Bill Cowher and the Pittsburgh Steelers: The Best NFL Games from a Great Era
Replacing a legendary coach can be difficult, but it isn't impossible. Like Jimmy Johnson had done in Dallas a few years prior, Bill Cowher sought to do in Pittsburgh: build a young, dynamic champion. After all, that was always going to be the expectation in the 'Burgh. On the heels of his predecessor, Cowher would have to settle for nothing short of excellence.
Chuck Noll's legacy will be forever visible in the Steel City. As you walk through Heinz Field and encounter "The Great Hall," a lot comes into perspective. Where other teams have a great corner or a fancy cabinet, opposing fans that stumble upon this mecca of the Black and Gold surely feel a cascade of history falling over them. Six Lombardi Trophies grace this walkway of the stadium's interior, and Steelers fans can thank Chuck Noll and his arrangement of talent for the majority of it.
Nevertheless, by the time the early 1990s began, it was becoming apparent that a change would soon to needed. The 1989 Steelers were the franchise's best effort in nearly a decade. That was a fun ride, but that's saying something, too...
While still revering the tradition of excellence already established, this was Steelers football as my generation of fans would know it. It was an era of great passion, and "The Chin" refueled the fires of passion that led to an immediate Black and Gold resurgence on the NFL playoff landscape.
Cowher became known for his fiery enthusiasm, and his emotional catharses could easily be recognized by a blatant physical feature, his chin protruding out like a well-placed caricature piece.
A phrase that emanated from the Cowher era was "Cowher Power." He fueled the Steelers to two Super Bowls, an NFL championship and numerous winning seasons with deep playoff runs.
His 15 years as head coach of the Steelers saw some heartache, but it all made his ultimate triumph in Super Bowl XL that much sweeter. Cowher trumped his perceived role as a coach who couldn't win the "big game."
In doing so, he staked his own pillar in "The Great Hall."
To celebrate the greatest games of the Bill Cowher era (1992-2006), I am going to veer from the common ranking or countdown structure and choose the best game of his career for each week of the NFL season. Think of it as a mega-season honoring a classic figure in Pittsburgh sports lore. In other words, Week 1 of our list would be my selection for the best Week 1 game of the Cowher era, etc.
The list will be based on the week of the NFL season, and not game number, so bye weeks are considered.
Before the season can kick off, there are a few things that you, the reader, should be aware of:
-Please suspend your disbelief enough to enjoy the article. Obviously, the games will have varying rosters and different era's mixed into one 21-week "Super Schedule."
-I will include a wild card week submission whether or not the "All-Cowher Super Selections" record would imply a game during that round.
-This is a listing from a Steelers fan's perspective, so expect only victories to be listed.
-Obviously, there is no way that I can adhere fully to the NFL scheduling guidelines or rotation. It would detract from the purpose of picking the best games and become a logic puzzle if I were to attempt to adhere to scheduling policy. (Ex: An exclusive NFC division fully represented.)
-I will include at least one game for each AFC North rival.
-There will be more home games than away games or vice versa. The list will include 17 regular season games, one per week.
-Non-division opponents may appear more than once.
-Remember: this is not a list of top games period. I can only pick a single game for the week of the particular entry. As such, a few hard decisions must be made as great games WILL miss the cut.
-With all of the liberties that have to be taken in order to create this list, there could be a repeat opponent in the playoff selections. Again, this list is a reflection of best games done in a unique format. You'll have to suspend your disbelief just a bit in order to enjoy the article.
These rules best assure that rivals are represented, but also that the best games are truly selected.
With a few liberties in place to allow this type of reflection to take place, let's dive into it.
I present the All-Cowher Steelers Super Season!
Week 1- @ Houston Oilers (1992)
1 of 21The first game of our countdown is, fittingly, Cowher's first game as head coach of the team. It became quickly evident that the new guy wasn't going to enter the NFL quietly, pulling out the stops in one of the team's most memorable wins.
During the end of the Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s, their AFC rival had transitioned from the Oakland Raiders to the Houston Oilers. The Steelers easily dispatched of their division rival in the AFC Championship Games of 1979 and 1980. You can imagine the division's delight as the Steelers aged, lost their edge and fell from prominence in the 1980s.
The Oilers attained Warren Moon, and the quarterback continuously put up arcade-style numbers. They had begun to dominate their rivalry with Pittsburgh when, in 1989, Chuck Noll had a last great "hurrah." The Steelers made the playoffs and upset heavily-favored Houston in the Wild Card round on a Gary Anderson 51-yard field goal in overtime.
The loss may very well have cost Houston coach Jerry Glanville his job.
Naturally, the defeat still fresh on the Oilers' minds, the matchup of these squads was rife with animosity. Despite owning the matchup, the Steelers seemed to dispatch of the Oilers in every important game. A head coach's first game with his new team seemed the setting for redemption.
Early on, it appeared as though Houston, the favorite to win the division headed in 1992, would steamroll Pittsburgh. A Warren Moon touchdown pass in the first quarter gave the Oilers a 14-0 lead. The Steelers offense was stuffed on the next drive and forced to punt from midfield. Then, it happened.
The fake.
The first big call from Cowher worked to perfection. A fake punt set up Pittsburgh from the Oilers 1-yard line, and Barry Foster cut the Houston lead in half.
The teams traded scores, with the Oilers leading 24-16 at halftime. In the second half, the Steelers defense rose up, and Warren Moon's day of frustration was cemented.
Pittsburgh cut the lead to 24-22 with two field goals before Neil O'Donnell hit Adrain Cooper (who?) with the game-winning touchdown.
Warren Moon finished with five interceptions, negating his customary 300-yard game.
In his first game at the helm, Cowher's Steelers showed a number of positive signs. The game could have become a lop-sided loss without the coach's gutty call on fourth down from midfield in the first quarter.
