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Jerome Bettis plays his final game in his hometown of Detroit and goes out as a champion, winning Super Bowl XL with the Steelers, 21-10, over the Seahawks.
DETROIT — The Steelers’ emotions began to build during the pregame introductions, when Jerome Bettis led his teammates into a raucous dome of Terrible Towel-waving fans. Nearly four hours later, after completing perhaps the most improbable postseason run in NFL history, the Steelers staged a double celebration at Super Bowl XL.
A going-away bash for the Bus, the homecoming king, and a One-for-the-Thumb party that was 26 years in the making. This one will be remembered as The Immaculate Coronation.
As Joey Porter said, the Steelers took “the scenic route” to their fifth Super Bowl, defeating the Seahawks, 21-10, last night at Ford Field in a game that required a good bit of luck and some sleight of handoff.
It was an incredible end to a remarkable month, as the Steelers – the sixth seed in the AFC – became the first team to win a Super Bowl after three road victories in the conference playoffs. Along the way, they knocked off two No. 1 seeds, including the Seahawks.
“It’s truly an amazing feeling,” said Bettis, Detroit’s favorite son, who won his first Super Bowl in the final game of his 13-year career. “I’m the happiest person on the field. I’m the happiest person in the world. We’re the champions of the world. It’s an unbelievable moment.”
The Seahawks might say it was unbelievable that they lost, considering they outgained the Steelers (396-339). The Seahawks produced six drives inside the Steelers’ 37, but managed only two scores.
Jittery Ben Roethlisberger, later fessing up to a serious case of nerves, completed only nine passes and threw two interceptions – the latter, by Kelly Herndon, nearly ruining the Steelers in the third quarter.
No matter. The Steelers survived because of three big plays, including a historic razzle-dazzle touchdown pass by wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, and a defense that did a lot of bending but didn’t break. In the end, it was “That 70s Show,” as the Steelers did their famous football ancestors proud.
“I finally get to shave, so I can’t wait,” said Roethlisberger (9-for-21, 123 yards), alluding to the outgrowth of an eight-game winning streak.
Things got really hairy for Roethlisberger, 23, who became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, but his teammates picked up their struggling leader.
Hines Ward caught five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, winning game MVP honors. Willie Parker, an undrafted free agent only two years ago, cemented his place in Steelers’ lore by scoring on a 75-yard run – a Super Bowl record – to give them a 14-3 lead in the third quarter.
And, of course, there was Randle El, who got the ball on a reverse and became the first wide receiver in Super Bowl history to throw a touchdown pass, a 43-yard strike to Ward with 8:56 left in the game.
“When we called it, my eyes lit up,” Randle El said.
DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP
Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El throws the day’s best pass a 43-yard touchdown strike to Hines Ward in the fourth quarter.
“A little something out of our bag of tricks,” said Ward, who also caught a 37-yard heave in the second quarter that set up Roethlisberger’s controversial 1-yard touchdown run.
Maybe the Steelers got lucky. Consider: They produced 155 yards on the three big plays, only 184 on their 53 others. The Seahawks, who had won 11 straight, were stunned. Matt Hasselbeck (26-for-49, 273 yards) blamed Darrell Jackson for running the wrong route on his fourth-quarter interception. Mike Holmgren blamed the penalties (seven for 70) and a bad call by the official on Big Ben’s touchdown.
Roethlisberger scored from the 1 on a designed bootleg with 1:55 remaining in the first half. Or did he?
Roethlisberger was drilled by Michael Boulware and stopped cold. His helmet crossed the line, but the ball appeared shy of the goal line. The side judge signaled a touchdown only after a second effort by Roethlisberger.
Shades of Vinny Testaverde’s phantom touchdown against the Seahawks in 1998.
After a booth review, referee Bill Leavy upheld the call, infuriating the Seahawks’ sideline.
“I’m disappointed in how we played in certain areas,” Holmgren said. “I think we were careless with the football and we had way too many penalties – not a good combination.”
The Seahawks also were undermined by Jerramy Stevens, who incited a trash-talking war with Porter last week by predicting an ill-fated homecoming for Bettis. Stevens scored their only touchdown, a 16-yard reception, but he dropped four passes, three when it counted.
Afterward, it was quiet enough in the Seattle locker room that you could hear a pinhead drop to one knee.
The Steelers weren’t masterful, but they made only one bad mistake – Herndon’s 76-yard interception return, a Super Bowl record. Bill Cowher, who finally won the big one after 14 years, praised his team for overcoming Seattle without its “A” game. The pride poured out in the locker room.
“We have a rich tradition in Pittsburgh,” said Cowher, now 1-1 in Super Bowls. “It’s special, and now we have a little piece of that.”
“It leaves you speechless,” Clark Haggans said. “Everybody’s face says it all. You can see the sweat, with tears of joy coming out. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Amid the din of the celebration, Bettis shouted, “We just brought a championship back home. One for the thumb.”
And it was one wild ride.
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