Super Bowl IV featured the Pittsburgh Steelers making their second straight appearances vs. the hot Carolina Panthers off their two upset road wins. Pittsburgh won the toss and went three and out and punted to Carolina who took over on their own 20 yard line. Carolina converted three 3rd down and 3 plays to set up a 3rd and goal at the 1 yard line where Brian Westbrook took a pitch around the right side and barely got over the goaline to give Carolina a 7-0 lead with 2:38 left in the first quarter. Pittsburgh answered with a nice drive of their own but opted against a 48 yard field goal on 4th and 2, but Ben Roethlisberger's forth down pass was incomplete giving Carolina back the ball on their own 31. Two plays later Westbrook fumbled the ball back to Pittsburgh and Leroy Hill returned the ball to the Carolina 17. Pittsburgh cashed the drive in three plays later with Roethlisberger connected with Hines Ward for a 7 yard strike and the game was tied at 7 with 12:21 left in the half. After a Carolina punt, Roethlisberger was intercepted by Darrelle Revis giving Carolina the ball back on the Pittsburgh 21. The Steelers defense dug in and forced a 30 yard Stover field goal which gave Carolina a 10-7 lead at the half.

The third quarter was more of a defensive struggle. After three possessions ended in punts to start the quarter, the Steelers drove 61 yards in 9 plays but had to settle for a Jeff Reed 26 yard field to tie the game with 1:12 left in the third quarter. Carolina took over on their own 29 yard line and quickly drove down the field with the help of a 36 yard scamper by Westbrook on 3rd and 3 at their own 46. On 3rd and goal at the 4, Tony Romo hit steve Smith on a bubble screen and Smith did the rest to get into the end zone and give Carolina a 17-0 lead with 10:19 left in the game. Pittsburgh responded with a methodical drive that chewed up over 7 minutes of the game clock, but a 3rd and 6 Willie parker run was stuffed and they settled for a 27 yard Reed field goal with 3:12 left in the game to cut the lead to 4. Carolina was able to run out the clock behind Brian Westbrook and capture their first USAFL Championship.

Game MVP was Brian Westbrook who ran for 159 yards and a TD on 24 carries plus add 37 yards on 5 catches. Tony Romo completed 12-18 for 102 yards and a TD for Carolina. Pittsburgh offense was led by Willie Parker's 110 yards on 24 carries. Hines Ward had 65 yards on 6 catches and Roethlisberger was 12-22 for 134 yards and a TD. Leroy Hill had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery in a losing effort. Carolina had a 305- 239 yardage edge and the key to the game was converting 11of 16 third down conversions.