Super Bowl XLIII: A look back

TAMPA, Fla. – Super Super Bowls are becoming a habit.

The Steelers’ 27-23 win Sunday night over Arizona was another classic in an era of great games – “a game for the ages,” commissioner Roger Goodell called it.

Indeed, with a few exceptions – notably Ravens 34, Giants 7 in 2001 – fans have been treated to a decade’s worth of rousing NFL championships.

Consider that the typical Super Bowl score from 1980-99 was 35-17.

But starting in 2000, when Tennessee’s Kevin Dyson was tackled a yard short of the goal-line with what would have been the tying touchdown in a 23-16 loss to St. Louis, the games have generally been what they were always supposed to be – worthy of their immense hype.

Six of the last 10 Super Bowls have been decided by a touchdown or less. Whatever the reason – luck, greater parity, never-say-die teams – the NFL has reason to smile.

The Rams’ winning score against the Titans came on a 73-yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce from Kurt Warner with 1:53 left. Warner brought the Cardinals back from a 13-point deficit Sunday before the Steelers’ final drive.

Warner had to watch from the sidelines in 2002, as Tom Brady drove the Patriots to the winning field goal against the Rams.

It wasn’t the only similarity Sunday to Super Bowls past. In some ways, this year’s edition mirrored last season’s.

The winning TD came on a pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in the game, the same time remaining as a year ago when the Giants scored to beat New England 17-14. The Steelers’ game-winning drive started from their own 22 with 2:42 left in the game; the Giants’ drive began from their 17 with 2:39 remaining.

Holmes was voted the game’s MVP with 9 catches for 131 yards. It was a redemption for him in two ways.

The play before his game-winning touchdow, he missed what seemed to be an easier throw on the opposite side of the end zone. And in midseason, he was suspended one game by Steelers coach Mike Tomlin after being found with marijuana after a traffic stop by Pittsburgh police.

“I learned a lot from that,” Holmes said. “I’ve grown a lot.”

Goodell added, “Santonio grabbed me as we were coming off the podium and said, ‘Thank you for believing in me.’”