Super Bowl XLIII was the last championship for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was one of the most exciting Super Bowls of this century and featured one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history with James Harrison’s interception return just before the half that put the Steelers ahead of the Arizona Cardinals by 10 points. It seemed like an insurmountable lead against the best defense in the NFL.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes an interception in the Cardinals endzone in the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers led the NFL in the fewest points allowed and the fewest yards allowed. They were number one against the pass and number two against the run and featured stars at every level. Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu was the leader of the defense that featured the defensive player of the year and first-time Hall of Fame semifinalist Harrison. The two first-team All-Pros were joined by Pro Bowler James Farrior and a bevy of future and former All-Pro and Pro Bowl players.
Polamalu’s running mate Ryan Clark, who was in the news earlier this week for his compassionate and moving coverage of the Damar Hamlin incident, joined the Varsity House Podcast on YouTube to discuss his career. Varsity House is hosted by Shaun Crawford who played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and has broadcasted 31 episodes since its inception. Crawford asked Clark about Super Bowl XLIII and the wide receiver duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald.
“I don’t even know man,” Clark replied. “I’m still hurting you know. We was trash man. We were fixing to lose it, it was our fault. We were so sorry that night. Larry was crazy that entire playoff run, we had Larry kind of locked down until the fourth quarter. It was china corner, we both knew it. We were the outside guys, so we were like oh yeah, I’m going to go pick this. You expected he’s not going to catch this, and when he did, he was gone.”
The Steelers entered the fourth quarter up 20-7 but after two Fitzgerald fourth-quarter touchdowns and a safety after Justin Hartwig held in the end zone, the Steelers were down 23-20 with just over two minutes remaining.
“It was a letdown,” Clark continued. “Luckily Ben was on fire, we had Tone, Heath all the boys made plays, we ended up winning but for us it's not finishing the deal. We weren’t in that position because our offense was great. We were in that position because of us. So for us, it was like you want that 2000 Ravens moment. We want it (the defense) to be the reason, you wanted to dominate, and it didn’t end up that way.”
ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks to Ryan Clark #25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers as they play against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Ben Roethlisberger bailed out the defense when he found Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone for what turned out to be the winning score, but the game wasn’t over. The Steelers' defense had to take the field with 35 seconds remaining and hold the Cardinals and Kurt Warner out of the end zone.
“Coach Tomlin had to give us a pep talk,” Clark concluded. "I already quit, you put somebody else out here coach, I don’t think I’m going to do it. It’s so funny after Lamar knocks the ball out of Kurt Warner’s hand, me and Troy are laughing. He’s like “Bro I was so scared that Larry Fitzgerald was going to Moss us’ and so was I. Lamar saved us bro and we had a parade after that.”
Football: Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers LaMarr Woodley (56) in action, forcing fumble vs Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner (13). Steelers recovered the ball in the final seconds. Tampa, FL 2/1/2009 / Photo Credit: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Lamar Woodley’s sack to seal the game ended both halves on a positive note for the Steeler’s defense. It wasn’t an all-time play like Harrison’s interception, but the strip sack sealed the game for the black and gold and delivered their sixth Lombardi Trophy.
The 2008 Steelers defense was the peak of that unit’s powers. They had won Super Bowl XL with a very good defense, but the 2008 unit truly rivaled the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, 1985 Chicago Bears and the Steel Curtain defenses of the 1970s. The group remained dominant, but they were not an all-time great unit in the years following that game after giving up the 10-point lead to the Cardinals in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Did the Cardinals' near miracle permanently damage the aura of invincibility around the 2008 defense? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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