Week 2- vs. Washington Redskins (1997)
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Week 2, during the Cowher era, is filled with blowouts on both sides of the ball, and the competitive affairs were lackluster. This came with a few exceptions, and the Redskins trip to the Steel City in 1997 was meaningful on a couple of levels.
The '97 campaign saw the team turn to Kordell Stewart to be their new franchise quarterback. Following Neil O'Donnell's exit in 1996, the Steelers needed to recharge the position with an exciting prospect for the long-haul.
The beginning of Stewart's first season as the entrenched starter came with alarm. The Steelers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in a game that they were determined to use as vengeance for a Super Bowl loss just over a year earlier. Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin dominated the day, but the Dallas defense was just as potent. The Steelers lost 37-7.
With a game against upstart Jacksonville on Monday Night forthcoming, the team realized the magnitude of their second game against the Redskins.
A win would get them back on track and in contention for the AFC Central crown. A loss could send them into a competitive quagmire.
Leading the Redskins was Gus Frerotte, a young gun in the NFL who was from local Ford City High School. Steelers fans were eager to welcome the signal-caller back but not pleasantly.
The game against the Redskins didn't stand out for its excitement or riveting play-by-play, but the tension at Three Rivers Stadium was the result of awareness. While the team ultimately hosted the AFC Championship Game, it seemed early that the season could be a transition year.
The Steelers took an early lead, but the offense stagnated. Washington's Brian Mitchell stunned the faithful crowd by taking the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown. Suddenly, the Redskins led 10-7. They tacked on a field goal, and the crowd had every reason to be pessimistic. Kordell finished the game 8-for-17, and the Jerome Bettis, who ran well, seemed to eventually stall on every drive.
Undaunted and refusing to lose their first two home games, the Steelers rode "the Bus" to a 14-13 lead. Frerotte came back onto the field for a final attempt to reclaim victory.
The Redskins quarterback hit open receivers all game long, but he threw three critical interceptions. Each of these turnovers came at times when the "Burgundy and Gold" (that doesn't sound right...) had a chance to score. The final interception was Chris Oldham's game-sealer.
The Steelers escaped at home against Washington for a much-needed triumph. This one-point victory is lost in the team's annals, but minus it, the team would have been 0-3 after a loss in Jacksonville. At a time of radical change, the team stole a win before they truly learned how to fully work together.
Week 3- @ Miami Dolphins (2004)
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When Tommy Maddox went down with an elbow injury in Baltimore, the 2004 season seemed to come to a screeching halt. Rookie Ben Roethlisberger came into the game and led a couple of scoring drives. These came against a Ravens' prevent defensive scheme, so it was difficult to gage whether the young quarterback showed signs of promise or benefited from circumstance.
His first snap came against the tenacious Ravens defense. His first start was every bit as difficult.
The first game of a sure-fire Hall of Fame career began in a hurricane, which was perfect considering the rookie took the NFL by storm.
While nobody knew how Ben would fare, as much uncertainty centered around the south Florida game as Hurricane Jeanne landed in Miami on a late Saturday night. The game, originally slated to start at 1:00p EST was pushed back to prime time.
All the better. A prime-time game begins a prime-time career.
The first of 15 consecutive victories (and 16 consecutive regular season victories), Roethlisberger's first game of the streak came in pounding rain and whipping winds. It figured to be a wet, muddy derby, with lots of sliding and tons of collisions. Instead of busted metal, pads popped, and memories were made on a football field.
Can you say Steelers weather? There were moments where dirt was poured onto the field to assure a semblance of footing. Jerome Bettis and Verron Haynes pounded out yardage, but drive after drive stalled for both sides. The elements were surreal.
To demonstrate the premium of scoring in the game, the Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt opted to go for a fourth and 1 at the Miami 47. The team was stuffed, and the Steelers capitalized by moving the ball 13 yards. Jeff Reed hit an impressive 51-yard field goal.
Both quarterbacks had pedestrian numbers, to be expected. But, it was the young rookie who had the game's finest moment. After his first pass was intercepted, Ben concluded the game 12-for-21 with a touchdown. The score came in the final minutes of the game, as Hines Ward made a beautiful sliding catch, water spraying over like celebratory fireworks.
Contrarily, the Steelers defense enjoyed the weather. Miami QB A.J. Feeley was 13-for-27, including two interceptions, and a game-ending fumble in the fourth quarter. He was sacked three times.
Ben was 1-0. A new era were just getting started.
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Week 4- vs. Cleveland Browns (2002)
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This was a tough decision.
Week 4 in the Bill Cowher era saw the memorable Monday Night Game in Jacksonville where Jerome Bettis was tackled on the Jags' sideline, sat on their bench and posed. And if that memory doesn't stand out, the image of Bill Cowher on the sidelines appearing to want to strike the Jaguars after a blocked field goal to seal the game should....
Week 4 also saw the first-ever game played in Heinz Field. It wasn't that memorable in terms of the gameplay, but it was a fitting Steelers game. Pittsburgh bruised Cincinnati in a 16-7 victory.
Ultimately, in spite of these great effort, the selection had to be the 2002 game vs. the Cleveland Browns.
After going 13-3 and losing an odd AFC Championship Game in 2001, the Steelers came out of the gates in 2002 with a clear issue: pass defense.
The problems came to clarity when Tom Brady (who else, Steelers fans?) threw on 25 consecutive plays, firing three touchdowns en route to a 30-14 Monday Night win over Pittsburgh.
The Raiders came into Pittsburgh the following week, and things only got worse. Rich Gannon completed 43-of-64 passes for 403 yards in a 30-17 Oakland victory that wasn't that close.
While defense was the issue, Kordell Stewart was the town's scapegoat. It was surprising that the Browns didn't attack the Steelers secondary in Week 4 (Game 3) of that 2002 season, but they didn't exactly field Tom Brady or Rich Gannon.
