Super Bowl XLIII
A Super Bowl match-up that nobody expected turned into one of the most exciting games ever to be contested on Super Sunday.
The 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers had taken a 10-0 lead over the the surprise 9-7 Arizona Cardinals. However, led by veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, Arizona pulled to within three points when Ben Patrick pulled in a pass in the end zone. With the score now 10-7 with time running out in the first half, it looked as though the Cardinals would take the lead. However, Warner's pass landed in the arms of Steelers' linebacker, James Harrison, who outran the entire Cardinals' offense on his way to the end zone, and a 100-yard return. Instead of Arizona leading 14-10, they now trailed, 17-7.
Pittsburgh tacked on a further three points with a field goal making the score 20-7 before one of the most explosive final periods in Super Bowl history.
The Cardinals pulled seven points back when Kurt Warner found Larry Fitzgerald from a yard out. Following that, Pittsburgh's Justin Hartwig was called for a holding penatly in the Steelers' end zone and so awarding the Cardinals a safety. Immediately following the Steelers kick to Arizona, Kurt Warner fired a pass to Fitzgerald, who raced 64 yards to the end zone, giving the Cardinals the lead, 23-20, with 2:37 remaining.
Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, however, put on a fine performance on what would be the game winning drive. And he might have won the MVP award off the back of it, if it hadn't have been for wide receiver, Santonio Holmes' 4 catches for 73 yards as well as the go-ahead touchdown with only seconds remaining. Holmes would finish the game with a total of 131 yards on 9 receptions.
The 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers had taken a 10-0 lead over the the surprise 9-7 Arizona Cardinals. However, led by veteran quarterback, Kurt Warner, Arizona pulled to within three points when Ben Patrick pulled in a pass in the end zone. With the score now 10-7 with time running out in the first half, it looked as though the Cardinals would take the lead. However, Warner's pass landed in the arms of Steelers' linebacker, James Harrison, who outran the entire Cardinals' offense on his way to the end zone, and a 100-yard return. Instead of Arizona leading 14-10, they now trailed, 17-7.
Pittsburgh tacked on a further three points with a field goal making the score 20-7 before one of the most explosive final periods in Super Bowl history.
The Cardinals pulled seven points back when Kurt Warner found Larry Fitzgerald from a yard out. Following that, Pittsburgh's Justin Hartwig was called for a holding penatly in the Steelers' end zone and so awarding the Cardinals a safety. Immediately following the Steelers kick to Arizona, Kurt Warner fired a pass to Fitzgerald, who raced 64 yards to the end zone, giving the Cardinals the lead, 23-20, with 2:37 remaining.
Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, however, put on a fine performance on what would be the game winning drive. And he might have won the MVP award off the back of it, if it hadn't have been for wide receiver, Santonio Holmes' 4 catches for 73 yards as well as the go-ahead touchdown with only seconds remaining. Holmes would finish the game with a total of 131 yards on 9 receptions.
First |
Second |
Third |
Fourth |
Total |
|
Steelers |
3 |
14 |
3 |
7 |
27 |
Cardinals |
0 |
7 |
0 |
16 |
23 |
Scoring Record
First Quarter
Steelers 3, Cardinals 0
FG: Jeff Reed 18-yard kick
Second Quarter
Steelers 10, Cardinals 0
TD: Gary Russell 1-yard run (Jeff Reed extra point)
Steelers 10, Cardinals 7
TD: Ben Patrick 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers extra point)
Steelers 17, Cardinals 7
TD: James Harrison 100-yard interception return (Jeff Reed extra point)
Third Quarter
Steelers 20, Cardinals 7
FG: Jeff Reed 21-yard kick
Fourth Quarter
Steelers 20, Cardinals 14
TD: Larry Fitzgerald 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Racker extra point)
Steelers 20, Cardinals 16
S: Justin Hartwig called for holding in end zone
Steelers 20, Cardinals 23
TD: Larry Fitzgerald 64-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers extra point)
Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
TD: Santonio Holmes 6-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed extra point)
First Quarter
Steelers 3, Cardinals 0
FG: Jeff Reed 18-yard kick
Second Quarter
Steelers 10, Cardinals 0
TD: Gary Russell 1-yard run (Jeff Reed extra point)
Steelers 10, Cardinals 7
TD: Ben Patrick 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers extra point)
Steelers 17, Cardinals 7
TD: James Harrison 100-yard interception return (Jeff Reed extra point)
Third Quarter
Steelers 20, Cardinals 7
FG: Jeff Reed 21-yard kick
Fourth Quarter
Steelers 20, Cardinals 14
TD: Larry Fitzgerald 1-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Racker extra point)
Steelers 20, Cardinals 16
S: Justin Hartwig called for holding in end zone
Steelers 20, Cardinals 23
TD: Larry Fitzgerald 64-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Neil Rackers extra point)
Steelers 27, Cardinals 23
TD: Santonio Holmes 6-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed extra point)
Game Facts and Stats
Date: Sunday 1st February 2009
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 70,774
MVP: Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
TV Broadcast: NBC (Al Michaels and John Madden)
Referee: Terry McAulay
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson
Halftime Show: Bruce SPringsteen and the E Street Band
Stadium: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Attendance: 70,774
MVP: Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
TV Broadcast: NBC (Al Michaels and John Madden)
Referee: Terry McAulay
National Anthem: Jennifer Hudson
Halftime Show: Bruce SPringsteen and the E Street Band
Other Notable Game Notes
Super Bowl XLIII proved to be one of the most watched Super Bowls in history, as it took a sixty-five percent share in the United States while having over 98 million viewers. A further 50 million viewers watched the game worldwide.
Super Bowl XLIII proved to be one of the most watched Super Bowls in history, as it took a sixty-five percent share in the United States while having over 98 million viewers. A further 50 million viewers watched the game worldwide.
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