The Pittsburgh Steelers blew it.
The Green Bay Packers took Super Bowl XLV on Sunday simply by converting when the Steelers made mistakes. Two early interceptions were worth 14 Packers points, while a recovered fumble led to a touchdown. Somewhere, Steelers passing great Terry Bradshaw was laughing and crying over Ben Roethlisberger’s ills.
Pittsburgh should have won. Instead, Green Bay triumphed 31-25.
Indeed, Green Bay showed Pittsburgh which is the NFL’s greatest franchise — maybe not in the Super Bowl era but since the time of leather helmet. The Packers won their fourth Super Bowl and 13th title overall despite entering the postseason as a sixth seed, which trumps the Steelers’ six Super Bowls.
Roethlisberger proved his toughness after suffering an early knee injury. He spotted Green Bay a 21-3 lead, partly because of those two interceptions. But Big Ben rallied the Steelers, and Pittsburgh appeared ready to take the lead in the fourth quarter before a fumble and subsequent touchdown seemed to seal the victory for the Packers. Then Roethlisberger threw another touchdown pass as television sets nationwide remained on.
The NFL is the king of drama. Blowout wins are seemingly illegal, so naturally Green Bay settled for a field goal on its next drive to give it a six-point lead with 2:07 to go. Pittsburgh still had a chance to win in the final moments.
And then the Steelers fizzled. Thou shall not commit three turnovers and trail by 18 points and still win the championship.
Meanwhile, the Black Eyed Peas proved the NFL can trust a band not collecting Social Security for its halftime entertainment. Loved the “Tron” lights. Loved Slash and Fergie playing a Guns N’ Roses song. And Usher, too? Greatest Super Bowl halftime show ever.
Where can I get that helmet will.i.am donned?
It wasn’t a great night for commercials, though. There was nothing that will be remembered Monday, much less years from now. You expect more at $2.5 million a pop.
Doritos won the night for one with the office worker licking the finger of another who just ate Doritos. Sick but funny. Plus, bringing back grandpa from the dead also was interesting. The Detroit commercial was a close runner-up.
The weirdest pitch was the Audi commercial featuring rich people in prison with Kenny G music. Funny but no stranger than Joan Rivers as a Go Daddy babe. Hard to sleep after that.
Can’t wait for the “Fast and Furious” movie. And who doesn’t love cowboys and aliens squaring off? The “Transformers” movie looks like there will be nothing left of downtown Washington.
Earlier, the “oh’ during the national anthem was for Christina Aguilera, who may have skipped some words. As in “oh no” and “oh my.”
So ends football season. Who knows when the NFL will return considering the offseason labor troubles? At least it ended well.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected]
