From 100-Yard Return to Corner Snag: the Complete Super Bowl Xliii Climax Timeline

Uncover key developments on From 100-Yard Return to Corner Snag: the Complete Super Bowl Xliii Climax Timeline in this special report.

With under a minute remaining, Roethlisberger targeted Holmes in the back corner of the end zone on second-and-goal, but the pass sailed inches through Holmes's hands. Holmes slapped his helmet in frustration. Unfazed, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians dialed up another passing concept on third-and-goal from the 6-yard line.

Holmes lined up wide right. At the snap, he ran a deep corner route toward the pylon. Three Arizona defenders, safety Aaron Francisco, cornerback Ralph Brown, and safety Adrian Wilson, swarmed the boundary. Roethlisberger took a three-step drop, pumped once to freeze the underneath linebacker, stepped right, and threw a high, fading spiral toward the back corner of the end zone.

Holmes tracked the ball against the stadium lights. He jumped backward, high-pointing the ball over Francisco's outstretched arm. While airborne, Holmes secured the ball against his chest with both hands. His lower body extended downward instinctively. As gravity pulled him toward the painted turf, the tips of his white cleats brushed the grass simultaneously, kicking up tiny pellets of black rubber. His momentum carried him over the sideline rope, but the ball remained locked tightly against his torso.