When it comes to greatest games in Steeler history, the game that PSN ranks as the second best of the LeBeau era is often mentioned in the same breath as the 1972 Immaculate Reception victory over the Oakland Raiders, the thrilling Super Bowl XIII victory over the Dallas Cowboys and the 1995 AFC title game victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Steelers simply have too many memorable games to do them all justice, and many of those came with the great Dick LeBeau making the calls for some of the top defenses in league history. Number two on our list is indeed one of the best.
#2) Steelers 27 Cardinals 23 (Super Bowl XLIII 2/1/2009)
When the Steelers met the upstart Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the prevailing mood of many was that the Steelers were not only the superior team, but would easily handle the Cardinals to win their sixth Super Bowl championship. After all, the Steelers had the best defense in the NFL, a Super Bowl winning quarterback and had just beaten an outstanding Baltimore Ravens squad for the third time that season in the AFC Championship game.
Early on, the Steelers gave every indication that they were not going to let the opportunity slip away, as they came out on fire from the opening snap.
The Steelers first drive was a methodical, nine-play, 71-yard drive that was highlighted by Hines Ward’s 38-yard catch and run down the right sideline. Ward had come into the game questionable due to a sprained knee suffered in the AFC Championship game, so his big catch energized the Steeler crowd that filled the majority of seats at Raymond James Stadium.
Unfortunately for the Steeler offense, what was initially ruled a touchdown run by Ben Roethlisberger later in the drive was overturned via replay challenge, and head coach Mike Tomlin would choose to kick the field goal on 4th and goal from the one, giving the Steelers a quick 3-0 lead.
LeBeau’s stingy defensive unit made an early statement on the Cardinals first possession, forcing a holding call and a Ben Graham punt. Roethlisberger and the Steeler offense would not settle for a field goal this time, as they continued to dominate with an 11-play touchdown drive capped off by a Gary Russell one-yd TD plunge 51 seconds into the second quarter. Just like that, the Steelers held a commanding 10-0 lead.
In a game where the Steelers No. 1 ranked rushing defense was simply not going to allow Edgerrin James to get rolling, the Cardinals would have to rely on the arm of Kurt Warner if they were going to have any chance of getting back into the game, let alone find a way to win.
Though James would be limited to 33 yards rushing for the game, Warner was able to find James three different times through the air during the Cardinals impressive 83-yard touchdown drive. Warner targeted five different receivers on the drive, including Anquan Boldin whose 45-yard catch set up a one-yard TD toss to seldom used tight end Ben Patrick to narrow the Steeler advantage to 10-7.
After consecutive punts by both teams the next two possessions, the first crucial error of the game would put the Cardinals in position to take the lead in the moments leading up to halftime. With the Steelers at their own 22-yard line with just over two minutes left in the half, Roethlisberger was intercepted by Karlos Dansby at the Steelers 33-yard line.
This play would not only give Warner the ball at the two-minute warning with a chance to put the Cardinals ahead, it would set up arguably the greatest defensive play ever in NFL history.
A sequence of passes by Warner to Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald and Boldin would creep the Cardinals closer to pay dirt. After Boldin was stopped just short of the goal line on a four-yard pass play, the Cardinals called their final timeout with 18 seconds remaining.
Plenty of time for the Cardinals to punch it in and go into halftime with momentum. That is until the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year made the play of a lifetime.
Everyone remembers the play as vividly as if it happened five minutes ago. James Harrison deciding at the last second to drop back into to coverage instead of blitzing, stepping right in front of intended receiver Boldin, and intercepting Warner.
With an array of incredible blocks by a convoy of Steeler defenders, and a herculean effort by Harrison to bull his way the full 100 yards towards the opposite end zone, the Steelers went for an almost certain 14-10 halftime deficit to a commanding 17-7 lead. Two of the biggest memories from that sequence was Harrison sucking down oxygen for minutes after his incredible play, and the halftime interview with Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Whisenhunt looked shell-shocked, and was in charge of the unenviable task of convincing his team they could recover as the legendary Bruce Springsteen entertained the Super Bowl audience at halftime.