It turns out, the defense played well, but late in the game, the team trailed 13-6. Kordell threw into double coverage in the end zone, and the Browns intercepted the ball. The Steelers forced a punt, and with the ball in their hands, Tommy Maddox entered the game.
Obviously, expectations weren't high for the XFL MVP, although the crowd was supportive. Two minutes later, the Steelers had a new starter.
Maddox flung the ball with authority, and the Steelers immediately tied the game. In overtime, the Browns had a blocked field goal that was set up off of a Tommy Maddox interception. Given a second chance, Pittsburgh drove down the field. They set up for the field goal...
...and on third down, it was blocked! Except, in this case, the ball never went past the line of scrimmage, and Pittsburgh recovered. Under this circumstance, the team retains the ball for fourth down!
The Steelers nailed the kick, and they had their first win of the young season. 2002 would go down as one of the most memorable campaigns in team history, and it all began with Maddox's 11-for-13 performance off of the bench.
Week 5- @ San Diego Chargers (2005)
5 of 21This Monday Night classic began with one of the best television introductions in the history of Monday Night Football. It was largely patriotic, against an orchestra background, and four blackhawk helicopters flew over Qualcomm Stadium, sending the Chargers crowd into a frenzy. It was one of those few moments that was captured by television cameras for all of its intensity. Immediately, one had the feeling this would be a special game.
The Steelers were coming off of a 15-1 season with huge Super Bowl aspirations, while the Chargers were looking to prove their 12-4 campaign of 2004 wasn't a fluke. That season saw the breakout of star tight end Antonio Gates.
During the game, Roethlisberger put the Steelers up 7-0, and following a Drew Brees interception, the Steelers capitalized. It appeared they would lead at halftime 14-0. Suddenly, San Diego's offense caught fire.
Brees hit the aforementioned Gates for a touchdown to cut the lead in half. In the second half, the Chargers continued to move the ball, while the Steelers began to stagnate. LaDanian Tomlinson got into a rhythm, and the balanced San Diego attack picked up yards with alarming simplicity. The Steelers defense held stout in the red zone, and the Chargers tacked on three field goals to take a 16-14 lead.
Roethlisberger then took command, leading the Steelers on a drive capped by a touchdown to rookie tight end Heath Miller.
The Chargers answered with a plunge by LaDanian Tomlinson, and the score was 22-21 Chargers with four minutes to go.
Two prize fighters traded jabs. Roethlisberger looked sharp, leading the Steelers right down the field, setting up a Jeff Reed field goal that split the uprights.
The Steelers won, 24-22.
There was good and bad in this great Monday Night affair.
The good was that the Steelers beat the hottest team in the NFL, but they lost their quarterback to a knee injury in those final minutes. Big Ben would not return for three weeks, and he missed much of the next six weeks of the season.
Week 6- @ Dallas Cowboys (2004)
6 of 21Vinny Testeverde had a fine career as an NFL starting quarterback. Except against Pittsburgh.
Steelers fans have come to know the ageless veteran for his inevitable mishaps against their beloved team. The Black and Gold had ought as well just call him "Vinny Vidi Vici." Every time we played against him, no matter the opponent, the Steelers came, they saw and they conquered.
Yet, the Steelers most recent memories against the Cowboys were sorrowful. Long gone were the 1970s, and Dallas had beaten Pittsburgh in three consecutive meetings. Two were lopsided losses on Opening Day at Three Rivers Stadium, 26-9 and 37-7.
This Dallas team was not the dynasty of the 1990s, but it wasn't everyday the Steelers played Vinny Testerverde while he had a star on his helmet.
Something had to give. And, as it turned out, the Steelers miraculous 2004 season continued victoriously.
Rookie Ben Roethlisberger was an absurdly efficient 21-for-25 with two touchdowns, but the Cowboys were game and ready for their task. At least, they were for 55 minutes...
After being tied at halftime, Dallas scored 10 unanswered points to open a 20-10 lead in the third quarter. Late in the game, Ben responded with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to 20-17.
Then, a streak continued. The Steelers pressured the Dallas quarterback, and visions of Cleveland overcame Vinny once again. He fumbled the football, and the Steelers returned the gift deep into Cowboys territory.
A Jerome Bettis touchdown capped a comeback, and the Steelers won 24-20. In one day, a streak continued (the Steelers won their fourth straight game) and Bill Parcells Cowboys fell to 2-3.
Stealing victory from the jaws of defeat is a good feeling, but when the setting is Texas Stadium, it's even better. For once, the Steelers Nation left Jerry Jones with a stinging feeling of loss.
Week 7- vs. Tennessee Titans (2001)
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In the late 90s, the Steelers momentum under Bill Cowher came to a sudden stop. A loss in the infamous "coin toss" game on Thanksgiving 1998 (in Detroit) began a losing trend that plagued the late decade. The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars took advantage, dominating the division to end the century.
The Titans took most of that edge, representing the AFC in Super Bowl XXXIV and beating the Steelers seven straight times from late 1997 until 2000.
Most of those games saw Steve McNair decimate the Steelers. The team's defensive point of pride came from stuffing the run, yet Eddie George always brought his best efforts against Pittsburgh.
Heinz Field opened in 2001. The new field had a similar tradition: Pittsburgh dominance on Monday Night.
Cowher's teams never suffered a single loss at home on Monday Night Football.
Pittsburgh dominated the rival that had given them so many fits. Plaxico Burress had his first great game, gaining 151 yards and scoring the opening touchdown.
Eddie George had 13 yards on 10 carries. McNair was intercepted twice.
The Titans fumbled a kickoff, and Kordell Stewart scampered for a three-yard touchdown to make the score 34-7.
This game marked the real turning point from the team's anemic end of the 90s to their winning ways of the 2000s. Eventually, a franchise quarterback would be needed to get the teamover the hump, but we all know that wouldn't come for a few more seasons.
