TAMPA, Fla. — When the chase was finished, the exhausted hero collapsed victorious.
With any sense of theater, NBC would have rolled the credits right then and there.
The scene would have helped make for an unforgettable movie, only James Harrison’s 100-yard interception for a touchdown as the clock struck 0:00 on the world’s greatest sporting stage was so much better in real life.
In the movies, though, life generally ends happily for the heroes. In sports, particularly in football, there is no script. The story flows as it goes. Harrison’s return came only on the final play of the first half.
There was so much more to the story that was Super Bowl XLIII, which Pittsburgh won 27-23 with a spectacular finish against the Arizona Cardinals.
Still, considering Harrison and “The Return” was a 14-point turnaround, it can be argued it was the difference.
“To get a huge play like that in the biggest game, on the biggest stage, it was the difference in the game,” said Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.
One of the most significant defensive plays of Super Bowl history began 18 seconds before halftime. Pittsburgh led 10-7, but the Cardinals had the ball first-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Arizona’s superb quarterback Kurt Warner was in the shotgun. Pittsburgh had the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year lined up at right linebacker.
“We had a max blitz called and I knew he would try to get rid of the ball quick,” Harrison said.
Warner threw a quick pass intended for Anquan Boldin, who was running a quick slant. Harrison, who is known more for his pass-rushing skill, stepped in front of Boldin and caught the ball at the goal line.
“I saw two-on-two coverage out there and right when I was throwing it, I felt him come out from behind one of my linemen,” Warner said.
Cut to the chase. Harrison ran down the right hashmarks, cut out near the sidelines and ran through a retreating Warner, with some blocking help, near the Pittsburgh 30.
There had been flag thrown back near the goal line. It was thrown after Harrison made the interception. The timing and location of this flag suggested an illegal block by the return team.
On Harrison went anyway, his blockers pursuing him with greater fervor than Arizona’s offensive players-turned defenders.
“That was something we talked about in practice,” Harrison said. “We had practiced on when guys had picks, getting back and throwing blocks even though guys didn’t have pads on. It was something that really ended up helping us out.”
Harrison crossed into Cardinals’ territory, cut inside around the 25-yard line to avoid one tackler, bounced back toward the sideline, skipped past the diving tackle of Cardinals guard Mike Gandy.
Finally, Arizona receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston caught up to Harrison near the 5-yard line. Harrison plowed into them, knocking them down. Harrison started falling at the 3, but his knee was cushioned by Fitzgerald’s leg. Harrison barely reached the end zone, landing first on his helmet.
The penalty was against Arizona. There was a replay review. Harrison lay flat on his back in the back of the end zone, out of breath. The official said the play stood as called. Touchdown. Harrison got up and was guided to his sideline so his kicker, Jeff Reed, could boot the extra point.
“It was very tiring, but it was all worth it,” Harrison said.
It was the longest play in a Super Bowl and it was arguably the greatest scoring return in football history since University of Colorado linebacker Greg Biekert zigzagged back a blocked extra point 85 yards for a two-point conversion that helped the Buffs tie Nebraska 19-19 in 1991.
For Harrison, it was a 14-point play. Look again at the final score to see how big the significance of the play.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
