Steelers nail big plays when it counts

Seattle Seahawks Michael Boulware (L) intercepts a pass in front of Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El yesterday.

GDO Report

The victory gave Pittsburgh a record-equalling fifth Super Bowl title to join the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers as the NFL's greatest champions.

More importantly for the Steelers, it was the first for running back Jerome Bettis and their coach Bill Cowher.

After 13 seasons of punishing duty that has made Bettis the NFL's fifth all-time leading rusher, "The Bus" was finally able to celebrate a championship in what is expected to be the final game of his career.

The victory also ends doubts that Cowher, the longest active coach in the NFL with 14 seasons at the Pittsburgh helm, could not win the big one.

Pittsburgh's fifth title certainly will not be remembered as their best.

After guiding the Steelers to three impressive road wins just to get to the Super Bowl, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger stumbled through an error filled contest to complete just nine-of-23 passes for 112m with two interceptions.

Pittsburgh's mistakes, however, were offset by a string of big plays, including a Super Bowl record 68m touchdown run from scrimmage by Parker.

The Steelers ran on to Ford Field to a thundering ovation and a sea of fans in black and gold waving yellow Terrible Towels that have become the team's rallying call.

Despite the support, the Steelers stumbled through the opening quarter without a first down, with Roethlisberger completing just one of five pass attempts for 1m.

Seattle dominated through the first 15 minutes, but the NFL's highest scoring offence could only generate three points from Josh Brown's 43m field goal.

It would be the only time the Seahawks would lead the game, the Steelers taking a 7-3 advantage into the intermission when Roethlisberger completed a 54m drive by diving over for the only touchdown of the half.

Parker's record run came on the second play of the third quarter and electrified the 68,206 fans in the stadium to give Pittsburgh a 14-3 lead.

The Steelers appeared set to take a bigger lead after driving deep into Seattle territory, but Kelly Herndon intercepted Roethlisberger's pass at the four and returned it 70m to the Pittsburgh 20.

Three plays later, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit tight end Jeremy Stevens with a 14m touchdown pass to get the Seahawks back to within four points.

The Steelers gave themselves a cushion in the fourth quarter with a bit of trickery, wide receiver Antwaan Randle El passing to Ward for a 40m score.

Ward won the Most Valuable Player award.

He hauled in five passes for 112m, including his touchdown.

Ward became the fourth Steeler to win Super Bowl MVP honours after Franco Harris (1975), Lynn Swann (1976) and Terry Bradshaw (1979 and 1980).

"For me to get this honour solidified my career," Ward said. "From where I came from and how I got to this point, it's a special feeling.

"It's totally a dream come true."

Ward's touchdown reception from Randle El put daylight between the two teams and snuffed out the Seahawk's momentum in the fourth quarter.

"We hit that one earlier in the season for a touchdown and we had it set up for this game," Randle El said. "I knew it was going to be a score."

Ward also caught a 34m strike from Roethlisberger to set up Pittsburgh's first touchdown, a 1m run by the quarterback in the second quarter.

"If I would have thrown it a little harder it would have been a touchdown," Roethlisberger said. "He made a great play coming back for it."

Ward, 29, who has missed just one game in eight NFL seasons, had posted four consecutive 915m (1000-yard) seasons until this year, when he finished with 891m.