Down To The Wire: Steelers Win Super Bowl

Last Minute Touchdown Leads Pittsburgh To Historic Sixth Title; Santonio Holmes Wins MVP

(AP)  Their Steel Curtain shredded, Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense ended a Super Bowl of incredible swings with a final-minute touchdown for a historic victory.

Santonio Holmes made a brilliant 6-yard catch deep in the right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds remaining Sunday night, lifting the Steelers to a record-setting sixth Super Bowl win, 27-23 over the Arizona Cardinals.

It was one of the most thrilling finishes to the NFL title game, certainly equaling last year's upset by the New York Giants that ended with Plaxico Burress' TD catch - with 35 seconds left, too.

But this one was even wilder.

The Steelers (15-4), winning their second Super Bowl in four seasons, led 20-7 in the fourth quarter, only to see Kurt Warner and the Cardinals stage a remarkable rally to go in front 23-20 with 2:37 remaining.

Warner hit All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald in stride for a 64-yard touchdown with 2:37 left. Already owning a slew of postseason receiving marks this year, Fitzgerald sped down the middle of the field, watching himself outrun the Steelers on the huge video screen.

Fitzgerald could only watch from the sideline as Roethlisberger engineered a 78-yard drive to win it in what resembled Heinz Field South. With waves of twirling Terrible Towels turning Raymond James Stadium into a black-and-gold tableau - Steelers fans supporting their beloved team, the economy be damned - Pittsburgh's offense rescued the title.

Holmes was selected the game's MVP.

"Great players step up in big-time games to make plays," Holmes said. "I kind of lost a little composure, you know, but I knew our defense would give us a chance to make it back."

The stunning swings overshadowed James Harrison's record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half. That looked like the signature play until the final quarter, when both teams shook off apparent knockout punches to throw haymakers of their own.

Big Ben and Holmes struck the last blow, and when Warner fumbled in the final seconds, the Cardinals' dream of winning their first NFL crown since 1947 were gone.

"I said it's now or never, I told the guys all the film study you put in doesn't matter unless you do it now," Roethlisberger said. "I'm really proud of the way they responded."

The Cardinals (12-8-1), playing in their first Super Bowl and first championship game of any kind since 1948, lost their composure after Harrison's heroics. They had three penalties to keep Pittsburgh's 79-yard drive going, a 16-play march that ended with Jeff Reed's 21-yard field goal for a 20-7 lead.

And they couldn't get Fitzgerald free until very late. But boy did he get free.

The All-Pro who already had set a postseason record for yards receiving and had five touchdowns in the playoffs was a nonentity until an 87-yard fourth-quarter drive he capped with a leaping 1-yard catch over Ike Taylor. He made four receptions on that series on which Warner hit all eight passes for all the yards.

And then he struck swiftly for the 64-yarder that put Arizona within minutes of a remarkable victory.

A victory that didn't happen because the Steelers are as resilient as they come.

Pittsburgh looked like the offensive juggernaut to open the game, smoothly driving 71 yards in eight plays. But the 72nd yard that would have given the Steelers a touchdown never came.

It seemingly had when Roethlisberger's short run was ruled a TD. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged, and the score was overturned, leaving Tomlin his first difficult decision.

He took the points, Reed's 18-yard field goal, the shortest in a Super Bowl since 1976.

After forcing a punt, the Steelers kept the ball the remainder of the first quarter - 11:28 in all, outgaining Arizona 140-13, getting seven first downs to one for the Cardinals. As Warner and the usually potent Cardinals' offense watched, frustrated, from the sideline, Pittsburgh plowed it in on Gary Russell's 1-yard run to make it 10-0.

When Arizona finally got the ball back, it suddenly put the Steelers off-balance with short passes - and one huge play.

Warner had enough time to shine the NFL Man of the Year trophy he received just before kickoff, then hit Anquan Boldin streaking from left to right. He was upended at the Pittsburgh 1, and Warner's lob to Ben Patrick got Arizona on the board. It was the tight end's first touchdown this season.

Arizona's defense then emulated the Steel Curtain with a big play. Bryan Robinson tipped Roethlisberger's pass high into the air and Karlos Dansby corralled it at the Pittsburgh 34. The Cardinals got to the 1, then, perhaps jealous, the Steelers' D asserted itself - magnificently.

Harrison, the defensive player of the year, stepped in front of Boldin at the goal line, picked off Warner's throw and began a journey down the right sideline to the longest play in Super Bowl history.

Harrison ran past or through most of the Cardinals, nearly stepped out of bounds at one point, and was dragged down by Fitzgerald as he fell to the goal line. The play was reviewed as several Cardinals knelt on one knee, exhausted from the chase and disheartened by the result.

The previous longest play was Desmond Howard's 99-yard kickoff return for Green Bay in 1997.

