SUPERBOWL 43

" UNBELIEVABLE!!"

Holmes game winning catch in the dying moments of Superbowl 43 at Tampa

The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27 - 23 on Sunday evening (Monday AEDST). In a game that exceeded expectations, the Steelers delivered the Vince Lombardi Trophy to their fans for the sixth time, becoming the winningest franchise in the history of the National Football League. And it took them until the final minute, on a miracle catch from Santonio Holmes to do it. Holmes, 9 receptions, 131 yards said to Ben Rothelsberger down the stretch 'throw me the ball, I want to be the one to make the big plays". And oh what a play!

The game had it all, with all the big names contributing to the lore of one of the greatest superbowl's in history, if not the greatest. Heinz Ward, Santonio Holmes, Ben Rothelsberger, Larry Fitzgeral, Kurt Warner all contributed and showed why the are the stars that they are.

The game begun in an exciting fashion, with the Cardinals challenging what looked like an opening 72 yard, 8 play touchdown drive by the Steelers. Rothelsberger's rushing touchdown was challenged and with 4th and 1, Mike Tomlin - the youngest coach in Superbowl history called on the special team to put them up 3-0.

The Cardinals came up empty on their opening drive, with former Geelong star Ben Graham called on early to punt, thanks to great Steeler defense forcing a fumble and an incomplete pass on a great blitz.

The Steelers 2nd drive resulted in full points thanks to Running Back Gary Russell. The first quarter came to an end with Rothelsberger dominating, the Cardinals struggling to give Kurt Warner time and it looked like the favourites would run away with it, with a 140-13 yard gain advantage.

But from there on, the game changed dramatically. Arizona, 7 wins 9 losses for the season making them the worst record team to ever compete in the superbowl, begun doing what they pleased on offense as they had done all of the post-season against more fancied opponents.

As the first half came to a close it looked as though the Cards would be up by 14-10. Deep in the red zone, Warner was in great form, and looked to link up with for the touchdown pass, but James Harrison, a former defensive player of the year, read the play and intercepted the pass, returning the ball up field for what has now gone down in history as the longest touchdown in superbowl history. Harrisson was stellar on defense, causing problems for Cardinals Left tackle Mike Gandy all night, forcing 3 holding markers on Gandy.

Down 17-7 at the half, Kurt Warner was not done. Warner, 3 Touch downs, threw for a total pf 377 yard, 31-43 completitons, begun finding space in the Steelers Dime defense. With safeties playing deep, Warner was able to find space up the middle, which led to what looked like the biggest turnaround in Superbowl history as the Cardinals appeared to seal the game going up 23-20 on a 64 yard catch from the outstanding Larry Fitzgerald 127 yards, 7 catches. 2 touchdowns (making it a total of 7 for the post season). Viewers in Tucson, Arizona, were treated to an additional suprise after the Fitzgerald touchdown as the broadcast dissolved into a scene featuring full frontal male nudity from the adult channel Club Jenna. The offensive images were only transmitted to subscribers of the Comcast cable company, many of whom seemed to think that the segment was just another ad until it featured nudity. "I just figured it was another commercial. ... Then he did his little dance with everything hanging out," Cora King of Marana, Arizona, told the Arizona Star newspaper. With 2.42 left on the clock, Rothelsberger and co did the improbable. The Steelers defense had done it all season, but it was the Steeler offense and the Cardinals defense that would decide the game. And as had happened all day - Rothelsberger could get out of the pocket and found the time to go through his progressions to make the big plays. None bigger than the Holmes final touchdown.