Well, he we are, game day has finally arrived. Covering my third Super Bowl I have finally been given a seat in the auxiliary press box. This is huge. Last year I was sitting in a tent - outside of the University of Phoenix stadium. This year, I actually have a seat in the auxiliary press box. Following the strict directions of NFL officials I made my way to the seat. Up and up I climbed. When I stopped I was in section 307 row BB seat 16 of Raymond James Stadium. A mere three rows from the very top of the stadium. What an incredible view of the field. The famous Bucs Pirate ship is about 150 metres to my left. ESPN's Mike Tirico, Ed Werder and Trey Wingo are sitting just couple seats off to my right.
Looking as hot and wholesome as always, Faith Hill was awesome. Just after Jennifer Hudson finished her excellent rendition of the anthem, the US Air Force Thunderbirds screamed over head at close to Mach 1. It seemed like a million flash bulbs go off at once during Neil Rackers opening kick off. With so many Steelers fans on hand, it feels like a home game at Heinz Field.
After 29 minutes and 42 seconds of decent football, the NFL's reigning defensive player of the year made a play for the ages. James Harrison, the feared sack master, was dropped back into coverage in Dick LeBeau's zone blitz defense. Kurt Warner wasn't expecting that one and Harrison came up with the interception and took it a Super Bowl record 100 yard touchdown. Instead of the Cards going into the half with a 14 to 10 lead, the Steelers go in with a 17 to 7 lead.
Before we could catch our breath, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band put on a killer 12 minute half time show. The atmosphere in Raymond James Stadium during their set was so incredible it's hard to describe. The guy is amazing.
Little did anyone in the stadium realize that history was going to repeat itself in Super Bowl 43. Last year in Phoenix, we witnessed a wild fourth quarter finish. This year in Tampa, we witnessed a fourth quarter of football that was equally as exciting. Maybe even better.
Down 20 to 7, Kurt Warner hit Larry Fitzgerald on a fade in the corner of the end zone to make the score 20 to 14. Then Steelers centre Justin Hartwig gets called for holding with Roethlisberger standing in the end zone. That's an automatic safety and all of a sudden it's a 20-16 Steelers lead with 3:04 to go.
Now, up until this point, the Steelers defence had done an incredible job of not letting Larry Fitzgerald beat them with a deep ball. Dick Lebeau had parked Safety Ryan Clark 20 yards deep every play to make sure Fitzgerald wouldn't burn them. In an instant, Warner spotted Fitzgerald and the number one wide receiver in the NFL exploded for a wild 64 yard touchdown. In a shocking turn of events, the Cardinals have a 23 to 20 lead with just 2:47 left to play.
Ben Roethlisberger isn't the prettiest quarterback in the NFL, but when Mike Tomlin needs him to get the job done, Big Ben is pure money. Roethlisberger led the Steelers on a dramatic eight play, 78 yard drive. Every play was a pass, and five of the eight passes went to Santonio Holmes. With 48 seconds to go, Big Ben threw a sweet pass to Holmes in the left corner of the end zone. Instead of celebrating, Holmes let the pass slip right through his hands. The very next play, Roethlisberger hits Holmes in the right corner of the end zone for the game winning touchdown. Thanks to Roethlisberger's heroics, the Steelers won their record sixth Super Bowl title. Holmes was named the games MVP, but it was Big Ben that came up the biggest when Tomlin and the Steelers needed them. As long as Roethlisberger is upright, he can find a way to make a play.
Afterwards, it was a gong show on the field as the Steelers celebrated their Vince Lombardi Trophy. By the time we finished our post game interviews our elated, but tired crew made our way back to our palatial two star hotels.
Once you make it back to your hotel, it hits you that another incredible NFL season is over. Next year, we will be in Miami for Super Bowl 44. Whether or not the Cardinals can repeat their amazing post season run remains to be seen. The Steelers will have pretty much the same team when they kick off training camp in July.
And that is very bad news for the rest of the AFC.
