The Pittsburgh Steelers showed their strength in the first quarter, dominating the score and time of possession, but the Arizona Cardinals battled back in the second quarter. Until the final seconds, it seemed that the Cards were going to tie the game. But with only seconds left in the half, Defensive Player of the Year Harrison snagged a five-yard pass and took it 101 yards for a score.
Super Day for a Super Game
The Steelers are trying for their sixth Superbowl win—a league record—while the Cards are in the Superbowl for the first time in the team’s history. The Game is being played under near-perfect conditions in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium—mid-sixties, low humidity. Both teams’ stars are healthy and dressed, and the stage is set for the season’s ultimate match.
The Steelers, on their first drive, marched downfield with authority until they reached the Cardinals’ four-yard line, where the Cards defense toughened up and held the Steelers to three. Ben Roethlisberger got as far as the one-foot line, and was initially awarded the TD, but the Cardinals challenged and won.
The Cardinals had to punt on their first drive.
The Cardinals blitzed and blitzed, but Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger scrambled, dodged, and found the open receivers. The Steelers had success with quick screen passes to beat the blitz, while also getting the occasional solid rushing gain when the Cards were looking for a pass.
By the end of the first quarter, Pittsburgh had the edge, not just on the scoreboard, but in yards gained and time of possession. The Cardinals ran only five plays in the first quarter.
Cardinals Strike Back
The second quarter opened with the Steelers again in the Cards’ Red Zone; they scored a touchdown within a minute of the start of the quarter, giving Pittsburgh a 10–0 lead.
The Cardinals’ offensive line had a hard time managing the Steelers rush. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was hurried and harassed, having to throw short, quick passes. But the Cardinals’ running game was nearly useless, gaining four yards on the first four running plays.
Finally after twenty minutes of play, Warner found his 1000-yard wide receiver Anquan Boldin for a 35-yard completion, reaching deep into the Steelers’ Red Zone. On the next play, Warner hit Ben Patrick for the score.
The Cards’ defense fired up after the touchdown, penetrating the Pittsburgh line and stifling runs in the backfield, while chasing Roethlisberger out of the pocket on passes.
Pittsburgh was forced to punt on its next drive; the Cardinals were forced to punt on their next possession also.
Turnovers Tell the Tale
With two minutes left Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby picked off a deflected pass, giving the Cardinals a final scoring opportunity wit the ball on the Steelers 40-yard line. Despite good pass rushing, the Cards managed to advance. While the Cardinals’ ground game was gaining them nothing, their three-wide, empty-backfield passing attack kept finding chinks in the Steelers coverage.
Warner marched the Cards down to the Pittsburgh six-yard line, and seemed sure to get a score—a field goal to tie at the very least, or a touchdown to take the lead.
But on what should have been the scoring pass play, Steelers LB James Harrison picked off Kurt Warner’s throw and ran it back the length of the field, giving the Steelers a 17–7 lead.
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