Super Bowl XLIII Live Blog

Hello from the less-than-frozen tundra of Boston's North End, where yours truly and his crew are setting up the chicken tenders, chili, chips and veggies for the Super Feast. We are here to provide our own special commentary on today's on-field action, as well as a word (or two) on our sponsors. This is the first live blog here at outtathepahk, and what better way to start than with the most anticipated Super Bowl matchup since ... um, never mind.

10:09 p.m.: Wait, what? That's it? His arm wasn't going forward? This game did not deserve that ending. How that didn't warrant a booth review is beyond me. The Cardinals deserved better. So did we.

10:00 p.m.: And Santonio Holmes answers back for Pittsburgh! An MVP performance ends with what might be the winning score. But with 35 seconds left and 2 timeouts, can the Cardinals be counted out? And can we start the conversation about where this game ranks among the most exciting ever played?

9:50 p.m.: All I've ever wanted in my life as a football fan is a Super Bowl overtime. C'mon Steelers, give it to me right here.

9:48 p.m.: Larry Fitzgerald!!!

9:44 p.m.: What a turn of events! Instead of a potential game-clinching catch, it's a safety and a 20-16 game. The Cardinals will get the ball again with 2:58 left. Incredible!

9:41 p.m.: James Harrison, what are you thinking? Did that 100-yard run suck out all the oxygen to your brain? The Steelers are incredibly lucky that was a change-of-possession penalty. Now the Cardinals have one more defensive play to force a punt from the endzone with plenty of time left to pull the upset.

9:32 p.m.: Well, here we go. Cardinals get the ball back at their own 25 with 5:30 to play, down by 6. The Cardinals ripped through the Steel Curtain last drive. Can they do it one more time and steal this game?

9:26 p.m.: Touchdown, Larry Fitzgerald! The Cards are still alive. Could have used Hightower scoring on the play before, but that's just me.

9:21 p.m.: Spoke too soon! We have a game as the Cardinals are going right down the field, inside the Pittsburgh 5-yard line. Larry Fitzgerald is coming to life when the Cardinals need him most.

9:11 p.m.: Not sure which has been more underwhelming, the game or the commercials.

8:59 p.m.. Kudos to you careerbuilder.com, and I don't just say that because I'm unemployed.

8:56 p.m.: Adrian Wilson owes his defensive mates big time. Instead of putting the game away, the Steelers still only get three points for a 20-7 lead.

8:53 p.m.: Adrian Wilson just lost the game for the Cardinals. So much for honoring Pat Tillman.

8:47 p.m.: Cardinals killing themselves with stupid penalties here in the third quarter. Pittsburgh could put the dagger in with this drive.

8:32 p.m.: We have our answer. The Cards are sticking to the gameplan and running hard with Edge, instead of panicking. If they can convert this opening drive into points, we could have an exciting second half.

8:29 p.m.: So where do the Cardinals go from here? Do they try opening up the offense and take shots downfield to get back in this quickly, or does that play right into Pittsburgh's hands. Tough spot for Kurt Warner to be in.

8:07 p.m.: I put the chicken fingers down!

7:58 p.m.: Am I like everyone else who doesn't have the 3-D glasses, and now has a splitting headache?

7:51 p.m.: Sorry Marcus Allen and John Riggins (and anybody else), James Harrison just made the greatest run in Super Bowl history. And considering the guy practically died doing it, it will be a crime if they take this touchdown away. What a blow to the Cardinals. Instead of leading at the half, they're down 17-7. Biggest single play in Super Bowl history? Just might be.

7:45 p.m.: Halftime analysis from the Pirate ship? If they were in Tampa's Spaceship, that would be much more impressive.

7:41 p.m.: Game-breaker! Cardinals have to cash this in before the half.

7:22 p.m.: For whatever reason, Warner has nearly tripped over his offensive lineman at least once in every game this postseason. Didn't hurt them on that play, needless to say.

7:19 p.m.: If "Holding penalty when your guy runs the ball" was a fantasy category, Hightower would be singlehandedly winning this thing for me.

7:10 p.m.: Note to the Arizona Cardinals: I strongly suggest you score soon.

7:00 p.m.: One thing I'm noticing from NBC that I don't like: After ever play, the "Super Bowl XLIII" bar at the bottom of the screen flips with a yellow background. I keep thinking there's a flag coming on every play.

