This has become an all-too-famaliar sight.Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesWell, another Patriots-Steelers game is in the books. The two teams have never played in the same division and didn’t cross paths in the playoffs until 1997. But over the past decade and a half, they have developed quite a rivalry. It’s also become nearly as one-sided as the Globetrotters versus the Generals.It’s no secret that a) the Patriots have the Steelers' number, and b) something big is on the line almost every time they meet. Or so it seems. Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
Sometimes it’s a long winning streak, sometimes it’s a Super Bowl appearance. New England has won three of its four playoff games against Pittsburgh, including two AFC Championship games at Heinz Field. Tom Brady has lost to the Steelers only once in his entire career.Just how lopsided has this series been? Let’s take a trip down memory lane...1996 Divisional Playoffs: Patriots 28, Steelers 3The Fog Bowl. This was the first playoff meeting between Pittsburgh and New England. The Steelers were the defending AFC Champions; the Patriots were enjoying their best season since 1986. With coach Bill Parcells looking on through a heavy fog at Foxboro Stadium, Terry Glenn burned Rod Woodson early in the game on a long pass from Drew Bledsoe. This turned out to be Woodson’s last game in a Steeler uniform.The first of many big games where New England beat Pittsburgh.Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s vaunted QB combo of Mike Tomczak and Kordell Stewart—who can forget Stew-czak?—couldn’t muster much offense, as the Steelers didn’t get on the board until the third quarter. Behind a huge game from Curtis Martin—166 rushing yards, including a 78-yard touchdown run—the Patriots prevailed in a laugher. On a side note, the trio of Parcells, Bledsoe and Glenn would eventually stage a brief reunion comeback tour as members of the Dallas Cowboys, circa 2004.1997 Divisional Playoffs: Steelers 7, Patriots 6This was a dogfight, highlighted by Stewart’s early 40-yard touchdown run down the sideline that proved to be the difference. Late in the game, Bledsoe was sacked on a key third-down play by a little used rookie linebacker by the name of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
Mike Vrabel. This turned out to be the Steelers' last playoff victory at Three Rivers Stadium.2001 AFC Championship: Patriots 24, Steelers 17This game was arguably the worst loss in the long career of Bill Cowher (I say this one wasn’t quite as bad as the ’94 AFC Championship, the home loss to the San Diego Chargers…but it was close). The Steelers had rolled to a 13-3 regular season, dominated the defending champion Ravens in the divisional round and came into this game as 13.5 point favorites. Their bags were pretty much already packed for the Super Bowl in New Orleans.The Steelers couldnt stop Troy Brown. Or anyone else, for that matter.But after giving up a punt return touchdown to Troy Brown, they fell behind 21-3 after giving up an even longer return of a botched field goal where punter Josh Miller let the snap go directly through his hands. Bledsoe even made a cameo appearance in this one, tossing a touchdown in the second quarter when Tom Brady got hurt. Pittsburgh’s furious comeback fell short after Stewart tossed three interceptions overall and two in the final five minutes, effectively ending his NFL career.2002 Monday Night Opener: Patriots 30, Steelers 14My bad, this was the game when Stewart’s career was officially over—he should have just signed his retirement papers immediately afterward. XFL legend Tom Maddox would take over two games after this debacle in which the Steelers were thoroughly dominated on national television.2004 Halloween: Steelers 34, Patriots 20On their way to a 15-1 regular season, the Steelers ended the Patriots NFL record 21-game winning streak behind a suffocating defense and a rookie quarterback named Ben Roethlisberger. It turned out to be the 2004 team’s finest hour. They would never be as good as they were on this day, and they wouldn’t lose again until...We have certainly seen this horror flick before.2004 AFC Championship: Patriots 41, Steelers 27First of all: it was closer than most people remember.The Steelers came out flat and lifeless, per protocol, and quickly fell behind 24-3. Roethlisberger finally got his comeuppance after winning the first 14 starts of his career. But still, the game was not out of reach, and Hines Ward took a pass down to the 1-yard line on the final play of the third quarter, with the score 31-17.The defense was playing well. There was a chance to make it a one-score game. There was plenty of time left. This set the scene for perhaps the worst four-play sequence of Cowher’s coaching career.Here it is: A handoff to Jerome Bettis for no gain, an incomplete fade pass to Plaxico Burress, another incompletion intended for Reebok Chicago Bears #54 Brian Urlacher Realtree camo Jersey
Burress, a field goal followed by a scattering of boos, followed by throngs of fans heading for the exits.Unbelievable.How do you not just give it to Bettis, one of the better goal line runners of his era—four times in a row? And, even more unbelievably, how do you not go for it on fourth down in that situation?? Cowher was known for making the ballsy calls during his career—the fake punts, the onside kicks, the fourth down conversions. But this one was inexcusable. I still can’t believe he didn’t go for it.2005 Week 3: Patriots 23, Steelers 20Brady does the Steelers dirty again, as he drives down the field in 52 seconds to set up a game-winning field goal after Ward had tied the game with a late touchdown. This was the game in which Antwaan Randle-El infamously tried to lateral the ball after catching a 40-yard pass in the middle of the field.2007 Week 14: Patriots 34, Steelers 14The Guarantee Game.Anthony Smith, a mediocre and previously unknown safety boldly declares that the Steelers will win. Smith is only in the lineup because regular starter Ryan Clark is out for the season. Most people outside of his teammates and family have never heard of him. Also, keep in mind that the Patriots at this point in the season are 12-0 and threatening to smash many NFL records.Smith predictably was burned for two long touchdowns, and the only guarantee afterward was that the Steelers were not going to offer him a new contract when his rookie deal expired.2008 Week 13: Steelers 33, Patriots 10Once again, Brady had his way with the Steeler D.Jared Wickerham/Getty ImagesThe Steelers defense roughs up Matt Cassell. Of course you know that sentence could never end with “Tom Brady.”Last Night: Patriots 39, Steelers 26Perhaps the worst game in the tenure of coach Mike Tomlin, as Pittsburgh came out flat, played without emotion and got worse as the game went on. It was Tomlin’s worst home loss as head coach. It was also Reebok Chicago Bears #6 Jay Cutler Realtree camo Jersey
the most points the Steelers have given up since…the 2004 AFC Championship game.It was the also the first time two quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl wins faced each other since Jim Plunkett and Joe Montana in ’85. On this night, only one quarterback played the part. Roethlisberger looked out of sorts until the prevent defense came in; Brady played with precision as he calmly dissected of the league’s (formerly) No. 1 rated defense.The only thing on the line last night in Pittsburgh was temporary supremacy in the AFC. At least one team played with emotion, pride and the motivation that these were high stakes.Guess who?
没有评论:
发表评论