Memorable Steelers Wild Card Games

Pittsburgh Steelers: A Wild Card History

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to host their first Monday Night Football Wild Card game against the Houston Texans, it’s a good time to look back at some of the most memorable games in the team’s Wild Card round history. With eight such games having taken place since 1996, three stand out as particularly significant.

Steelers vs Colts: December 29, 1996

In this game, the Steelers faced their archrivals, the Indianapolis Colts, who were led by quarterback Jim Harbaugh and running back Marshall Faulk. The Colts entered with a 9-7 record, while the Steelers had a 10-6 mark. Despite trailing early in the second half, the Steelers managed to rally for a convincing win, thanks to the strong performance of Kordell Stewart and Jerome Bettis.

Key plays included:

• Steelers’ early lead courtesy of two field goals by Norm Johnson and a 1-yard touchdown run by Kordell Stewart.
• The Colts rallied with a 59-yard interception return for a touchdown by Eugene Daniel and a late 9-yard touchdown pass from Harbaugh to Aaron Bailey.
• In the second half, the Steelers dominated with Jerome Bettis scoring two 1-yard touchdowns, Jon Witman’s 31-yard touchdown run, and Kordell Stewart adding another score on a 3-yard run.

Steelers vs Browns: January 5, 2003

This game was a comeback victory for the Steelers over the Cleveland Browns. The Browns, led by Kelly Holcomb and Tim Couch, entered with a 9-7 record. Despite trailing early in the third quarter, the Steelers managed to come back under Tommy Maddox’s leadership. Maddox’s hot passing performance, including touchdown passes to Plaxico Burress, Jerame Tuman, and Hines Ward, proved pivotal.

Key plays included:

• The Steelers’ comeback began with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown on the opening drive of the game.
• Late in the fourth quarter, Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala’s 3-yard touchdown run sealed the victory for the Steelers.

Steelers vs Dolphins: January 8, 2017

In this game, the Miami Dolphins were without their starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who was injured and replaced by veteran Matt Moore. The Dolphins had a potent offense but struggled against the Steelers’ defense. Ben Roethlisberger’s early touchdown passes to Antonio Brown set the tone for a dominant performance.

Key plays included:

• Roethlisberger’s 50-yard pass to Brown and a 62-yard run by Le’Veon Bell, both of which contributed to an early Steelers lead.
• The Steelers’ defense was instrumental with Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison combining for 3.5 sacks, while Bud Dupree delivered one of the most memorable hits in Steelers playoff history.

These games not only highlighted the resilience and talent of the Pittsburgh Steelers but also showcased some of the most memorable moments in their Wild Card round history. As they face the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, fans will undoubtedly draw parallels to these historic matchups, hoping for another thrilling performance from the team.