6:55 p.m.: NO NO NO NO CATCH IT NATE!!!

6:49 p.m.: Do the Cardinals realize Polamalu isn't on the field? Two running plays into the line while the super safety is sitting. Missed opportunity right there.

6:44 p.m.: If you had Doritos in the "First funny commercial" pool ... that's a YES!

6:38 p.m.: Good challenge here by Arizona. In real time, it didn't look like Ben got in before his knee hit the ground. ... and they are right. Pittsburgh kicks the field goal. I would have gone for it from one foot away.

6:29 p.m.: Whoa, time out. Did we just get an F. Scott Fitzgerald reference? No relation to Larry, I assume.

6:28 p.m.: Kevin Millar plays for the Steelers, too? No wonder Schilling loves them.

6:18 p.m.: The Hudson Hero pilot is introduced before the game. He's taking the bus home.

6:09 p.m.: Bartolo Colon plays lineman for the Steelers? That's certainly the right position.

5:49 p.m.: Big Ben says no one remembers who finishes second in the Super Bowl. Chiefs, Raiders, Colts, Vikings, Cowboys, Dolphins, Redskins, Vikings, Vikings, Cowboys, Vikings, Broncos, Cowboys, Rams, Eagles, Bengals, Dolphins, Redskins, Dolphins, Pats, Broncos, Broncos, Bengals, Broncos, Bills, Bills, Bills, Bills, Chargers, Steelers, Pats, Packers, Falcons, Titans, Giants, Rams, Raiders, Panthers, Eagles, Seahawks, Bears, Pats.

5:36 p.m.: If you weren't rooting for Larry Fitzgerald before, you are now.

5:19 p.m.: A first in U.S. history: The President of the United States just used the term, "shout-out."

5:10 p.m.: So hoping that Obama answered Lauer's question about losing sleep at night by screaming, "We're Dooooooomed!" ... and now the audio feed goes out. Ouch!

5:03 p.m.: Matt Millen is commentating on the Super Bowl for NBC. Kinda like having John Edwards doing analysis of the presidential election.

4:44 p.m.: NBC just replayed the David Tyree play from last year's Super Bowl, a play that remains unbelievable, even a full year later. Watching the game last year at the Fours, the crowd was shocked into silence when Manning escaped the rush and Tyree cradled the ball on his helmet. The only one not silent was me ... and it nearly got me killed.

Now, growing up in West Hartford, CT, I was a Patriots fan first, but I also had room in my heart for the NFC Giants, so Super Bowl XLII presented an unusual neutral scenario for me, rooting more for a historic finish, win or lose for the undefeated Pats. Also complicating matters was the aforementioned fantasy contest. Because of the rules at the time, with a Giants victory I would be in prime position for the $5,000 first prize.

For 58 minutes, I kept that little secret to myself, knowing I was in an extreme rooting minority. Then the ball landed in Tyree's hands, and I forgot where I was. While the gathered crowd let out a heavy moan, I suddenly exclaimed to my girlfriend, "Why aren't they calling time out!"

Wrong question. Dagger-like eyes shot in my direction. "Why aren't who calling timeout?" one woman snarled at me. "Who exactly are you rooting for?" Then the woman turned on my girlfriend, "How dare you bring a Giants fan into my bar!"

Swallowing hard, I went back into my cone of slilence, celebrating quietly as Plaxico Burress hauled in the winning score. Alas, though I escaped the Fours alive, I did not win the $5,000 prize, settling for $75. Frankly, it wasn't worth it.

4:23 p.m.: Kickoff is still two hours away, but it's never too soon to break down the fantasy implications of today's game. Having registered at sportsbuff.com for its playoff fantasy contest (first prize: $2,500), the outtathepahk franchise is currently ranked No. 47 with 308 points.

The nine-player lineup looks like this. Players were selected under a salary cap of $330, with 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 D and 1 flex.

QB -- Kurt Warner
RB -- Willie Parker, Tim Hightower
WR -- Larry Fitzgerald, Nate Washington
TE -- Heath Miller
K -- Neil Rackers
D -- Pittsburgh
Flex -- Ben Roethlisberger

Trailing the leader by 76, finishing first is pretty much outtathequestion, but we can still finish in the money with a big day, needing to make up just 14 points for a minimum of $50. Hightower and Washington hold the key.