In a night where the teams reversed their normal roles, the Steelers dominated their rivals formerly from Houston, causing excitement to brew in the Iron City...um, city.
Week 8- vs. New England Patriots (2004)
8 of 21"You're a mean one, Mr. Brady."
If there's one thing you can count on, it's that no matter where the teams stand, Tom Brady is going to give the Pittsburgh Steelers fits.
Nay, that's a biased, Steelers fan description of the events since 2001. Let me be more accurate.
If there's one thing you can count on, it's that no matter where his team stands, Tom Brady is going to mystify Steelers defenders into believing he has his pretty California-surfer eyes on them.
I can think of no other explanation for how the Steelers simply cannot figure this guy out. Batman didn't struggle this much against the Joker in "The Dark Knight," a movie where the antagonist killed the aforementioned hero's love interest, nearly threw his city into chaos, and threatened to destroy the moral integrity of his whole crusade.
Brady is the Pittsburgh bane.
Apparently, Halloween is the exception.
On a day of ghouls and goblin, perhaps the biggest apparition was Tom Brady, whose normal domination of Pittsburgh was nowhere to be seen on October 31st. Like a momentum vampire, the Steelers sucked the competitive juices from this game early, and maintained their strangle hold until the game ended.
Did I mention the Steelers snapped the Patriots all-time record winning streak at 21 games?
An electric Heinz Field crowd gathered, a few grim reapers in the crowd, to watch history.
The game began with Ty Law falling to injury, and the Steelers quickly took advantage, hitting Plaxico Burress with two touchdowns for a 14-3 lead. Patriots CB Randall Gay was victimized on both plays.
Tom Brady took the field, and most probably, expected him to cut the lead, especially after having fumbled on the prior drive. Instead, he threw his first of two interceptions, returned by Deshea Touchdown (Townsend) for a 21-3 lead.
The crowd was stunned as the Steelers scored three touchdowns in a matter of two minutes. From there, the teams traded scoring drives, but the Steelers dominated the time of possession battle. Pittsburgh snapped New England's historic winning streak with a 34-20 victory.
Week 9- vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1997)
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In a week that is shared by the Steelers dominant victory over the Eagles (27-3) in 2004, the team had one of its most memorable wins at Three Rivers Stadium.
Dominating opponents is a sure-fire way to send a message, but sometimes a fanbase needs an edge-of-the-seat affair to remind them just how thick the emotions of an NFL game can be.
Steelers fans anticipated two easy victories each year when the expansion Jaguars entered their division in 1995. The result was the exact opposite as the team was introduced to its fiercest rival of the mid-90s. Only the division realignment of 2002 has tempered this rivalry.
The peak of the hatred between the Jags and Steelers can be argued, but 1997 is a fine candidate. The Steelers had won the AFC Central in three consecutive seasons, but the Jaguars had just been in the AFC Championship Game. The "baby" Jaguars were 5-2 along with the Steelers in 1997. Jacksonville travelled to Three Rivers Stadium in a fight for first place in the division.
They already held the tiebreaker, defeating Pittsburgh on a Monday Night in Jacksonville earlier in the season. For pride, Steelers fans knew this game was critical to the pendulum of power in the AFC Central.
To that point in the rivalry, the Jaguars were 3-0 all-time at home vs. Pittsburgh, and the Steelers had beaten Jacksonville in both affairs in Pennsylvania. The Steelers needed the streak to continue.
The game started as a defensive affair, but the Jaguars broke through for a 10-0 halftime lead. Just like their first affair, the Steelers offense was non-existent for a half, then broke out in the second half.
Kordell Stewart both threw and ran for a touchdown, giving the Steelers a 14-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. The second drive seemed to turn the momentum entirely, covering 98 yards. The Steelers forced another Jaguars punt, and an opportunity to end the game presented itself.
Jerome Bettis fumbled the chance away, and the Jaguars drove 20 yards to take a 17-14 lead. Fans were stunned into silence, but the team responded to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Lifted by Stewart's first 300-yard passing effort and 196 receiving yards from the underrated Yancy Thigpen, the Steelers took the opening possession of overtime into field goal range.
Kicker Norm Johnson never had to see the field as a shuffle pass to Jerome Bettis was rumbled into the end zone, redeeming the running back and giving the Steelers a division lead they would not relinquish. The crowd erupted, a fine conclusion to a game many consider one of the finest ever played at Three Rivers Stadium.
Those old Steelers kept their crown, but the new Jags would take control of the rivalry in the seasons ahead.
Week 10- @ Chicago Bears (1995)
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Having gone to the Super Bowl that season, it's easy to forget just how on the brink the Steelers were in 1995.
After a 2-0 start to the season, the team fell to 3-4. A win at home over expansion Jacksonville brought them back to .500, but a trip to Chicago proved the make-or-break corner that tested the team's endurance. The 6-2 Bears had a surprisingly high-scoring offense under quarterback Erik Kramer.
In a game that was wildly back and forth, Kramer threw for three touchdowns and three interceptions, while Neil O'Donnell had two of each to go with nearly 350 yards.
Curtis Conway caught a touchdown for the Bears early. The Steelers shifted their focus his way and were largely effective in eliminating him from the game. Unfortunately, the Bears' Jeff Graham tormented the Steelers with 111 yards. Thankfully, Yancy Thigpen would be his match.
The Steelers jumped to the halftime lead, 17-10. Two of Kramer's touchdown passes came early in the third quarter, and suddenly, the Bears lead 24-17.
After exchanging field goals, the Steelers tied the score on a touchdown run by the underrated Erric Pegram. Early in the fourth quarter, the game was a shootout.
With minutes to go in the game, the '95 Steelers committed what appeared to be the back-breaker of their season. Barry Minter intercepted a Neil O'Donnell pass and returned it two yards for the go-ahead touchdown. The Steelers would have minutes to tie the game in order to salvage their season.
