TAMPA, FLA. — TAMPA, FLA. - It was only fitting that a former Raven played a factor in last night's Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium, the site of the Ravens' NFL title eight years ago.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who spent 10 days of the 2004 offseason with the Ravens before being abruptly cut, returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half.
The longest play in Super Bowl history came at a critical time. With the Arizona Cardinals trailing 10-7, they were 1 yard from taking the lead.
But Harrison jumped a slant route by Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin and rumbled down the sideline for his first interception return for a touchdown.
"I guessed on it," Harrison said. "After that, it was about my teammates helping me get to the other end."
Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was surprised to see the NFL Defensive Player of the Year there.
"They showed an all-out blitz, and James did an excellent job of holding in toward the line of scrimmage and then popping out," Warner said. "I couldn't' see him around our linemen and the pressure."
Making jump from Delaware
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco must have been smiling after Arizona's first touchdown.
The Cardinal who made the 1-yard reception in the second quarter was Ben Patrick, who was Flacco's tight end at Delaware in 2006. That season, Patrick caught 64 passes, six for touchdowns.
Patrick finished his second NFL season strongly, especially in the playoffs.
He scored the Cardinals' last two points on a conversion pass from Warner in the NFC championship game. He then leaped over Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote for a 2-yard catch in the end zone last night for his first touchdown of the season.
Patrick became the third player from Delaware to suit up for a Super Bowl. Perhaps one day, Flacco will find himself on that list.
Picking it up in playoffs
The Cardinals' defense continued to be a turnover magnet in the postseason.
When Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby picked off Ben Roethlisberger's deflected pass, it was the Cardinals' ninth interception in four playoff games.
In the regular season, Arizona was one of the NFL's worst with 13 interceptions in 16 games.
Touchdown terror
The Steelers' Gary Russell has made a habit recently of reaching the end zone. His 1-yard score in the second quarter - the first of this year's Super Bowl - was his third touchdown in his past four games.
