Big Ben comes through in clutch

By Kevin Gorman, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Monday, February 2, 2009


TAMPA, Fla. — Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger pump-faked and pointed toward the right corner, a spot surrounded by Arizona Cardinals, and threw a pass that sent the Steelers into Super Bowl history.

Roethlisberger's 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, who stretched to catch it in the right corner of the end zone with 35 seconds remaining, gave the Steelers a 27-23 victory in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday night at Raymond James Stadium.

The 26-year-old Roethlisberger completed 21 of 30 passes for 256 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

The fifth-year Steelers quarterback directed an eight-play, 78-yard game-winning drive — one in which he sandwiched an 11-yarder to Nate Washington between passes of 13 and 40 yards to Holmes to set up the final play.

That he finished stronger than he started is an amazing feat in itself, considering that Roethlisberger got the Steelers rolling on the opening drive. His first pass, to receiver Hines Ward, went for 38 yards. The second, to tight end Heath Miller, went for 21.

By the end of that drive, Roethlisberger was rolling right on a play-action bootleg, absorbing a hit from Darnell Dockett and dragging the Cardinals defensive tackle toward the goal line.

The officials initially ruled that Roethlisberger broke the plane and signaled for a touchdown. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt challenged the call and a review showed that Roethlisberger was down.

It was the only time Big Ben came up short.

After struggling as a second-year pro in the Super Bowl XL victory three years ago — when he was 9-of-21 for 123 yards with two interceptions — Roethlisberger showed veteran poise in Super Bowl XLIII.

By the end of the first quarter, Roethlisberger had completed 7 of 8 passes for 118 yards — only 14 shy of his game total in Super Bowl XL. By halftime, he had completed 11 of 14 passes for 130 yards.

Roethlisberger also showed remarkable poise in the second half, after his final throw of the first ended in an interception. His pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage by nose tackle Bryan Robinson and landed in the hands of outside linebacker Karlos Dansby.

But as Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and receiver Larry Fitzgerald worked their way into the NFL postseason record books, Roethlisberger got the ball at the end and did what he's proving he does best — win a Super Bowl.