Steelers/NFL
Perfect throw. Perfect catch. That‚Äôs all can say about the what might be the greatest drive in NFL history. Ben Roethlisberger’s 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left gave Pittsburgh a thrilling 27-23 victory over the Cardinals, capping off a 78 yard drive with 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger, Holmes guided the Steelers to their 6th Super Bowl title.
Roethlisberger among the games great players
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gets a bad rap around the league that he isn’t in the class of a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or even Kurt Warner. Roethlisberger clearly distinguished himself as one of the games great quarterbacks going 21-30, 256 yds, 1 TD, 1INT in Super Bowl XLIII. Roethlisberger has only been in the league for 5 years, but he cemented himself as a hall of famer last night. Two super bowl titles in five years, with the opportunity to win a few more.
Roethlisberger had 18 fourth quarter comebacks dating back to his rookie season in 2004. With 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 88 yards following a holding penalty on first down and did what he has done for his whole career, lead the Steelers to a win. This time around he did it on the biggest stage and he know has a newfound admiration around the league.
Roethlisberger is 8-2 in his post-season career ( Won Super Bowl XL, Super Bowl XLIII). Roethlisberger has the greatest pocket awareness in the game.
The Tomlin Era: Head coach Mike Tomlin (36 years, 322 days) is the youngest head coach to ever win a Super Bowl. The Steelers are in a new era now and that is the Mike Tomlin era.
Holmes establishes himself as a great player: Wide receiver Santonio Holmes the games M.V.P ( 9 receptions – 131 yds – 1TD) established himself as a great player this post-season. The sky is the limit for Holmes as long as he keeps developing into the player he can be. Holmes became the 6th receiver in NFL history to win Super Bowl MVP. Two others were Steelers, Hines Ward and Lynn Swann.
Harrison The Longest Yard: James Harrison returned the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history ( 100 yd INT return for a touchdown)
Woodley finishes the post-season with 6 sacks: LaMarr Woodley has been a difference during the entire post-season and Sunday night was no different. With James Harrison dropping back into coverage, Woodley had two sacks and one forced fumble in Super Bowl XLIII, giving him 8 sacks in four career post-season games. 2007 1st round pick Lawrence Timmons also had a solid game making 5 tackles. Timmons didn’t record a sacks but provided a lot of pressure from the outside and you won’t find anyone complaining about the Steelers taking two linebackers in the first two rounds of the 2007 draft.
Redemption for the Offensive Line: Say what you want about the Steelers offensive line but they found a way to deliver a Super Bowl title. Something that didn’t look possible earlier in the year.
Steelers will be a force for years to come: The Steelers winners of two super bowls in four years, are a much different team than they were in 2005. This time around they are built for another super bowl run next season. Ben Roethlisberger, 26, is just entering his prime and the Steelers are very young at the skilled positions. The running game will get a boost with a healthy Rashard Mendenhall and on defense the Steelers are likely to only lose one key player in cornerback Bryant McFadden who is expected to test free agency but the Steelers will make an attempt to resign McFadden. Another positive is players are already talking about next year.
Roethlisberger, Holmes enroute to Disney World: Super Bowl M.V.P. Santonio Holmes and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be in Disney World today, taping the annual Super bowl commerical. Roethlisberger will also appear on the Letterman show tonight.
