Big Ben keeps Steelers on a Super roll

At 23, Roethlisberger will be the second youngest quarterback in a Super Bowl.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DENVER -- Twenty-three-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wears number 7 in tribute to Broncos Hall of Famer John Elway.
Sunday, in the city where Elway became a legend, the second-year Steeler staged a tribute that broke the hearts of Broncos fans who were certain of a third Super Bowl trip in nine seasons.
After all, a number six seed had never advanced to the Super Bowl, had never ousted a conference's top three seeded teams.
Say hello to history.
The Steelers won their seventh straight game, with two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the first half being instrumental in a 34-17 victory at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Jumped to early lead
For the second straight week, the Steelers, behind Roethlisberger's assured passing, jumped out to a huge lead early then weathered a rally by the home team in the second half.
The difference was turnovers. The Steelers hounded the normally ball-secure Broncos into four costly giveaways that propelled Pittsburgh to its sixth Super Bowl appearance in 32 seasons.
"Our goal is to try and get our offense a few extra possessions -- we did that today," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "It's a dream come true, but it's not over yet --we've still got one more game."
Seattle next in Detroit
On Feb. 5 at Detroit's Ford Field, the Steelers (14-5) will play the Seattle Seahawks (16-2) in Super Bowl XL.
"It's another road game ... but it might be a home game for Jerome," Farrior said.
Farrior was referring to tailback Jerome Bettis, who most likely will cap his 13-year NFL career with the title game in his hometown. Bettis, who gained 29 yards on 15 carries and scored a second-quarter touchdown, is expected to retire.
Bettis is happy for coach Bill Cowher, who has a 2-4 record in AFC championship games.
"He's been criticized for not being able to win the big one and not being able to get back to the Super Bowl," Bettis said. "So I think it's great."
The victory, triggered by the Steelers' 24-3 halftime advantage, helped wipe away the disappointment of last year's 41-27 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship at Heinz Field.
"The low was a lot lower than the high," said 10-year center Jeff Hartings, referring to last year. "When you fail with such high aspirations, the low is very low. We still haven't accomplished anything yet so we need to keep something in reserve."
Roethlisberger gets credit
Ironically, it was the Steelers who trailed 24-3 at halftime last year. Most credit the reversal of fortune to their quarterback who will be the second-youngest to start in a Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught five passes for 59 yards, said the difference in Roethlisberger is "confidence. Last year at 15-1, everyone was patting [him] on the back telling how great you are. It kind of got overwhelming. It can get overwhelming for a veteran.
"This year, he went out really hard to learn the game plan. And trust -- he really trusts everybody out on the field to make a play for him."
In the first half, Roethlisberger shredded the Broncos' secondary by completing 13 of 17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
"He's certainly playing a lot older than his age," Cowher said.
Started things rolling
The first one capped the Steelers' second possession as Roethlisberger found wide receiver Cedric Wilson in the corner of the end zone for 12-yard score and 10-0 lead.
"I'm a veteran so I know where the sideline is," said Wilson, the free agent who was signed to replace departed Plaxico Burress. "Ben made a heckuva throw. It was a great spot to put it."
After Jason Elam kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it 10-3, Roethlisberger marched the Steelers 80 yards on 14 plays, capping the 7-minute, 28-second drive with Bettis scoring a 3-yard touchdown.
On Denver's next play, Plummer tried to hit wide receiver Stephen Alexander near the sideline, but cornerback Ike Taylor stepped up for the interception.
With seven seconds remaining before intermission, Roethlisberger scrambled and found Ward at the back of the end zone for a 21-point lead.
Trailing 27-10 in the fourth quarter, the game tightened when Plummer drove the Broncos 85 yards in seven plays. Mike Anderson's 3-yard touchdown run had the Broncos within 10 points with about eight minutes to go.
Game clincher
Three minutes later, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan gambled on fourth-and-10 at the Broncos 20. Defensive end Brett Keisel sacked Plummer and forced a fumble that set up the Steelers' final score -- a 4-yard dive by Roethlisberger.
"You have to give a lot of credit to the [offensive line,]" Roethlisberger said. "They're picking up the blitzes that I can't see.
"They end up picking it up and they've really helped my growth process."
williams@vindy.com
& lt;a href= & quot;http://steelers.vindy.com & quot; & gt;Follow the progression of the game with Tom William's Sports Blog & lt;/a & gt;