Well, it wasn’t the greatest game ever played, but it certainly had its moments. James Harrison’s 100 INT TD will go down as one of the biggest turning moments in Super Bowl history. But it was the defensive stand and safety late in the 4th quarter that gave Arizona the opportunity to win it late. Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald finally made the one big play they had been looking for all night, but it wasn’t enough.
The Steelers countered with a drive for the ages and avoided a monster upset to win it, 27-23.
Here are some observations:
The Steelers
Pittsburgh’s plan to chew up yards and clock on offense was the right call against the Arizona defense. Pittsburgh’s defense rarely let Warner get a good look deep and they took Larry Fitzgerald out of the game. Ben Roethlisberger played better, but still didn’t play that well for a chunk of the game. Some of his best throws were the ones out of bounds to avoid sacks. I wondered if he would ever develop into the big game QB he showed flashes of becoming. That last drive, along with the two Super Bowl rings in four years, effectively puts Big Ben in a rare class. Give a big assist to Santonio Holmes who had a great game and his own classic, climactic catches in the last minute to get the victory.
The Steelers defense made big plays when they needed to and limited the Cardinal scoring machine largely in check through the night and the aforementioned Harrison play changed the momentum of the game at a crucial moment. Though Arizona made some big plays late in the game, the Steelers defense did what they do – force a mistake when it counts most. After losing the lead and watching their offense grab it back, they stood strong, forced a controversial fumble, and gathered the franchise’s record sixth Super Bowl trophy.
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Article comments
1 - Tony
Fitzgerald had 127 yards and two touchdowns. That's hardly getting taken out of a game.
2 - Jay Skipworth
It is when all but one of those catches were in the 4th quarter.
3 - El Bicho
No mention of the poor officiating makes this recap incomplete.
4 - Jay Skipworth
My thoughts on the officials, the commercials, and the halftime show is forthcoming.
This was strictly game stuff. As bad as the officiating was, they didn't change the outcome of the game.
5 - El Bicho
"As bad as the officiating was, they didn't change the outcome of the game."
That's a statement you can't prove.
6 - Jay Skipworth
I hate to even ask this, but give me your proof.
7 - El Bicho
You want me to prove you can't prove your statement? Unless you have the ability to see into alternate dimensions, I don't see how you can say with certainty how the game would have played out if the Steelers drive weren't helped with that weak "roughing the passer" call or if the 15-yard unsportsmanlike had been enforced on the final kick-off.
8 - Jay Skipworth
How about those two challenges? Those were subjective calls that went the way of the Cardinals. The refs called every chippy thing they could. Pro players should adjust to that; it happens every season. And as for the roughing call, Dansby should know by now that any hit on a QB is liable to get a flag. That's just how the league is. Pitt got called for their share of stuff too.
I'm done writing about this. Thanks for reading.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
Oh, this again.
There were questionable calls; c'est la vie. Cardinals ran up 106 yards of penalties; Larry Fitzgerald caught and ran for 127. They roughed the goddamn holder, fer Christ sakes. I've never seen that before.
The officiating could have changed the outcome of the game; they could have incorrectly ruled that James Harrison didn't score that TD. But lots of things could've changed the outcome. Such as Arizona not committing 11 penalties or their secondary covering Santonio Holmes just a bit better.
10 - Jay Skipworth
The Cardinals lost the game because their offense slept through 3 quarters and the defense slept in the last 2 minutes.