Sunday, January 29, 2006
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Eight weeks ago today, at about 4 p.m., the Steelers' chances of making it to the Super Bowl were looking pretty dim.
In a game they had to win to have any realistic hopes of playing at home in the postseason, the Steelers choked, losing to the Cincinnati Bengals, 38-31, at Heinz Field.
"I made too many mistakes, I'll take the blame," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who threw three interceptions against the Bengals. "We've got to win the rest of them -- that's our frame of mind."
The loss was the Steelers' third straight and left them with a 7-5 record with four games to play.
The Bengals (9-3) all but clinched the AFC North Division title. With a two-game edge, the Bengals also had a better division record than the Steelers, which meant that they owned the tie-breaker.
Wild-card way
And that meant that the Steelers would have to qualify for the postseason with a wild card berth. Because the Jacksonville Jaguars (then 8-4) won in Pittsburgh in October, the Steelers could only earn the AFC's fifth seed by finishing with a better record than the Jags.
Realistically, the only way into the playoffs was to beat out the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers for the final seed.
So how did the Steelers qualify for the franchise's sixth Super Bowl in 32 seasons? They went on a winning tear unlike any the NFL has seen for some time.
Here's a recap of how Bill Cowher's squad became the team no one wants to play.
DEC. 11STEELERS 21, BEARS 9
The winning streak began against the NFC's stingiest defense as Jerome Bettis ran for 101 yards and two scores.
"The Chicago Bears came in here being compared to their 1985 team and look what we did to them," wide receiver Hines Ward said.
Pittsburgh jumped out to a 14-3 lead at the half as Ward caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger and Bettis scored a 1-yard touchdown.
In the second half, a snowstorm blanketed the field, creating slippery turf that helped shut down the Bears' offense.
Bettis' 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was too much for the Bears, with rookie quarterback Kyle Orton, to overcome as Chicago's eight-game winning streak was snapped.
Tailback Willie Parker finished with 113 yards of total offense (68 running, 45 receiving).
DEC. 18STEELERS 18, VIKINGS 3
After performing so dismally in their previous dome game (a 26-7 loss to the Colts on Nov. 28 in Indianapolis), the Steelers found a way to run their offense in a louder than usual circumstances.
Roethlisberger's 3-yard scramble in the second quarter snapped a 3-3 tie as the Steelers won for the first time in the Metrodome.
Jeff Reed kicked three field goals, Roethlisberger passed for 149 yards and Parker rushed for 81.
Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson completed 16 of 30 passes, but for just 143 yards and was intercepted twice.
DEC. 24STEELERS 41, BROWNS 0
Nothing says Christmas spirit quite like two arch-rivals banging helmets. Unfortunately for Browns fans, only one team showed up.
This game was essentially over not long after it began as the Steelers jumped out to a 20-0 lead by halftime.
Bettis' 2-yard touchdown and Ward's 7-yard scoring reception from Roethlisberger for too much for the Browns.
"We played almost a flawless game up," Ward said. "I think it gave confidence in our passing game. Since then, we've been making plays in our passing game."
Parker rushed for 130 yards on 17 carries while Roethlisberger passed for 226 by completing 13 of 20 tosses.
Even with five conference losses, the Steelers (10-5) could clinch a playoff berth with a win in the finale.
JAN. 1STEELERS 35, LIONS 21
The hapless Lions (5-10) gave the Steelers a game by jumping out to a 14-7 lead in the first quarter.
But the Steelers got rolling behind Bettis, who scored touchdowns in each of the first three quarters, for a 28-14 lead.
The Lions kept things interesting when quarterback Joey Harrington hit wide receiver Roy Williams with a 15-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.
The Steelers responded with an eight-play, 82 yard drive capped by Roethlisberger scoring on a 7-yard run.
Parker's 135 yards on 26 carries led the Steelers' offense.
Roethlisberger's performance, however, was shaky, completing 7 of 16 passes for 135 yards and throwing two interceptions.
With the sixth seed, the Steelers (11-5) had to travel to Cincinnati to play the Bengals (11-5). They split in the regular season.
"They'll be fired up," Roethlisberger said. "They'll be ready, it'll be loud, it'll be exciting."
Linebacker James Farrior said, "Four weeks ago when we were 7-5, we said this was a one-game season. And it still is.
"We have to go on the road for three games. We're a good road team, so we take on the challenge."
JAN. 8STEELERS 31, BENGALS 17
The game that cost the Steelers the AFC North Division title was a 16-13 overtime loss to the Ravens on Nov. 20 that dropped their division record to 4-2. The Bengals lost just once to a division rival (27-13 to the Steelers in October).
Bengals all-pro quarterback Carson Palmer was knocked out of the game with an ACL tear on his second play of the game. Palmer's left leg crumpled when defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen rolled into him.
