After leading for much of Super Bowl XLIII, the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a late-game rally to win their record sixth Super Bowl title. Now Phoenix fans are nursing their broken hearts.

Section: Big Game | Play: Field Goal Challenge

Some people watching the game at a bar in central Phoenix said they were going home to pour a stiff, somber drink. One fan admitted "it hurts."

Other fans would rather focus on the bright side of things to come for a franchise that was once known for futility. Wait until next year, they said.

The story was remarkably different in Pittsburgh. The city's South Side streets are crawling with fans waving "terrible towels" in celebration. Revelers streamed out of area bars moments after the Steelers sealed their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa, Fla. Some broke out in song, bellowing Queen's "We are the Champions."

Championship merchandise is already being sold.

One couch has been set on fire in the city's Oakland neighborhood, and a car has been overturned. There's been other small fires reported too.

The Steelers secured their comeback with a late-game touchdown to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 at Tampa's Raymond James Stadium on Sunday.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with Santonio Holmes -- the game's MVP -- for a touchdown with 42 seconds remaining to put the Steelers ahead and end the Cardinals' late-game rally.

Before the teams traded scores late in the game, the beginning of the contest belonged to Pittsburgh.

The Steelers wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard in the contest.

On its opening drive, Pittsburgh gained 72 yards on eight plays to set up what appeared to be Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown run. However, Arizona challenged the play and the touchdown was overruled, with the referees determining that Roethlisberger was down before he reached the end zone.

Facing fourth and 1, the Steelers kicked a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

They added to their lead at the start of the second quarter. Gary Russell capped off an 11-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard run into the end zone to put the Steelers up 10-0.

Then the Cardinals jump-started their offense. Ben Patrick caught a 1-yard pass from veteran quarterback Kurt Warner to capitalize on a nine-play, 83-yard scoring drive that allowed Arizona to get within 10-7 of Pittsburgh with 8:43 remaining in the second quarter.

The Cardinals threatened to take the lead late in the half before the Steelers forced their first turnover of the game. James Harrison intercepted Warner's pass and ran it back 100 yards for a touchdown. The play, which was the longest in Super Bowl history, gave the Steelers a 17-7 lead at halftime.

The Steelers extended their lead to 20-7 when Jeff Reed connected on a 21-yard field goal attempt with 2:16 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cardinals pulled to within 20-14 when Larry Fitzgerald caught a 1-yard pass from Warner to complete an eight-play, 87-yard scoring drive.

They narrowed the deficit to two when Pittsburgh's Justin Hartwig was whistled for offensive holding in his own end zone, which resulted in a safety.

Then Fitzgerald used his biggest catch of the night -- a 63-yard touchdown reception -- to put the Cardinals ahead 23-20.

But then the Steelers answered right back. Roethlisberger connected with Holmes on a 6-yard pass with 42 seconds remaining to give Pittsburgh back the lead at 27-23.

Roethlisberger started Sunday's game looking like he had something to prove. The quarterback, who was playing in his second NFL title game, struggled during the team's Super Bowl victory over Seattle in 2006. He said before Sunday's game that he was nervous in 2006, when he became the youngest QB to ever win a Super Bowl.

Roethlisberger ended Sunday's game with 256 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception.

His main target, Holmes, finished the game with 131 yards and a touchdown.

For Arizona, Warner tallied 377 passing yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Fitzgerald finished the game with 127 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Stars Entertain At Super Bowl XLIII

Star power was also in Tampa on Sunday. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem. It marked her first public appearance since the slayings of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.

Later, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band headlined the halftime show.

Before the game, US Airways pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and the rest of the crew for Flight 1549 were honored for helping rescue 150 passengers after an emergency landing in New York's Hudson River.

Gen. David Petraeus also made an appearance at the game when he conducted the coin toss between the two teams, which was won by the Cardinals.