This time, Roethlisberger truly is Super

Feb 2, 2009 - 6:13 AM By Bill Bernardi PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

This time, "Big Ben" chimed in during the Big Game.

Steely efficient when it mattered most, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger capped the game-winning drive with a 6-yard scoring strike to Santonio Holmes as the Pittsburgh Steelers secured their record sixth championship on Sunday with a 27-23 triumph over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

Roethlisberger completed 21-of-30 passes for 256 yards. More importantly, the numbers added up to his second Super Bowl title in four years.

"Winning the Super Bowl is all that matters," Roethlisberger said. "That's what makes me the most happy, and I think I played a little bit better this time."

By doing so, he joined New England's Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks to win two Super Bowls by age 26.

And while Brady has three rings and a pair of Super Bowl MVP honors to his credit, "Big Ben" is carving his own niche.

On the Steelers' final drive, which began at Pittsburgh's 22-yard line, Roethlisberger hooked up four times with Holmes, who was named the game's most valuable player.

"I said it's now or never, I told the guys all the film study you put in doesn't matter unless you do it now," Roethlisberger said. "I'm really proud of the way they responded."

After an offensive holding penalty pushed the Steelers back 10 yards, the duo combined on gains of 14, 13 and 40 before the game-winning 6-yard score in the back corner of the end zone.

Roethlisberger lofted a pass over three defenders in the right corner of the end zone, and Holmes reeled it in, dragging his toes just prior the sideline.

"I was going to throw the ball in the flat," Roethlisberger said. "They covered it up, so I went to Hines (Ward). He was covered, getting held.

"But all of a sudden, I saw (Holmes) go to the corner. I threw it and thought it was going to be picked. He made a heck of a catch."

The sequence marked the sixth time in 19 games this season that Roethlisberger led a winning drive in the fourth quarter by rallying the Steelers to the lead or tie.

Now, rewind to February 5, 2006, at Detroit's Ford Field, site of Super Bowl XL.

During his sophomore season at the helm, Roethlisberger was admittedly "overwhelmed" on the sport's grandest stage - and his numbers were underwhelming at best.

"Big Ben" came up small in that one, completing 9-of-21 passes for 123 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. To boot, his rating of 22.6 was the lowest of any Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

The key phrase in the aforementioned sentence? That's right, "Super Bowl-winning quarterback," as Roethlisberger did rush for a score in the Steelers' 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

"I played a little better than I did last time," Roethlisberger admitted. "So it feels a lot better to be able to come back on that last drive, probably a drive that will be remembered for a long time, at least in Steelers history. So, it feels really good, really special."

"He's not the same guy he was in the last one," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "He was a young guy in the last one. He's a franchise quarterback that we have a long-term commitment to. He's our guy, and he showed why today."

Roethlisberger said he really wasn't nervous in this Super Bowl go-round.

"I felt a lot better. I didn't have the jitters," he said. "I actually didn't feel really nervous, but when the planes flew over, that's when I was the most nervous."

He quickly settled down as he surpassed his final total from the previous Super Bowl - in the first half.

Roethlisberger was 11-of-14 for 130 yards, and his lone gaffe - an interception by linebacker Karlos Dansby - was effectively erased by Pittsburgh's James Harrison.

On what turned out to be the final play of the half, Harrison picked off Kurt Warner's pass and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a 17-7 lead at halftime.

However, that advantage soon evaporated, forcing "Big Ben" to chime in when it mattered most.