FIRST QUARTER | SEAHAWKS 3, STEELERS 0
It couldn't get much more uneventful than this, as both teams struggled in the early going. At least the Seahawks moved the ball. They recorded all five first downs in the quarter, mostly by eschewing NFL MVP running back Shaun Alexander to throw to Darrell Jackson. Seattle called for passes on 11 of its first 14 plays, connecting on five with Jackson, who tied the Super Bowl record for catches in the first quarter held by Buffalo's Andre Reed. The Steelers became only the third team to finish the first quarter of a Super Bowl without a first down.
KEY PLAY: Jackson would have had another reception, but an apparent 16-yard touchdown catch was nullified when he was called for pushing off in the end zone. Seattle settled for a 47-yard field goal by Josh Brown, the only score of the quarter.
KEY STAT: Four, the number of penalties in the quarter, hampering both offenses. Pittsburgh was called for two false starts – including one on its first offensive play – and Seattle was hit with a holding call and the above-mentioned offensive pass interference.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu made one tackle, but otherwise had an extremely quiet quarter. It wasn't evident that his ankle was bothering him. His backup, Mike Logan, injured his knee, leaving Pittsburgh thin in the secondary.
SECOND QUARTER STEELERS 7, SEAHAWKS 3
Another penalty opened the second quarter, a holding call that negated what would have been a 34-yard punt return by Seattle's Peter Warrick. The Steelers finally got their first first down on a pass to Antwaan Randle El with 11:25 to go in the quarter, then got their second on the next play, an 18-yard end-around by Hines Ward. Just when it appeared the Steelers might actually cross midfield, a Ben Roethlisberger pass was underthrown and intercepted by Michael Boulware. But the Steelers offense seemed to be stirring, and on its next possession drove 59 yards for the lone touchdown of the half, a 1-yard dive by Roethlisberger.
KEY PLAY: Roethlisberger, under pressure, rolled to his left and looked as if he were going to take off. But he pulled up, buying time before finding Ward open at the 3-yard line for a 37-yard completion that set up the Steelers' TD.
KEY STAT: After not making a first down in the first quarter, the Steelers had six in the second.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Jackson again came close to a TD for the Seahawks, this time in the final minute of the quarter. His over-the-shoulder catch at the 1 was ruled incomplete because he got only one foot inbounds. And it wasn't the best use of the clock by the Seahawks on that drive. They let precious seconds tick off and were forced to try a 54-yard field goal that was no good.
THIRD QUARTER STEELERS 14, SEAHAWKS 10
Unlike the first half, there were fireworks right from the start in the third quarter. On the second play of the half, Steelers running back Willie Parker burst through the line over right tackle and sped 75 yards for a touchdown, the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history, to put the Steelers up 14-3. Pittsburgh was looking to take complete command of the game on its next possession, driving to the 7 when Seahawks cornerback Kelly Herndon stepped in front of a pass intended for Cedrick Wilson at the 4 and returned it 76 yards, setting up a Seattle touchdown three plays later.
KEY PLAY: While Parker's long TD run was huge, the Herndon interception was a potential 14-point swing and kept Seattle in the game. Instead of the Seahawks falling behind 21-3, the pick set up their first touchdown, making it 14-10. It was the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.
KEY STAT: 10, the number of seconds it took Pittsburgh to score in the second half and extend its lead from four points to 11.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: The injuries started to mount on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks. They lost safety Marquand Manuel in the first half, then cornerback Andre Dyson got hurt in the third quarter and tackle Rocky Bernard pulled a hamstring.
FOURTH QUARTER STEELERS 21, SEAHAWKS 10
Another interception near the end zone – this one by the Steelers – and a touchdown pass by Randle El made the difference for Pittsburgh. The interception was by Ike Taylor, thwarting a long Seattle drive that could have given the Seahawks the lead. Four plays later, Parker handed off to Randle El on a reverse, and Randle El found Ward cutting across the field for a 43-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10. From there, the Steelers' Jerome Bettis took over, eating up yardage and time to spell the end for the Seahawks.
KEY PLAY: The Matt Hasselbeck interception was similar to the third-quarter Roethlisberger interception, at least as far as the situation goes. Trailing 14-10, Seattle was at the Steelers' 19 after starting the drive from its 2, threatening to take the lead. But after being pushed back by a holding penalty and a sack, the Seahawks faced third-and-18 when Taylor picked off a pass at the 5 and returned it 24 yards. A penalty on Hasselbeck for cutting Taylor added 15 more yards.