[chrissy1652]

I love Cute Warner, sadly he and the team came up just short. Grrr! Great game tho'', so exciting to the end. But I do think Warner''s arm was going forward and should have been reviewed because I don''t think the game should''ve ended that way. He could have made a Hail Mary. But why, oh why did Mr. Rooney have to mention Obama''s name during the ceremony process. I mean really, enough already? Rooney should have been thanking God. Oh wait a minute, I forgot, he was thanking God.

[bobbyduck1]

Did no-one else think thath Kurt Warner''s last fumble was actually a forward pass - and didn''t get reviewed via replay? I sure did, though not sure what difference it would have made.

Kudos to the Steelers and the Cardinals for a really exciting game!

[jxknowles]

Best Super Bowl ever. Arizona was best underdog story of the year.

[petro49l]

The NFL should hold a powerlifting contest. The Steelers could show-off their strength. Steel plates are a better test of physique.

[ekucrew]

Coach Tomlin FINALLY smiled! I watched several games this year on different networks and most of the time you could not tell if Pittsburgh was leading or woefully losing. This guy seems to be in the "old" coach mold of Tom Landry. Congrats to the Pittsburgh Steelers AND their fans.

[marydpreachr]

i give the mvp to the refs.
Posted by jizzumjim at 10:10 AM

no doubt....What was the total tally for calls against the steelers? 2, or 3 penalties?

[jizzumjim]

i give the mvp to the refs.

[barbaram99]

I did not watch it. I took a guess. I said the Steelers would get it. I got an e-mail that told who won. Yep the Steelers won it. I like baseball. Congrats to them.

[k9sr4me-2009]

what a game! loved it, although i was pulling for the underdog cardinals!!!!

[excoachken]

I thought last year''s game was great, but this one was even better! I liked both teams, except for #24 (Wilson) of the Cardinals, who again tried to injure a defenseless opponent. But is was very enjoyable to watch and the Officiating was the best I have ever seen in a Champioship game (and I have been watched EVERY Championship game since 1954).

[armydog2]

Go STEELERS !!! Great game!

[lowell65-2009]

Congradulations to the Steelers. The defence of the Steelers did a great job against Fitzgerald overall and Kurt Warner throwing that interceptation with one second left in the first half was a shocker for a seasoned quarterback. It''s sad that the underdog Cardinals defence broke down in the final minutes of the game in this thriller. Hopefuly they can improve on their defence this coming season.

[wvu74621]

Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw was not that they won 4 superbowls, but that they never lost one. And now Ben is 2 for 2.


Sorry I see what you are getting at now. Noll was''nt he coach that year.

[wvu74621]

Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw was not that they won 4 superbowls, but that they never lost one. And now Ben is 2 for 2.


Hey I am a huge Sreeler fan also, but the Steelers did lose a Super Bowl to the Dallas Cowboys in the 96 Season.

[mihann]

Who cares? It''s one big trashy show.

[shanev137]

One of the best games I''ve ever seen.

[ndg1979]

Hello World from near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania!!

No amount of griping, bantering or reflective comments on here can cloud the fact that in the end the better team won. People can pick apart this game for decades to come. They can say what could have happened or what should have happened. They can say this person or that person was the hero. It doesn''t matter anymore.

In a game like this, there is one winner and one loser. Pittsburgh was that winner and rightfully so. My congratulations go out to the members of the Arizona Cardinals team and staff for a valiant effort, but my joy and happiness resides then, now and forever with the greatest organization in all of professional sports - the PITTSBURGH STEELERS!!

Congratulations to Pittsburgh for sharing the win of Super Bowl 43 with the Steeler Nation!!

[gce65]

Booooring!!!

I read a book and went for a hike.

The real winners were the players, owners, advertisers and broadcasters.

[swin5]

I''m from Pittsburgh and have a few comments.
1. Seemed like Ken Whisenhunt had an axe to grind with his old team after the game. If he had a gripe it was against management and not his former players and fellow coaches. Didn''t show much class.
2. Wouldn''t you want to work for Mike Tomlin?
3. Tip your hat to Arizona - they gave everything they had. They made the Steelers look bad at times and then forced them to play their very best to finally win.
4. Forget the plays - in the end it was the experience of the Steelers that was the deciding factor.
5. Steelers next year? - They lost Rashard Mendenhall, their big back, and Supulveda their punter at the beginning of the season. They get Mendenhall back and if they get help on the offensive line then watch out.
5. After the game, Big Ben was gracious toward his offensive line - they did come through on the last drive but for most of the game Ben was rushed and on the run.
6. Penalty on James Harrison for unnecessary roughness was out of character for him.
7. Steelers defense forced the fumble on the last play with only a 3 man rush.
8. Get off Big Ben''s back. Coach Cowher did his best to mess him up - starts him after an accident that almost killed him, starts him after apendectomy surgery, tries to force him to become a pocket passer - which he obviously isn''t. Greatest thing about the Steelers under Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw was not that they won 4 superbowls, but that they never lost one. And now Ben is 2 for 2.

[opedanderson]

Cmon! Stop your griping.....

I was hoping the Cardinals would win but who cares really, just wanted a great game and it was.....