Super Bowl XLIII

Steelers Defeat Cardinals 27-23, Holmes MVP
Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27 Cardinals 23

Santonio Holmes extended his arms, kept his feet on the ground and held on to Ben Roethlisberger's perfectly placed pass deep in the right corner of the end zone.

The amazing touchdown catch -- against three Cardinal defenders -- capped an 8-play 78 yard drive with 35 seconds remaining.

Thus, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

SUPER BOWL XLIII RECAP

PITTSBURGH STELLERS 27, ARIZONA CARDINALS 23

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay (February 1, 2009) Attendance: 70,774

Santonio Holmes caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in the back right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left as the Steelers rallied to win their record sixth Super Bowl title. Holmes' touchdown grab averted what would have been the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, as the Cardinals had scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

The Steelers began the game with a long drive. Ben Roethlisberger had a 1-yard touchdown run overturned by replay, and the Steelers settled for Jeff Reed's 18-yard field goal. Holmes' 25-yard catch began the next drive, and Gary Russell capped it with a 1-yard run for a 10-0 lead.

Arizona responded immediately as Kurt Warner completed a 45-yard pass to Anquan Boldin to set up Ben Patrick's touchdown catch.

Karlos Dansby's interception at the Steelers' 34 with 2:00 left in the half gave the Cardinals the opportunity to take the lead. On first-and-goal from the Steelers' 1 with 18 seconds left in the half, James Harrison stepped in front of Warner's quick-slant pass intended for Boldin. Harrison deftly maneuvered down the right sideline and raced 100 yards for a touchdown, barely breaking the plane as Steve Breaston and Larry Fitzgerald attempted to corral him. Harrison's return ended the half, was the longest play in Super Bowl history, and gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead.

The Steelers utilized a 16-play, 79-yard drive in the third quarter that consumed 8:39 off the clock. The Steelers had six offensive snaps inside the Cardinals' 10-yard line, but settled for Reed's 21-yard field goal and 20-7 lead.

With 11:30 to play and on their own 13-yard line, the Cardinals went to a no-huddle offense and Warner completed all eight of his pass attempts, including four to Fitzgerald, capped by his leaping 1-yard catch on third-and-goal to pull the Cardinals within 20-14 with 7:33 to play.

With 3:34 remaining, the Cardinals, faced with fourth-and-20 at the Steelers' 36, punted. Ben Graham's punt was downed by Mike Adams at the 2-yard line. A penalty pushed the Steelers back to the 1-yard line, and on third-and-10, Justin Hartwig was penalized for holding in the end zone.

The safety cut the lead to 20-16 with 2:58 to play. Two plays later, Warner hit Fitzgerald with a short pass over the middle, and Fitzgerald raced untouched for a 64-yard touchdown and 23-20 lead with 2:37 remaining.

The Steelers began on their own 22-yard line, but a holding penalty pushed them back to their 12. On third-and-6 from their own 26 with 1:56 to play, Roethlisberger connected with Holmes on a 13-yard pass play. On second-and-6 from the Cardinals' 46 with 1:02 to play, Roethlisberger found Holmes with a pass on the right side. Holmes slipped past one defender before being tackled at the 6-yard line.

On second-and-goal, Roethlisberger's pass to the back right corner appeared high, but Holmes stretched, kept both toes on the ground, and held on to the ball despite Aaron Francisco's tight coverage.

The touchdown capped an 8-play, 78-yard drive in 2:02, with the last eight plays covering 88 yards following the holding call.

Warner completed a 20-yard pass to Fitzgerald and 13-yard pass to J.J. Arrington to reach the Steelers' 44 with 15 seconds left. On the next play, Warner was sacked by LaMarr Woodley. Brett Keisel recovered the ball at the Steelers' 43 with five seconds left to clinch the victory.

Roethlisberger was 21 of 30 for 256 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 interception. Holmes had 9 receptions for 131 yards and was the game's most valuable player. Woodley had his fourth consecutive 2-sack postseason game, extending his record.

Warner was 31 of 43 for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. In three career Super Bowl games, Warner has the three highest passing-yardage totals in Super Bowl history. Fitzgerald had 7 receptions for 127 yards. Darnell Dockett tied Reggie White's Super Bowl record with 3 sacks.

SUPER BOWL XLIII - SCORING

SUPER BOWL XLIII MVP: WR SANTONIO HOLMES, Pittsburgh Steelers

Santonio Holmes caught a ix-yard touchdown pass in the back-right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds left as the Steelers rallied to beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

Holmes' incredible game-winning catch (he stretched high, kept both toes on the ground, despite tight coverage by the Cardinals) helped Pittsburgh avert what would have been the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, as the Cardinals had scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

Santonio Holmes, who had nine receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in the game, caught three passes from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the Steelers' game-winning drive.