The Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII to become the champions of the NFL world. However, the Arizona Cardinals gave the Steelers all they could handle. Pittsburgh’s 27-23 victory was even closer than the final score indicates. Here are the top five heroes for the Steelers in their victory.

5. Hines Ward, Wide Receiver
Coming into the Super Bowl, no one really knew how effective Ward was going to be able to be during the game. He had suffered a knee injury in the Steelers’ previous game and Ward had to miss practice time. Although he didn’t have a huge statistical game (two catches, 43 yards), Ward got a big catch early that seemed to give Pittsburgh the momentum. He also blocked well throughout the game and ended up being a key cog of the Super Bowl victory.

4. LaMarr Woodley, Linebacker
On the defensive end of the field, Woodley doesn’t get much attention. NFL offenses typically ignore him and even the Steelers haven’t always been high on him. But in the Super Bowl, Woodley had a very good game. He consistently got good pressure on Kurt Warner and finished the game with a pair of sack.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, Quarterback
Roethlisberger began the Super Bowl playing very good football. He passed well, he moved around in the pocket well and he showed very good improvisational skills. During the middle segment of the game, he struggled a bit and seemed to possibly be cracking under the pressure. But on the final drive, Big Ben was huge as he marched the Steelers down the field for the winning score.

2. Jerome Harrison, Linebacker
During the regular season, Harrison was named the defensive player of the year. In the Super Bowl, he showed exactly why. At the end of the first half, Harrison bluffed a blitz and then dropped back in coverage. When Warner threw a pass, Harrison was in perfect position to pick it off. After intercepting the pass at the goal line, Harrison authored a 100-yard return that will be replayed for as long as the Super Bowl is played.

1. Santonio Holmes, Wide Receiver
Although all the above players had great games, Holmes was the player most responsible for the win. In the final drive, he single-handedly took over the game. His touchdown grab with 35 seconds remaining in the game was a fantastic catch that ended up being the defense between a crushing defeat and Super Bowl jubilation.

Tags: arizona cardinals, NFL, pittsburgh steelers, santonio holmes, super bowl
Posted in Sports |