Strong showing: Yes, there were far too many guys involved with NBC's pregame show. There were the usual cheesy bits, with Al Roker interviewing movie stars and Dan Patrick emceeing a cooking contest. But, it was fast-paced and entertaining. Under tough circumstances, it was as good as it could be. The best moment came during Patrick's anchor desk reunion with former ESPN colleague (and MSNBC muckraker) Keith Olbermann. As they were heading to break, Patrick made reference to Olbermann's Fox News nemesis, Bill O'Reilly, and both guys cracked up.

Good call: How can it be that the NFC has won the coin toss 12 years in a row? That's downright bizarre.

Bad timing: Warner may have deserved the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Nobody is going to demand a recount. But did they have to give it to him right before the game? That seemed awkward and unnecessary.

Speaking of bad timing... isn't this the second time that Warner's team has lost a Super Bowl in the last minute?

In the spotlight: When Warner played for the Rams, his wife sported a bleach-blonde, spiky haircut that made her look like diet guru Susan Powter. Now that she looks a bit more "normal," she didn't get as much screen time as Larry Fitzgerald's sportswriter father.

On top of their game: You can joke about John Madden's utterances (and Frank Caliendo has turned that into a career), but he and Al Michaels were, as always, spot-on. They are the best at bringing football to the masses.

Bizarre stat of the day: Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin and Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt both were in their second year as head coaches. Tomlin is the fifth second-year coach to win the Super Bowl, joining Baltimore's Brian Billick, Oakland's Tom Flores, Washington's Joe Gibbs and Dallas' Barry Switzer.

New argument: One of the hotter debates leading up to the game centered on Kurt Warner's Hall of Fame credentials. Now that Roethlisberger has won a second ring, people can start talking about a possible trip to Canton for Big Ben.

Playing it safe: Was anyone else surprised when the smash-mouth Steelers settled for a field goal on their opening drive rather than going for broke on 4th and goal at the 1? He's got a great defense, so three points helped. But, it seemed out of character.

Familiar face: Our much better half pointed out early in the game that Tomlin resembles actor Omar Epps. "I'm expecting "House" to walk out," she said, referring to the star of the medical drama of the same name.

Mere footnotes: If the Cardinals had won, Michael Adams' effort to down a punt at the 1-yard-line would have been regarded as one of the greatest special teams plays in history. The holding call on Steelers center Justin Hartwig, who tackled Chike Okeafor while Roethlisberger had the ball in the end zone and gave the Cardinals a safety, would have gotten more ink, too.

Yikes: Former Broncos quarterback John Elway was a stud among stud during his playing days. Man, he's aged.

Order the veggie platter: Super Bowl XLIV is slated for Feb. 7, 2010, at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.