Still, the Steelers' postseason got off to a shaky start at Paul Brown Stadium. Backup quarterback Jon Kitna helped the Bengals open up 10-0 and 17-7 leads. Rudi Johnson's 20-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and T.J. Houshmandzadeh's 7-yard scoring reception were key plays.
But the Steelers responded late in the second quarter with six-play, 76 yard drive capped by Ward's 5-yard touchdown catch.
A botched field goal snap in the third quarter triggered the Steelers' turnaround. On the second half opening possession, Kitna took the Bengals into the red zone before the drive stalled. Kicker Shayne Graham never had a chance as the snap sailed towards Kentucky.
The Steelers pounced by moving 66 yards on eight plays, with Bettis scoring the go-ahead points on a 5-yard run.
Roethlisberger completed 14 of 19 passes for 208 yards, with Cedric Wilson catching three of them for 104 yards.
His biggest catch came after Antwaan Randle El took a direct snap then lateraled back to Roethlisberger who found Wilson unguarded for a 28-17 lead.
Neither Parker (38 yards) nor Bettis (52 yards) were particularly effective, a sign of things to come.
The Steelers' reward was a return engagement at the RCA Dome with the Colts (14-2), the team regarded by most as the NFL's best.
JAN. 15STEELERS 21, COLTS 18
They're still griping about this one in Indianapolis as Roethlisberger came out throwing, leading the Steelers to a 14-0 first quarter lead with touchdown passes to Randle El and tight end Heath Miller.
"I attribute [it to] Pittsburgh really coming and playing smart football," Colts coach Tony Dungy said. "They blitzed and that's their style. They passed well and we didn't get them picked up."
On the other side, Colts two-time MVP Peyton Manning was under the gun all day long, being sacked five times.
"Let's just say we had some problems in protection," Manning said.
Still, Manning rallied the top-seeded Colts from a 21-3 deficit in the fourth quarter with two touchdown drives. The second, with 4:54 to go, was capped by Manning's conversion pass to Reggie Wayne to bring the Colts to within a field goal of overtime.
The Colts' next possession was a disaster and when Joey Porter sacked Manning at the Colts 2 with about 85 seconds to go, it appeared the game was over.
But the memories were only beginning.
On first and goal, Bettis' first fumble of the season produced the most amazing tackle of the postseason. Linebacker Gary Brackett bashed The Bus and jarred the ball loose. Cornerback Nick Harper picked up the fumble and raced.
The last line of defense, Roethlisberger twisted and turned in his path and grabbed Harper's lower leg to trip him and preserve the Steelers' lead.
Moments later, the game ended when Mike Vanderjagt, the most reliable kicker in NFL history, missed a 46-yard attempt.
"Once in a blue moon, Jerome fumbles and once in a blue moon I'm going to make that tackle," Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger completed 14 of 24 passes (throwing just twice after halftime) for 197 yards. Manning completed 22 of 38 passes for 290 yards.
Again, the Steelers' rushing numbers were not overly impressive: Parker had 59 yards and Bettis 46.
"That was one of the craziest game I've been in," linebacker Joey Porter said.
Because the second-seeded Broncos had pinned the first playoff defeat on Bill Belichick's defending champion Patriots, the Steelers were off to Denver for the AFC Championship Game.
JAN. 22STEELERS 34, BRONCOS 17
The Broncos were undefeated at home, but never really in the AFC Championship Game as the Steelers again started strong for a 24-3 halftime lead.
Just after Bettis' 3-yard touchdown put the Steelers ahead 17-3, cornerback Ike Taylor picked off Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer's pass at the Denver 40.
With seven seconds remaining, Roethlisberger found Ward in the back of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown.
Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer suffered his worst game of the season, fumbling twice and throwing two interceptions.
Despite the huge lead, the Broncos chipped away. Wide receiver Ashley Lelie's 30-yard touchdown reception cut the gap to 14.
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Mike Anderson's 3-yard touchdown run brought the Broncos to within 10 points (27-17).
Roethlisberger's next pass bounced out of the hands of safety John Lynch. After Chris Gardocki's punt, Brett Keisel sacked Plummer on fourth down, forcing a fumble.
"It's been a long road and there have been some questions," Bettis said. "When we were 7-5, it looked a little hairy.
"We had Chicago coming with their number one defense. We were on the outside looking in and we turned it around."
Again, the Steelers rushing numbers weren't overwhelming: Bettis had 39 yards on 15 carries and Parker 35 on 14.
But the defense limited Anderson to 36 yards on nine carries. Tatum Bell has 31 on five tries.
Roethlisberger passed for 275 yards by completing 21 of 29 tosses.
Monday, the Steelers will arrive in Motown to prepare for their biggest game in 10 years.
It's been some trip.
williams@vindy.com