Portal:American football/Selected article/February, 2008

 Super Bowl XL was an American football game played on February 5, 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion following the 2005 regular season.

The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers (15-5) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks (15-4), 21–10. Although the Seahawks won the turnover battle 2-1, Pittsburgh won on the strength of three big plays converted into touchdowns. Seattle, on the other hand, was plagued by penalties, missed scoring opportunities, and dropped balls. The Pittsburgh Steelers became the fourth wild card team, and third in nine years, to win the Super Bowl and also became the first #6 seed in the National Football League (NFL) playoffs to win the Super Bowl (after becoming the first #6 seed to win a conference title as well as a divisional playoff game) and joined the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers as the only franchises to win five Super Bowls.

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who had five receptions for 123 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 18 yards, was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Running back Jerome Bettis, nicknamed "The Bus" and playing in his hometown of Detroit, announced his retirement after the game, saying "I think the Bus' last stop is here in Detroit." The Steelers finished the season on an eight game winning streak counting down each game to the championship for Bettis.

The event drew a 41.6 rating with a 62 share in the audience. According to Nielsen Media Research, it was the highest-rated Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXX, the last time the Steelers appeared in the Super Bowl prior to Super Bowl XL.

(more)