So said Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin when being interviewed after the game as he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the record sixth time in Steelers history. He went on to say it wasn't pretty and they wouldn't earn any style points but this is how they did it all season long.
Ravens fans certainly knew this was the case by virtue of their three losses, two in the last minute or later and the third, the AFC Championship Game, wasn't decided until Steelers safety returned and interception for a touchdown with a little over four minutes left in the game.
The Arizona Cardinals had played well over their heads throughout the post season and with just over two minutes left in the game, thought they had Super Bowl 43 in the bag. Think again, Arizona, this isn't your Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers or Minnesota Vikings. These are the Pittsburgh Steelers, who sometimes decide to not even show up for the first 58 minutes or so of a game and then rip your heart out as they "steel" a game they had no business winning. Yesterday was really no different than that scenerio. Yes, the Steelers won 27-23, but look at the possibilities. Seven of their points came on a 100 yard interception return when the Cardinals were driving and about to take a 14-10 lead into halftime. Typical Steelers get the turnover and turn it into points to extend their halftime lead to 17-7. That's a 14 point turnaround that might have made a huge difference in the outcome.
However, none of that mattered to Ben Roethlisberger. In typical fashion, he danced and twisted and just barely managed to stay on his feet and find the open receivers that he did so many times to our Ravens and to every other team that the Steelers faced this season. Roethlisberger certainly is not pretty, will not have great stats (although he did last night) and will not earn those style points that Coach Tomlin was talking about. All he does is win, and now has won two Super Bowls in his six years in the league. Not too shabby for a big, ugly dork, huh?
As a Ravens fan, it kills me to know that now not only do we get to hear about how the Steelers beat us three times last season, but now we have to endure the taunts that they're Super Bowl Champions once again. I guess the only good thing I will try to counter that with is that it will feel that much sweeter to kick their butts next season!