KEY STATS: Jackson's numbers in the first quarter: five catches, 50 yards; his numbers in the final three quarters: 0 catches, 0 yards.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: More questionable clock management by the Seahawks ruined what little chance they had for a miracle at the end. Needing two scores, they wasted precious time.
KEY PLAY: Jackson would have had another reception, but an apparent 16-yard touchdown catch was nullified when he was called for pushing off in the end zone. Seattle settled for a 47-yard field goal by Josh Brown, the only score of the quarter.
KEY STAT: Four, the number of penalties in the quarter, hampering both offenses. Pittsburgh was called for two false starts – including one on its first offensive play – and Seattle was hit with a holding call and the above-mentioned offensive pass interference.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu made one tackle, but otherwise had an extremely quiet quarter. It wasn't evident that his ankle was bothering him. His backup, Mike Logan, injured his knee, leaving Pittsburgh thin in the secondary.
SECOND QUARTER STEELERS 7, SEAHAWKS 3
Another penalty opened the second quarter, a holding call that negated what would have been a 34-yard punt return by Seattle's Peter Warrick. The Steelers finally got their first first down on a pass to Antwaan Randle El with 11:25 to go in the quarter, then got their second on the next play, an 18-yard end-around by Hines Ward. Just when it appeared the Steelers might actually cross midfield, a Ben Roethlisberger pass was underthrown and intercepted by Michael Boulware. But the Steelers offense seemed to be stirring, and on its next possession drove 59 yards for the lone touchdown of the half, a 1-yard dive by Roethlisberger.
KEY PLAY: Roethlisberger, under pressure, rolled to his left and looked as if he were going to take off. But he pulled up, buying time before finding Ward open at the 3-yard line for a 37-yard completion that set up the Steelers' TD.
KEY STAT: After not making a first down in the first quarter, the Steelers had six in the second.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: Jackson again came close to a TD for the Seahawks, this time in the final minute of the quarter. His over-the-shoulder catch at the 1 was ruled incomplete because he got only one foot inbounds. And it wasn't the best use of the clock by the Seahawks on that drive. They let precious seconds tick off and were forced to try a 54-yard field goal that was no good.
THIRD QUARTER STEELERS 14, SEAHAWKS 10
Unlike the first half, there were fireworks right from the start in the third quarter. On the second play of the half, Steelers running back Willie Parker burst through the line over right tackle and sped 75 yards for a touchdown, the longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history, to put the Steelers up 14-3. Pittsburgh was looking to take complete command of the game on its next possession, driving to the 7 when Seahawks cornerback Kelly Herndon stepped in front of a pass intended for Cedrick Wilson at the 4 and returned it 76 yards, setting up a Seattle touchdown three plays later.
KEY PLAY: While Parker's long TD run was huge, the Herndon interception was a potential 14-point swing and kept Seattle in the game. Instead of the Seahawks falling behind 21-3, the pick set up their first touchdown, making it 14-10. It was the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.
KEY STAT: 10, the number of seconds it took Pittsburgh to score in the second half and extend its lead from four points to 11.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: The injuries started to mount on the defensive side of the ball for the Seahawks. They lost safety Marquand Manuel in the first half, then cornerback Andre Dyson got hurt in the third quarter and tackle Rocky Bernard pulled a hamstring.
FOURTH QUARTER STEELERS 21, SEAHAWKS 10
Another interception near the end zone – this one by the Steelers – and a touchdown pass by Randle El made the difference for Pittsburgh. The interception was by Ike Taylor, thwarting a long Seattle drive that could have given the Seahawks the lead. Four plays later, Parker handed off to Randle El on a reverse, and Randle El found Ward cutting across the field for a 43-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10. From there, the Steelers' Jerome Bettis took over, eating up yardage and time to spell the end for the Seahawks.
KEY PLAY: The Matt Hasselbeck interception was similar to the third-quarter Roethlisberger interception, at least as far as the situation goes. Trailing 14-10, Seattle was at the Steelers' 19 after starting the drive from its 2, threatening to take the lead. But after being pushed back by a holding penalty and a sack, the Seahawks faced third-and-18 when Taylor picked off a pass at the 5 and returned it 24 yards. A penalty on Hasselbeck for cutting Taylor added 15 more yards.
KEY STATS: Jackson's numbers in the first quarter: five catches, 50 yards; his numbers in the final three quarters: 0 catches, 0 yards.
NOT IN THE BOX SCORE: More questionable clock management by the Seahawks ruined what little chance they had for a miracle at the end. Needing two scores, they wasted precious time.
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