Steelers use team effort

DETROIT — At 23, Ben Roethlisberger is the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

But his quarterback rating of 22.6 (on a scale where 158.3 is perfect) is the lowest recorded by a winning quarterback in the NFL championship game.

Those numbers explain as well as anything why the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory after a 7-5 start was nothing short of a brilliant team effort.

As Roethlisberger struggled to find any consistency against the Seahawks on Sunday, he made one excellent play to put the Steelers ahead right before halftime.

Facing third and 28 at the Seattle 40, the Steelers were hoping to get enough yardage to give kicker Jeff Reed a shot at a field goal.

The Steelers trailed 3-0 in a first half where the Seahawks dominated the statistics but had made enough mistakes to be limited to a field goal. (In Seattle, they're blaming poor officiating.)

Under pressure, Roethlisberger scrambled left and started to run. But then he pulled up and patiently waited behind the line of scrimmage for wide receiver Hines Ward to break free.

Throwing across the field, Roethlisberger hit Ward for a 37-yard gain. After two runs by Jerome Bettis were stopped at the 1, Roethlisberger dove into the end zone to put the Steelers ahead.

They never trailed again, but the Seahawks kept the game very interesting.

Steelers' defense
plays well

Credit should go to Pittsburgh's defense, especially the secondary that's considered the unit's weak link.

"You can't say enough about our defense," Roethlisberger said. "In the first half, they did a phenomenal job of really keeping us in the game."

Cornerback Deshea Townsend said the game plan was designed to allow the Seahawks short passes in exchange for making sure they didn't connect for game-breakers.

Quarterback Matt Hasslebeck's numbers were decent (26 completions on 49 tosses for 273 yards) but unproductive.

In fact, the only touchdown the Steelers surrendered came when it appeared that Pittsburgh was about to extend the lead to at least 14 points.

After Willie Parker's 75-yard touchdown put Pittsburgh ahead 14-3, the Steelers were motoring, facing a third-and-6 at the Seattle 7. Roethlisberger tried feathering a pass to Cedric Wilson and cornerback Kelly Herndon moved in for the pick-off.

"My mind was telling me to throw it over the top and my arm didn't throw it over the top," Roethlisberger said. "I read it right; I just didn't throw it good."

Thanks to a tackle by Antwaan Randle El at the Pittsburgh 20, the score remained 14-3.

But three plays, Hasselbeck hit tight end Jerramy Stevens in the corner of the end zone to reduce the lead to four points.

Reverse pass
is key play

As Roethlisberger struggled, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt reached into this bag of trick plays and brought out a reverse pass. Randle El's 43-yard touchdown to Ward stuck a dagger into the Seahawks' hopes.

Roethlisberger said nerves were a factor.

"Oh yeah, the whole game. Usually when the other team gets the ball first, I don't feel quite as nervous when I go in there," Roethlisberger said. "It was probably the most nervous I've been before any professional football game."

The second-year quarterback admitted he didn't see his off night coming.

"When you think about [playing in] the Super Bowl, you imagine yourself coming out and playing your best football," he said. "It wasn't that way. I couldn't get it done throwing the ball today for whatever reason."

Big Ben bashers should remind themselves which player performed so well in the three road playoff games to get the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger's passer rating was 124.8 in the wins over the Bengals, Colts and Broncos.

Fortunately for the Steelers, they were loaded with capable options.

Randle El certainly increased his free agency value in what might have been his final Steelers game.

"He throws the ball on the move as well as anybody I've ever seen," Whisenhunt said. "That's two touchdowns he's had this year on the same kind of throw. And he hit Hines in stride — it's incredible."

Departures loom
for Steelers

Randle El's potential departure is not the only loss the Steelers face in the off-season. Whisenhunt is interviewing for the Raiders' head coaching job this week.

Linebacker Joey Porter is a free agent. And Hall of Fame tailback Jerome Bettis is retiring. Others could join him.

With Duce Staley on the roster, the Steelers have a stable of running backs. Losing Randle El, who also returns punts, would affect the offense.

This isn't first time Cowher has had to reload. The potential for another strong team is there. But with the Colts and the Patriots in the AFC, Steelers fans should savor every moment of this championship.

You never know when one is going to pop up and surprise you.

Tom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at williams@vindy.com.