Patriots–Steelers rivalry explained

Patriots–Steelers rivalry
Team1:New England Patriots
Team2:Pittsburgh Steelers
Team1logo:New England Patriots wordmark.svg
Team2logo:Pittsburgh Steelers Script.svg
First Contested:October 22, 1972
Steelers 33, Patriots 3
Mostrecent:December 7, 2023
Patriots 21, Steelers 18
Nextmeeting:TBA
Total:35
Largestvictory:Patriots 34–0
October 19, 1986
Series:Patriots, 19–16
Longeststreak:Patriots and Steelers (5 each)
Currentstreak:Patriots, 3
(2019–present)
Postseason:Patriots, 4–1
Most recentJanuary 22, 2017
Patriots 36, Steelers 17
Section Header:Championship success
Section Info:Super Bowl Championships (12)

Conference Championships (19)

The Patriots–Steelers rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots and Steelers are the two most storied franchises in the Super Bowl era, the Patriots and Steelers have played each other intermittently since the 1970s, but the two teams did not become full-fledged rivals until the late 1990s, when they became Super Bowl contenders.[1] [2] [3] The rivalry would reach new heights during the 2000s and 2010s when both teams, led by quarterbacks Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger for the Patriots and Steelers respectively, posted winning seasons and several playoff appearances during this time period with both teams making it to the Super Bowl and taking home more than one Vince Lombardi Trophy.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] The two met each other in three AFC championship games during the 2000s and 2010s in which the Patriots defeated the Steelers each time and eventually made their way to the Super Bowl, winning a title in each appearance.[12] [13] [14] Despite the Patriots' dominant reign over the NFL from 2001 to 2019, the Steelers would still prove themselves to be a consistent playoff contender during that time period with three Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl victories. However, the Steelers would be more successful in the postseason during the 2000s than in the 2010s.[15] [16] [1] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] In 2020, CBS Sports ranked the Patriots–Steelers rivalry as the 8th best NFL rivalry of the 2000s.[23]

Because they play in different intraconference divisions, the Patriots in the AFC East and the Steelers in the AFC North, they do not play each other every season. Instead, based on the NFL's scheduling formula, the two teams play each other at least once every three seasons and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium when their divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if the two teams meet in the playoffs or they finish in the same place in their respective divisions.[24] [25] [26]

History

The Steelers initially dominated the rivalry, winning 10 of its first 13 meetings with the Patriots. But in the 1996 AFC Divisional Round, the Patriots routed the Steelers 28–3 at Foxboro Stadium, ending Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak against New England. It also began a stretch where the Patriots won 14 of the next 20 meetings with the Steelers, including four of five postseason matchups. The Patriots would go on to reach and then lose Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers.[27] [28] [29] The following year, also in the divisional round, the Steelers exacted revenge at Three Rivers Stadium, winning by a 7–6 score to reach their third AFC championship game in four years. This was also the only playoff meeting in which the winner did not eventually advance to the Super Bowl, as the Steelers lost to the eventual champion Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game.[28] [29] Earlier that season, the Steelers overcame a 14–0 deficit to beat the Patriots on the road 24–21 in overtime. In that game, quarterback Kordell Stewart managed a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter culminating in a touchdown to Mark Bruener and a two-point conversion to Yancey Thigpen. In overtime, placekicker Norm Johnson won the game with a 31-yard field goal. The win gave the Steelers a first-round bye and ensured a home game in the divisional round.[30]

In the 2001 season, the Steelers finished with the top seed in the AFC at 13–3. Meanwhile, the Patriots overcame an early-season injury to Drew Bledsoe, and led by then-second year quarterback Tom Brady and coached by Bill Belichick, rallied to finish second at 11–5. The two teams met in the AFC championship game at Heinz Field, and with Bledsoe replacing Brady due to injury, the Patriots upset the Steelers 24–17 and went on to win their first Super Bowl.[28] [29]

The 2004 season saw the emergence of Ben Roethlisberger as the Steelers' starting quarterback. En route to a 15–1 season, Roethlisberger and the Steelers ended the Patriots' record 21-game winning streak on October 31, taking home a 31–24 victory. The Steelers entered the AFC championship game having won all 15 games Roethlisberger started in his rookie season. However, the streak ended at home as New England defeated Pittsburgh 41–27 en route to winning their third Super Bowl championship. The defeat also prevented the Steelers from facing their in-state rival Philadelphia Eagles, who had clinched the NFC championship.[28] [29]

The Patriots and Steelers would not meet in the postseason again until 2016. Between those playoff meetings, the Steelers made three Super Bowl appearances and won two (Super Bowl XL and XLIII), while the Patriots also made three Super Bowls but won only once (Super Bowl XLIX). Facing each other at Gillette Stadium in the AFC championship game, the Patriots again routed the Steelers 36–17 and went on to win their fifth Super Bowl.[29] [31] The Patriots would win their sixth Super Bowl two seasons later, tying the Steelers with the most Super Bowl championships.

