Greatest Play in Steelers History

[Chucktownsteeler]

I was at both games. The madness that ensued after Franco's improbable catch and run was scary. My friend and I were in the 5th deck (yellow seats at Three Rivers) and in the first row and in the corner of the end zone into which Franco ran. When he scored we thought we were going to die, fans were pushing forward to try and see, I thought for sure that two young teenagers were going to get pushed over the rail and fall into the lower deck. Once the pandemonium died down we finally started our walk down the ramps, but the place was still buzzing and people were just running around yelling and screaming. I certainly won't ever forget that play.

The following week against Miami, the Steelers were in control of the game until some point in the 2nd quarter and Larry Seiple ran a fake punt for something like 30 yards, it turned the game around completely, even though the Steelers took the lead 10-7 in the third quarter. The defense was winning battles against the Dolphins offense until that fake punt.

A few other things happened to the Steelers that day that people forget.

1) Bradshaw was injured in the first quarter and didn't return until the 4th and threw 2 interceptions with the score 21-17.
2) Ham had an interception negated by a penalty, ultimately the drive ended in points for Miami

The Steelers were clearly a young team and made too many mistakes to beat the Dolphins. I believe the Steelers were the better team, but the Dolphins more experienced and very good in their own right, obviously, they ended up 17-0.

Pappy

Great post, thanks for sharing. Although still a young 'en back then, I remember watching the game on TV and cursing the Seiple fake punt.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Since Pappy is recounting his experiences at the Immaculate Reception game, I guess I'll rehash some memories from my experience at SBXLIII. I was seated in the end zone where Harrison scored on his INT (but in the other corner). When he picked off the pass 100+ yards away from me at the other end of the field diagnonally away from me, pandemonium broke out. I saw that it was Harrison who picked it off, but it looked like he handed the ball off to the speedier Deshea Townsend as he started to sprint down the sidelines. It wasn't until he reached about midfield that I realized that Harrison still had the ball himself. When he somersaulted into the end zone it was pandemonium once again. You had the original roar when the pick happened, then everyone screaming "go, go, go" all the way down, and finally another roar when he reached the end zone. At that moment, the Super Bowl wasn't some corporate gig populated by mostly business bigwigs rather than diehard football fans...it was an absolute madhouse...as crazy as anything I've experienced in huge playoff games back at Heinz full of our fans and only our fans.

The Santonio catch was also in the opposite end zone from me. I had a clear view straight down the Steeler sideline for it, though. His previous drop the play before was in the opposite corner diagonal from where I was sitting. When he caught it, it certainly looked like two feet were down from my vantage point (an unblocked perspective, albeit from quite far away), so we were jumping up and down, high fiving, hugging those around us, the whole thing. However, then we had to wait for the replay confirmation from the ref to be 100% sure, which made the result somewhat anticlimactic by comparison. When the ref raised his arms, we celebrated again. But then there was still time on the clock. When Woodley ultimately stripsacked Warner a few plays later and we recovered the fumble, we celebrated yet again. When the ref confirmed that it was Steeler ball, we celebrated one more time. When we came out in victory formation, more celebration still. Although the Santonio catch may seem more vital to the victory because we needed to regain the lead with less than a minute to go, all of those other supplementary things (needed replay review, still time on the clock, need a defensive stop to clinch, etc.) made the Harrison play (which ended with the clock at 0:00) more satisfying overall. Plus, so much had to happen just right for it to occur, making it that much more remarkable.

Great post, thanks for sharing. I agree, the repalys and more replays do tend to take away from todays game.

[Chucktownsteeler]

true.. but I think that is part of the problem. The play didn't end the game so it's hard for it to top the IR in my opinion.

I won't lie, I screamed go, go, gO, GO, GO, GOOOO! it was an awesome play but by the end of the game i almost forgot it happened because the last 5 minutes were epic.

