For the second time in four seasons, the Steelers are Super Bowl Champions, and also a wide receiver is the MVP of the biggest game on the biggest stage. Back in the 2005 season it was Hines Ward taking home the trophy, and on Sunday night with the game on the line this time the Steelers looked to their new hero – Santonio Holmes.
The former first-round draft pick had a big night, and a bigger impact on the game-winning drive in the eventual 27-23 Pittsburgh win. He made four grabs on the drive, including a key third down conversion and the two other huge plays – a 40-yard grab to get the ball to the Arizona 6, and then on 2nd down the game-winner, a perfect throw and catch from Ben Roethlisberger as Holmes dragged his feet to get them in bounce for the score.
“I dared the team,” Holmes said. “I came up and told Ben that I want to be the guy. I wanted to win the game for you guys, man. Just give me the ball, give me the chance to make the plays and I will do it for you.”
And he did.
Holmes had a solid night, with nine catches for 131 yards (14.6) per catch with the winning score. The play on the touchdown saw the Cardinals in zone coverage, and Holmes was able to get behind the secondary and wait on the ball for what will go down as one of the most exciting TD’s in Super Bowl history.
“I knew it was a touchdown, 100 percent,” Holmes said. “My feet never left the ground. All I did was stood up on my toes and extended my hands. I knew it would be 100 percent.”
It was nerve wracking for the Steelers as they did have to wait out a review, but after the ref looked at the footage, he made the correct call, which was that Holmes did have control of the ball and both feet were in bounds – meaning a touchdown and an MVP all in one.
“This is a wonderful blessing,” Holmes said. “I would definitely like to thank the Lord for putting me in this situation. I’d like to thank the Lord for helping me overcome all the things I overcame, the coaches for sticking with me, this organization for being behind me and believing in me and my quarterback for giving me this opportunity to make plays for him all season.”
There is no doubt that Holmes was in the right place at the right time, and it was a big night for the speedster that clinched the Steelers 6th NFL title and his place on the map as the games Most Vaulable Player.
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