After a long drive, the Soldier Field crowd stood and cheered for fourth down. They were silenced when Neil O'Donnell hit Ernie Mills with a laser beam pass. The 11-yard touchdown tied the game.
In overtime, the Steelers won on a Norm Johnson field goal, 37-34. The victory was a huge turning point for the eventual AFC Champion Steelers.
Week 11- vs. Buffalo Bills (1993)
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Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills were all the talk of the AFC in the early 1990s. Cowher's first season was marred by losses to Buffalo in the regular season and in a home playoff game (24-3).
The Bills were the litmus test of the American Football Conference in those days, and how could they not be? The K-Gun offense continued to score rampantly, they were in the process of securing a fourth consecutive AFC Championship, and Bruce Smith and the Buffalo defense made life miserable for everybody from Jeff Hostetler to Dan Marino.
In consecutive season during Week 11, the Steelers hammered the Bills into submission on Monday Night, cementing their status as an eventual AFC heavyweight.
But, just like the song "It Feels Like the First Time" indicates, there's nothing quite like that first one!
Buffalo brought their three consecutive AFC titles and scary talent into Three Rivers Stadium for a Monday Night rematch of the 1993 divisional game at the same setting. The result would be very different between these teams from this game forward....
The Steelers outgained the Bills in yardage 400-159.
The Steelers knocked Jim Kelly out of the game.
The Steelers won the turnover battle.
...and the Steelers shutout the vaunted Bills.
In a game as physically dominated as the 23-0 score would indicate, Jim Kelly and crew looked under siege the entire night. That is, until Frank Reich and crew looked under siege.
The Bills weren't yet ready to relinquish their throne in the AFC, but notice was served that the Steelers were on their heels.
In a mirror image to the 1993 game, the Steelers would knock JIm Kelly out of the game on Monday Night Football again in 1994, a 23-10 win highlighted by Rod Woodson's performance (which included an interception touchdown).
Week 12- vs. Miami Dolphins (1994)
12 of 21Miami become the first team to make the list twice, but our season of "weekly bests" was already skewed by NFC opponents from various divisions. That said, this was a classic game from the 1994 season that fell painfully short.
By this point in Cowher's career, Neil O'Donnell was his starter for the foreseeable future, and Mike Tomczak served as a very capable backup (and starter in 1996).
This was a hard selection as the comeback at Riverfront Stadium in 1995 also occurred during Week 11. The Bengals, who had beaten the Steelers 27-9 earlier that season, had a 31-13 lead. The Steelers roared back on offense, scoring 36 unanswered second-half points in a 49-31 victory.
Nevertheless, this overtime game against the Dolphins narrowly beats out the Riverfront comeback. Besides, I can think of a better place to put the Bengals (as you'll see later in the list!).
The game ended regulation tied at 13, but the quarterbacks were engaged in a shootout. Yes, something about a Marino-Tomczak shootout still sounds odd, especially given the score.
Both teams held tough, in a "bend but don't break" fashion, and the Steelers took a 13-10 lead late in the fourth quarter.
From his own 3-yard line, Marino engineered a game-tying drive with under two minutes remaining, sending the game into overtime.
In the extra session, "Dan the Man" drove the Dolphins past midfield again, hitting his "patented" pinpoint passes, but his receivers ultimately failed him. A key drop would have had the Dolphins in field goal range. The Steelers got the ball back, and finished the game with a field goal.
The 16-13 overtime win gave Pittsburgh an 8-3 record and a game edge over Miami in the race for an AFC bye week.
If it hadn't been for a late San Diego comeback in the divisional playoffs, this would have been a preview of the AFC Championship Game.
Week 13- @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2004)
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Mired by the "coin flip" game, a loss in overtime at Detroit on Thanksgiving Day, Week 13 of the Cowher era was one that Steelers fans wouldn't be unwise to forget. There were a few uplifting exceptions and a great game in Florida against an old rival.
The 2004 Steelers were a stunning 10-1 with rookie Ben Roethlisberger at the helm, and they headed into Jacksonville to face a foe they so rarely were able to defeat on the road. Bad blood remained from the teams' former AFC Central rivalry.
The Steelers started fast with a 37-yard touchdown strike from Ben Roethlisberger to Hines Ward. Byron Leftwich and the Jaguars answered quickly, tying the game. Without blinking, Roethlisberger hit tight end Jay Riemersma with a 26-yard score, and the Steelers seemed in full control, leading 14-7.
After halftime, the Steelers offense stagnated, and the Jaguars began moving the ball and kicking field goals. This game would play out in eerily similar fashion to the Chargers game that would be played in 2005 (earlier in the list.) The Jaguars dominated play in the second half, and they led 16-14.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Steelers got the ball. Despite struggling for the entire second half, nine consecutive victories and Big Ben's presence gave the feeling that the team would inevitably pull it out.
Ben led the team to a field goal, and a 17-16 lead with second to go.
The Jaguars used those precious seconds to create a scare. Leftwich hit a deep pass over the middle, setting up a 60-yard field goal attempt for Josh Scobee.
Scobee proved to have a huge leg, narrowly missing the field goal by inches to the right. Steelers fans breathed a sigh of relief, and Cowher's 2004 squad was 11-1.
The game is probably best remembered for the great play all-around by both teams. There were no turnovers, the contest was not bogged down by penalties, and a clean, physical presence was shown by both teams.
Ben Roethlisberger showed aplomb in the clutch, a characteristic that would come to define his career.
Week 14- @ Baltimore Ravens (2001)
14 of 21I'm having such a hard time leaving the 2000 victory over the Oakland Raiders (21-20) off the list. The game featured the down yardage marker vs. down clock controversy that's only added to Al Davis's spite.
