Many lessons can be taken from this instant classic

If No. XLIII wasn't the best Super Bowl ever, it was in the top two.

And even though it's difficult to argue that championships aren't won by great defense, Sunday's game illustrated how important it is in the modern game to have offensive playmakers, especially a quarterback who can make big plays at crunch time.

Forget about having to run the ball well to be successful in the playoffs. Neither team did. They combined for 91 rushing yards on 38 carries, a measly 2.4-yard average. It was almost as if both ran the ball just enough to keep the defenses from totally overplaying the pass.

But when you have quarterbacks like the Cardinals' Kurt Warner (31 of 43 for 377 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception) and Ben Roethlisberger, who completed 21 of 30 for 256 yards and 1 touchdown, the game-winner, you can get by with a less-than-stellar ground game.

Those passing numbers are significant, and they're a prime example of what Bears GM Jerry Angelo meant in his postseason assessment of the team's quarterback situation and the importance of that position.

Until the Bears have a quarterback who can do what Warner and Roethlisberger did Sunday, they can't seriously entertain thoughts of making more than occasional cameo appearances in the playoffs. Kyle Orton may be that guy, but until he proves it unconditionally, the Bears have to keep searching. And that won't happen for Orton, or whoever is calling signals, until he has some big-time play-makers.

The Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald and the Steelers' Santonio Holmes leap to mind.

The Bears attempting to do battle against a team with those kind of weapons? That's like showing up at a gun fight with a water pistol.

With today's rules favoring the offense, it's difficult for great defenses - even the Steelers, who had the NFL's best - to win without an offense that can score in a hurry when it has to. The Roethlisberger-to-Holmes connection worked four times for 73 yards just on the winning drive alone. Holmes earned the game's MVP trophy with 9 catches for 131 yards, stealing it away from the Fitzgerald, who had 7 catches for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 64-yarder that put his team ahead 23-20 with 2:37 left.

If great defense is so dominant, how did the the Steelers' No. 1 defense blow a 13-point lead, the largest in Super Bowl history? If great defense is so great, why did Roethlisberger and Holmes have to rescue the Steelers when all the chips were on the line?

Not to diminish defense. The biggest play in the Steelers' victory was James Harrison's 100-yard interception return, the longest play in Super Bowl history, which created a 14-point swing. While Harrison's effort on the runback was extraordinary, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau should get an assist.

LeBeau is one of the most creative blitz architects in the history of the game, and that play was vintage. The Steelers came with a blitz but left their leading sacker, Harrison, in coverage. Warner, one of the shrewdest quarterback in the game, was surprised to see Harrison step in front of Anqan Boldin, who would have had a 2-yard TD catch had the NFL's defensive player of the year not been in perfect position.

Versatile, athletic players help LeBeau utilize a vast array of blitzes; players like linebackers Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who had 341/2 sacks between them this season, including the playoffs. Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are just as athletic, but they combined for one-half of a sack this year. Maybe they could be better utilized.

One last thought. Did anyone enjoy seeing the officials walk off 18 penalties? Me neither.