Game results

|-| | style="|Steelers
33–3
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
1–0| First meeting in the series. Most lopsided Steelers win in the series.|-| | style="|Steelers
21–17
| Schaefer Stadium| Steelers
2–0| Steelers win Super Bowl IX.|-| |style="|Patriots
30–27
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
2–1| |-| |style="|Steelers
| Schaefer Stadium| Steelers
3–1| Steelers win Super Bowl XIV.|-|-| | style="|Steelers
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
4–1| |-| | style="|Steelers
37–14
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
5–1| |-| |style="|Patriots
28–23
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
5–2| |-| |style="|Patriots
34–0
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
5–3| Most lopsided Patriots win in the series. Also the largest margin of victory in the series.|-| |style="|Steelers
28–10
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
6–3| |-|-| | style="|Steelers
24–3
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
7–3| |-| | style="|Steelers
20–6
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
8–3| Final game for Chuck Noll in this series.|-| |style="|Steelers
17–14
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
9–3| |-| |style="|Steelers
41–27
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
10–3| Steelers lose Super Bowl XXX.|-! 1996 playoffs! style="|Patriots
28–3
! Foxboro Stadium! Steelers
10–4! AFC Divisional Round. First postseason meeting in the series. Patriots host first playoff game since 1978. Largest margin of victory in a playoff game in the series. This was the only Patriots' home victory over the Steelers prior to the Tom Brady era. Patriots lose Super Bowl XXXI.|-| |style="|Steelers
| Foxboro Stadium| Steelers
11–4| Final meeting at Foxboro Stadium.|-! 1997 playoffs!style="|Steelers
7–6
! Three Rivers Stadium! Steelers
12–4! AFC Divisional Round. Kordell Stewart's 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter proved to be the winning score. Most recent NFL playoff game in which neither team scored at least 10 points.|-| |style="|Patriots
23–9
| Three Rivers Stadium| Steelers
12–5| Final meeting at Three Rivers Stadium.|-|-! 2001 playoffs!style="|Patriots
24–17
! Heinz Field! Steelers
12–6! AFC Championship Game. First meeting at Heinz Field. First start in the series for Tom Brady. Later replaced by Drew Bledsoe due to injury. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI.|-| |style="|Patriots
30–14
| Gillette Stadium| Steelers
12–7| First meeting at Gillette Stadium.|-| |style="|Steelers
34–20
| Heinz Field| Steelers
13–7| First start in the series for Ben Roethlisberger. Steelers end Patriots' record 21-game winning streak.|-! 2004 playoffs!style="|Patriots
41–27
! Heinz Field! Steelers
13–8! AFC Championship Game. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXIX.|-| |style="|Patriots
23–20
| Heinz Field| Steelers
13–9| Steelers win Super Bowl XL.|-| |style="|Patriots
34–13
| Gillette Stadium| Steelers
13–10| Patriots complete 16–0 regular season. Patriots lose Super Bowl XLII. |-| |style="|Steelers
33–10
| Gillette Stadium| Steelers
14–10| Steelers' first win at Gillette Stadium. Steelers win Super Bowl XLIII.|-|-| | style="| Patriots
39–26
| Heinz Field| Steelers
14–11| Steelers lose Super Bowl XLV.|-| | style="|Steelers
25–17
| Heinz Field| Steelers
15–11| Patriots lose Super Bowl XLVI.|-| | style="| Patriots
55–31
| Gillette Stadium| Steelers
15–12| Highest scoring game in the series.|-| | style="| Patriots
28–21
| Gillette Stadium| Steelers
15–13| NFL Kickoff Game.|-| | style="| Patriots
27–16
| Heinz Field| Steelers
15–14| |-! 2016 playoffs! style="| Patriots
36–17
! Gillette Stadium! Tied
15–15! AFC Championship Game. Last postseason meeting to date. Patriots surpass the Steelers for most Super Bowl appearances. Patriots win Super Bowl LI.|-| | style="| Patriots
27–24
| Heinz Field| Patriots
16–15| Patriots take first lead in the series. In the closing seconds, Jesse James of the Steelers appeared to have scored a go-ahead touchdown that would have clinched the AFC's #1 seed, but after review, the call was overturned ruling that Jesse James didn't maintain control of the ball. Two plays later, Duron Harmon's interception of Ben Roethlisberger sealed the win for the Patriots, who would instead finish as the AFC's #1 seed. Patriots lose Super Bowl LII.|-| | style="|Steelers
17–10
| Heinz Field| Tied
16–16| Patriots win Super Bowl LIII.|-| | style="| Patriots
33–3
| Gillette Stadium| Patriots
17–16| Final start in the series for Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger.|-|-| | style="| Patriots
17–14
| Acrisure Stadium| Patriots
18–16| First start in the series for Mac Jones and Mitchell Trubisky.|-| | style="| Patriots
21–18
| Acrisure Stadium| Patriots
19–16| Final game for Bill Belichick in this series.|- |-| Regular season| | Patriots 5–4| Steelers 11–10| |-| Postseason| style="|| Patriots 2–0| Patriots 2–1| AFC Divisional playoffs: 1996–1997. AFC Championship Game: 2001, 2004, 2016.|-| Regular and postseason | style="|| Patriots 7–4| Tie 12–12| |-

