Ranking the Steelers Super Bowl wins from bottom to top
By Eric Hassel
The Steelers squandered a fourth-quarter lead but roared back to beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII
So I know what you’re thinking…How could you say that Super Bowl XLIII, arguably the greatest Super Bowl ever played, comes in at number two on your list? That’s a fair question. I think many fans would disagree with my assessment that it is our second-best Super Bowl victory.
Don’t get me wrong, Super Bowl XLIII was an exciting contest that featured us, the then five-time Super Bowl champions, against a team in the Arizona Cardinals, who had never been to the Super Bowl prior to their appearance in Super Bowl XLIII.
With the Steelers leading by three points late in the second quarter and with the Cardinals driving, James Harrison engineered not only a tremendous play but probably the greatest INT in Super Bowl history by picking off a pass from the Cardinals QB and returning it one hundred yards that put the Steelers up by ten.
At halftime, I was thinking that it would be a great early birthday present if the Steelers could deliver a sixth Super Bowl to Pittsburgh. While I was not at ease, by any stretch, I was cautiously optimistic until the fourth quarter rolled around.
Heading into the fourth quarter, we were up by thirteen points. I knew the game wasn’t over, but I also knew that we have never squandered a double-digit lead to lose a Super Bowl, but, that is, in fact, what we very nearly did.
With the Cardinals now leading by three late in the fourth, my attention turned toward my then ten and half year old son, who was visibly upset. All I was thinking was this: How the heck am I going to console him when there is no one to console me?
Fortunately for me, my son, and for the Steelers, we had ‘Big Ben’ at the helm, who drove the offense down the field to ultimately win the game on one of the greatest TD passes in Super Bowl history. The recipient of that TD pass was Santonio Holmes, who would be named Super Bowl MVP.
Despite nearly costing us the game, the defense closed it out and the Steelers became six-time Super Bowl champions. Let’s see what game came in as the greatest Super Bowl victory.