NOTE: This is from the Madden NFL 11 Simulation
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Steelers 24, Packers 20
ARLINGTON, TX- The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed their seventh Super Bowl Championship and their third in six seasons in last night’s 24-20 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger located receiver Mike Wallace on a 36-yard slant pass in the back of the end zone with 1:20 left for the game winning score. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was able to drive the Packers deep into Steelers territory before cornerback Ryan Clark’s interception with twenty seconds remaining secured the victory.
“Coach (Tomlin) told me that ball was worth $83000,” said the cornerback. The coach was referring to the bonus players receive when they win the game.
“Steeler Nation… We’re bringing another one back home!” Mike Tomlin said as he was on the podium hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
After both teams traded their first possessions the Steelers scored first when Rashard Mendenhall took a pitch off right tackle in for a two yard score to give the Steelers a 7-0 lead with 2:55 to go in the first quarter.
The Steelers were able to force a quick three-and-out and looked poised to score another touchdown but had to settle for a Jeff Reed field goal to extend the Steelers lead to 10-0. This was the first time all season that the Packers had been down by more than 7 points in a contest.
With :45 seconds remaining and facing a third down, Aaron Rodgers was able to find Greg Jennings for a touchdown pass to cut the lead to 10-7 Pittsburgh at the half. Jennings led all receivers with 9 receptions for 123 yards.
On the opening possession of the third quarter, Ben Roethlisberger engineered a 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 6:01 off the clock and was capped with a touchdown pass to Hines Ward, his first TD reception since Super Bowl XL.
“During halftime, we took advantage of it being longer and made the adjustments needed to put the drive together. We felt that if we got a little bit of momentum on this drive it would set us up for a score that could give us some distance between Green Bay,” said the quarterback.
James Harrison was able to sack Aaron Rodgers two times, but what he will be remembered for is a questionable helmet-to-helmet hit on Aaron Rodgers that kept a Packers drive alive early in the fourth quarter. Instead of facing fourth down, the Packers were awarded a new set of downs.
Mike Pereira, a former head of NFL officiating serving as a rules analyst for the Fox telecast, said, “Clearly the NFL got it wrong. It is a shame that in a championship game that the officials are playing a factor in this contest.”
“Yeah, that play was bull****! The NFL can fine me, but so what? They can kiss my rings!” said Harrison when asked about the call. At the time of the press release, there has been no announcement from the league about whether they will fine Harrison for the comments made, but it is expected that he will notification of one.
The penalty eventually set up Rodgers to James Jones for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Packers their first lead in the contest with 9:00 remaining.
It appeared that the Packers defense would hold the Steelers offense, but the Packers were unable to sustain a drive long enough to keep Roethlisberger and eventual Super Bowl MVP Mike Wallace. James Starks, who had come up big for the Packers in the post-season, rushed for only 58 yards.
“On that last play, Ben told me as we broke the huddle, I am going to look for you, so get open,” Wallace said, “Once I caught that ball, I wasn’t going to let that go.”
For a team historically known for its defense, all of their Super Bowl MVPs have been offensive players. Mike Wallace with his five receptions for 111 yards and the eventual game winning touchdown becomes the seventh wide receiver to be named Super Bowl MVP. Half of the receivers named Super Bowl MVP played for the Steelers: Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X, Hines Ward in Super Bowl XL, and Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII.
“I am proud of these guys for the season we had,” said head coach Mike McCarthy, “A lot of people wrote us off after we had a lot of key players go down due to injury, but this team is full of fighters. We never quit. Even being down 10 twice, we knew that we were a play here or there from winning this one.”
“This hurts. We did everything we could to win this game. I saw Nelson open and tried to put the ball on his left shoulder, but the corner made a great play on the ball,” Rodgers said about his last pass attempt of the game.
During the press conference, Ben Roethlisberger, who faced scrutiny for going to a Fort Worth piano bar during Super Bowl week had this announcement, “After winning my third Super Bowl title, I feel the need to announce my retirement and being my new career as a lounge singer.”
To the relief of Steeler Nation, Roethlisberger said, “My offensive line has informed me that, there is not that much of a career in especially with my singing talents as shown by the TMZ staff. They said I should keep doing what I do best: win Super Bowls.”
A victory parade is expected in Downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday culminating in a celebration rally at Heinz Field.
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