Bus likely made his last stop

(Correction: Because of an editing error, Terry Bradshaw was incorrectly included in a list of former Super Bowl MVPs who were introduced before this year's game in two stories in the Feb. 6 Sports section.)

DETROIT -- His final stats were a paltry 43 yards on 14 carries. Stats that reflected a bad day for Jerome Bettis during his 13-year career.

But this wasn't a bad day. It was a good day.

Playing in his hometown last night, Bettis helped the Steelers to a 21-10 victory over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at Ford Field, and now will leave the game on top and grateful for everything and everyone who made it possible.

''It's been an incredible ride," said Bettis. ''Our mission was accomplished. With that I'm going to bid farewell. It's been great to represent the city of Pittsburgh and I'll continue to do that. I don't think they'd believe this script in Hollywood. They'd turn it down. It's been amazing for me and my family here."

Asked if his retirement was official, Bettis said, ''It's official like the referee's whistle."

Bettis already is considered a shoo-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day as he ranks fifth on the NFL's career rushing list with 13,662 yards. Now he's got a ring, too.

''I had so many people come out onto the field and they were tearing up and to hear the ovation from the crowd, and to hear the people I grew up with cheering for me in the Super Bowl, it was incredible," Bettis said. ''It's better than I ever thought it would be."

Talking tough

Steelers linebacker James Farrior said he thought a week's worth of teammate Joey Porter berating Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens for his pseudo-guarantee last week got into Stevens's head.

''I think it bothered him," said Farrior. ''He dropped a couple of balls. We wanted to get into his head and we did."

Stevens had three drops but did make three catches for 25 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that brought Seattle within 14-10.

Porter said he didn't make as many plays as he'd hoped, but ''I thought I made enough to help my team." The linebacker finished with three tackles.

Giving credit

Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant was beaten deep by Steelers receiver Hines Ward on a game-clinching 43-yard touchdown pass off a reverse by wideout Antwaan Randle El. ''They made a nice call," said Trufant, ''and I just saw [Ward] running free and I tried to hustle back, but they just made a great call. You can't take anything away from them. We knew Randle El is an ex-quarterback and Hines is an ex-quarterback, so we knew they had a lot of trick plays up their sleeves." The play could land Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt the head coaching job in Oakland . . . Seattle's Mike Holmgren failed to become the only coach to win Super Bowls with two teams. Holmgren said he wasn't upset by calls that went against the Seahawks, but he did say, ''The one I thought was a tough one was that I don't think [Steelers quarterback Ben] Roethlisberger scored [on a 1-yard run in the second quarter]. I don't think he scored on the one touchdown run they reviewed." . . . Asked whether he's going to put this Lombardi Trophy with the other four, Steelers owner Dan Rooney said, ''I think this is going to be by itself. That's what our hope is, to do it that way." . . . Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said ''holding that team to 10 points is a great job . Early in the game when guys weren't going good, I knew they'd get it right."

Taking a seat

The Steelers designated Tommy Maddox as their third quarterback. Cornerback Willie Williams, linebacker Arnold Harrison, linebacker Rian Wallace, guard Chris Kemoeatu, tackle Trai Essex, wide receiver Lee Mays, and defensive end Shaun Nua were all inactive. David Greene was designated Seattle's third quarterback. Cornerback Michael Harden, fullback Leonard Weaver, tackle Wayne Hunter, tackle Ray Willis, defensive end Robert Pollard, tight end Itula Mili, and former Patriot defensive tackle Rodney Bailey were inactive for the Seahawks . . . Officials monitored pregame warmups to divert any possible problems involving Porter. Players are not supposed to go beyond their 45-yard line during pregame, a rule that's violated often. But as some Steelers players were standing at the 50, officials directed them back to their 45 . . . Seahawks owner Paul Allen and Rooney shook hands and spoke on the field a couple of hours before the game. Patriots owner Robert Kraft also was in attendance.

Jeers and cheers

The Steelers-heavy crowd gave a lukewarm welcome to Deion Branch and Tom Brady when they were introduced during a pregame tribute to Super Bowl MVPs. But the Patriots stars didn't receive the loudest boos, which were reserved for former Cowboys Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman, who helped beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX, and the Ravens' Ray Lewis, who was described in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as the player Steelers fans hate the most on the team they hate the most. The largest ovations went to former Steelers Lynn Swann, Franco Harris, and Terry Bradshaw. Brady joined the team captains and referee Bill Levy at midfield for the toss and was booed. Brady flipped the coin, with Seahawks defensive end Grant Wistrom correctly calling tails. Seattle chose to receive.

Jerome Solomon of the Globe staff contributed to this report