In one of the greatest Super Bowls ever played, the Arizona Cardinals come up short losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23. In front of a predominately Steeler crowd, the Cards mounted a spirited fourth quarter comeback that actually had them take a 23-20 lead.
The game was "business as usual for the Cardinals. It was a game full of penalties,missed tackles,hopeless drives,remarkable comebacks, and on this occasion....a heartbreaking loss. Right from the opening drive the Steelers looked as if this would be an all Pittsburgh game. They drove down the field and had a first and goal from the Arizona 1. But the Cards defense came up big making stops on Russell and Willie Parker. Roethlisberger then scrambled to the goal line, originally being credited with a touchdown. When the Cardinals asked for a review, the play was over turned and Pittsburgh settled for a field goal.
Pittsburghs second drive of the game yielded a better result. It was a 69 yard drive that culminated in a one yard touchdown run by Russell. Giving the Steelers a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter. This was dangerous territory for the Cardinals, they were in danger of falling behind by 3 scores. They came out strong on their next drive. The big play, a 45 yard completion to Anquan Boldin, gave the Cardinals a first and goal at the Pittsburgh 1. Warner then hit Ben Patrick with the ARIZONA CARDINALS first ever Super Bowl score, a nicely thrown fade pass. The Cards had cut the lead to 10-7.
After a Karlos Dansby interception with 2:09 to go in the half, Arizona looked to be in business. They drove to the Pittsburgh one yard line with 18 seconds in the half. Then the turning point of the game occurred. From the shotgun, Warners short pass to Boldin was picked off by Harrison and returned 100 yards for a touchdown. The return set a new super bowl record,gave Pitssburgh a 17-7 half time lead, and could have broken the Cardinals spirit. If the Cards were able to convert that play, they could have gone into the half with a 14-10 lead, not a 17-7 defecit.
The third quarter was highlited with a Jeff Reed 21 yard field goal. It could have been much worse. On Reeds 27 yard field goal, Adrian Wilson was called for unnecessary roughness, giving the Steeers a first and goal from the nine yard line. The Arizona defense held, and Reed would kick his field goal giving Pittsburgh a 20-7 lead.
The fourth quarter was vintage Cardinal football. After Arizona stopped PIttsburgh on their first drive of the fourth quarter, Kurt Warner and Co. went to work. Running a predominately no huddle-shotgun offense, Warner began to pick apart the Steeler defense. Completing passes to 5 different receivers, including 4 to Larry Fitzgerald. Third and one from the Pittsburgh one.....It was a play that we've seen so many times this year, a perfectly placed lob to Fitzgerald. The Cards cut the lead to 21-14.
The next Cardinal drive resulted in a punt. A perfectly placed punt, downed at the Steeler two yard line by Adams. Arizona did what they needed to do, pin Roethlisberger deep in his own territory. First down from their own 2 yard line. After an incomplete pass to Hines Ward, Willie Parker barely cleared the goal line,avoiding a safety. On third and ten, Roethlisberger completes a 19 yard pass to Santonio Holmes. The flag on the play was holding in the end zone resulting in a saftey. Arizona was now down 21-16.
Following the Pittsburgh punt, Arizona started on their own 36 with 2:53 left in the game. Warners first pass is incomplete to Boldin. Warner,from the shotgun again, hit Fitzgerald over the middle. Fitzgerald splits the defense and goes 64 yards for the touchdown! Arizona takes their first lead of the game,23-21 with 2:47 to play in the game. One stop and the ARIZONA CARDINALS would be SUPERBOWL champions. On a third and 6, Holmes makes a 13 yard catch for a 1st down. Roethlisberger would then hit Holmes again with a short pass that would turn into a 40 yard gain. Pittsburgh ball, first and goal from the 6. Roethlisbergers pass goes through the hands of Holmes as he leaps in the left corner of the end zone. Second and goal, 42 seconds left. This time the Steelers try the right corner of the endzone, with three defenders around him Holmes makes the catch. Pittsburgh has the lead once again,23-21.
The Cardinals take over on their own 23 with only 29 seconds to go. Warner hits Fitzgerald for a 20 yard gain, they use time out number 2. The next play left me wondering. With only a single time out remaining, the Cards go short over the middle to JJ Arrington. While the play netted 13 yards, the Cardinals had to exhaust their final time out. There were 15 seconds left and 44 yards to go. From the shotgun, Warner takes the snap, tries to scramble to buy the receivers time, and is sacked. He loses the ball, the Steelers recover and just like that the dream is over.
The Steelers win 27-23. While noone is ever happy with a loss, the ARIZONA CARDINALS have alot to be proud about. This was a team that wasn't ever given a chance in any of it's playoff games. A team that was "the worst playoff team of the year", the "worst conference champion ever" etc etc. Well, it was the ARIZONA CARDINALS that came this close to winning the SUPER BOWL! They took the best defense in the NFL and pushed them to the limit. CONGRATS CARDINALS.....THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT RIDE!!!!
Thank you CBSSPORTS for this opportunity. It was alot of fun writing the Cardinal blog!





