6, two of the most storied franchises in NFL history will play one another in Super Bowl XLV. Neither is a stranger to the world's largest stage: the Packers have appeared in four Super Bowls; the Steelers have appeared in seven. In anticipation of their matchup, SI.com looks back at both teams' past Super Bowl appearances. Led by NFL MVP Bart Starr, the NFL's Green Bay Packers defeated the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the inaugural Super Bowl. At the time, the Super Bowl pitted the best team from each league against one another, prior to the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.

The Packers sent Vince Lombardi off in fashion, defeating the AFL's Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Lombardi's last game as the Packers' head coach. Three years later the Super Bowl trophy was renamed the Vince Lombardi Trophy in honor of the longtime Packers coach.

In a matchup of the NFL's two best defenses -- the Vikings' Purple People Eaters vs. the Steelers' Steel Curtain -- Pittsburgh reigned supreme. They limited the Minnesota offense to 119 total yards and recorded the first Super Bowl safety en route to a 16-6 victory over the Vikings.

Led by wide receiver Lynn Swann, the Steelers defeated Roger Staubach and the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in Super Bowl X. Swann, who many expected not to play due to injury, hauled in four passes for 161 yards and a touchdown and was the first wide receiver to win the Super Bowl MVP award.

In a rematch of their Super Bowl X meeting, the Steelers downed the Cowboys 35-31 to become the first team to win three Super Bowls. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw for 318 yards and four touchdowns and was named the Super Bowl MVP, becoming the first player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to win both the regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards in the same season.

The heavily favored Steelers defeated the Rams 31-19 in Super Bowl XIV to win their fourth Super Bowl in team history. Terry Bradshaw threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns to become the second quarterback since Bart Starr to win Super Bowl MVP awards in back-to-back Super Bowls.

Three was not a lucky number for the Steelers, as they fell to the Cowboys 27-17 in the third Super Bowl meeting between the two franchises. To date it remains the Steelers only Super Bowl loss in franchise history.

Led by kick/punt returner Desmond Howard, who finished with 244 total return yards, the Packers defeated the Patriots 35-21 to win their third Super Bowl and their first since Super Bowl II. Howard was the first special teams player to ever be named Super Bowl MVP.

Though they entered the Super Bowl as 11 1/2-point favorites, the defending Super Bowl champion Packers fell to John Elway and the Broncos 31-24. Running back Terrell Davis took home Super Bowl MVP honors with 157 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns despite having to miss the second quarter due to a migraine headache.

Led by wide receiver Hines Ward, the Steelers defeated the Seahawks 21-10 to become the first No. 6 seed in NFL playoff history to win a Super Bowl. Ward caught five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown to win Super Bowl MVP honors despite a horrific 22.6 quarterback rating from Ben Roethlisberger, the lowest rating ever by a Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

The Steelers defeated the Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII to win their sixth Super Bowl in team history, the most by any NFL franchise. Wide receiver Santonio Holmes won Super Bowl MVP honors after catching nine passes for 131 yards and a touchdown. He was the third Steelers receiver to win Super Bowl MVP, following in the footsteps of Lynn Swann and Hines Ward.