Super Bowl XL - Steelers 21 Seahawks 10

Super Bowl XL - Steelers 21 Seahawks 10 - MVP Steelers WR Hines Ward

In a game in which the Steelers were outgained in total offense (396-339) by the Seattle Seahawks, Hines Ward came up with two big plays to help Pittsburgh win its first 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 three-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 five receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown.

With the win, the Steelers joined the Cowboys and 49ers as the only franchises to have won five Super Bowls. The Steelers' victory was their first Super Bowl victory since Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers, who finished the regular season with an 11--5 record, also became the fourth wild card team, the third in nine years, and the first-ever number 6 seed in the NFL playoffs, to win a Super Bowl. The Seahawks, on the other hand were making their first ever Super Bowl appearance after posting an NFC-best 13--3 regular season record.

The Pittsburgh Steelers made three big plays on offense and played a bend but don't break defense to win Super Bowl XL. 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, Seahawks punt returner Peter Warrick gave his team good field position by returning Chris Gardocki's 37-yard punt 12 yards to Seattle's 49-yard line. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck then started off the drive with a pair of completions to Darrell Jackson and Joe Jurevicius for gains of 20 and 11 yards. On the third play of the drive, Jackson caught a pass in the end-zone, apparently for a touchdown, but the play was nullified as Jackson was called for pass interference. Four plays later, the Seahawks settled for Josh Brown's 47-yard field goal.

By the end of the first quarter, the Steelers had failed to gain a first down, and Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had completed one of five for one yard.

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 quarterback Ben Roethlisberger -- who became the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl -- finished the game completing just 9 of 21 passes for 123 yards and having also thrown two interceptions; his 22.6 quarterback rating -- the lowest ever by a Super Bowl winning quarterback. Roethlisberger rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown. He became the second youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl and the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl at 23 years, 11 months.

Pittsburgh's run game was paced by Willie Parker, who gained 93 yards and one touchdown on ten carries; Jerome Bettis rushed 14 times for 43 yards, converted a key first down, and allowed his team to run time off the clock late in the fourth quarter. Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward caught five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. In addition to his 43-yard touchdown pass, Randle El caught three passes for 22 yards and returned two punts for 32 yards.

For the Seahawks, Hasselbeck completed 26 of 49 pass attempts for 273 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. Jurevicius caught 5 passes for 93 yards. Engram and Jackson combined to gain 120 yards on eleven receptions. Alexander led all rushers in the game, accumulating 95 yards on 20 carries.

On defense, Ike Taylor led the Steelers with seven tackles, two pass defenses, and an interception Hasselbeck. Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu recorded nine tackles.

Super Bowl XL MVP: Steelers WR Hines Ward

Super Bowl XL MVP: Steelers WR Hines Ward

In a game in which the Steelers were outgained in total offense (396-339) by the Seattle Seahawks, Hines Ward came up with two big plays to help Pittsburgh win its first Super Bowl 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 strike to Ward to clinch the game in the fourth quarter. It was the first time a wide receiver threw a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl, Overall, Ward caught 5 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards,

Super Bowl XL Scoring

 

 

Super Bowl XL Team Statistics

 

Super Bowl XL: Seahawks Player Statistics

 

Super Bowl XL: Steelers Player Statistics

February 5, 2006

Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Attendance: 68,206

National Anthem: Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia

Coin Toss: Tom Brady representing previous Super Bowl MVPs

Halftime Show: The Rolling Stones

Network: ABC

Announcers: Al Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber

Nielsen ratings: 41.6 (est. 90.7 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $2.5 million

Super Bowl XL: Steelers vs. Seahwaks Highlights

 

Super Bowl XL: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl XL Logo

 

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