With the two best defenses in the NFL meeting on Sunday in the Super Bowl, it's fitting that the top two vote-getters in the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award will be represented. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, though, will be the one with the hardware.
Polamalu was announced as the winner of the award on Monday night, edging out Packers linebacker Clay Matthews for the honor. The veteran Pittsburgh safety won by a margin of 17-15.
The choice of Polamalu may be looked at as some as a curious one to say the least. The Steelers defense still runs through him, but the 29-year-old played in only 14 games for the Steelers this season. He had one sack, seven interceptions (one for a touchdown) and 49 tackles this season.
Matthews, meanwhile, emerged as one of the NFL's best linebackers in Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme in Green Bay. The second-year linebacker had 54 tackles to go along with 13.5 sacks good for fourth in the league.
