Super Bowl XLIII was one of the finest Super Bowls in recent memory. It featured two outstanding quarterbacks in 37 year old Kurt Warner, a 2 time NFL MVP and winner of Super Bowl XXXIV with the "Greatest Show on Turf," and 26 year old "Big" Ben Roethlisberger, winner of Super Bowl XL as the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl.
But this night helped "Big" Ben grow even closer to famed Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw, from the 1970's Chuck Noll years with 4 rings to his name. The Mike Tomlin lead Steelers came in with a gameplan to do what the Steelers do best: Control the ball with that always good 3-4 defense. Pittsburgh, from the start of the game, wanted to control the game with the offense bh using Roethlisberger's talents to the best of his ability. It included using Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes, who had 9 catches for 131 yards and the game winning touchdown, and Tight End Heath Miller for 5 catches and 57 yards. Roethlisberger also made plays with his feet to keep the play alive.
Defensively, the Dick Lebeau patented 3-4 defense, which is ranked #1 in the NFL, used a lot of blitzing. NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and rookie linebacker LaMarr Woodley disrupted the potent Cardinal offense by getting to Warner and stopping the running game of Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower with the help of All-Pro nosetackle Casey Hampton clogging up the middle.
But this night was all about James Harrison, who looked like a whirlwind when he ran a 100 yard interception back for a touchdown, which was the longest in Super Bowl history. He was in Warners face all night to say the least.
The Cardinals, on the other hand, looked like a team that did not have experience from the get go. The first 3 quarters they looked lethargic, out manned, and out gunned. Who would expect that from a team that has All-Pro recievers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin? They did not use them effectively at all which was surprising. They never attempted a pass longer than 10 yards it seemed like. But they looked like the Cardinals we've seen in the 4th quarter, using Larry Fitzgerald for 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Steelers completely shut down Fitzgerald by double covering him with Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor. But eventually the great ones break out in which Fitzgerald did in the 4th quarter, coming up with 2 touchdowns. The 4th quarter was the best the Cardinals played all game.
The Cardinals sure had plenty of stupid schemes, i.e. not DOUBLE TEAMING SANTONIO HOLMES! Especially on the game winning drive and not going deep to Boldin and Fitzgerald. The Cardinals game plan was conservative for the most part of the game until the 4th quarter. The Steelers really had it going on all night which ultimately lead them to a 27-23 victory and their 6th Super Bowl Title. The city of Pittsburgh will be drinking the Iron City Beer long into the night.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
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If it hadn't been for the last play of the first half, I think the game would have had an entirely different outcome. It seemed like Arizona played a better game, but the Steelers got all the right breaks at all the right times.
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