ARLINGTON, Texas -- They like to call it the ultimate team game, and the Green Bay Packers proved it.
When cornerback Nick Collins returned a first-quarter interception and wide receiver Greg Jennings caught a second-quarter touchdown pass in Sunday's 31-25 Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, they became the 10th and 11th Packers players to score a touchdown in the playoffs, a league record.
The Packers have spread the ball around effectively all season. They had four receivers top 500 yards and three get 50 catches. Part of the sharing during the regular season was by attrition, considering their 15 players on injured reserve.
Entering Super Bowl XLV, three Packers had scored two playoff touchdowns: quarterback Aaron Rodgers, wide receiver James Jones and running back John Kuhn. Tight end Tom Crabtree, running backs Brandon Jackson and James Starks, wide receiver Jordy Nelson, cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive tackle B.J. Raji found the end zone once each in the first three playoff games.
Solid trend: Nick Collins threatened to blow open the game in the first quarter with his 37-yard interception return for a touchdown.
It was the 13th interception in Super Bowl history, and the teams that had one previously were 10-0. Make that 11-0 after the Packers' victory on Sunday.
Brady is NFL MVP: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday became the first unanimous choice for The Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award since the AP began using a nationwide panel of media members who cover the league.
He surpassed himself, too: In 2007, when Brady won his first MVP, he got 49 votes; one voter went for Brett Favre.
"It is always flattering to be chosen for such a prestigious award," Brady said. "But I also look at it as a team award, as nothing in football gets accomplished without the mental toughness and determination of every player and coach associated with that team."
Brady, 33, by far was the league's top performer in leading New England to a 14-2 record, best in the NFL. Brady had a record streak of 355 throws without being inter cepted and passed for 36 TDs with only four interceptions.
Brady and Peyton Manning have split the past four MVPs.
Playing it safe: Fox expected huge ratings for the Super Bowl. It didn't want coverage remembered for controversy.
Fox hoped its broadcast of the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers would be enough to overtake last year's Super Bowl broadcast by CBS. Some 106.5 million tuned in last year, finally unseating the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" as the most-watched program ever.
With expectations of a ratings bonanza, Fox played it safe in Sunday night's riveting game.
Announcers Joe Buck and Troy Aikman generally eschewed awkward topics such as concussions and labor strife, instead presenting the game with straightforward bombast.
Labor talks: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says this weekend's bargaining session with the players' union was "beneficial."
In an interview with "Fox News Sunday" that aired the morning of the Super Bowl, Goodell called drug testing a key issue in labor talks.
Goodell said "a number of" individual players and owners participated in a two-hour meeting Saturday, the first formal bargaining session since November. The labor deal expires in March.
Outlining major sticking points, Goodell talked about revenue division, rookie salaries and benefits for retired players.
Be there early: Super Bowl fans should have no fear of weather-related disruptions to their flights home.
Now, if only they'll show up three hours early for their flights .
That's the advice from American Airlines spokeswoman Mary Sanderson. Fort Worth-based American operates most of the flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Sanderson urged travelers to arrive at DFW three hours before flight time because of the surge of homeward-bound passengers expected at the airport.
Associated Press
