Steelers bank on big plays for fifth Super Bowl win
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-07 06:33

DETROIT: Big plays from Willie Parker and Hines Ward put a shine on a lacklustre performance that was still strong enough for the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl XL on Sunday.

The victory gave Pittsburgh a record-equalling fifth Super Bowl title and enabled them to join the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers as the league's most prolific teams.

More importantly to the Steelers, it was a first title for running back Jerome Bettis and their coach Bill Cowher.

After 13 seasons of punishing duty that has made Bettis the NFL's fifth all-time leading rusher, "The Bus" was finally able to celebrate a championship then immediately announced his retirement.

"I decided to come back to win a championship," Bettis told reporters in his home town of Detroit.

"Mission accomplished.

"I'm the happiest person in the world. We're world champions. They can't take this from us. It's all over. There aren't any games left."

The victory also put an end to doubts that Cowher, the longest active coach in the NFL with 14 seasons at the Pittsburgh helm, could not win the big one.

"Our effort today made history and that is what is special to me," Cowher added.

"It's surreal right now. It's a rewarding feeling to give the trophy to (owner Dan Rooney). That's what they brought me here to do.

"It really does complete a void that's been there."

Pittsburgh's fifth Super Bowl win and their first since 1980 certainly will not be remembered as its best.

Road wins

After guiding the Steelers to three impressive road wins just to get to the Super Bowl, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stumbled through an error-strewn contest by completing just nine-of-23 passes for 123 yards with two interceptions.

Pittsburgh's mistakes, however, were offset by a string of big plays, including a Super Bowl record 75-yard touchdown run from scrimmage by Parker.

The Steelers ran out onto Ford Field to a thundering ovation and a sea of fans in black and gold waving yellow Terrible Towels that have become the team's rallying call.

Despite the support, the Steelers struggled through the opening quarter without a first down, with Roethlisberger completing just one of five pass attempts for one yard.

"That was probably the most nervous I have been before any football game," Roethlisberger admitted.

"We couldn't get anything going early on. We got the win and that's all that matters.

"I can't believe it's real right now."

Seattle dominated through the first 15 minutes, but the NFL's highest-scoring offence could only generate three points off a Josh Brown 47-yard field goal.

It would be the only time the Seahawks would lead, the Steelers taking a 7-3 advantage into the intermission when Roethlisberger completed a 59-yard drive by diving over from the one for the only touchdown of a sloppy opening half.

Pittsburgh's plodding start to the game was in sharp contrast to their explosive beginning to the second half.

Parker's record run came on the second play of the third quarter and electrified the crowd of 68,206 fans at Ford Field to give Pittsburgh a 14-3 lead.

Four points

The Steelers appeared set to take a bigger lead after driving deep into Seattle territory, but cornerback Kelly Herndon intercepted Roethlisberger's pass at the four and returned it 76 yards to the Pittsburgh 20.

Three plays later, Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck hit tight end Jeremy Stevens with a 16-yard touchdown pass to get the Seahawks back to within four points.

With momentum building, the Seahawks looked poised to retake the lead early in the four quarter marching deep into Pittsburgh territory only to have the drive snuffed out when Hasselbeck was snuffed out by Ike Taylor.

The Steelers immediately made the Seahawks pay for the miscue, with a bit of trickery, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El passing to Super Bowl MVP Ward for a 43 yard score.

Ward finished with five receptions for 123 yards.

"I'm lost for words, there have been a lot of great players who won the Super Bowl," Ward said.

"We knew it was going to go for a touchdown. We did what we had to do to win a Super Bowl.

(China Daily 02/07/2006 page10)