Super Bowl XL Retrospective: 3rd and 28

In anticipation of Cardinals-Steelers, FanHouse takes a look back at some forgotten storylines from past Super Bowls.

When people think of Super Bowl XL, the most common storylines involve Jerome Bettis' hometown (did you know he is from Detroit?) and the officiating. One of the plays that drew the prominent rage of Seattle fans and head coach Mike Holmgren was Ben Roethlisberger's one-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.

It was a close call, no doubt, and probably wouldn't have been overturned regardless of what the call on the field was. Holmgren, naturally, saw it differently, and voiced his displeasure as soon as he was interviewed on the field heading into the locker room.

Had Roethlisberger been ruled short of the goal line, it would have been a fourth-and-goal situation, leaving head coach Bill Cowher with a huge decision early in the contest.

What seems to get lost, however, is how the Steelers ended up on the one-yard line.

After driving to the Seattle 22-yard line, the Steelers were pushed back by an offensive pass interference penalty on Heath Miller, negating a five-yard completion to Bettis. Following a sack by Grant Wistrom on the very next play, the Steelers were forced into a third-and-28 on the Seahawks 40-yard line.

At this point, it appeared as if the drive had stalled and the Steelers were going to miss out on a golden opportunity to take the lead. They went from being in automatic field goal range with a first down to being out of field goal range, facing a seemingly impossible third-down situation.

On the third-down play, Roethlisberger avoided the Seattle rush and scrambled to the left along the line of scrimmage. After he bought himself enough time, he heaved a pass towards the end zone into the waiting arms of Hines Ward for a 37-yard completion, giving the Steelers a first-and-goal at the three-yard line. Three plays later, Roethlisberger scored.

It ended up being one of the biggest plays of the game, and while the touchdown call itself could have gone either way, it never would have been an issue had Seattle been able to make a stop on a third-down situation where the odds were in its favor.

Top Super Bowl Images of the 2000s

St. Louis Rams Torry Holt (88) celebrates a 10-yard touchdown in the third quarter as teammate Isaac Bruce (80) looks on during Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000. The Rams defeated the Titans 23-16. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

Chuck Burton, AP

KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: SUPERBOWL KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY GARY BOGDON/ORLANDO SENTINEL (KRT218) ATLANTA, GEORGIA January 30 -- Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair (9) escapes the grasp of St. Louis defender Grant Wistrom (98) in the closing minutes of Super Bowl XXXIV that ended in a 23-16 Rams victory. (Digital Image) (OR) AP PL KD BL 2000 (Horiz) (GSB) -- NO MAGS, NO SALES --

Gary Bodgon, Orlando Sentinel/MCT

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Issac Bruce (80) runs 73-yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter as Tennessee Titans safety Anthony Dorsett (33) tries to tackle him during Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, Sunday Jan. 30, 2000. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

John Bazemore, AP

Tennessee Titans WR Kevin Dyson is tackled just short of the goal line by St. Louis Rams LB Mike Jones on the last play of Super Bowl XXXIV at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA on January 30, 2000, to give Dick Vermeil his 1st Super Bowl victory. The Rams beat the Titans 23-16. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/NFL)

Mike Zarrilli, NFL/Getty Images

St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, right, gets a hug from Rams head coach Dick Vermeil after the Rams defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-16 to win Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, Sunday Jan. 30, 2000. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

Dave Martin, AP

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Trent Dilfer (8) celebrates with teammates after throwing a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley during the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Rick Bowmer, AP

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 28: Baltimore Ravens' defensive end Rob Bunett (90) celebrates tackling New York Giants' quarterback Kerry Collins (5) during first half action in Super Bowl XXXV 28 January, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens are playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the NFL championship. (Photo credit should read PETER MUHLY/AFP/Getty Images)

Peter Muhly, AFP/Getty Images

TAMPA, UNITED STATES: Duane Starks of the Baltimore Ravens runs an interception back for a touchdown during second half action against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV at Raymond James Stadium 28 January 2001 in Tampa, Florida. The New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens are playing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Roberto SCHMIDT (Photo credit should read ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)

Roberto Schmidt, AFP/Getty Images

28 Jan 2001: Jermaine Lewis #84 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball for a run back touchdown during the Super Bowl XXXV Game against the New York Giants at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Ravens defeated the Giants 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

KRT SPORTS STORY SLUGGED: SUPERBOWL KRT PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID BERGMAN/MIAMI HERALD (SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL OUT) (January 28) TAMPA, FLORIDA - Baltimore linebackers Ray Lewis (#52) and Peter Boulware (#58) walk off the field after a series in the first half of Super Bowl XXXV. (MI) PL KD BL 2001 (Horiz) (smd) (Digital image)

David Bergman, Miami Herald/MCT