SUPER BOWL XL
14
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2006
TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
KEY PLAY
Willie Parker busted through a huge hole on second-and-10 from the Steelers’ 25 and raced 75 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 14-3 lead. It was the longest run in Super Bowl history.
THIRD QUARTER: STEELERS 14, SEAHAWKS 10
PLAY BY PLAY
Seahawks at 15:00 J.Brown kicks 66 yards from SEA 30 to PIT 4. R.Colclough to PIT 25 for 21 yards (J.Babineaux). 1-10-PIT25 (14:54) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete to H.Ward. 2-10-PIT25 (14:50) W.Parker right tackle for 75 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Reed extra point is GOOD, CenterG.Warren, Holder-C.Gardocki. SEA 3, PIT 14, Plays: 2, Yards: 75, Possession: 0:22. Steelers at 14:38 J.Reed kicks 66 yards from PIT 30 to SEA 4. J.Scobey to SEA 29 for 25 yards (B.Keisel). Seattle Seahawks at 14:31 1-10-SEA29 (14:31) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to S.Alexander (C.Haggans). 2-10-SEA29 (14:27) M.Hasselbeck pass to M.Morris to SEA 35 for 6 yards (I.Taylor). 3-4-SEA35 (13:45) M.Strong left end to SEA 42 for 7 yards (C.Haggans). 1-10-SEA42 (13:09) S.Alexander left end pushed ob at PIT 37 for 21 yards (A.Smith). 1-10-PIT37 (12:44) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to J.Stevens (J.Farrior). 2-10-PIT37 (12:37) S.Alexander up the middle to PIT 32 for 5 yards (J.Farrior; L.Foote). 3-5-PIT32 (11:50) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to D.Jackson. 4-5-PIT32 (11:45) J.Brown 50 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-J.Darche, Holder-T.Rouen. Steelers at 11:40 1-10-PIT40 (11:40) B.Roethlisberger pass to H.Ward pushed ob at SEA 45 for 15 yards (E.Pruitt). 1-10-SEA45 (11:12) J.Bettis left tackle to SEA 39 for 6 yards (L.Tatupu). 2-4-SEA39 (10:33) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete to A.Randle El. 3-4-SEA39 (10:27) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass to H.Ward to SEA 23 for 16 yards (M.Boulware; K.Herndon). 1-10-SEA23 (9:46) J.Bettis left end to SEA 11 for 12 yards (E.Pruitt). 1-10-SEA11 (9:05) J.Bettis right tackle to SEA 7 for 4 yards (E.Pruitt). 2-6-SEA7 (8:26) J.Bettis right end to SEA 7 for no gain (M.Boulware). 3-6-SEA7 (7:52) B.Roethlisberger pass intended for C.Wilson INTERCEPTED by K.Herndon at SEA 4. K.Herndon to PIT 20 for 76 yards (A.Randle El). Longest interception return in Super Bowl history. Previous was Willie Brown of the Raiders in Super Bowl XI (75 yards). Seahawks at 7:38 1-10-PIT20 (7:38) S.Alexander up the middle to PIT 16 for 4 yards (D.Townsend; C.Hope). 2-6-PIT16 (6:55) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to B.Engram. 3-6-PIT16 (6:51) M.Hasselbeck pass to J.Stevens for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Brown extra point is GOOD, CenterJ.Darche, Holder-T.Rouen. SEA 10, PIT 14, Plays: 3, Yards: 20, Possession: 0:53. Seahawks at 6:45 J.Brown kicks 73 yards from SEA 30 to PIT -3. I.Taylor, Touchback.PIT-C.Okobi was injured during the play. 1-10-PIT20 (6:45) W.Parker right end to PIT 23 for 3 yards (L.Tatupu). 2-7-PIT23 (6:12) W.Parker left tackle to PIT 26 for 3 yards (L.Tatupu; D.Lewis). 3-4-PIT26 (5:33) (Shotgun) V.Haynes right tackle to PIT 28 for 2 yards (L.Hill). 4-2-PIT28 (4:54) C.Gardocki punts 47 yards to SEA 25, Center-G.Warren. P.Warrick to SEA 27 for 2 yards (J.Harrison). Seahawks at 4:38 1-10-SEA27 (4:38) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to J.Stevens. 2-10-SEA27 (4:37) PENALTY on SEAS.Alexander, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at SEA 27 — No Play. 2-15-SEA22 (4:37) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to J.Jurevicius. 3-15-SEA22 (4:30) M.Hasselbeck pass to M.Strong to SEA 35 for 13 yards (J.Farrior; T.Carter). 4-2-SEA35 (3:52) T.Rouen punts 49 yards to PIT 16, Center-J.Darche. A.Randle El to PIT 36 for 20 yards (I.Kacyvenski). Steelers at 3:39 1-10-PIT36 (3:39) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete to J.Tuman (L.Tatupu). 2-10-PIT36 (3:33) B.Roethlisberger left end pushed ob at PIT 44 for 8 yards (D.Lewis). 3-2-PIT44 (2:58) (Shotgun) B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete to H.Ward. 4-2-PIT44 (2:55) C.Gardocki punts 54 yards to SEA 2, Center-G.Warren, downed by PIT-B.Keisel. Seahawks at 02:41 1-10-SEA2 (2:41) S.Alexander up the middle to SEA 7 for 5 yards (J.Farrior). 2-5-SEA7 (2:13) M.Hasselbeck right end to SEA 15 for 8 yards (A.Smith).PIT-C.Haggans was injured during the play. 1-10-SEA15 (1:34) M.Hasselbeck pass to R.Hannam to SEA 18 for 3 yards (J.Porter). 2-7-SEA18 (1:01) M.Hasselbeck pass to R.Hannam to SEA 27 for 9 yards (L.Foote). 1-10-SEA27 (:29) M.Hasselbeck pass to B.Engram to SEA 48 for 21 yards (I.Taylor; C.Hope). 1-10-SEA48 (:02) M.Hasselbeck pass incomplete to J.Jurevicius.