Perhaps Ben and Santonio engineered the greatest drive in the history of the NFL with the game (The Super Bowl no less) on the line. The drive started on an ominous note as (Kemo or Colon) got charged with a hold. It was 2 and 20 from about our own 10. Also, Melwelde Moore had a tremendous blitz pick-up on 4th down during the drive and Ben also was a magician snarling and errant shot-gun snap from center.

Previously, on the earlier drive what I still call the "bogus" hold on Hartings in the endzone the resulted in a safety, Santonio made a simply great, great catch. This Super Bowl had it all, certainly one for the ages.

[Slapstick]

Who was the MVP?

Why is that relevant?

[Slapstick]

Perhaps Ben and Santonio engineered the greatest drive in the history of the NFL with the game (The Super Bowl no less) on the line. The drive started on an ominous note as (Kemo or Colon) got charged with a hold. It was 2 and 20 from about our own 10. Also, Melwelde Moore had a tremendous blitz pick-up on 4th down during the drive and Ben also was a magician snarling and errant shot-gun snap from center.

Previously, on the earlier drive what I still call the "bogus" hold on Hartings in the endzone the resulted in a safety, Santonio made a simply great, great catch. This Super Bowl had it all, certainly one for the ages.

I agree. Fantastic drive.

As far as a single play? Harrison's was more meaningful, IMO.

The Steelers needed both...

[feltdizz]

Why is that relevant?

because plays made during the middle of the game tend to be overlooked when the game was won at the end.

don't get me wrong, the JH play is one of the greatest plays ever made but I don't think anyone can say we wouldn't have won without that play.

[Discipline of Steel]

Who was the MVP?

Ben Roethlisberger. Oh Im sorry, did you mean to ask who 'won' the MVP?

[Discipline of Steel]

the JH play is one of the greatest plays ever made

Not trying to be smart with you, but that is the actual question in the first place.
The question on whether we would have won is just a sub-argument, and the Harris play wins it no question.
Did they both happen as time expired....yes.
Where they equally astonishing....Id say so.
Which game was bigger...obviously the Super bowl.
I think it really boils down to the individual effort expended to make the play happen..."MAKING the play"...and IMHO JH takes it in this case.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Even as great as the Harrison play was, they were still trailing with 2 minutes and some change left on the clock. The last Steeler drive of the Super Bowl is perhaps the greatest drive in NFL history. Go watch it again.

Harrison's play was one for the the ages, no doubt, but "The Drive" was multiple plays with the Super Bowl on the line.

[birtikidis]

Why is that relevant?

It's not. Some people just rely on awards and stats to be told what and who is great.

[birtikidis]

Even as great as the Harrison play was, they were still trailing with 2 minutes and some change left on the clock. The last Steeler drive of the Super Bowl is perhaps the greatest drive in NFL history. Go watch it again.

Harrison's play was one for the the ages, no doubt, but "The Drive" was multiple plays with the Super Bowl on the line.

But without that play by Harrison, as someone else said, Stoned catch may have just been a meaningless catch in garbage time.

[Chucktownsteeler]

But without that play by Harrison, as someone else said, Stoned catch may have just been a meaningless catch in garbage time.

I know what you are saying, but how do we know the game plays out the same without Harrison's INT TD? I just think the enormity of the situation plus the fact there were 2 4th down plays converted on that drive makes it the greatest drive in NFL history. Harrison or Harris can claim the greatest play in NFL history.

[feltdizz]

Not trying to be smart with you, but that is the actual question in the first place.
The question on whether we would have won is just a sub-argument, and the Harris play wins it no question.
Did they both happen as time expired....yes.
Where they equally astonishing....Id say so.
Which game was bigger...obviously the Super bowl.
I think it really boils down to the individual effort expended to make the play happen..."MAKING the play"...and IMHO JH takes it in this case.

I know the actual question but my response on the win debate was with Slap.

[feltdizz]

But without that play by Harrison, as someone else said, Stoned catch may have just been a meaningless catch in garbage time.

may is the key word... we have no idea how it plays out so we cant say it won the game.

[hawaiiansteel]

may is the key word... we have no idea how it plays out so we cant say it won the game.

exactly, it may or may not have. there's no way of ever knowing...