Minutes later, it looked like the Steelers would get the ball back on a fumble by Givens, but the call was reversed and Corey Dillon ran 25 yards into the end zone on the next play to make it 31-10. Dillon's score was the official backbreaker even though there was 7:27 left in the third period.
While "terrible towels" went limp and some Steelers fans bolted for the Roberto Clemente Bridge, the Steelers finally showed some starch and scored another touchdown on a 30-yard pass to Hines Ward.
The Steelers weren't done. They were driving toward the end zone when the third period ended and settled for a field goal that cut New England's lead to 31-20.
Then the Patriots went back to work with a clock-eating drive, making it 34-20 on a 31-yard Vinatieri field goal with 8:03 left. Wilson intercepted another Roethlisberger pass on the next series, and Branch capped a 10-play drive by running 23 yards into the end zone to make it 41-20. The Steelers tacked on a touchdown in garbage time, but by then the wiseguys in Vegas already were setting the odds for Super Bowl XXXIX.
Heinz was almost empty when AFC officials wheeled out a platform for a postgame on-field presentation. Joe Namath passed the Lamar Hunt trophy to Bob Kraft, who handed off to Brady.
No fumbles. No interceptions. No turnovers. Another night of almost-perfect football by the almost-perfect team.