Steelers win record 6th Super Bowl
TAMPA (AP) – Their Steel Curtain shredded, Ben Roethlis-berger 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 six-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 is 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.
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 pass and run 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.
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 one-yard catch over Ike Taylor. He made four receptions on that series on which Warner hit all eight passes for all the yards.
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.
Steelers fans: Steelers fans have a reputation for taking over stadiums wherever Pittsburgh plays, and it was no different with Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Black and gold jerseys and Terrible Towels dominated the stands, and some of the early arrivers lined a railing overlooking the area where the team buses pulled into Raymond James Stadium more than three hours before the game.
Coach Mike Tomlin, attempting to become the youngest coach in league history to win a Super Bowl, led the AFC champions off the bus and many of the players carried video cameras and taped teammates as they walked to the locker room.
Inside, Steelers kicker Jeff Reed was among the first players on the field, practicing field goals with the Pittsburgh faithful cheering every time he split the uprights. Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner entered to applause from Cardinals fans, and a few minutes later Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made his entrance to a louder ovation.
The quarterbacks, both previous Super Bowl winners, exchanged waves and later chatted briefly.
MAN OF THE YEAR: Warner was presented with the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awarded during pregame festivities that included the honoring of US Airways pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the crew from Flight 1549.
Warner was selected over Minnesota’s Matt Birk and Philadelphia’s Brian Dawkins, the other finalists for the award that recognizes players for charitable and community involvement off the field.
The Cardinals quarterback formed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity after visiting regions affected by flooding last year and has raised more than $650,000 to help build homes in the Midwest.
Warner made a $100,000 personal contribution and another $100,000 was donated by his foundation.
Since creating the First Things First Foundation in 2001, the quarterback has made more than $1.5 million in contributions to help sponsor trips for Make-A-Wish families and numerous other charitable causes.
Defensive end Jason Taylor won last year. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Payton’s widow, Connie, made the presentation.