CHRISTOPHER HORNER/ TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Steelers running back Willie Parker runs for a touchdown during the third quarter of Super Bowl XL in Detroit. It was the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history.
Long sprint opens lead, but Seahawks keep it close
Seattle finds an answer for Willie Parker’s Super Bowl-record score.
BY ROB ROSSI
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
FIRST DOWNS
DETROIT — The Steelers began the second half of Super Bowl XL with a 7-3 lead, thanks in part to Seattle’s inability to capitalize on golden opportunities. But it was their capitalization on a big mistake by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger that kept the Seahawks’ championship dream alive. Following the Rolling Stones’ hits-heavy halftime performance, the Steelers were the ones who still needed to be started up — having gained only 113 yards in the first half, 43 of those coming on the ground. Not a problem. After all, the Steelers had Willie Parker. Parker, who had been held to just 11 yards on six carries in the first half, broke through a huge hole opened by the right side of the Steelers’ offensive line on the second play of the quarter and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. Jeff Reed’s extra point gave the Steelers a 14-3 advantage. He’s called “Fast Willie” by teammates. And he was on that play, breaking the
longest run in Super Bowl history. Seattle answered with a first down on the third play of its ensuing drive. Then, NFL Most Valuable Player Shaun Alexander ran 21 yards to put the Seahawks in position to answer the Steelers’ score, moving the Seahawks into Steelers territory. But quarterback Matt Hasselbeck overthrew wide receiver Darrell Jackson on third-and-6 from the Steelers’ 33, and kicker Josh Brown failed to convert on a 50-yard field goal — his second miss from 50 yards or more. With 11:40 remaining in the quarter, the Steelers led by 11 points. Such a deficit was seemingly bad news for the Seahawks, as the Steelers had lost only one game in Bill Cowher’s 14 years as head coach when they were ahead by 11 or more points. The Steelers’ second possession of the third quarter began at their own 40. They promptly marched to Seattle’s 7 behind wide receiver Hines Ward’s two catches for 29 yards — including a key, 16-yard conversion on third-and-3 from Seattle’s 40 and four Jerome Bettis runs for 24 yards. On third-and-7, Roethlisberger was intercepted by Kelly Herndon at the 3-yard line. Herndon returned the ball to the Steelers’ 20. The interception was Roethlisberger’s
second of the game. He had thrown just one interception in three previous playoff games this postseason. On first down, Alexander ran for 4 yards to the Steelers’ 16. Hasselbeck threw incomplete to wide receiver Bobby Engram on second down. That brought up third-and-6, and Hasselbeck found tight end Jerramy Stevens open for a 16-yard touchdown reception. The score cut the Steelers’ lead to 14-10 with 6:45 remaining in the quarter. The Steelers ran three times on their next possession and failed to gain a first down. Chris Gardocki’s punt put Seattle at its own 27. The Steelers’ defense held Seattle to a three-and-out on the next possession. Pittsburgh started its fourth possession of the quarter at its 26. Roethlisberger threw incomplete on first and third downs and the Steelers were forced to punt. Gardocki came through with a 54-yard punt that put the Seahawks at their 2. From there, the Seahawks drove to the Steelers’ 48 as the third quarter ended with Pittsburgh holding onto a tenuous 14-10 lead. ——— Rob Rossi can be reached at rrossi@tribweb.com or 412-320-5635.
RUSHING YARDS
TOTAL YARDS
ON THE RUN
STATISTICS
SEAHAWKS STEELERS
144 118
113 50
PASSING YARDS
68 31
TURNOVERS
0
1
PENALTIES/YARDS
1/5
0/0
6
4
THIRD QUARTER DRIVE CHART
On the second play from scrimmage, Willie Parker runs 75 yards for the Steelers’ second touchdown of the game. The Seahawks respond with a touchdown of their own, a 16-yard pass to Jerramy Stevens with 6:51 left.
oal own field g touchd yards, missed , 75 ards, 2 plays s, 39 y 8 play tion tercep rds, in a s , 53 y 8 play
s, pun 8 yard lays, 3p t s 3 play chdow n
tou ards, , 20 y
3
pun ards, s, 8 y play
t
, punt yards ys, 8 3 pla
s, 4 6 play
s, end 6 yard
of qua
rter
TIME OF POSSESSION
STEELERS 7:29 SEAHAWKS 7:31