SB 43: Steelers edge Cards, surge to 6th Super Bowl title

Posted January 20, 2016 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes(10) catches a touchdown pass as Arizona Cardinals' Aaron Francisco (47) and Ralph Brown watch during the fourth quarter of NFL football's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. The Steelers won 27-23, (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) The Associated Press

Super Bowl 43

Feb. 1, 2009

At Tampa, Fla._70,774

Pittsburgh .3.14..3..7_27

Arizona .0..7..0.16_23

Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers ended a game of incredible swings with a final-minute touchdown for a victory over the Cardinals.

MVP Santonio Holmes made a brilliant 6-yard catch deep in the right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds remaining, lifting the Steelers to a record-setting sixth Super Bowl win.

The late scoring overshadowed Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison's record 100-yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half.

Pittsburgh's 79-yard, 16-play drive ended with Jeff Reed's 21-yard field goal for a 20-7 lead after three quarters. Kurt Warner and the Cardinals then staged a remarkable rally in the fourth quarter to go in front 23-20 with 2:37 remaining.

Warner hit all eight passes for all the yards of an 87-yard drive capped by a leaping 1-yard TD catch by Larry Fitzgerald over Ike Taylor. After an exchange of possessions, the Cardinals got a safety when Pittsburgh's Justin Hartwig was called for a holding penalty in the end zone.

Two plays later, Warner hit Fitzgerald in stride for a 64-yard touchdown and the lead.

With 2:30 left, Roethlisberger engineered a 78-yard drive. Roethlisberger connected with Holmes on passes of 14, 13 and 40 yards before hitting him in the right corner.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner throws a pass during against the Pittsburgh Steelers during NFL football's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. Pittsburgh won 27-23. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2009, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, left, and Hines Ward stand on the field after the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in NFL football's Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File) The Associated Press

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