Steelers, Cardinals continue thrilling Super trend

? Super Super Bowls are becoming a habit.

The Steelers’ 27-23 victory Sunday night over Arizona was another classic in an era of great games — “a game for the ages,” commissioner Roger Goodell called it.

Indeed, with a few of exceptions (notably Ravens 34, Giants 7 in 2001) fans have been treated to a decade’s worth of rousing NFL championships.

Consider that the typical Super Bowl score from 1980-99 was 35-17.

But starting in 2000, when Tennessee’s Kevin Dyson was tackled a yard short of the goal line with what would have been the tying touchdown in a 23-16 loss to St. Louis, the games have generally been what they were always supposed to be — worthy of their immense hype.

Six of the last 10 Super Bowls have been decided by a touchdown or less. Whatever the reason — luck, greater parity, never-say-die teams — the NFL has reason to smile.

The Rams’ winning score against the Titans came on a 73-yard TD pass with 1:53 to Isaac Bruce from Kurt Warner, who brought the Cardinals back from a 13-point deficit Sunday before the Steelers’ final drive.

Warner also had to watch from sidelines in 2002, as Tom Brady drove the Patriots to the winning field goal against the Rams.

It wasn’t the only similarity Sunday to Super Bowls past. In some ways, this year’s edition mirrored last season’s.

The winning TD game came on a pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left, the same time remaining a year ago when the Giants scored to beat New England, 17-14. The Steelers’ game-winning drive started from their own 22 with 2:42 left in the game; the Giants’ drive began from their 17 with 2:39 remaining.

There were 23 points scored in the final 71/2 minutes of the game.

Sixteen straight were by the Cardinals to overcome a 20-7 deficit. But the Steelers got the final seven.