Top 10 Steelers Losses of the 21st Century

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PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 05: A Pittsburgh Steelers fans sits in the stands after the Steelers lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2008 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Jaguars won 31-29. (Photo by Chris Mc

The year 2000's have brought many fruitful victories to Steeler Nation, but also a hand full of forgettable losses.

Many of these games are big games and others are important regular season games.

This list may make a die-hard Steelers fan cringe. So Steeler Fans: viewer discretion is advised.

Steelers vs Oakland 2006

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 29: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes the ball against pressure from Terdell Sands #90 of the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at McAfee Coliseum October 29, 2006 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Robert Lab

Roethlisberger appeared to have brain damage going into this game. He threw four critical interceptions in a 20-13 loss in Oakland. This game was eerily similar to the Houston loss in 2002. The Steelers D shutdown an inept Oakland offense, only to the see the Offense give this game away to the winless Raiders.

Bengals vs Steelers 2003

PITTSBURGH - NOVEMBER 30: Chris Hope #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers makes a late hit on Matt Schobel #89 of the Cincinnati Bengals after Schobel caught the winning touchdown pass on November 30, 2003 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Bengal

The unofficial official end to the 2003 season. At 4-7 the talk around town was if the Steelers win out they could still sneak into the playoffs. The Bengals built an early 14-3 lead. Pittsburgh came back and went ahead 20-17 with little time left.

Jon Kitna drove the Bengals the length of the field and hit Matt Schobel for the game winning touchdown with seconds left. 24-20 Bengals. This game brings added hurt since I attended this heartbreaker.

2002 Regular Season: Houston vs Steelers

PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 8 : Jason Simmons #30 of the Houston Texans recovers a fumble against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 8, 2002 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Texans beat the Steelers 24-6. (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)

Weirdest game I've ever seen in my life. Steelers dominate the Texans in every facet and lose 24-6. The Defense held Houston to 110 total yards and they still lose. Maddox had two interceptions go for touchdowns in his first game back from his spinal cord concussion. This game still makes me ill.

Jacksonville vs Steelers 2005

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 16: Cornerback Rashean Mathis #27 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs on the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on October 16, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Jaguars defeated the Steelers 23-17 in overtime. (Ph

Tommy Maddox got the start for an injured Ben Roethlisberger. Maddox was absolutely awful. He fumbled away the win in regulation and threw a pick-six to Rashean Mathis in overtime. 23-17 Jags.

2006 Baltimore vs Steelers (2x)

BALTIMORE - NOVEMBER 26: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is sacked by Jarret Johnson #95 and Bart Scott #57 of the Baltimore Ravens at M & T Bank Stadium November 26, 2006 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Baltimore made the Steelers look like a JV team twice in 2006. In Baltimore, the Steelers failed to produce a point in a 27-0 loss. Roethlisberger was beaten, battered, and bruised by a superior Ravens defense. In Pittsburgh, the results didn't vary, as the Ravens won 34-7. The Pittsburgh front was physically manhandled in both losses.

Steelers vs Browns Sunday Night Game in 2003

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 5: Cleveland Browns players including Dennis Northcutt #86 and Andre' Davis #87 celebrate the touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2002 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The

Only game I've turned off before the start of the 4th quarter in the last ten years. Cleveland crushed the defending AFC North Champs 33-13. It wasn't even that close. Pittsburgh made Tim Couch look like Joe Montana and William Green Look like Walter Payton.

Jags vs Steelers: 2007 AFC Wild Card Game

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 05: David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs out of the grasp of Tyrone Carter #23 of the Pittsburgh Steelers the set up the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter of the AFC Wild Card game on January 5, 2008 at H

Jacksonville was one of those pesky teams that you knew the Steelers were better than. The Steelers trailed 28-10 late in the 3rd quarter and things looked very dim. Then the offense lead three consecutive touchdown drives to pull ahead 29-28. They even got the ball back with a chance to ice the game with a first down.

They failed to do so and David Gerrard lead the Jags on an 8-play 44 yard scoring drive with little time left. On a critica 4th down play it looked like numerous Steelers were being held, which enabled Gerrard to run 34 yards to the Steelers 9. A nice 10-6 season ruined on one play.

Patrots vs Steelers 2004 AFC Championship Game

PITTSBURGH - JANUARY 23: Running back Corey Dillon #28 of the New England Patriots celebrates victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2005 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Patriots defeated the Stee

Big Ben was overwhelmed by the big stage and New England stormed out to a 24-3 halftime lead. The Patriots did whatever they wanted to and went on to win 41-27. The thing about this loss is that you knew that there was still good things to come. Still a tough Pill to swallow after a remarkable 15-1 regular season.

2002 AFC Divisional Game vs Tennessee

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 11: Joe Nedney #6 of the Tennessee Titans eyes the ball as he kicks from the hold of Craig Hentrich #15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Coliseum on January 11, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee. TheTitans won 34-31 in overtime t

Man. What a great game this was. The Steelers bounced back from a 13-0 deficit, only to lose by a phantom roughing the kicker call. The loss did help the Steelers realize that they had a sieve like secondary, as Steve McNair picked them apart on the go-ahead drive. Joe Nedney will still go down as a villain in Steelers lore for his self-proclaimed Oscar-Winning performance. ARG. 34-31 Titans.

Patriots vs Steelers 2001 AFC Championship Game

The Steelers steamed rolled to a 13-3 regular season record and beat up on their nemesis from Baltimore in the Divisional Round. It would be for not as New England shutdown Jerome Bettis and harassed Kordell Stewart en route to a 24-17 AFC Championship game win. The Pats were also aided by a couple of special teams scores. It just didn't feel like the better team won that day.

Steelers

All and all you really can't complain much. I mean five divisonal titles, four AFC Championship games and two Super Bowl wins aren't too shabby. I just thought it would be a good idea to revisit some of the trying times this past decade. Everyone knows that you got to take the good.. with the bad.

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