Detroit – The Pittsburgh Steelers finally gave coach Bill Cowher some Super Bowl satisfaction.
Moments after the Rolling Stones rocked a Ford Field filled with Terrible Towels, Willie Parker broke a record 75-yard touchdown run, sparking Pittsburgh’s 21-10 victory Sunday over the Seattle Seahawks.
Not only did the Steelers earn that elusive fifth championship ring and their first since 1980, but they completed a magic Bus ride that made Jerome Bettis’ homecoming – and likely farewell – a success.
And they provided sweet validation for Cowher with a title in his 14th season as their coach, the longest tenure in the NFL.
As a sixth seed, no less.
Maybe their inspiration came when Mick Jagger sang a rousing rendition of “Satisfaction” at halftime.
They certainly got plenty of help from the Seahawks, too.
Seattle was plagued by penalties, drops, poor clock management and a critical fourth-quarter interception of Matt Hasselbeck just when the NFC champions seemed ready to take the lead.
Instead, Pittsburgh (15-5) got the clinching score with the kind of trickery that has carried it through an eight-game winning streak.
Versatile wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, a quarterback in college, took a handoff from Parker, sprinted right and threw perfectly to Hines Ward for a 43-yard TD with 9:04 remaining.
Bettis’ role was minimal in what might be the final game for the NFL’s No. 5 career rusher.
So was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s impact – the most noteworthy play for the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl was a horrid pass that Kelly Herndon of the Seahawks (15-4) returned a record 76 yards.
That set up the Seahawks’ only touchdown, a 16-yard pass to Jerramy Stevens – Joey Porter, his verbal sparring partner all week, was nowhere in sight.
But with Parker’s burst and Seattle’s self-destructive tendencies, the Steelers completed their postseason march through the league’s top four teams.
