The Pittsburgh Steelers made three big plays on offense and played a bend but don't break defense to win their record-tying fifth Super Bowl title.

The Seattle Seahawks lost despite winning the turnover battle (2-1), having more total yards (396-339), and consuming more of the clock (33:02-26:58). The Seahawks crossed midfield on 9 of their 12 possessions, but scored just twice.

Late in the first quarter, Darrell Jackson's 16-yard touchdown catch was nullified by pass interference. The Seahawks settled for Josh Brown's 47- yard field goal.

With 3:58 left in the second quarter, faced with third-and-28 from the Seahawks' 40, Ben Roethlisberger eluded the rush, rolled left and threw a deep pass across field. Hines Ward outleaped Michael Boulware at the 3-yard line for a 37-yard pass play. Two plays later, on a broken play, Roethlisberger dove over left tackle and reached the goal line for a touchdown.

The Seahawks reached the Steelers' 40 with 54 seconds left, but Matt Hasselbeck's third-and-6 pass fell incomplete and Brown's 54-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide right.

On the second play of the second half, Willie Parker set a Super Bowl record with his 75-yard touchdown run over right tackle.

Brown's 50-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left on the next possession, and the Steelers drove to the Seahawks' 7. On third-and-6, Roethlisberger's pass to the right flat was intercepted by Kelly Herndon, who returned the ball a Super Bowl record 76 yards to the Steelers' 20. Three plays later, Jerramy Stevens caught Hasselbeck's 16-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 6:45 left in the third quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks drove to the Steelers' 19. On first down, Stevens caught an 18-yard pass, but a holding penalty nullified the catch and Ike Taylor intercepted Hasselbeck's pass a few plays later. Three plays later, Parker took a handoff and gave the ball to Antwaan Randle El on a reverse. Rolling to his right, Randle El fired a perfect 43-yard touchdown pass to Ward for a 21-10 lead with 8:56 to play.

The Seahawks punted and then did not get the ball back until there was 1:51 remaining. Seattle reached the Steelers' 26 with 35 seconds left. From the Steelers' 23, Hasselbeck's fourth-and-7 pass to Stevens fell incomplete at the 2-yard line with three seconds remaining.

Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger, who became the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl, was 9 of 21 for 123 yards, with 2 interceptions. Seahawks Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was 26 of 49 for 273 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 interception.

SUPER BOWL XL MVP : WR Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers

In a game in which the Steelers were outgained in total offense (396-339) by the Seattle Seahawks, Ward came up with two big plays to help Pittsburgh win its first Super Bowl championship since Super Bowl XIV.

Ward made a leaping 37-yard reception late in the second quarter to set up the Steelers' first touchdown (a 3-yard run by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger).

Ward also came up with the play that decided the game when wide receiver Antwaan Randle El took a handoff on a reverse and threw a perfect 43-yard touchdown pass to Ward. Overall, Ward had 5 receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown.

SUPER BOWL XLI SCORING

February 5, 2006
Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 68,206