SB 40: Steelers, 'Bus' take the title in Motor City

Super Bowl 40

Feb. 5, 2006

At Detroit-68,206

Seattle 3..0..7..0-10

Pittsburgh 0..7..7..7-21

In what almost amounted to a home game for the Steelers - and was a homecoming for their star running back, Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh finally got its ''one for the thumb'' ring.

A record-setting run, game-turning interception and trick play gave the Steelers their record-tying fifth Super Bowl title in Bettis's final NFL game. In his hometown of Detroit, before nearly as many Terrible Towels as are waved in Heinz Field.

Pittsburgh's Willie Parker broke free for a Super Bowl-record 75 yards on the second play of the second half to give the Steelers a 14-3 lead.

They had a chance to close out the Seahawks later in the third quarter, but on third-and-6 from the Seahawks 7-yard line, Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception that Kelly Herndon returned a Super Bowl-record 76 yards. That set up the Seahawks' only touchdown, a 16-yard pass from Matt Hasselbeck to Jerramy Stevens.

Early in the fourth quarter, Seattle drove to the Steelers 19. Hasselbeck's worst pass of the game was intercepted by Ike Taylor, ending Seattle's drive.

The clincher for the Steelers was Antwaan Randle El's 43-yard pass to Hines Ward, the first Super Bowl touchdown throw by a receiver and one of the most decisive trick plays in championship game history. Randle El had been a quarterback in college.

That catch wrapped up the MVP trophy for Ward, who had five catches for 123 yards. It wrapped up Bettis' only championship; he announced his retirement after the game.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL