The Pittsburgh Steelers have performed 92 NFL seasons, their 93rd beginning in only a few months. There have been highs, lows, and the whole lot in between. In a brand new collection we’ll use to go the time of the offseason, I’m rating all of them, from the worst season in franchise historical past to the very best. This implies selecting which of the six Tremendous Bowl winners got here out on high—not a simple activity.
We’ll break this collection down into elements (roughly) 10 at a time, working from worst to finest, with one small caveat. I received’t embody the workforce’s two merger years, 1943 and 1944, when Pittsburgh mixed with the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Cardinals as a result of a participant scarcity ensuing from WWII. Since these had been merger years the place Pittsburgh wasn’t completely its personal entity, they fall right into a separate class. We’ll rank the opposite 90.
Our finale, rating the ten finest Steelers groups of all-time.
Half One – Worst Of The Worst
Half Two – Not The Worst, Far From Greatest
Half Three – Whole Stagnation
Half 4 – Study To Love .500
Half 5 – Indicators Of Life
Half Six – Are We There But?
Half Seven – The For Actual Groups
Half Eight – The (Nearly) Greatest
Rating Each Steelers Season (No. 10-1)
10. 2004 season (15-1 file, Divisional Win, AFC Championship Loss)
A magical common season that couldn’t fairly go all the way in which within the playoffs. Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season, tasked to switch an injured Tommy Maddox in Week 2. Met with skepticism from even teammates, the Steelers didn’t lose from Week 3 via the remainder of the common season. The Steelers had an identification with a gradual working recreation and an elite protection, and Roethlisberger was making yard performs unusual within the league on the time.
Below Maddox, Pittsburgh opened the season with a win over the Oakland Raiders. Week 2 would produce the one loss, 30-13 to the Ravens. Roethlisberger’s first NFL begin got here in post-hurricane situations in Miami, coming away with a 13-3 victory. By the bye, Pittsburgh sat at 5-1.
Many thought a impolite awakening was ready on the opposite aspect of the bye. Underdogs to the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh beat each in convincing trend. One of many few period triumphs over Tom Brady, the Steelers received 34-20 in Week 8. Brady was picked twice and sacked 4 extra, whereas Roethlisberger managed the sport nicely and threw two scoring passes to WR Plaxico Burress. RB Duce Staley mowed down the Pats’ protection with 125 yards.
Pittsburgh raced out to a 21-0 result in shock Philadelphia the next week. WR Hines Ward had dashing and receiving touchdowns whereas the Eagles had been utterly held in examine with seven first downs, 113 whole yards, and three factors. By the center of the sport, QB Donovan McNabb and WR Terrell Owens spent extra time combating on the sidelines than battling the Steelers.
All through the season, Pittsburgh didn’t all the time put up large factors, however received by holding the rating down and making well timed performs. Throughout Weeks 11-14, Pittsburgh didn’t even cross the 20-point threshold however received each contest. A extra high-scoring affair got here with a 33-30 win over the New York Giants, RB Jerome Bettis shouldering the workload with 36 carries for 140 yards.
With the No. 1 seed clinched, Pittsburgh performed its backups within the finale and nonetheless topped the Buffalo Payments. It was RB Willie Parker’s breakout recreation, dashing for 102 yards. James Harrison returned a fumble for a landing in a 29-24 win.
Internet hosting the New York Jets within the Divisional Spherical, the Steelers held on to win. It took two missed area targets by the Jets’ Doug Brien to do it, however in time beyond regulation, Okay Jeff Reed hit a 33-yarder to ship a 20-17 win. Bettis and Staley mixed for over 150 yards and one landing whereas Ward went over 100 receiving yards, all the time taking part in his finest within the playoffs.
In a rematch towards the Patriots within the championship recreation, the Steelers’ magic ran out. Roethlisberger threw three picks, together with a back-breaking 87-yard pick-six by S Rodney Harrison proper earlier than halftime that had the sport over on the break. Pittsburgh outgained New England, however 4 turnovers to the Patriots’ zero had been the difference-maker. The sport would later be remembered as a part of the Spygate scandal, with former gamers like Bettis believing the Patriots cheated and knew the performs Pittsburgh referred to as in.
Pittsburgh completed with the Eleventh-ranked offense and No. 1 protection for the yr. The passing numbers weren’t large, however they didn’t should be. Roethlisberger tossed 17 landing passes to 11 interceptions whereas being named NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months. Bettis and Staley shaped a powerful duo, dashing for 941 and 830 yards respectively, whereas Bettis vultured practically all the workforce’s 16 touchdowns. Ward crossed the 1,000-yard mark and made a Professional Bowl whereas Burress led the workforce with 5 landing receptions.
Defensively, the Steelers didn’t have a weak point. Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith up entrance. Joey Porter and James Farrior at linebacker. Ike Taylor at cornerback and Troy Polamalu at security. After a troublesome rookie yr, the sunshine clicked for Polamalu (Dick LeBeau returning as DC performed an enormous position), and he picked off 5 passes and made his first Professional Bowl. Collectively, the protection pressured 20 fumbles and intercepted 19 passes.
Pittsburgh completed the yr with 41 touchdowns scored and solely 26 allowed.
Regardless of being the one 15-win workforce in historical past with only one loss, the Steelers’ level differential was comparatively low. Nonetheless a strong plus-121, however a determine that ranks twelfth all-time. That and the dearth of a Tremendous Bowl journey hold it from being increased on the record.
Notable: Two non-quarterbacks threw landing passes for Pittsburgh in 2004 – RB Jerome Bettis and WR Antwaan Randle El.
9. 1995 season (11-5 file, Divisional Win, AFC Championship Win, Tremendous Bowl Loss)
So shut. To this point. The primary Tremendous Bowl-bound workforce on the record, Pittsburgh fell simply quick within the workforce’s first return to the large recreation for the reason that 70s dynasty. It sits behind 2010 due to one fewer regular-season win, a lot worse level differential, smaller margin of victory, and lack of No. 1 unit on both aspect of the ball. Pittsburgh completed the yr with the No. 5 offense and No. 9 protection.
Pittsburgh opened the season with a hard-fought 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions, adopted by a extra convincing 34-17 victory towards the Houston Oilers the next week. A two-game stumble in losses to the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings appeared to shake the workforce, and by the Week 7 bye, the Steelers had been .500. It didn’t look higher with a 27-9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals within the recreation after the off week.
However the Steelers bought sizzling the remainder of the way in which. Beating Jacksonville in Week 9, a 37-34 time beyond regulation win over the Chicago Bears, vaulted the workforce on an eight-game successful streak via Week 16. Pittsburgh beat up on the AFC Central division with clear-cut wins over the Cleveland Browns (20-3), Cincinnati Bengals (49-31), and Houston Oilers (21-7). These wins and the others helped Pittsburgh seize the AFC Central with ease, the one workforce over .500 that season.
The win streak ended in the course of the regular-season finale, a 24-19 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, by which Neil O’Donnell threw 55 passes.
Incomes a first-round bye, Pittsburgh hosted the Buffalo Payments within the Divisional Spherical. The Steelers went up 20-0 and received with out a lot resistance. RB Bam Morris rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns whereas Payments QB Jim Kelly was picked thrice, as soon as by Levon Kirkland, Jerry Olsavsky, and Carnell Lake. Thousand-yard rusher Thurman Thomas was held to simply 46 within the loss.
The title recreation was nearer and practically led to a miracle Indianapolis Colts win. QB Jim Harbaugh’s Hail Mary try was practically caught however fell incomplete ultimately zone because the Steelers held on. Morris put the Steelers forward within the fourth quarter. It wasn’t a fairly win, nevertheless it put Pittsburgh again within the Tremendous Bowl.
A Tremendous Bowl now identified for Neil O’Donnell’s three interceptions. Regardless of that, Pittsburgh clawed its method again to make it 20-17 with the ball in Cowboys’ territory. However four-straight O’Donnell incompletions successfully ended the sport, his last interception approaching a Hail Mary heave. Pittsburgh didn’t play a nasty recreation and held Dallas’ stars in examine. QB Troy Aikman solely threw for 209 yards. RB Emmitt Smith was held to 49 of them, although he scored twice. WR Michael Irvin made a few catches however was held out of the tip zone. Nonetheless, turnovers, as they usually are, had been the distinction. Pittsburgh had three, Dallas had zero. A 27-17 end result, and Lombardi went the Cowboys’ method.
For the yr, O’Donnell began 12 video games and went 9-3. Mike Tomczak performed a brutal stretch with one landing go and 9 interceptions over his 4 begins, a key purpose why Pittsburgh began so slowly. Morris was a playoff star, however RB Erric Pegram led the workforce with 813 dashing yards. WR Yancey Thigpen made the Professional Bowl with a 1,300-yard, five-touchdown season, whereas WR Ernie Mills made large downfield performs. Rookie Kordell Stewart grew to become “Slash,” with a passing, dashing, and receiving rating. Okay Norm Johnson led the NFL with 34 area targets.
In his last season with the workforce, EDGE Kevin Greene led the Steelers with 9 sacks. DL Ray Seals was proper behind with 8.5 for a protection that recorded 42 of them. Greg Lloyd contributed 6.5 of these sacks however was a playmaker in each side, forcing a league-high six fumbles, selecting off three passes, and main the workforce with 116 tackles regardless of taking part in outdoors linebacker. CB Willie Williams picked off seven passes.
Notable: On the time, O’Donnell’s 55 makes an attempt towards the Packers set a single-game Steelers’ file. It wouldn’t be damaged till Tommy Maddox’s 57 in 2002. Ben Roethlisberger at present holds the file with 66.
8. 1976 season (10-4 file, Divisional Win, AFC Championship Loss)
The best “what-if” workforce in Steelers’ historical past and the highest squad that didn’t make the Tremendous Bowl, beating out two teams that did. The best protection in Pittsburgh historical past and really arguably the No. 1 protection in NFL historical past. What this unit achieved won’t ever be replicated.
With an offense struggling after Cleveland Browns DL Turkey Joe Jones viciously threw down and injured Terry Bradshaw, leaving Pittsburgh solely with rookie Mike Kruczek, the protection stepped up. A 1-4 begin become a historic run the remainder of the common season.
“Elite” isn’t a powerful sufficient phrase for a way nicely the protection performed. From Weeks 6-14, the protection allowed 28 whole factors. It pitched 5 shutouts, together with three straight from Weeks 7-9. Since 1936, the Steelers and the 1970 Chicago Cardinals are the one groups to close out their opponent in three straight video games. Over that span, Pittsburgh gave up simply two touchdowns and received by crooked scores: 27-0 versus the New York Giants, 45-0 to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, 42-0 towards the depressing Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Whereas the schedule wasn’t particularly difficult — solely the Cincinnati Bengals had a successful file in the course of the streak — the numbers are merely exhausting to consider and illogical in a modern-era context.
For the season, the Steelers completed No. 1 in scoring protection at 9.9 factors per recreation. That’s the very best mark in franchise historical past. The workforce’s 5 shutouts are the NFL’s most since 1944 and can in all probability by no means be matched once more. The unit pressured 46 turnovers and held the opposition to underneath 200 whole yards of offense in six of 14 video games.
The offense benefited from such stoutness however ought to get credit score, too. Regardless of Bradshaw beginning solely eight video games, Pittsburgh had the No. 5 scoring offense. The working recreation was the catalyst, Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier ending because the Steelers’ first and solely twin 1,000-yard rushers in workforce historical past. Harris led the league with 14 dashing scores. When Pittsburgh did throw, Lynn Swann was most frequently on the receiving finish with 516 yards and three scores.
Sacks had been unofficial, however the protection is credited with 41, practically three per recreation. Joe Greene led with six. Pittsburgh picked off 22 passes whereas permitting simply 9 passing scores; Glen Edwards and Mel Blount tied with six interceptions.
In whole, a whopping eight Steelers defenders made the Professional Bowl. 5 had been named All-Professional, whereas Jack Lambert took residence the Defensive Participant of the 12 months award.
Cruising to the playoffs, Pittsburgh confronted a difficult divisional matchup towards the 10-win Baltimore Colts. The sport wasn’t shut. The Steelers’ protection continued to play lights-out, permitting 225 yards of offense in a 40-14 win. Colts QB Bert Jones was picked off twice and sacked 5 instances whereas Professional Bowl RB Lydell Mitchell, who rushed for 1,200 yards on the season, was held to simply 55 yards.
The one factor that stopped the Steelers was themselves. Harris and Bleier had been injured and unable to play within the AFC Championship Sport towards the Oakland Raiders. With out them, the offense faltered and the protection lastly relented. With 51 dashing makes an attempt, the Raiders grinded out a 24-7 win.
Pittsburgh ended the season with a plus-204 level differential, the second-best in workforce historical past. Its 14.6 margin of victory can be second-best and certainly one of 4 seasons by which the workforce sat in double digits.
Oh, what may’ve been. However what was is a masterful feat of defensive dominance by no means seen earlier than, after, or ever once more.
Notable: For such a defensive season, an offensive stat to go away you with. Kruczek began six video games however threw simply 85 passes. His main job was handing the ball off and taking part in with a lead. Actually, he didn’t even throw for a landing. In historical past, his six begins are tied for second-most by a quarterback who didn’t throw a landing go. Kruczek’s tied with the Colts’ Marty Domres in 1974 and was solely surpassed by the Eagles Bobby Hoying’s seven in 1998.
7. 2010 season (12-4 file, Divisional win, AFC Championship win, Tremendous Bowl loss)
The newest Steelers squad to make the Tremendous Bowl, although this unit failed to finish it by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Two years after a Tremendous Bowl win, Pittsburgh returned to the large recreation. RB Rashard Mendenhall raced down the appropriate sideline to beat the Atlanta Falcons 15-9 in time beyond regulation to open the season. Pittsburgh began the yr 3-0 and 3-1 heading into an early bye week.
The Steelers weren’t excellent, however they performed nicely towards the division, going 5-1 and exacting revenge on the Baltimore Ravens for his or her one loss. Within the Week 13 rematch, Pittsburgh received 13-10. A traditional primetime rivalry recreation for the period, Troy Polamalu pressured a fumble on an unsuspecting Joe Flacco late within the recreation. Performs later, QB Ben Roethlisberger discovered RB Isaac Redman (who wasn’t even alleged to be within the recreation) over the center for the game-winning rating.
Pittsburgh capped the yr with a 41-9 beatdown of the Cleveland Browns, with even WR Antwaan Randle El throwing a landing go. Spotlight wins on the yr included a 35-3 blowout of the Oakland Raiders, a 19-16 thriller over the Buffalo Payments (the Stevie Johnson drop recreation), and an early 38-13 victory besting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Assembly the Ravens for a Half Three within the divisional spherical, the Steelers got here out on high. A 21-7 Baltimore lead didn’t deter Pittsburgh, outscoring the Ravens 24-3 within the second half. Mendenhall discovered the tip zone with 90 seconds left to interrupt a 24-all tie.
Going through rookie Mark Sanchez and Rex Ryan’s New York Jets within the title recreation, Pittsburgh held on. The Steelers held a commanding 24-3 lead on the half, however froze within the second half and practically blew the sport. However Roethlisberger discovered Antonio Brown for a third-down conversion to expire the clock and advance to the Tremendous Bowl.
There, an important protection was carved up by Aaron Rodgers and firm. Rodgers threw lasers whereas Roethlisberger was pick-sixed by S Nick Collins. Regardless of early adversity, the Steelers battled and made the sport shut. On the primary play of the fourth quarter, Mendenhall fumbled and the Packers recovered. Rodgers promptly marched the offense downfield for a rating to assist cement the result. He completed the day with 304 yards and three touchdowns whereas Pittsburgh turned the ball over thrice. A seventh ring wasn’t within the playing cards.
On the season, Pittsburgh ranked twelfth in scoring however No. 1 defensively. The opposition was by no means shut out however held to single-digit factors in 5 video games.
Offensively, Roethlisberger was environment friendly in 12 begins with 17 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. Mendenhall led the way in which with 1,273 yards and 12 touchdowns, whereas Mike Wallace was a constant playmaker. He generated 21 yards per catch and 10 scores. At age 34, Hines Ward grew to become a possession receiver however continued transferring the chains, recording a primary down on practically 60 % of his receptions.
Defensively, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley cracked double-digit sacks. ILB Lawrence Timmons had an enormous yr with a team-high 135 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and two pressured fumbles. Polamalu was the yr’s DPOY because of his seven interceptions and total dominant play. And Okay Shaun Suisham changed Jeff Reed mid-year, making 14-of-15 regular-season tries.
Notable: Mike Wallace is certainly one of six receivers in NFL historical past to file 60-plus receptions and common 21 yards per catch. Since 1985, he’s been the one participant to do it and certainly one of two – James Lofton, the opposite – to realize it after the 1970 merger.
6. 2005 season (11-5 file, received Wild Card, received Divisional, received AFC Championship, received Tremendous Bowl)
The primary Tremendous Bowl winner. The difficult activity was rating six supreme outcomes, Lombardi Trophies, from “worst” to finest. Somebody has to take that spot, and it’s the ’05 unit. The the explanation why? I practically put 1974 right here, however the ’74 workforce had a greater successful margin, a stronger regular-season file, and higher offensive and defensive scoring rankings.
For a bit of the common season, Pittsburgh didn’t seem like a real Tremendous Bowl contender. After two large wins over the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, the Steelers dropped shut video games to the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, the latter in time beyond regulation. By Week 6, the Steelers sat at simply 3-2. A four-game successful streak, together with one over every divisional foe, jump-started the workforce. However that was adopted by three consecutive losses, together with an time beyond regulation defeat to the Baltimore Ravens.
With a file of 7-5, Pittsburgh hoped simply to make the playoffs. Discovering resolve that started with RB Jerome Bettis turning again the clock on a snowy day towards the Chicago Bears, the Steelers received the subsequent 4. Bettis ran for his last profession 100-yard recreation and trucked LB Brian Urlacher to create an iconic second. Pittsburgh received its last 4 video games by double-digits, together with a 41-0 shutout of the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 and 35-21 over the Detroit Lions within the season finale. With that, the Steelers squeezed into the playoffs in a aggressive AFC because the No. 6 seed.
That laid the runway for the primary No. 6 seed ever to win a Tremendous Bowl. On the highway for each playoff recreation and underdogs alongside the way in which, Pittsburgh pulled off repeated upsets. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer injured his knee within the Wild Card recreation, and Cincinnati gave up 10-0 and 17-7 results in fall 31-17. Ben Roethlisberger was good within the playoffs as Pittsburgh shocked opponents with pass-first approaches. Towards the Bengals, he threw three for touchdowns.
Thought-about a fluke by many, few gave the Steelers an opportunity to upset the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts, a workforce that beat Pittsburgh 26-7 earlier that yr. Once more utilizing the go recreation as a catalyst, the Steelers quieted the Colts’ crowd by leaping out to a 14-0 lead. Pittsburgh managed the sport via three quarters till Peyton Manning bought sizzling within the last quarter-hour.
Nonetheless, after a key fourth-down sack, the Steelers had seemingly salted the sport away. Till Bettis fumbled on the aim line, the ball coming out behind with S Nick Harper scooping it up and a transparent path to outrunning Pittsburgh’s goal-line offense. Roethlisberger made a touchdown-saving ankle deal with. CB Bryant McFadden had a key finish zone breakup to power a area aim and Okay Mike Vanderjagt shanked it badly to offer Pittsburgh a 21-18 win.
Within the AFC Championship Sport, Pittsburgh rolled via the Denver Broncos. Once more, the Steelers began sizzling to steer 24-3 on the break. All the things from there was tutorial. Roethlisberger threw for 2 touchdowns and rushed for an additional, whereas Denver QB Jake Plummer was picked off twice, leading to a 34-17 end result.
A storybook yr bought much more magical realizing Jerome Bettis, in his last NFL recreation, would play in his hometown of Detroit in Tremendous Bowl XL versus the Seattle Seahawks. Nevertheless it was RB Willie Parker who left a legacy on the sector. Following LG Alan Faneca, Parker rushed for a 75-yard landing to open up the third quarter. It stays the longest dashing landing in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Pittsburgh capped the scoring and the win with a trick play of WR Antwaan Randle El hitting WR Hines Ward for a 43-yard rating. The Steelers’ protection hemmed within the Seahawks’ No. 1 offense, limiting RB Shaun Alexander and firm.
Pittsburgh captured one for the thumb and the franchise’s first Lombardi since 1979. Ward was named the sport’s MVP. Bettis rode off into the sundown as a champion whereas Invoice Cowher captured a Tremendous Bowl he had narrowly missed out on all through the earlier decade. His Corridor of Fame profession was cemented.
The Steelers ended the season with the No. 9 offense and No. 3 protection. Roethlisberger led the NFL in landing share whereas backup Charlie Batch received a pair of substitute begins. Bettis led the way in which with 9 touchdowns, however Parker broke out to point out his wheels and submit large numbers, dashing for 1,202 yards. Ward fell simply shy of 1,000 yards however scored 11 instances. TE Heath Miller completed second in NFL Offensive Rookie of the 12 months voting, shedding to runaway winner RB Cadillac Williams.
Joey Porter Sr. cracked double-digit sacks whereas the protection mixed to rack up 47. Security Chris Hope picked off three passes. Troy Polamalu was named first-team All-Professional for the primary time. The workforce’s plus-131 level differential is fourth amongst its six Tremendous Bowl winners.
Notable: Since Tremendous Bowl XL, no Steeler has topped Willie Parker’s 75-yard landing run. It’s been finished 104 instances by the remainder of the NFL, together with 5 instances by Derrick Henry, six instances by Adrian Peterson, and 7 instances by Chris Johnson.
5. 1974 season (10-3-1 file, received Divisional, received AFC Championship, received Tremendous Bowl)
The Steelers’ first Tremendous Bowl workforce narrowly edged out the 2005 unit for fifth-best among the many ones that received. Its 116-point differential is the bottom of any Tremendous Bowl winner, thirteenth in historical past, and behind seven non-Tremendous Bowl squads. Nonetheless, it’s a particular group for bringing the primary Lombardi to the Rooney title.
Pittsburgh completed the yr with the No. 6 offense and No. 2 protection. The Steelers had a loud begin to the season with a 30-0 win over the Baltimore Colts. The next week ended within the workforce’s first-ever time beyond regulation tie, a 35-35 impasse with the Denver Broncos. A 17-0 loss to the Oakland Raiders briefly put Pittsburgh underwater. However the Steelers would solely lose two of their last 11 regular-season video games, one-score defeats to the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans.
Pittsburgh’s protection was stellar all through the season, permitting greater than 17 factors simply twice. It pressured a league-high 47 turnovers. The offense was regular and constant.
Clinching a first-round bye, the Steelers hosted and discarded the Buffalo Payments within the Divisional Spherical. A 26-point second quarter cinched the sport by halftime thanks to 3 dashing scores by Franco Harris, the one participant in NFL historical past to attain thrice in a single quarter of a playoff recreation. On the highway within the convention title recreation, a slugfest become a 21-point Pittsburgh fourth-quarter outburst to drag away from the Oakland Raiders, 24-13. Harris once more scored twice whereas QB Terry Bradshaw linked with WR Lynn Swann for a landing. The Steelers ran the ball 51 instances for 210 yards whereas selecting off QB Ken Stabler thrice.
Going through Fran Tarkenton and the Purple Folks Eaters within the Tremendous Bowl, the Steelers buttoned up defensively and made simply sufficient performs offensively. The one first-half factors had been a security to offer Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead. Harris and TE Larry Brown scored within the second half whereas the protection held the Vikings’ No. 5 scoring offense to 119 yards and compelled 5 turnovers. For the primary time, the Steelers had been world champions.
Bradshaw had a turbulent common season and spent elements of the season on the bench. However he labored his method again into the lineup later within the yr and by no means left, discovering traction that propelled his Corridor of Fame profession. Nonetheless, Joe Gilliam led the workforce in passing yards. Harris led the way in which on the bottom, dashing for 1,006 yards and 6 whole touchdowns en path to the Professional Bowl. Passing the ball wasn’t the strategy to maneuver the offense, however receivers Frank Lewis and Ron Shanklin had been the highest two guys, whereas rookies John Stallworth and Lynn Swann discovered the ropes. Swann, nevertheless, was a superb punt returner.
Ernie Holmes, not Joe Greene or L.C. Greenwood, led the Steelers with 11.5 sacks. Greenwood was proper behind with 11, whereas Greene notched 9, each making first-team All-Professional, whereas Holmes wasn’t even a Professional Bowler. Jack Lambert, a part of that historic 1974 draft class that produced 5 whole Corridor of Famers, was named Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. Glen Edwards and Jack Ham tied for first on the workforce with 5 interceptions. In all, 4 Steelers defenders made the Professional Bowl.
Notable: The ’74 Steelers are certainly one of 4 Tremendous Bowl champs to file 40-plus regular-season takeaways. The ’79 Steelers did the identical whereas the 1980 and 1983 Raiders joined them.
4. 2008 season (12-4 file, received Divisional, received AFC Championship, received Tremendous Bowl)
The latest Tremendous Bowl champion. No, the offense wasn’t good and even common. However the protection was elite and drove them to the Tremendous Bowl whereas QB Ben Roethlisberger, WR Santonio Holmes, and the offense led a magical drive to win all of it.
Pittsburgh started the yr 2-0 with wins over the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns. Tripped up in a nine-sack loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Three, the Steelers received in time beyond regulation towards the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. Okay Jeff Reed hit a 46-yarder to safe the victory. Beating the Jacksonville Jaguars the next week, Pittsburgh cruised into the bye 4-1.
An enormous win over the Cincinnati Bengals lifted Pittsburgh after the bye week. There was the notorious “James Harrison lengthy snap” recreation that led to a loss to the New York Giants. Sitting at 6-3 in November, the Steelers reeled off five-straight wins to really take management of the season. The protection didn’t hand over greater than 13 factors in any of these video games whereas the offense took care of enterprise, together with beating the Tom Brady-less New England Patriots 33-10 in Foxborough.
One other Steelers-Ravens instantaneous traditional resulted in a 13-9 Pittsburgh win. The Steelers shut out the hapless Cleveland Browns 31-0 within the finale, even with backups. Browns QB Bruce Gradkowski accomplished simply 5-of-16 throws whereas Cleveland had 26 passing yards as a workforce.
Securing a bye, the Steelers hosted the San Diego Chargers within the Divisional Spherical. The Chargers raced out to an early lead, however Holmes returned a punt 67 yards to tie the sport at seven. A late RB Willie Parker landing gave the Steelers a lead going into the half. Pittsburgh managed the second half with touchdowns from Parker, TE Heath Miller, and RB Gary Russell. A late-Chargers rating made issues look barely extra respectable. Parker completed with 146 yards and two touchdowns whereas OLB LaMarr Woodley picked up two sacks.
