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FanSided's Cody Williams recently ranked the 50 most iconic NFL plays. Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, more often than not Arizona was on the wrong side of history.
They've had some eye-popping moments of their own, like Kyler Murray's "Hail Murray" 43-yard game-winning throw to DeAndre Hopkins against the Buffalo Bills in 2020.
But considering the Cardinals are a franchise that has yet to win a Super Bowl, one would assume they'd be on the losing side of these history-altering plays. In fact, Arizona makes the top ten twice for separate plays each suffered in their heartbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
An elite Super Bowl to witness as a neutral watcher. Not so much fun for Cardinals fans.
Super Bowl XLIII had two of the worst moments in Cardinals history
Coming in at No. 10 on Williams' ranking is Santonio Holmes' game-winning touchdown catch to put the Steelers ahead 27-23 with just 35 seconds remaining.
"Not even the highest-ranked play from Super Bowl XLIII on this list, you can't forget about Santonio Holmes. The build-up, the stakes of the game, and the catch itself were all astounding, and truly left the tens of millions of fans watching stunned as the Steelers pushed past the Cardinals for another Lombardi," writes Williams.
As heartbreaking as it was, you have to give Ben Roethlisberger credit for showing up in the clutch yet again. That throw to place it in the corner of the endzone around three Cardinals defenders was equally as impressive as the catch itself.
But we also have to acknowledge that the Steelers, in all likelihood, never even would've been in that position had it not been for James Harrison's "Immaculate Interception" to end the first half and send Cardinals fans into shock.
His 100-yard pick-six was the longest play in Super Bowl history and rightfully ranked in the top 10 as one of the most memorable defensive plays in history.
"Steelers fans — and, honestly, most NFL fans — have the image of James Harrison sucking down oxygen on the sideline burned into their memories from Super Bowl 43. It was truly one of many wild moments in a ridiculous game, but the play itself was also wildly impressive," Williams adds.
Williams has that play by Harrison ranked as No. 8. While accurate, these rankings serve as a painful reminder of just how close the Cardinals were to winning their first Super Bowl.
"Such is life" seems like a relevant phrase here. But "such is life of a Cardinals fan" feels even more applicable, considering how much this loss is etched in history for all the wrong reasons.
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This article was originally published on raisingzona.com as Cardinals fans get a painful reminder of Super Bowl XLIII in NFL's most iconic plays.