The third quarter did little to indicate the Cardinals were receptive to Whisenhunt’s halftime talk. On the Cardinals opening possession of the second half, Warner was sacked by James Farrior and subsequently fumbled on the play. However, Whisenhunt was have his second successful challenge of the game, and what looked like a Steeler fumble recovery was reversed.
The Cardinals once again were forced to punt, and on the Steelers first possession of the half, Roethlisberger led the Steelers on a 16-play drive that lasted nearly nine minutes. However, the Steelers drive would stall at the Cardinals three-yard line, and they would settle for another Jeff Reed field goal to make the score 20-7 with just over a a quarter left to play.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Steelers seemingly had a stranglehold on their sixth Super Bowl title. Yet Warner and company were going to make sure this game would be memorable, and the fourth quarter alone was worth the price of admission.
Warner came out white hot in the final quarter, and would use his arm on all eight plays to march the Cardinals 87 yards, culminating with a one-yard touchdown catch by Fitzgerald, making the score 20-14 Steelers.
Both teams would punt on consecutive possessions, and when the Steelers took over from their own one-yard line compliments of a a Harrison unnecessary roughness penalty while receiving a Graham punt, they were still in position to run the clock out with just over three minutes left in the game.
That’s when the Cardinals defense made their own game-changing play. With Roethlisberger passing from his end zone, Santonio Holmes looked to make a huge third down conversion on a 19-yard catch. Instead, center Jeff Hartwig was called for holding on the play, and since the penalty occurred in the end zone, it was ruled a safety.
Now the Cardinals were not only down by a mere four points at 20-16, they would also receive a free kick that Woodland Hills native Steve Breaston returned to the Cardinals 36. With 2:58 left in the game, Warner wasted little time putting the Cardinals ahead. Recognizing that his best receiver Larry Fitzgerald was in a one-on-one matchup, the former University of Pittsburgh star broke in on a slant route, catching a Warner laser in stride for a 64-yard touchdown.
The uncharacteristic gaffe by the Steeler defense gave the Cardinals a sudden, shocking 23-20 lead after the Steelers looked to be in total control minutes earlier.
After this game had already supplied one of great plays in Super Bowl history, Roethlisberger and Holmes had less than three minutes to do their best to rival it, and rival it they most certainly did.
The final drive started out on a rough note, as a Chris Kemeatu holding call on first down pushed the steelers back to their own 12-yard line. Undeterred, Roethlisberger was surgical. After the Steelers pushed beyond midfield, Roethlisberger connected with Holmes on a 40-yard pass that led to first and goal from the Cards 6-yard line.
Though Roethlisberger narrowly missed Holmes for the go-ahead score on first down, Roethlisberger connected with Holmes on the most picture perfect pass play you will ever see. Despite of three defensive players all in position to make a play, Roethlisberger placed the ball in the only spot where Holmes could make the catch. Add Holmes incredible footwork to tap both toes in the corner of the end zone, and you have one of most epic, game-winning scores in the history of the game.
On the final winning drive, Roethlisberger would connect with Holmes four times for 73 of the 78 total yards, and Holmes would be named Super Bowl MVP after his game-winning catch. Holmes finished with 9 catches for 131 yards and a miraculous touchdown.
Though it may seem anti-climatic after the Steelers historic, game winning drive, the Warner led Cardinals would have one last shot to come back for a last-second touchdown to win the game. With 35 seconds remaining, Warner would complete passes to J.J. Arrington and Fitzgerald to get to past midfield.
LeBeau’s unit would have one last big play in it’s back pocket. LaMarr Woodley would get his second sack of the game with the Cardinals at the Steeler 44-yard line with 15 seconds left to play. Woodley’s hit on Warner would force a fumble that would be recovered by Brett Keisel, and with that, the Steelers would be world champions for the sixth time in franchise history.
Though Warner would finish the game with 377 passing yards and three touchdown passes, the Steeler defense was able to limit Warner for much of three quarters and forced two crucial turnovers, including Harrison’s interception which set a Super Bowl record for longest scoring play in the game’s history.
