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Super Bowl XLIII: The Steelers Write History with Sixth Championship
by Nadya Vlassoff
 The Big Show. It took 16 regular season games, 3 playoff battles and a final stand by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals to make it to Super Bowl XLIII, and what a show it was. The Cardinals had never been in this situation before. This was the first time they had even made it this far. The Steelers, with five championships already, were looking to become the team with the most Super Bowl championships in NFL history. Two teams, one dream, and an even bigger stage set the day for Super Bowl XLIII.
In the first half it was all Pittsburgh as they marched down the field. Ben Roethlisberger, going for a quarterback draw, ran the ball into the end zone after being unable to find an open receiver. The Steelers celebrated their first score of the game but Cardinals’ coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged the call. Upon further review, the touchdown was negated after the official stated Roethlisberger’s knee was down, calling the play dead before the Steelers’ QB could cross into the end zone. The Steelers had to settle for a field goal but they could take solace in the fact that they had scored first.
The Cardinals began their own drive soon after, marching down the field and got within the 10 yard line and looking to get on the scoreboard after the Steelers had 10 unanswered points. At the end of the second quarter, Kurt Warner looked to give his team a lead as he readied to set up a touchdown but it was James Harrison, the defensive player of the year, who intercepted Warner’s pass and ran the ball 100 yards for the longest play in Super Bowl history. Harrison knocked into Larry Fitzgerald as he rolled into the end zone for a touchdown. The play was reviewed but the touchdown stood as Harrison tried to catch his breath on the sideline.
The third quarter saw missed plays and penalties, as neither team was able to convert on possessions. On second and goal, Roethlisberger tried to run another draw into the end zone but Gabe Watson was there to serve as the wall. A 16-play drive for the Steelers could only produce 3 points.
 JJ Arrington, the Cardinals redeemed receiver, made a quick catch and picked up a 22 yard gain to bring Arizona to the Pittsburgh’s 28 yard lane. Then, Larry Fitzgerald, the man who had not made much noise until the 4th quarter, made an remarkable grab, skirted a tackle, and made it past the first down marker. Another great catch from a high pass from Warner by Fitzgerald brought the Cardinals inside the goal line. To cap off the drive, a high lob from Warner was caught in the end zone by Fitzgerald, over the head of Ike Taylor, for a touchdown as the Cardinals brought it to a one score game.
On the Steelers next possession, one of the strangest scoring chances occurred when Pittsburgh was called for a hold. Since they were in the end zone, the play went in favor of the Cardinals who were awarded a safety, or 2 extra points. The Steelers were stunned and the Cardinals took advantage.
Roethlisberger was sacked on the Steelers next drive as number 90, Darnell Dockett, broke through two defenders to haul down the big QB. That 10-yard sack resulted in the Steelers being forced to punt and put the ball back in the hands of Warner and a recently rejuvenated Larry Fitzgerald. Soon after, Ike Taylor was given a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness to give the Cardinals an even bigger advantage, putting them on the 50 yard line. Warner, with plenty of time in the pocket, fired a bullet to number 15, JJ Arrington, who ran it for over 20 yards. But a 3rd penalty to Mike Gandy pushed the Cardinals to 3rd and 20 and they couldn’t climb out of that hole.
But the Cardinals, refusing to go down without a fight, came back as Warner hit Fitzgerald who bolted down field. The Steelers safeties couldn’t catch him as Fitzgerald ran into the end zone for his second consecutive touchdown of the game and gave the lead back to his team.
 The Steelers, having been in the situation before, did what they do best in the 4th quarter. Santonio Holmes ran a beautiful rout around his defender and caught a pass and ran it to the 7 yard line. After missing the first pass for a touchdown, it was Holmes, in the right corner of the end zone who dragged his feet to keep them inbounds to make the touchdown. Upon official review, the initial call stood and Holmes was given the touchdown as his team jumped all over him, tasting victory with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. If anyone thought that David Tyree’s helmet catch in last year’s Super Bowl was as good as it was going to get, they were definitely treated to another miraculous catch as Santonio Holmes gave the Steelers the game-winning score.
The Cards tried hard bounce back as Warner threw two quick passes, but it was the top-ranked Steelers defense that once again saved the game, forcing a fumble from Warner and the Steelers recovered with five seconds left on the clock.
When the clock ran out, it was the Steelers 27-23 over the Cardinals for a victory that added to the record books.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now in their own class with six NFL championships to their name. As Joe Namath, an NFL legend in his own right, brought out the Vince Lombardi Trophy, Troy Palamalu could only look up into the falling confetti in disbelief. During the presentation ceremony, Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger, and Santonio Holmes all proved that winning was not about one play or one player and it was not about being a hero. It was about being a team.
Best of Super Bowl XLIII:
 Santonio Holmes: The MVP of the game caught the game winning touchdown and with it made his way into the record books, becoming only the sixth wide receiver to ever win the award in a Super Bowl. He joins the ranks of greats like Jerry Rice and fellow teammate Hines Ward.
Ben Roethisberger: The Steelers QB put on a show for the ages as he worked the pocket by breaking tackles and using his power to make plays.
Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner: The duo that combined for 12 touchdowns during the regular season connected twice for 14 points and put the pressure on the Steelers offense.
Worst of XLIII:
Mike Gandy: The Cards’ Gandy had three holding penalties that really cost his team field position. He can only think about what could have been.
James Harrison’s behavior: While he did make an outstanding interception return, Harrison could not control himself. During a kick from the Cardinals, he committed a post possession foul and handed the Steelers their next drive just 1 yard from the goal line. Harrison also picked up a 15 yard penalty for unnecessary roughness after the play went out of bounds. He was lucky his team won or else those penalties could have really cost the Steelers the game.
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