TAMPA, Fla.–Ben Roethlisberger looked one way, then another. Finally, he somehow spotted Santonio Holmes in the right corner of the end zone, obscured by three defenders.
TAMPA, Fla.–Ben Roethlisberger looked one way, then another. Finally, he somehow spotted Santonio Holmes in the right corner of the end zone, obscured by three defenders.
Big Ben threw it up. Holmes stretched his hands as high as he could get them but mindful of keeping both feet on the ground.
The ball stuck to Holmes’ hands as though they were coated in glue. The tips of his outstretched toes brushed along the edge of the mowed-just-high-enough turf. If the blade had been set any lower, he would’ve been in trouble.
The official threw up his hands.
Touchdown Steelers!
Another Super Bowl classic. Or, as commissioner Roger Goodell put it at Monday morning’s news conference: “A game for the ages.”
In what is becoming the norm for America’s unofficial national holiday, Pittsburgh and the Arizona Cardinals played a title game for the ages Sunday night. The fourth quarter alone was worth the $3 million NBC charged for every half minute of ad time.
First, it looked as though Arizona had pulled off the greatest comeback win in Super Bowl history. Then, the Steelers drove down the field in the final two minutes, capping off their 27-23 victory with Roethlisberger’s masterful improv of a play and Holmes’ spectacular catch for a 6-yard touchdown with 35 seconds remaining.
Holmes sat on the ground for a few seconds – legs outstretched, head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around a ball he didn’t want to relinquish – as his teammates piled on to celebrate. On the winning drive, he had four catches that accounted for all but five of the 78 yards covered by the Steelers.
“Before that drive, I told him, ‘Ben, I want the ball in my hands no matter what, no matter where it is,’” said Holmes, who was named MVP in a game filled with plenty of candidates after finishing with nine receptions for 131 yards. “I wanted to be the one to make the play.”
Holmes reflected on that moment Monday morning after – as usual – a night of little sleep for the Steelers. But he didn’t spend as much time celebrating as many of his teammates, instead taking time to play video games with his sons.
“They were excited with playing Madacasgar II,” Holmes said.
Does 35 seconds sound familiar?
It should.
That was how much time remained when Plaxico Burress caught the winning touchdown a year ago in New York’s improbable comeback win over New England, denying the Patriots from becoming the first 19-0 team in NFL history. That one was exquisite. This one might have been even better.
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