The Steelers and Ravens met within the AFC Title recreation. An enormous probability for either side, Pittsburgh’s victory was sealed on SS Troy Polamalu’s iconic pick-six of Joe Flacco, weaving his method via visitors and following a convoy to the tip zone. Ryan Clark knocked Willis McGahee (and himself) out of the sport shortly after to wrap up a 23-14 win. The Steelers’ protection received the day, holding the Ravens underneath 200 yards and Flacco to finish underneath half his passes.
Pittsburgh took on the Arizona Cardinals within the Tremendous Bowl. Kurt Warner drove the offense to the Steelers’ aim line earlier than the half. Then, James Harrison went rogue and dropped into protection as an unsuspecting Warner threw the ball into his stomach. One other convoy led Harrison into the tip zone simply earlier than WR Larry Fitzgerald may catch him. It’s one of many best moments in Steelers and Tremendous Bowl historical past.
However the recreation was removed from over. Arizona took a 23-20 lead on an extended landing from Warner to Fitzgerald. It pressured Roethlisberger to steer an eight-play, 78-yard drive (that backed as much as Pittsburgh’s 12 following a penalty) to hit Holmes in the appropriate nook of the tip zone on a excellent go the place solely Holmes may catch it. After an extended assessment, the play stood, and the Steelers went forward. Woodley prevented a Warner Hail Mary try, forcing a fumble by which DL Brett Keisel recovered. A sixth Lombardi was added to the trophy case in what was the franchise’s most thrilling method to earn it.
Within the common season, Roethlisberger didn’t submit robust numbers and had practically as many picks (15) as landing passes (17). The working recreation wasn’t as stout, and the offensive line wasn’t spectacular. Ward went over 1,000 yards receiving whereas Holmes made performs.
The protection was actually the catalyst, giving up greater than 24 factors simply as soon as your entire run, common season and playoffs. Harrison was unstoppable with 16 sacks and 7 pressured fumbles to win Defensive Participant of the 12 months. Woodley wasn’t far behind with 11.5 takedowns. Polamalu was named first-team All-Professional with seven interceptions as a part of the workforce’s 20 collective picks and 29 whole takeaways.
The protection completed with 51 sacks, greater than three per recreation. Pittsburgh’s unit completed first in additional than a dozen defensive classes, whereas the 223 factors given up are the third-fewest for the reason that merger (strike seasons excluded).
Pittsburgh scored 38 touchdowns whereas permitting simply 21 within the common season.
Notable: LaMarr Woodley completed the postseason run with six sacks. That ties Richard Dent and Michael McCrary for the NFL file of most in a single playoff season.
3. 1979 season (12-4 file, received Divisional, received AFC Championship, received Tremendous Bowl)
The fourth and last dynasty workforce of the 70s. Pittsburgh’s offense advanced into a number one position, ending the yr with the No. 1 offense. The protection remained robust, rating fifth league-wide.
The workforce loved an undefeated first month of the season, going 4-0, which included a 38-7 whipping over the Houston Oilers. The Steelers misplaced two of the subsequent three, although they outscored the Cleveland Browns 51-34 in between, earlier than successful their subsequent 4. Pittsburgh allowed 20 mixed factors over that span with blowouts towards the Denver Broncos (42-7), Washington Redskins (38-7), and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (30-3). The Steelers discovered themselves on the incorrect aspect of a 35-7 drubbing to the San Diego Chargers to interrupt the streak earlier than edging out the Browns 33-30 in time beyond regulation to get again within the win column. That was adopted up with a 37-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals because the Steelers’ offense discovered its stride.
Houston bought revenge at hand Pittsburgh its fourth loss, however the Steelers ended the yr pitching a shutout over the Buffalo Payments within the finale, 28-0. Profitable the division and incomes a bye, the Steelers started the postseason internet hosting Don Shula’s Miami Dolphins within the divisional spherical. Miami had a superb yr, however was no match for Pittsburgh. The Steelers went up 20-0 within the first quarter and by no means regarded again in a 34-14 win. Bradshaw threw for 230 yards and two scores whereas RBs Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, and Sidney Thornton had dashing touchdowns.
After splitting the regular-season collection, the Steelers and Oilers met for a 3rd time for the appropriate to advance to the Tremendous Bowl. Two Bradshaw passes earlier than the half put Pittsburgh forward on the break, and the protection stored Houston out of the tip zone within the second half in a 27-13 victory. Actually, the Oilers’ solely landing got here on a first-quarter pick-six; the offense scuffled to complete with simply 227 yards. Pittsburgh took away the working recreation, holding Houston to 24 yards on 22 tries. WR John Stallworth and TE Bennie Cunningham discovered the tip zone via the air, whereas Bleier did so on the bottom. Pittsburgh was off to its fourth Tremendous Bowl of the ’70s.
Pittsburgh capped the dynasty with a 31-19 win over the Los Angeles Rams. The Steelers entered as heavy favorites versus a Rams’ workforce that went simply 9-7 within the common season. However Los Angeles offered critical resistance, main on the half and pulling forward within the third quarter. However in probably the most memorable Tremendous Bowl moments, Bradshaw reared again and completely positioned a downfield dime into WR John Stallworth’s awaiting palms for a 73-yard landing. Harris added one other rating to salt the sport away. Bradshaw was good, throwing for 309 yards and two touchdowns, and accomplished his profession arc from oft-benched disappointment to game-manager-to MVP.
