Holmes game-winning is memorable and awesome. James Harrison 100-yard interception touchdown return is far and the most unique play I ever seen in my lifetime in Steeler glory.
Incredible. I can’t recount how much this play describle. An unbelievable play that many will say changed the course of the Super Bowl.
With less than 20 seconds left in the 2nd quarter on the Cardinals goal line, just moments away from the scoring, James Harrison intercepted Kurt Warner’s pass and runs from the goal line to the next for a 100 yard touchdown. A new Super Bowl record for longest yard. Later in the game, the play resulted the Steelers won the Super Bowl.
Here are the essay of greatest play, via Mondesishouse.com:
Pre-snap Reads:
- Cardinals three receiver shotgun set, one right, two left, with left sidecar halfback going towards the Cardinals end zone
- Steelers two down lineman, three defensive back/linebackers showing blitz, three man-to-man defensive backs on receivers, a safety & two linebackers in midfield zone
(clock is right, followed by play-by-play, with ball placement left)
00:18 #13 Kurt Warner hikes ball; Steelers rush #25 Ryan Clark, #56 Lamar Woodley, & #94 Lawrence Timmons (Pit 2)
00:17 #91 James Harrison intercepts #13 Warner’s quick slant pass intended for #81 Anquan Boldin (Pit GL)
00:15 #74 Reggie Wells 15 yard facemask of #94 Timmons (later declined); #94 Timmons puts the first block on #74 Wells (Pit
00:14 #51 James Farrior blocks #81 Boldin out of the chase (Pit 16)
00:12 #25 Clark blocks #63 Lyle Sendlein; #26 Deshea Townsend blocks #13 Warner (Pit 26)
00:11 #56 Woodley blocks on #34 Tim Hightower (Pit 36)
00:10 #24 Ike Taylor boxes out #82 Leonard Pope, both run into #26 Townsend & #13 Warner; #91 Harrison runs through a falling #13 Warner (Pit 42)
00:09 #43 Troy Polamalu bumps #11 Larry Fitzgerald off-balance; #99 Brent Keisel blocks #75 Levi Brown (Ari 47)
00:08 #26 Townsend slows down #11 Fitzgerald; #94 Timmons blocks #74 Wells forcing #11 Fitzgerald to dodge out of bounds(Ari 41)
00:07 #56 Woodley blocks #34 Hightower as #91 Harrison sidesteps(Ari 34)
00:03 #69 Mike Gandy falls short of making the tackle as #25 Clark falls into him (Ari 9)
00:02 #91 Harrison is caught & wrapped up by #11 Fitzgerald & then #15 Steve Breaston (Ari 3)
00:01 #91 Harrison falls on the legs of #11 Fitzgerald into the Steelers end zone (Ari GL)
00:00 Touchdown is signaled by official #9 Mark Perlman; Replay Assistant challenge, play Upheld, Touchdown Steelers, 17-7. End of First Half.
(10) Cardinals involved in interception return; #’s: 11, 13, 15, 34, 63, 69, 74, 75, 81, 82
(8) Steelers involved in interception return; #’s 24, 25, 26, 43, 51, 56, 91, 94, 99
Steelers breakdown by influence: 24:1, 25:3, 26:3, 43:1, 51:1, 56:3, 91:5, 94:4, 99:1
Phenomenal. Pittsburgh Post Gazette declares the name of play, ‘Immaculate Interception’. Similar the word of play came from NFL greatest play in history, Immaculate Reception.
Also, don’t miss the excellent NFL Films video: SB XLIII anatomy: James Harrison’s 100 yard dash.