Super Bowl XLIII - Better Than Super

Super Bowl XLIII - Better Than Super

'Better Than Super!' That's how the St. Petersburg Times summarized Super Bowl XLIII the morning after yet another rollicking, stunning Super Bowl game.

The Super Bowl keeps topping itself.

Last year, it was Super Bowl XLII it was the New York Giants as Eli Manning escaped a horde of Patriots rushers to connect with David Tyree on that unreal "helmet catch."

In Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay, it was Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger flinging a pass "I thought was going to be picked," as he described it, to Santonio Holmes, who, straining on his tiptoes, made only the latest "greatest Super Bowl catch ever" (left, Sports Illustrated cover) to give Pittsburgh a 27-23 victory over Arizona.

Super Bowl XLIII - Greatest Super Bowl Catch Ever (Sports Illustrated)

It secured for Santonio Holmes the game's MVP award and for the Steelers a record sixth Super Bowl title.

Super Ball XLIII had it all!

Super Bowl XLIII - The Game

Who knew that James Harrison's 100-yard interception return to end the first half -- the longest play in Super Bowl history -- would be just the appetizer? But it was indeed just the lead-in to the heart of the menu.

Down 20-7, Arizona QB KURT WARNER started slinging it in the second half, throwing for 242 of his 377 total yards to become the only passer in Super Bowl history with three 300-yard games.

2:47 left in game Warner hits Fitzgerald with short pass over middle that speedster took all the way for 64-yard touchdown to shockingly lift Arizona into 23-20 lead Cardinals Steelers Super Bowl XLIII Tampa Bay Florida February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII - Larry Fitzgerald's 64-yard Touchdown

Warner started to go to his game-changer Larry Fitzgerald (No. 11, above), who had only a 12-yard catch in the first half but added six in the second for a game total of 127 yards (he would wind up with NFL postseason records in catches, 30; receiving yards, 546; and touchdowns, 7).

With 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Warner proceeded to complete eight consecutive passes, four to Fitzgerald, including a one-yard TD toss to bring the Cards to within 20-14.

Then with 2:47 left in the game, Warner hit Fitzgerald with a short pass over the middle that the speedster took all the way for a 64-yard touchdown to shockingly lift Arizona into a 23-20 lead.

There was only 2:37 left. "I knew it wasn't over," said Warner.

Super Bowl XLIII - The Drive

Kurt Warner was right. Big Ben still had his thing to do.

Starting at his own 22, Roethlisberger (below) completed five of his next seven passes, with three going to Holmes for 67 yards.

Then, with 42 seconds left, came the "greatest catch in Super Bowl history" -- as some are saying.

Ben Roethlisberger led final winning drive Cardinals Steelers Super Bowl XLIII Tampa Bay Florida February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII - Ben Roethlisberger

In the shotgun, Roethlisberger first looked to RB Mewelde Moore, who was covered. Next he spotted WR Hines Ward, but a defender was closing fast.

Finally, Roethlisberger spotted Holmes in the back corner of the end zone, with three defenders closing. "Gotta go for it." Ben did, Santonio stood on the absolute tips of his toes inbounds, took in the pass, twisted with his back to the defenders, brought the ball to his chest and fell.

The replay assistant called for a review.

The play was upheld and the Pittsburgh Steelers would soon hold up their record sixth Vince Lombardi Trophy.

"That was the most fulfilling drive I've ever been associated with," said Steelers offensive coordinator BRUCE ARIANS.

Super Bowl XLIII - The Viewers

Super XLIII attracted the largest audience in television history.

A total audience of 151.6 million viewers watched Super Bowl XLIII on NBC. The last two Super Bowls have pulled the most viewers ever for a TV program, with Super Bowl XLII on FOX garnering 148.3 million viewers last year.

"The Super Bowl is the most-watched show of the year, no matter what teams are involved, because the day becomes a party for many built around a TV show," said the New York Daily News.

Super Bowl XLIII - The Impact

As usual, the power of Super Bowl is all-encompassing.

The game was watched by an average of 38.3 million women � the most for a TV show since 38.6 million women watched the 1994 Winter Olympic figure-skating finals featuring NANCY KERRIGAN on February 25, 1994

The Boss Scores!

Super Bowl XLIII - Bruce Springsteen Halftime Show

The new CD ("Working on a Dream") of SB XLIII halftime performers Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band opened the week at No. 1 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums list thanks to its exposure during the game. The CD has already sold 224,000 copies.

Paul Mc Cartney, The Rolling Stones and Tom Petty are three other recent Super Bowl halftime performers who enjoyed considerable record sales spikes after their Super shows. McCartney's album jumped 246% after SB XXXIX, the Stones by 34% after SB XL, and Petty after SB XLII by 196%

Usually, advertisers like to stay away from placing their commercials late in the game for fear it could already be decided at that point. But that was the place to be on Sunday! According to TiVo, eight of the 10 most-watched commercials came in the second half. "Nail-biter Super Bowls might rewrite the rules for advertisers," said the New York Times

A record 1.5 million fans voted for the game's MVP on NFL.com, doubling the previous high in Super Bowl XL.

The President

Everybody knows President Barack Obama was rooting for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Chairman Dan Rooney campaigned for Obama during the election, and in a pregame interview on NBC, the President predicted that the Steelers would "eke it out in the end" -- which, of course, they did. He also called the Super Bowl "one of the finest American traditions."

That rooting interest, though, did not prevent the president from calling Cardinals head coach KEN WHISENHUNT Monday afternoon to salute him on the club's season.

"He congratulated our team on the success we had and was very impressed with the way our men had played," said Whisenhunt. "That was very special."

The Celebration

Cardinals Steelers Super Bowl XLIII Tampa Bay Florida February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII - Mike Tomlin, Celebration Parade

The mayor temporarily renamed Pittsburgh "Sixburgh" and almost the whole city showed up on Tuesday to celebrate the Steelers' championship.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, calling the city "Sixburgh," accompanied Roethlisberger along the parade route packed by an estimated 300,000 people.

The entire population of Pittsburgh is about 311,000, so just about everybody was there, including the six high school bands representing the club's six titles that performed.

"Steeler nation, you leave us all speechless," yelled Mike Tomlin, at 36, the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history.

Quotes & Commentary | Scoring & Statistics | Play by Play

Better Than Super - Super Bowl XLIII - Cardinals vs Steelers