For the common season, Bradshaw threw for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns. He made the Professional Bowl and completed top-five in MVP voting. Harris was wonderful with an 1,100-yard season whereas Thornton quietly rushed for six touchdowns. Stallworth and Swann continued their elite duo, combining for simply shy of two,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. Stallworth was rewarded with first-team All-Professional honors. Thornton added 4 extra receiving scores, making for what’s gotta be the most-forgotten 10-touchdown season in Steelers’ historical past.
Defensively, L.C. Greenwood and Steve Furness tied for the workforce lead with seven sacks. Linebacker Jack Lambert led the workforce with six sacks, and Security Donnie Shell was proper behind with 5. In all, six members of the Steelers protection made the Professional Bowl. One other 4 did on offense, together with C Mike Webster, making this a embellished workforce when it comes to private and workforce achievements.
Notable: Bradshaw’s 3,724 passing yards set a workforce file that stood for many years. His mark wasn’t damaged till Ben Roethlisberger’s 4,328 marketing campaign 30 years later.
2. 1978 season (14-2 file, Divisional win, AFC Championship win, Tremendous Bowl)
The second-greatest workforce in historical past. With a glowing 14-2 file and a complete lot extra to say. The Steelers’ plus-161 level differential is fourth-best in workforce historical past. A seven-game successful streak to open the season certain helped, exhibiting the power to win large (31-7 over Atlanta, 28-3 versus Cincinnati) and slim (15-9 in time beyond regulation towards Cleveland).
The primary loss got here in Week Eight to the Houston Oilers, a Monday evening contest. Pittsburgh received the subsequent two earlier than dropping its second recreation of the season to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. The Steelers wouldn’t lose once more. The workforce ran the desk the remainder of the common season with an offense that would rating and a protection with a knack for turning the ball over. In three-straight wins from Weeks 12-15, the protection took the ball away 21 instances. Even resting starters within the season finale didn’t forestall a loss, with RB Rick Moser and WR Jim Smith contributing to a 21-17 win over the Denver Broncos.
However what mattered was the postseason. Pittsburgh made mincemeat of what was left of the AFC. Taking part in the Broncos once more, the Steelers ran away to a 33-10 win. In his coming-out season, QB Terry Bradshaw threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns whereas Franco Harris rushed for over 100 yards and two extra scores. Stallworth went off for a 10-reception, 156-yard, landing day. The Broncos took half as many sacks (six) as that they had completions (12).
The AFC Title Sport versus the Oilers was much more laughable. A 34-5 victory, with Houston managing a lowly area aim and security. Bradshaw fired two extra touchdowns whereas Harris and Rocky Bleier discovered the tip zone. The Oilers recorded solely 70 yards of offense and had 9 turnovers. 5 interceptions, 4 fumbles misplaced. That’s tied for probably the most turnovers in a playoff recreation—whole domination in entrance of a house Steelers’ crowd.
A Tremendous Bowl rematch from 1975 towards the Dallas Cowboys was far harder. Chuck Noll versus Tom Landry, Terry Bradshaw versus Roger Staubach. Each quarterbacks exchanged first-quarter landing passes whereas Bradshaw hit Stallworth for a 75-yard rating within the second quarter. Pittsburgh took a 21-14 lead into the half. A quiet third quarter led to a warmer fourth, Harris and WR Lynn Swann scoring earlier than Dallas stormed again with two touchdowns of its personal. Too little, too late, and Pittsburgh held on 35-31 for ring No. 3.
Bradshaw threw 4 touchdowns, connecting with Stallworth twice and Swann and Bleier as soon as. Staubach made performs however was intercepted and sacked 5 instances. But once more, Pittsburgh defeated “America’s Workforce.”
The NFL’s 1978 MVP, Bradshaw, threw for two,915 yards and a league-high 28 touchdowns. Harris rushed for over 1,000 yards, Bleier greater than 650, and the 2 mixed for 14 whole touchdowns. Swann went over 800 receiving yards, and Stallworth practically did the identical. The 2 had noses for the tip zone, Swann with 11 and Stallworth 9. Defensively, DL L.C. Greenwood led the cost with 9 sacks, making the Professional Bowl alongside Joe Greene. Future NFL head coach Tony Dungy led the Steelers with six interceptions. Jack Lambert and Mel Blount had 4 apiece. The protection completed with 27 interceptions and 48 total takeaways.
Some season stats to shut issues out. Pittsburgh had the No. 5 offense and No. 1 protection, permitting simply 12.2 PPG. The Steelers had 46 touchdowns for and simply 22 towards. Six gamers on protection made the Professional Bowl. Pittsburgh received by a median margin of greater than 10 factors.
Notable: The Steelers pressured 14 turnovers within the playoffs. Regardless of taking part in solely three video games, that’s tied for fifth-most in a single postseason cycle by an NFL workforce.
1. 1975 season (12-2 file, received Divisional, received AFC Championship, received Tremendous Bowl)
1975. The best Pittsburgh Steelers’ workforce. Ever.
I wrestled with 1978 and 1975. Finally, I selected ’75 for a few causes: increased offensive factors per recreation (26.6), decrease/higher defensive factors per recreation (11.6), a better margin of victory (15.1, which is insane), and a better level differential (plus-211, extra on that in a minute).
The playoff run wasn’t as simple because the ’78 version’s, however the end result was the identical: a Tremendous Bowl.
The plus-211 level differential can’t be talked about sufficient. Regardless of taking part in in a 14-game season, it’s the very best PD in workforce historical past. One in all simply two Steelers groups to crack the 200-point mark, with third-place at plus-168, far-off from what the ’75 squad did. Pittsburgh utterly dominated within the common season.