The Raiders went for it on fourth down late in the game instead of kicking a long field goal, then attempted to claim they were confused by inaccurate downs showing on the clock. Nevertheless, the down markers were accurate, and the Raiders plan to argue if they missed on the fourth down failed. That game was like the 70s reborn for one last final Three Rivers "hurrah." Which is why I hate not to feature it.
Instead, another of the top 10 games of the Cowher era makes the list for Week 14.
The defending champion Ravens took on the newly reinvigorated Steelers in the second game of their 2001 season series. Pittsburgh had dominated their game at home but lost 13-10 on four missed field goals by Kris Brown.
The Steelers dominated the early parts of the game, but only led 13-7 going into the final quarter. Little did everyone know that the pendulum of power would swing with one play, bearing credence to perhaps the greatest modern NFL rivalry.
The Ravens trailed 13-7 midway through the fourth quarter, but Pittsburgh was backed up at their own 10-yard line. This is when Kordell Stewart made perhaps the finest throw of his career. He hit Bobby Shaw with a perfect pass. In a highlight reel stride, Shaw sprinted with the ball for 90 yards to give the Steelers a 19-7 lead.
The teams traded scores and words, but animosity grew thicker and thicker as Pittsburgh continued to put the final nails in the coffin for the Ravens' division title hopes of 2001. Cowher and the Steelers won the final AFC Central Division Championship in Baltimore that Sunday Night.
The Ravens scored a late touchdown, and the final score was 26-21.
Week 15- vs. Denver Broncos (1997)
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As a Steelers fan myself (surprise!), I'm often asked what my favorite seasons as a fan have been, regardless of championships. I've been a fan since 1989. I was seven years old, and the first Steelers game that I attended was a 51-0 loss to the Browns.
How things have changed!
My answer is almost always 1997, 2004 and 2008. The overall edge always goes to the 1997 campaign. When asked for a reason, I can do no better than to state that those three seasons were the most excited I felt during the experience. Some seasons just have their share of great games.
1997 and 2004 were two of the most exciting seasons of the Cowher era, and it's reflected in this list. I review every game for a given week and make an honest selection. This is the third game from 1997 to make the list.
The Denver Broncos entered the game 11-2, their losses being narrow. They came out firing on all cylinders. Rod Smith had already caught a long touchdown earlier in the game. Elway hit the receiver again from 25 yards out, and the Broncos built a 21-7 lead.
The 1997 Steelers simply wouldn't quit on any game, and Yancey Thigpen matched Rod Smith on the scoreboard. Kordell Stewart hit the receiver on touchdowns of 69 and 21 yards, and the Steelers tied the game going into halftime. The crowd at Three Rivers Stadium went into a raucous frenzy. The Broncos had made a huge mistake by letting Pittsburgh back into the game.
In the second half, Elway's receivers let him down tremendously, dropping passes with frequency. It was as if they mistook a lubricant by the name of "Slickum" for the substance that had once been widely used in the NFL known as "Stickum." I cannot recall a game where an opponent let more passes hit the turf than Rod Smith in the second half.
The great John Elway finished 17-42, woefully low for his standards, but the dozen drops probably erased a 300 yard performance with even more touchdowns.
The Broncos took a 24-21 lead, but two Kordell Stewart rushing touchdowns concluded the scoring, and the Steelers won 35-24.
Denver was a great team, and they won the Super Bowl playing three games. Wins in Arrowhead and Three Rivers in the playoffs showcased their championship mettle.
Nevertheless, Pittsburgh largely self-destructed in their playoff game against the Broncos. While Denver eliminated crucial drops in the rematch and ran the ball well with Terrell Davis, the Steelers had many opportunities to seal the deal. But, the team didn't extend their 14-7 lead, allowed 14 points in the final two minutes of the first half and had a costly end-zone turnover in the second half.
Memories of this regular season victory left fans with tantalizing thoughts of what could have been, yet the victory should stand for more than just regret. It was a win over a great team, and it illustrated the special quality of the 1997 squad that took the city of Pittsburgh by storm!
Week 16- @ New England Patriots (1997)
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The Patriots were the defending AFC Champions, and the Steelers prior visit to Foxboro resulted in a 28-3 loss to Curtis Martin (and the New England Patriots).
The Pats were certainly an offensive force to be reckoned with! Shawn Jefferson, Dave Meggett and tight end Ben Coates gave Drew Bledsoe great options. The quarterback was reaching his prime, and a return trip to the Super Bowl may have done a lot to cement his legacy in New England.
This game was a great opportunity for the the winner to essentially clinch a bye week in the AFC playoffs.
As usual, the 1997 Steelers fell behind by double digits in the early going, spotting New England a comfortable 14-0 lead.
Pittsburgh slowly and methodically clawed their way back into the game, and the deficit was a lone point, 14-13.
In the fourth quarter, the Steelers effort to rally seemed to come unglued. Drew Bledsoe hurled a pass over the middle that wasn't intended for Dave Meggett. However, Meggett plucked the ball from the air and finished off one of the oddest 49-yard touchdown passes.
Suddenly, the Steelers trailed by eight, and the Patriots defense stuffed the Steelers offense. New England got the ball back with only minutes to go in the game and began to drive. First downs accumulated, and it seemed that the Steelers were a sure-fire wild card team.
Then, it happened.
"The Immaculate Interception."
Kevin Henry (who) intercepted a screen pass thrown to Dave Meggett under pressure, lateraling to Orpheus Roy for what appeared to be a touchdown. The play was called back due to a forward lateral, but the Steelers capped the turnover off with a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game.
In overtime, the Steelers converted a 3rd-and-15 for over 40 yards, and Norm Johnson nailed the game-winning field goal.
Foxboro was stunned, and the jubilant Steelers celebrated another come from behind victory.
Week 17- @ Cincinnati Bengals (2006)
17 of 21This first game of this list began with Cowher's first game as head coach, and the regular season portion ends with Cowher's final game as head coach.
Sadly, the 2006 season was a low-light in the otherwise stellar coaching tenure Cowher had in Pittsburgh.
Misery loves company, though. And, the Steelers wanted the Bengals to join them for the party.
With a Bengals' win and a Chiefs' loss, Cincinnati would be in the NFL playoffs for the second straight season. The Chiefs spent the afternoon losing to Jacksonville.
The Steelers made sure Cincinnati would not benefit.
The game was a defensive stalemate for three quarters, and the Steelers nursed a 7-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
Suddenly, the offenses exploded, going back and forth in a display of potential that had not been realized all afternoon.
Carson Palmer hit Chris Henry with a 66-yard touchdown bomb to claim a 10-7 lead. The Steelers answers, capping a drive with a one-yard Willie Parker score to reclaim a 14-10 advantage. In the final minutes, Palmer threw for another touchdown. The Steelers answered in the last seconds, yet were unable to get in the end zone, settling for a Jeff Reed field goal to tie.
In overtime, the Steelers received the ball. Ben Roethlisberger, who was held off the scoreboard for all of regulation, hit Santonio Holmes in stride on a quick slant. The speedy Holmes shifted into a new gear and outraced the Bengals secondary (not that it was really that close) on a clear path to the victory.
The Steelers had won in overtime 23-17. They'd ended the Bengals' season, giving coach Cowher one last, ultra-fulfilling victory against a team that he had dominated in his Steelers coaching career.
The win secured an 8-8 finish for the Steelers, who sent Cowher out with one last great victory.
Wild Card Playoffs- vs. Cleveland Browns (2003)
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Cleveland fans will never forget the day that the Cleveland Browns came into Heinz Field, Kelly Holcomb threw for over 400 yards, their team led by 17 points...
...and lost.
Eighty-three yards of Holcomb's total came on the Browns' first possession, setting up a William Green touchdown. The Steelers trailed 7-0 just like that.
Tommy Maddox was the new talk of the town, having taken the league by storm and passing with a confidence that he never had when he was drafted by the Denver Broncos.
However, the offense couldn't answer the "call of Kelly," and Holcomb continued to put on his Tom Brady jersey, hitting Dennis Northcutt for a 32-yard score. Suddenly, the Browns led 14-0.
Antwaan Randle El had the play of the first half for Pittsburgh, returning a punt for a touchdown. Without his effort, the comeback would not have been possible. Despite being thoroughly outplayed, the Steelers were within 14-7.
Yet, "Tom Brady Lake Erie" came out again and hit Northcutt for a 15-yard score to make the lead 24-7 early in the third quarter.
Suddenly and randomly, the Steelers offense woke up. Maddox hit Plaxico on a touchdown drive, then threw a second score after a Cleveland field goal. The score was suddenly 27-21 with ten minutes to go.
Undaunted, Kelly Holcomb continued to call on his inner-Warner, and he hit Andre' Davis to extend to a 33-21 lead.
Game. Set. Match.
Maddox threw a third touchdown to Hines Ward to make the score 33-28. Yet, in a totally strange reality, the Heinz Field crowd knew their defense wouldn't hold.
And, in a way, they were right. Dennis Northcutt dropped an easy third down catch that would have essentially sealed the game. Cleveland's offense opened the door, and Maddox and Co. tore it off the hinges.
The Steelers drove right down the field, and a beautiful call for a draw to Chris Fuamatu-Ma'Afala gave them the lead.
Ahead 36-33, the Steelers defense still couldn't hold Kelly Holcomb. The quarterback completed a forty yard bomb down the middle of the field, but the clock ran out.
Typically, the Steelers win on defense and clock possession, but the 2002 Steelers were odd. A great season was predicated on a quick-score passing attack and an opportunistic, though porous, defense. The Steelers won another game in the season of counter-identity and unexpected outcomes.
Divisional Playoffs- @ Indianapolis Colts (2006)
19 of 21The Colts were 13-0 to start the 2005 season. They'd fallen short in prior seasons in inclement weather conditions. Experts explained that the Colts road to the Super Bowl would require home field advantage.
Peyton Manning and company achieved home field for the 2006 playoffs. Yet, the Colts were shut down.
While Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers passed with precision to a 14-0 lead, Peyton started the game 2-for-9. The Colts settled for a field goal in the first half, trailing 14-3. The score had America shaking its head, anticipating the Colts turnaround in the second half.
At the beginning of the half, the Steelers put to rest the notion that Indianapolis would "wake up." The sleeping giant became the hibernating giant as Jerome Bettis plunged in for a one-yard touchdown to make the score 21-3
On the ensuring drive, Peyton called off the punting team, and converted a fourth down pass to Marvin Harrison. This set up the team's first touchdown, and the score was 21-10.
The Colts got the ball back, and visions of comebacks began swirling in the RCA Dome. A Manning pass over the middle was intercepted by Troy Polamalu, who got up and began to run, fumbled the ball off his knee and ultimately decided to protect the ball and rest on it.
The referees ruled an incomplete pass. Naturally, Peyton and the Colts cut the lead to 21-18.
Things were crumbling. The Colts got the ball back, but an angry defense sacked Manning on back-to-back plays, setting up the offense with a first-and-goal from the one-yard line.
Then, it happened.
Bettis fumbled the ball.
Nick Harper picked up the ball.
He ran with open field ahead.
Ben Roethlisberger looked over his shoulders, measuring up his lone shot to prevent the Colts from taking a 25-21 lead.
Then, he made "The Tackle."
The Colts drove but could not get into the end zone.
Mike Vanderjagt missed the game-tying field goal, and finally...officially...the Steelers had shocked everybody!
