SIX-PACK BABY!!!

Make that SIX Lombardi trophies that now resonate in Pittsburgh thanks to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. What a win and what a game. The discussion has already come up about whether this could be the 'greatest Super Bowl game ever', while I won't go that far, I will say it has to be one of the top 5. But, it probably did have the greatest play in Super Bowl history. In all reality, the first 48 minutes of the game didn't produce too much besides a 20-7 score in favor of Pittsburgh. What do you when you are playing a game or anything else? YOU SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST! And that is exactly what the Steelers and Cardinals did. The last 12 minutes might have been the best 12 minutes in Super Bowl history.

First, let's go to the greatest play in Super Bowl history. What makes a play great? I mean REALLY great. You have to make it at the right time, it has to be a big play, it has to make a difference in a game, it has to have momentum and be a game changing play. Okay, so let's dissect each part.

Part I: Timing

• Ball at one yard line with the Cardinals threatening to score just before half-time.
• Score 10-7 in favor of the Steelers.
• At this point, the best situation the Steelers can hope for is a 10-10 tie going into the half or for the Cardinals, a 14-10 lead.
  

Part II: Big Play

• Interception at the goal-line...I think that defines a 'big play'!
• 100 yard return...HUGE!
  

Part III: Difference in the Game

• As I mentioned, worst case scenario for the Cardinals a 10-10 tie. This play makes it 17-7, Steelers advantage.
• The play was AT LEAST a 10 point swing.
  

Part IV: Momentum and Game Changing

• Points off the board for one team, on the board for the other.
• A possible tie-game turns into a 10 point lead.
• Gee...ya think?
  
  
  Oh yeah...it was ALSO a defensive touchdown and the LONGEST play in Super Bowl history. You know, after thinking about it....this might be the greatest play to EVER happen in the history of the National Football League. If you want to show me a better play that has ever happened, I would like to see it!!! I would also accept the Music City Miracle as one of the greatest ever and the Immaculate Reception...but, what else would be on that short list?

Back to the last 12 minutes of the game. This was classic. The Cardinals finally said, "Hey, maybe we should try some no huddle instead of pretending like we can run the ball." And it worked. Warner blazed down the field and threw one up to Fitzgerald that only Yao Ming or LeBron James could have defended. By the way, did you also know that Warner audibled to that quick slant? Why wasn't a lob to Fitz called on that play? Or was it?

After a couple change of possessions and a dumb, dumb, dumb penalty on James Harrison, the Steelers had the ball at the half yard line. First down = Incomplete pass, clock stops. Second down= no gain with Willie Parker barely sneaking out of the end zone and a timeout stops the clock. Third down = another pass! WHAT?!? Santonio Holmes makes a great catch and it looks like the Steelers would just need one more first down to end the game. Hold on...penalty...in the end zone, automatic SAFETY...20-16 Steelers lead.

Okay, still over two and a half minutes left...who is the ONE player you don't want to let beat you if you are a Steeler? Maybe some guy named Larry Fitzgerald? Quick slant, safeties jump the out routs, Fitzgerald outruns the entire defense and boom the Cardinals have a 23-20 lead. Ouch...

However...there is still over two minutes on the clock for Pittsburgh. After the kickoff, they have to 78 yards to the end zone. Are we about to witness history with a Cardinals win or even the first EVER overtime game in the Super Bowl? First down...penalty...offensive holding...The Achilles Heel of the Steelers all season...88 yards to go. Pass to Santonio Holmes for 14 yards. Second and six...clock running, ball snapped, deep pass to Nate Washington...incomplete, two minute warning. Third and six. Ball at the 26 yard-line. Cardinals attack Roethlisberger, he steps up and completes another pass to Santonio Holmes for a first down. Another quick pass, this time to Nate Washington for a first (get out of bounds!). Back to the line, Roethlisberger scrambles for four yards and a timeout is called.