That started with a 37-0 win over the San Francisco 49ers within the season opener. The primary loss got here in Week Two to the Buffalo Payments. Name it solely a blip, and Pittsburgh took out its anger on the Cleveland Browns with a 42-6 Week Three win. The following week? 20-9 over the Denver Broncos. The one after that? 34-3 towards the Chicago Bears. The offense scored in droves whereas the protection was stifling, though neither unit completed No. 1 within the league. The offense was fifth and the protection second.
Pittsburgh went undefeated towards the AFC Central and skilled its second loss towards the Los Angeles Rams within the finale. It was a recreation that didn’t actually matter, with a 10-3 end result, with future NFL broadcaster Ron “Jaws” Jaworski getting the win from the Rams’ aspect.
Going through the Baltimore Colts within the divisional recreation, the Steelers received regardless of their 5 turnovers. The sport was tied at half, and the Colts briefly took a 10-7 third-quarter lead earlier than the Steelers locked in. RB Rocky Bleier discovered the tip zone to retake the lead 14-10 earlier than a Terry Bradshaw rush, and LB Andy Russell’s 93-yard scoop-and-score salted the sport away. Bradshaw solely threw for 103 yards and two touchdowns, however a win is a win. Harris churned out 153 yards on the bottom.
Towards rival Oakland Raiders within the title recreation, Pittsburgh held on to a 16-10 win. Turnovers once more practically doomed them, seven of them, however the protection additionally pressured 5 to maintain the margin shut. Simply 3-0 at half, Harris and Stallworth scored over the ultimate half-hour to win and overcome three Bradshaw picks. Everybody chipped in. Six gamers caught a go whereas Harris and Bleier cut up backfield carries. Security Mike Wagner picked off QB Ken Stabler twice.
The Tremendous Bowl wasn’t sloppy, nevertheless it was shut. Pittsburgh had a clear sheet and not using a turnover whereas forcing three towards the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas struck first earlier than Bradshaw hit TE Randy Grossman to knot the sport at seven. After a second-quarter area aim, Dallas took and held the lead into the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh awoke by blocking a punt for a security, Okay Roy Gerela nailing two area targets, and Swann hitting an enormous 64-yard rating to go forward 21-10. A late Cowboys’ landing wasn’t sufficient, and the Steelers received 21-17 for his or her second-straight Tremendous Bowl. Bradshaw received with simply 9 completions and 161 of his 209 yards going to Swann, together with his well-known tipped seize.
Staubach was picked off thrice and sacked seven instances, making him certainly one of simply two quarterbacks (Joe Burrow the opposite) to be taken down that a lot in a single Tremendous Bowl. LC Greenwood had 4 sacks, which stays a Tremendous Bowl file.
Bradshaw made his first Professional Bowl for the common season with 18 touchdowns. Harris went off for 1,246-yards and 10 scores with Bleier in a supporting position as part-time runner and lead blocker. Swann made the Professional Bowl with an 11-score marketing campaign. Stallworth was a downfield risk, averaging greater than 21 yards per seize. WR Frank Lewis provided the identical. The protection racked up 43 sacks in simply 14 video games whereas CB Mel Blount led the NFL with 11 interceptions, nonetheless a Steelers’ single-season file.
Some last stats to focus on the yr’s dominance. Pittsburgh scored 46 touchdowns. They allowed solely 19 and solely 17 defensively, solely three greater than what the historic ’76 protection achieved. The workforce’s 26.6 PPG is third-best in workforce historical past, then a file, and now trailing solely 2014 and 2018. Eight Professional Bowlers represented the Steelers’ protection. Three extra had been added offensively.
The best common season. A Tremendous Bowl trophy. The start of the dynasty. One of the best workforce of all time.
Notable: Whereas the Tremendous Bowl win is all that issues, Pittsburgh’s 12 playoff turnovers didn’t damage them such as you may count on. The 12 giveaways tie probably the most of any workforce in a single playoff run, matching the 1982 New York Jets and 1992 Buffalo Payments. The following-closest Tremendous Bowl-winning squad is the 2006 Indianapolis Colts, who had 9.
Rating Steelers’ Seasons (Recap)
90. 1941
89. 1965
88. 1934
87. 1939
86. 1969
85. 1940
84. 1945
83. 1968
82. 1938
81. 1988
80. 1933
79. 1955
78. 1935
77. 1967
76. 1964
75. 2003
74. 1951
73. 1937
72. 1948
71. 1936
70. 1970
69. 1986
68. 1991
67. 1966
66. 1999
65. 1954
64. 1956
63. 1960
62. 1950
61. 2022
60. 1998
59. 1971
58. 1952
57. 2013
56. 1957
55. 2012
54. 1953
53. 2019
52. 1985
51. 1987
50. 1961
49. 1959
48. 2006
47. 1981
46. 2000
45. 1946
44. 1949
43. 1990
42. 2009
41. 2021
40. 2018
39. 1980
38. 1962
37. 1963
36. 2023
35. 2024
34. 1982
33. 1993
32. 1958
31. 2007
30. 1989
29. 1977
28. 1947
27. 1984
26. 2014
25. 1942
24. 2015
23. 2022
22.1983
21. 1996
20. 2011
19. 2020
18. 2017
17. 1973
16. 1992
15. 1997
14. 2016
13. 1994
12. 2001
11. 1972
10. 2004
9. 1995
8. 1976
7. 2010
6. 2005
5. 1974
4. 2008
3. 1979
2. 1978
1. 1975
