Bringing home the Vince
by M. Stewart
What can you say about the Super Bowl? No matter which side you were on, it was one of the greatest games ever.
For once it wasn’t defense that won for the Steelers. Clearly that great unit finally met its match in Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. In the end it was Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense who simply walked onto the field with 2:37 on the clock and zero momentum and won the game. It was great.
For Arizona fans, Larry Fitzgerald's late fourth quarter touchdown was one of those horrifying “scored-too-soon” moments—the kind that leaves the stomach churning with both sweet and sour adrenaline. For Big Ben, it was time to move over into greatness. For Santonio Holmes, it was time to make Fitzgerald say on camera in slow motion, “Oh no, no, no, no, no.”
When Fitzgerald took Warner's pass into the end zone with 2:37 left, I had resigned myself to the fact that the Steelers would lose this game, that Dick LeBeau’s defense had finally rolled over, that the Arizona Cardinals were the better team, that Kurt Warner would walk away hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy on his way into the Hall of Fame.
Oh me of little faith.
Even though I’d seen Ben Roethlisberger pull out several games in the final drive this season, I didn’t expect him to do it again. After all, Arizona had virtually shut down Pittsburgh’s offense since the first quarter. The Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown on two back-to-back first-and-goals from the five yard line. It was pitiful to watch—embarrassing.
It was the Cardinals defense that came to play and to show Pittsburgh what hard-nosed football is all about. Our faux men of steel were going to be humiliated by these warm-weather pussies after all. Bad news, but we'll get over it. You can't win 'em all.
But that isn't the story.
The story is that Ben and Santonio said “no.” With the Cardinals offense on the bench going over their victory speeches, the Cardinals defense, which had done everything anyone could have expected it to do all evening, was pooping its pants. In the twinkle of an eye, it was over. Up became down, heaven became hell.
For Steelers fans—well, I still haven’t been able to get my mind around it. As usual, it’s a mixed bag. You look at the failures and the successes, add them up, and somehow your team won the Super Bowl.
To be honest, at no point during this season did I think this Steelers team had what it would take to win another championship. There were too many weakness, too many obvious flaws, gaps. Mike Tomlin will bring it home one of these days, I said, but it won’t be this year. In my heart of hearts, I thought Baltimore would be 2008's NFL team of destiny. Ha!
It’s a good thing I don’t mind being wrong. Eating crow is a learning experience, especially if it’s served on a silver trophy.
What can you say about the Super Bowl? No matter which side you were on, it was one of the greatest games ever.
For once it wasn’t defense that won for the Steelers. Clearly that great unit finally met its match in Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals. In the end it was Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh offense who simply walked onto the field with 2:37 on the clock and zero momentum and won the game. It was great.
For Arizona fans, Larry Fitzgerald's late fourth quarter touchdown was one of those horrifying “scored-too-soon” moments—the kind that leaves the stomach churning with both sweet and sour adrenaline. For Big Ben, it was time to move over into greatness. For Santonio Holmes, it was time to make Fitzgerald say on camera in slow motion, “Oh no, no, no, no, no.”
When Fitzgerald took Warner's pass into the end zone with 2:37 left, I had resigned myself to the fact that the Steelers would lose this game, that Dick LeBeau’s defense had finally rolled over, that the Arizona Cardinals were the better team, that Kurt Warner would walk away hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy on his way into the Hall of Fame.
Oh me of little faith.
Even though I’d seen Ben Roethlisberger pull out several games in the final drive this season, I didn’t expect him to do it again. After all, Arizona had virtually shut down Pittsburgh’s offense since the first quarter. The Steelers couldn’t score a touchdown on two back-to-back first-and-goals from the five yard line. It was pitiful to watch—embarrassing.
It was the Cardinals defense that came to play and to show Pittsburgh what hard-nosed football is all about. Our faux men of steel were going to be humiliated by these warm-weather pussies after all. Bad news, but we'll get over it. You can't win 'em all.
But that isn't the story.
The story is that Ben and Santonio said “no.” With the Cardinals offense on the bench going over their victory speeches, the Cardinals defense, which had done everything anyone could have expected it to do all evening, was pooping its pants. In the twinkle of an eye, it was over. Up became down, heaven became hell.
For Steelers fans—well, I still haven’t been able to get my mind around it. As usual, it’s a mixed bag. You look at the failures and the successes, add them up, and somehow your team won the Super Bowl.
To be honest, at no point during this season did I think this Steelers team had what it would take to win another championship. There were too many weakness, too many obvious flaws, gaps. Mike Tomlin will bring it home one of these days, I said, but it won’t be this year. In my heart of hearts, I thought Baltimore would be 2008's NFL team of destiny. Ha!
It’s a good thing I don’t mind being wrong. Eating crow is a learning experience, especially if it’s served on a silver trophy.
posted by M. | 8:35 AM
7 Comments:
Certainly the most exciting Steelers Superbowl in my lifetime.
You must be very young Suspicious Mind. The Steelers of the 1970s were the best and they were much more gratifying and exciting to watch SuperBowl or any game.
First, I am a Steelers Fan. But lets be honest here, the defense is what got them to the SB and allowed for Ben to be there and make such a great play. Lets not make it sound like Ben won the game for all. That is simply not the case.
Yes, Matt, you of little faith.
Before that great drive began (which I think is eerily similar of The Drive back in dem 80s), I sent a text message to a friend of mine, one I hope he keeps forever:
"Ben will do it."
Yes, he did. And what a thrilling game. I'll remember it most because my oldest son and I watched it together and had that priceless bonding moment.
Out here in KC, the headline, which I think is better than Posts ---
STEEL THE ONE
No, I think both the defense and offense won the game. Both units had great games. Yes, the defense got them to the Super Bowl, but you could argue that both offense and defense won them through the playoffs and, finally, the Super Bowl. And Ben and Holmes won the game Sunday night. That simple.
Yep, I'm 25. I never got to see the teams of the 70's. So all I have to compare is Superbowl 30, 40, and 43.
43 obviously takes the cake.
Jeff M,
It takes both offense and defense to win any game whether it be football, baseball or table tennis. Your comment is pointless just like this one.
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