As a Steelers fan, at this point, I am thinking about moving the ball another 25-30 yards to set up a field goal attempt. However, the Steelers team has a different idea. Back from the timeout, Roethlisberger pumps once, pumps twice, finds Santonio Holmes who dodges to defenders and runs to the six yard line. Now, a touchdown is within sights. But, hold on for one second. Why did they call a timeout so quickly? After the catch and run, Holmes got up to celebrate as did other players and weren't ready for the next play. Okay, not a big deal, because you still have three attempts before sending out the field goal unit and you should be looking in the end zone on all three tries.

First and goal from the six. Roethlisberger looks around and slings one in the back of the end zone to an open Holmes and it just slips through his fingers...would have been a great catch. Throw was a little high, but you put it in a place where only your guy can grab it. Second down. Roethlisberger drops back, read one covered, read two covered, buys some extra time and lets it go....

...and Santonio Holmes makes one of the best catches in the history of the Super Bowl! They review it and confirm a touchdown for a 27-23 lead with 42 seconds left!

We all know what happens after that...the Cardinals get a couple of first downs and use their remaining timeouts. Warner steps up into the pocket and gets the ball hit by Woodley and the fumble/incomplete pass ends up in the hands of Brett Keisel. 72 seconds later, Roethlisberger takes a knee and that SIX yard touchdown pass turns out to be the game winning play and Super Bowl trophy number SIX for the Steelers.

Thoughts on officiating. This wasn't the greatest called game in the world. Was it the worst called game? Not even close. Was it bad? Probably. Was it bad on both sides? YES, it was! Did it cost the Cardinals the game? No, it didn't. It may have cost them an opportunity to win, but not the game.

• The penalties for the Cardinals was 11-106. For the Steelers 7-56. The Cardinals also declined a penalty and two of the Steelers penalties (Harrison UR and Hartwing Hold) combined for ONE total yard. So, if you add in those factors, it should have been 8-85, which is not a big discrepancy.
• The most questionable call of the night had to the roughing the passer on Roethlisberger. I have seen him take hits much later than that. However, I have also seen flags thrown on plays that are much closer. So, you can't really make an argument either way. Some also say that Roethlisberger should have been called for grounding. I will prove otherwise.
• The other big one I have heard, is that on the Harrison touchdown, was that LaMaar Woodley blocked Tim Hightower in the back. Well, if you want to complain about that one, there were a couple missed calls on the Cardinals as well...and I will show you them as well. Also on that play...Larry Fitzgerald ran out of bounds when he was trying to catch Harrison. If you want to get technical, that should have been a flag too.
• After the first 'fumble/incomplete pass' that Warner had in the night, he took his helmet off on the field. That is a 15 yard penalty and wasn't called either.
• Everyone things that the last 'fumble/incomplete pass' was not reviewed. However, IT WAS REVIEWED. The replay booth reviewed it and did not buzz down to the on-field officials, because they agreed with the fumble call.

Here are some examples:

Either way, we can't go back to review anything now, so it is done and over with. The only people that should have a legitimate gripe about the game is the Arizona Cardinals. And guess what? THEY AREN'T TALKING! Everyone else, except for the Cardinals is upset about the calls!

Back to the game...in my opinion, Warner closed his case for the Hall of Fame. He should be in five years after he calls it a career. As for Roethlisberger...two Super Bowl victories, eight career playoff wins and he is only 26. I wouldn't call him Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but he has to be considered one of the best. HE HAS MORE RINGS THAN MANNING DOES! Whether you like him or not, you can't deny that fact or that he led six drives this year in the fourth quarter that were game winning drives. Not everything he does looks pretty. But guess what? HE WINS GAMES! What more can you ask for? You can have Tony Romo, Drew Brees, Jay Cutler, etc....I will take Roethlisberger and not look back.

With everything being said, I know facts are facts. Santonio Holmes is the Super Bowl XLIII MVP. Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings and the most victories of any quarterback in their first five seasons in the league. The Steelers had the number one defense this year. And finally, there are now SIX Vince Lombardi Trophies in Pittsburgh and no other team in the NFL can say that!