The Packers’ fourth Super Bowl win may be remembered for MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers’s three touchdown passes, Greg Jennings’s two touchdown receptions and three turnovers from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But the fact that the Packers defeated the AFC champion Steelers without key cornerback Charles Woodson, experienced receiver Donald Driver and a limited second half from cornerback Sam Shields, proved this was a real team victory.

“The guys stepped up, those are the kind of guys you need to have around, who can step up and do the job for you,” said Driver, who limped off with an ankle injury. “They said they were going to win it for me - and that is what they did. I am proud of them.”

The Packers placed 15 players on injured reserve during the regular season, including nine who started at least one game. But they still navigated their way into the playoffs given a pair of wins to close out the regular season that earned them the final playoff seed in the NFC Conference.

Before kickoff, the Packers listed linebacker Erik Walden as inactive after he failed to recover from an ankle injury he suffered in the NFC Championship game against Chicago.

But it was Sunday’s loss of Woodson, the leading figure in their defense, that hit the Packers hardest at halftime.

“We knew it how tough it would be for Charles, how much pain he would have to be in not to come back out - we didn’t want to come back off the field and into the locker room without a ring for him and without a ring for Donald Driver,” said Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk.

“We know we have a bunch of depth on this team and if one guy goes out someone else steps in and does the job.”

Rodgers singled out the Packers defense, who managed to frustrate the Steelers in the crucial stages of the fourth quarter for particular praise.

“You’ve got to give credit to our defense. This a great group of men that we’ve put together here. A lot of character. Been through a lot together. It’s just great to be able to share it with them.”

Shields managed to return for part of the second half despite a painful shoulder injury.

“I just had to tell myself, ‘forget the shoulder. I need to get back out there and help the team’ It’s crunch time. When someone goes down, someone has to step up and that is what we have done throughout the season,” said Shields.

The Packers began the 2010 campaign with a season-ending ankle injury to Pro Bowl running-back Ryan Grant and in the following weeks lost offensive tackle Mark Tauscher, tight end Jermichael Finley and linebacker Brad Jones to long-term injuries.