Super Bowl Action

Ben Roethlisberger was in tears when he made the promise to Jerome Bettis. It happened one year ago, in the final moments of the Steelers' devastating home loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

The young quarterback, his lip quivering, implored the Steelers' beloved old fogey to postpone retirement for another year. It might be the franchise's most famous young-old conversation since Mean Joe Greene tossed his jersey to that kid in the Coke commercial.

"He was boo-hoo-ing, and I was boo-hoo-ing," Bettis recalled Sunday at Invesco Field. "He turned to me and said, `Come back. I'll get you to a Super Bowl . . . Just give me one more chance.' "

Done.

Inspired by Bettis but galvanized by Roethlisberger, the Steelers completed an unprecedented journey to the Super Bowl, upsetting the Broncos, 34-17, for their third straight postseason win on the road. The Steelers became the first sixth seed in history to reach the Super Bowl, and they did it by knocking off the first, second and third seeds in the AFC.

The doubters have been silenced. "Everyone said we couldn't do it, being the sixth seed," linebacker Joey Porter said. "We just took the scenic route."

In a span of 14 days, the Steelers went from Cincinnati to Indianapolis to Denver. The Black-and-Gold Across America Tour concludes Feb. 5 in Detroit, home of Super Bowl XL. The four-time Super Bowl champions face the Seattle Seahawks with a chance to finally win one for the thumb, 25 years after capturing their last ring.

"We shocked the world," said wide receiver Hines Ward, sounding the underdog's battle cry.

Playing with no margin for error for nearly two months, the Steelers have won seven straight, including five on the road. At one point, they were 7-5, having started a different quarterback in three straight games.

"What they've done . . . is amazing," Broncos tight end Jeb Putzier said.

The most amazing player on the field was Roethlisberger. Only 23, he was nearly flawless, completing 21 of 29 passes for 275 yards, including two touchdown passes and one scoring run.

Big Ben showed savvy, fooling star cornerback Champ Bailey with a pump fake on a 12-yard touchdown throw to Cedric Wilson. He also fired a 17-yard, seeing-eye scoring pass to Hines Ward as he rolled to his left. The ball went through the hands of safety Nick Ferguson, who couldn't explain how he missed it.

Roethlisberger gave a terrific impersonation of his boyhood idol, Denver icon John Elway, who watched from a luxury suite as his old team was outcoached, out-blitzed and outperformed.

"We've got a young quarterback who didn't play young today," said coach Bill Cowher, who lifted a huge weight by snapping a three-game losing streak in conference championship games.

Roethlisberger, who wears No. 7 because of Elway, was deadly on third down, hitting 10 of 13 passes for 108 yards. On three straight third-down plays in the second quarter, he converted from 10, 10 and eight yards. That was the turning point as the Steelers scored twice in 1:48 to take a 24-3 halftime lead.

"Pittsburgh came in here and played the perfect game," Broncos linebacker Keith Burns said.

The Broncos, who took an undefeated home record into the game, committed four turnovers (two interceptions and two fumbles by Jake Plummer).

Conversely, the blitzing Steelers made Plummer (18-for-30, 223 yards) suffer the long-awaited implosion, which many locals had feared. Basically, the Snake ssssstunk.

Meanwhile, Roethlisberger is 26-4 as a starter, 1-0 in promises delivered. The Bus is heading home to Detroit for the final game of his career, and the kid QB couldn't be happier.

"It's been my driving force all year," Big Ben said. "I'm just glad I didn't have to cry and apologize to him that I couldn't get him there. I feel a lot better that I could keep my promise."