'Big Ben' goes from suspect to Super Bowl

It's the US version of a Currie Cup final, but with more bells and whistles - and more people looking on.

The Super Bowl, to be played at the Dallas Cowboys stadium on February 6, will be contested between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Packers won the National Football Conference on Sunday, taking a 14-0 lead against the Chicago Bears then hanging on to win 21-14.

The Steelers were 21-7 up against the New York Jets in the American Football Conference, but were forced into a late goal-line stand before clinching a 24-19 win.

Next month, the Packers will appear in their first Super Bowl since back-to-back appearances in 1997 and 1998. The Steelers, who have won a record six Super Bowls, are back for their third attaempt in six years, having won both the previous games in 2006 and 2009.

The Super Bowl offers Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers the chance to join an exclusive band of quarterbacks who have won the title three times. Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman and Terry Bradshaw could add a fifth name to their group by February 6.

"Big Ben" could easily have ended the season in jail rather than in the Super Bowl.,

He was accused, but not charged, with sexual assault and sat out the first four games of the season after being suspended by National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

"We've been through a lot, this team and me personally," said Roethlisberger. "We put a lot of stuff behind us early and found a way to get it done."

It has been a season of redemption for Roethlisberger, who has not only won games but won back many of his teammates as well as a city that had turned its back on him.

"Ben has done a great job," Steelers owner Dan Rooney told FOXSports.com.

"Ben did his time. He did everything he was asked to do. He conducted himself as a real gentleman. I'm very proud of him. I think he's going to be [regarded as] a fine person to the world as time goes on."