AFC Conference Championship- vs. Indianapolis Colts (1996)
20 of 21One year earlier, the Steelers held a 13-3 second-half lead against an outmatched Chargers team. The offense outgained their opponent all game, and the defense clamped down on the Chargers for all but two plays. Nevertheless, those two plays were critical, both long touchdown passes from Stan Humphries to give San Diego a 17-13 lead.
The Steelers drove to the 3-yard line but were stopped short on the game's final play as a pass intended for Barry Foster was batted to the turf. The "One for the Thumb" campaign of 1994 had come to a sudden end, and the Steelers new rallying cry for 1995 was "three more yards."
1995 started slowly. The team rallied from a 3-4 record to finish 11-5. After Jim Harbaugh ("Captain Comeback") led the Colts to a 10-7 win in Kansas City, the Cinderella Colts came to Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers had returned to the AFC Championship Game, looking to exorcise demons from their loss to the Chargers.
Pittsburgh was a heavy favorite again. Indianapolis proved up to the task.
Trailing 6-3, Neil O'Donnell hit Kordell Stewart for a touchdown to end the first half. The play came with controversy, as Kordell had been out of bounds before catching the football. Nevertheless, the Steelers lead 10-6.
A Steelers 13-9 lead evaporated, as Jim Harbaugh threw a 47-yard touchdown bomb to Floyd Turner. The event and the score were eerily similar to the prior season. Naturally doubt began to linger among the Three Rivers faithful.
With the fans on pins and needles, the Colts looked to run out the clock. It may have happened, but Lee Flowers made an amazing tackle on a Colts run on 3rd-and-1. The Colts line opened a hole, and the score may have been 23-13 if not for a great defensive effort.
With the ball back in the offense's possession, Neil O'Donnell hurled a pass down the right sideline that was caught by Ernie Mills. This set up a Bam Morris touchdown. The score did not come easily as Morris had to fight with all of his might to break the goal line.
Up 20-16, "Captain Comeback" led the Colts to the Steelers 29-yard line. In the final seconds, he lobbed a "Hail Mary" pass to the right corner of the end zone. A mass of bodies fell to the ground, and the ball appeared to land on the stomach of Colts WR Aaron Bailey.
In a gut-wrenching moment in the Steel City, a referee prematurely signalled touchdown. However, he was corrected, as the ball trickled off Bailey and hit the ground.
Super Bowl XL- vs. Seattle Seahawks (2006)
21 of 21I honestly considered closing this list with the Steelers loss to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX. Yes, the Steelers lost. Yet, it was entirely feasible that they could have won that game if it weren't for uncharacteristic mistakes by Neil O'Donnell, a quarterback who had the lowest interception to pass ratio in NFL history.
The Steelers played an inspired effort that Super Sunday, taking a dynasty to its limits, outplaying Dallas for the three consecutive quarters. To put the defense's effort into perspective, the Cowboys' lone points after taking a 13-0 lead were on drives that were both under 10 yards. Outside of those points, the Steelers outscored the Cowboys 17-0 the reset of the way. Yet, Dallas fans will say it was in the bag the whole time.
If the issue was settled, it was only settled for O'Donnell, whose two costly turnovers were too much to overcome against such a talented team. Don't mistake this introduction as an excuse; great teams don't turn the ball over in critical junctures, thus Dallas won deservedly.
Yet, this is a list of all-time games under Bill Cowher, and the team clamped down on a dynasty and could have easily won. His onside kick call to eventually cut the score to 20-17 in the fourth quarter was the "stuff of Super Bowl legend."
Despite all of these factors, it would be wrong not to select the day when Cowher completed his mission to bring the Steelers a fifth Lombardi Trophy. At Ford Field, Cowher handed Dan Rooney the coveted prize.
Seattle has moaned over coffee about this game since it concluded. However, they have no reason to complain. Championship teams make big plays in Super Bowls. The 2005 Steelers were a championship team. The 2005 Seahawks weren't.
Seattle held the ball in Pittsburgh territory nine times, coming away with ten points, yet they take issue with the referees. That rate of production tells me 11 other guys made it their mission to prevent Seattle from finishing and succeeded.
From the start, Seattle moved the ball rhythmically, but they couldn't finish drives. They had a touchdown taken off of the board for offensive pass interference. The infrequent use of that call does not mean that it is not a violation. It was clear WR Darrell Jackson had pushed off, and the call stood.
After a mess of a first half by Pittsburgh's offense, the Steelers most promising drive included a offensive pass interference call (conveniently forgotten) on Heath Miller. The Steelers responded like champions. Ben Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward on an amazing pass play, setting up a touchdown on a quarterback bootleg. The ball did cross the goal line. Critics argue that Ben lunged the ball over the line after he hit the ground, but this is not the critical element of the play. The ball appears to narrowly cross the goal line as Ben is descending to the turf. As such, the touchdown stood.
Despite being outgained, the Steelers made critical plays at the most important moments, leading 7-3 at halftime.
In the second half, Willie Parker set a Super Bowl record, scoring on a 75-yard run. The Steelers got the ball back quickly, driving deep into Seattle territory. This is where the team should have put the game away. Out of character, Ben Roethlisberger missed a wide-open target in the end zone, short-arming the pass to Kelly Herndon.
A 76-yard interception return led to a Seattle offensive touchdown. Seattle fans insist they should have won. Yet, only their own self-inflicted misfortune prevented Pittsburgh from being up 17-3 or better.
The lone bad call came on a holding penalty against Seattle after they set themselves up at the 1-yard line to take the lead. Nevermind that the game should have never gotten this close, Seahawks fans have a legitimate gripe. Yet...
In key situations and moments of adversity, champions rise. Matt Hasselbeck threw a key interception.
The Steelers subsequently put the game away on a reverse pass from Antwaan Randle El to Hines Ward.
A game that should have never been close ended with Bill Cowher at the podium, triumphant at last.
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