Super Bowl XL

2006 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XL was an American football game in the National Football League between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the Super Bowl champion for the 2005 season. It was played on February 5, 2006. It features the Steelers beat the Seahawks, 21-10. Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who caught 5 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 18 yards, was named Super Bowl MVP. Pittsburgh finished the regular season with an 11-5 record and became the fourth wild card team, and third in nine years, to win the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh also became the first #6 seed in the NFL playoffs to win a Super Bowl (and the first #6 seed to win a conference title). The Steelers became the second franchise, following the Oakland Raiders, to appear in the Super Bowl in four different decades (1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s), and the first to appear in four consecutive decades. Also, Steelers runningback Jerome Bettis was able win a Super Bowl thanks to this game.

1234 Total
SEA 3070 10
PIT 0777 21
DateFebruary 5, 2006 (2006-02-05)
StadiumFord Field, Detroit, Michigan
MVPHines Ward, wide receiver
FavoriteSteelers by 4
RefereeBill Leavy
Attendance68,206
Ceremonies
National anthemAaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia
Coin tossTom Brady representing previous Super Bowl MVPs
Halftime showThe Rolling Stones
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersAl Michaels, John Madden, Michele Tafoya and Suzy Kolber
Nielsen ratings41.6
(est. 90.7 million viewers)[1]
Market share62
Cost of 30-second commercial$2.5 million
MVP Hines Ward

However, many have criticized the officiating in that game, as they believe Seattle was cheated during some questionable calls by referee Bill Leavy.

References

change
  1. "Historical Super Bowl Nielsen TV Ratings, 1967-2009 - Ratings". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2012.