A Phenomenal Super Bowl Review

From kickoff, it seemed like such an easy victory for the black and gold. The Cardinals had no answer for either Ben Roethlisberger or Willie Parker, allowing the Steelers to drive down the field and score the first points of the game, a short Roethlisberger run.

Or did they? Upon review the touchdown was overruled and the Steelers only managed a field goal to take the lead in Super Bowl XLIII.

There were a lot of key matchups we were looking at in this game. Mike Gandy and James Harrison, Ike Taylor and Larry Fitzgerald were the two biggest. Gandy constantly held the Steelers' best pass rusher and Fitzgerald caught a short fade over Taylor.

For three quarters, the Cardinals offense and defense looked shaky. It took the Cardinals 20 minutes to get the ball out to either one of their star wide receivers. On defense, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was doing well defending the deep ball but was virtually useless against any short throw all game long.

Kurt Warner takes advantage of the fact that the Steelers are playing a cover two for most of the game, in order to make Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin non factors, hitting Edgerrin James in the flats on three of the ensuing plays. This drive would end in a Ben Patrick touchdown catch from Kurt Warner over Steelers middle linebacker Larry Foote.

Adrian Wilson plays with more heart than 90 percent of the players in the NFL. As said countless times by John Madden and Al Michaels during the game, he really does play the role of a middle linebacker.

One play in particular stands out: Willie Parker had just taken the ball from Ben Roethlisberger, Wilson was there to meet him in backfield, but Parker eludes him with a juke. Wilson falls to the ground, gets back up, and chases Willie Parker down. Adrian Wilson is certainly underrated, or was until all of the press the Cardinals got during their playoff run.

Finally, almost 30 full minutes into the game Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass that goes for 12 yards and the first down. The Cardinals were previously attacking and succeeding in the flats.

The Cardinals are threatening inside the five-yard line of the Pittsburgh Steelers, only 18 or so seconds left in the half, they’re trailing 10-7 and Kurt Warner has been prolific in the red zone during this playoff run, throwing no interceptions. Until this time that is.

James Harrison appeared to be blitzing but dropped back into the curl zone and intercepted Warner on the goal line, ensuring AND lengthening the Steelers lead going into halftime as he proceeded to return it 100 yards for the touchdown, which stands as the record of the longest play in Super Bowl history.

Rodgers-Cromartie’s been giving Holmes a large cushion, respecting his speed. The Steelers utilize the short passes just as the Cardinals were doing. We’re not seeing too much of Hines Ward as the Steelers are saving him for situational downs to keep him healthy.

The Steelers use those short routes and once more get within the five-yard line, but are stopped on all three downs. Adrian Wilson gives the Steelers three more chances to score when he runs into Mitch Berger on the field goal attempt which prompts the personal foul penalty.

The Cardinals do, however, make a second goal-line stand, holding the Steelers to only a field goal.

Two passes received questionable penalties, one a roughing the passer on Karlos Dansby and the other a facemask on Rodgers-Cromartie. The facemask wasn’t as questionable as it was proof that the offense always gets the benefit of the doubt when both players hands go to the facemask.

Fourth quarter and people are starting to ask the inevitable question “where is Troy Polamalu?” the simple answer there is that he’s taking away the Cardinals biggest threats.

He and Ryan Clark were sitting in a cover two for the majority of the game, not need to come into the box and thus had a quiet day in terms of stats, but definitely not in terms of play.

The Cardinals force a Steelers punt, after finally sacking Ben Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter. They then proceed to find Fitzgerald on a drive that spanned 8 plays and amassed 87 yards. This ended in a Fitzgerald touchdown reception over Ike Taylor.

Steelers give the ball up again after a Roethlisberger sack and have only minutes to hang on to the lead and win their sixth Super Bowl trophy. On this drive, Ike Taylor’s emotions get the best of him and he gives up 15 free yards on a personal foul.

The Steelers force a punt however and the punt is downed at the two yard line. But during the return James Harrison takes a cheap shot and that moves the ball to what is effectively on the goal line.

Roethlisberger seems to end the game with the first down to MVP Santonio Holmes, but it’s negated and a safety is awarded to the Cardinals because of Justin Hartwig’s holding penalty in the end zone.

A perfect offensive playcall splits the safeties and Fitzgerald catches his second touchdown across the middle. The Cardinals have taken the lead with only minutes remaining.

Ben Roethlisberger shows how much he’s matured over the seasons, making the right decisions and avoiding sacks. He hits Holmes multiple times including a short pass with a long run to set up first and goal. Not to mention the corner route that was caught over three Cardinal defenders for the game-winning touchdown.

The Cardinals get the ball back with 35 seconds left, two timeouts and Kurt Warner. They need 77 yards to win the game. LaMarr Woodley gets to Warner for the second time, forcing the fumble which is recovered by Brett Keisel to win the game.

The Steelers have won their NFL record SIXTH Super Bowl. A score some had predicted, a somewhat low scoring, hard hitting struggle. The Steelers once again use lights out defense and Ben Roethlisberger’s uncanny confidence in the clutch to take this one home 27-23. The Steelers dynasty has been reborn.

Ben Roethlisberger now has two Super Bowl rings in a five-year career. They have every chance in the world to take another one home next year, but only time will tell that tale.