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Roethlisberger: The Comeback Kid

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By ROY CUMMINGS

rcummings@tampatrib.com

Published: February 2, 2009

TAMPA - The more he thought about it, the more it bothered him. Sure, he'd won Super Bowl XL in 2006, but what kind of a role had Ben Roethlisberger really played in winning it? As far as the Steelers quarterback was concerned, it wasn't enough of one.

Completing nine of 21 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions was nothing to be proud of, so Roethlisberger came to Tampa this week looking to exceed his performance three years ago in a victory against the Seattle Seahawks. It's safe to say he succeeded.

The numbers are impressive enough. In the Steelers' 27-23 victory against the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, Roethlisberger completed 21 of 30 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown. What he and everyone else will forever remember about this game, though, is how he brought the Steelers back and made them champions.

Trailing by three points with just over two minutes to play, Roethlisberger engineered an eight-play drive that ended with Santonio Holmes toeing the last blade of grass in the end zone and making an acrobatic catch of a 6-yard pass that Roethlisberger admits was something of a prayer.

"I saw 'Tone' at the last second and I really thought for a second there that the corner was going to pick it," Roethlisberger said. "But I threw it up there in a way that either 'Tone' was going to get it or no one would. It was really all him."

Perhaps, but were it not for Roethlisberger the Steelers might never have been in a position to rally in the first place. Relaxed and determined to better his previous Super Bowl performance, Roethlisberger consistently scrambled his way into position to make an impact.

He made two key throws and scrambled for a gain that fell just short of the goal line on the opening drive of the game and made a couple of throws in the face of pressure during a nearly nine-minute scoring drive midway through the third quarter.

"He's about finding time in the pocket and making plays and he did that today," Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry said. "Most quarterbacks would not be able to do what he did. I mean, you have to give him credit. They're champions because of the way he played."

They're champions for the second time with Roethlisberger at the helm. The Steelers quarterback is the 10th in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowls, and while many consider their first to be the sweetest, that won't be the case with Roethlisberger.

"It does feel a little better this time around because I played better," he said. "Everything this time was a lot different. I was a lot more comfortable, a lot more relaxed."

He seemed especially relaxed as he prepped for that last-minute rally, Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said.

"There was no panic, no excitement," he said. "He was like, 'Let's go do this.' But that's the way it's been with him all year. I mean, he's been in this position before. He just played a great ballgame. As usual."

Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979.

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