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Quinn . Sam . November 16, 2017 . The five teams that the New England Patriots hate most . 2022-06-12 . New England Patriots . en-US.
  2. Web site: Boyer . James . 2019-07-24 . Steelers Dynasty vs. Patriots Dynasty: Which was more impressive? . 2022-06-12 . Behind the Steel Curtain . en.
  3. Web site: Howe . Jeff . 'We don't like them, and they don't like us': Patriots-Steelers rivalry now becomes a race to a 7th Super Bowl title . 2022-06-12 . The Athletic . en.
  4. Web site: Howe . Jeff . 2017-01-19 . Tom Brady-Ben Roethlisberger meeting has been a long time coming . 2022-06-12 . Boston Herald . en-US.
  5. Web site: Lean . Andrew . October 28, 2011 . NFL Week 8: Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger Continue Underrated QB Rivalry . 2022-06-12 . Bleacher Report . en.
  6. Web site: Ben Roethlisberger: Sharing field with Patriots QB Tom Brady is 'an honor' . 2022-06-12 . RSN . 4 September 2019 . en.
  7. Web site: Benbow . Julia . January 18, 2017 . Rivalry with Patriots helped fuel Ben Roethlisberger's fire . Boston Globe.
  8. Web site: Fowler . Jeremy . 2017-12-14 . Brady vs. Big Ben by the numbers: A study in dominance; a shot at redemption . 2022-06-12 . ESPN.com . en.
  9. Web site: Bradford . Chris . Steelers have a history with Patriots in AFC Championship Game . 2022-06-12 . Beaver County Times . en-US.
  10. Web site: Koehler . Allison . 2020-07-04 . The Pittsburgh Steelers appear twice in NFL's top rivalries of the 2000s . 2022-06-12 . Steelers Wire . en-US.
  11. Web site: Shelley . Tom . Steelers or Patriots: Who Is the Team of the Decade? . 2022-06-12 . Bleacher Report . en.
  12. Web site: January 27, 2002 . Bledsoe delivers, with plenty of help . https://web.archive.org/web/20220824143540/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/220127023 . dead . August 24, 2022 . 2022-08-24 . ESPN.com . en.
  13. Web site: January 23, 2005 . Big Ben turns to Gentle Ben in Steelers' loss . https://web.archive.org/web/20201208095728/https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/250123023 . dead . December 8, 2020 . 2022-08-24 . ESPN.com . en.
  14. Web site: January 22, 2017 . They're Back: Brady and Patriots win AFC, 36-17 vs Steelers . 2022-08-24 . ESPN.com . en.
  15. Web site: McAlear . Brady . 2019-12-18 . The 10 best Patriots games of the 2010s decade: Nos. 10-7 . 2022-06-12 . Musket Fire . en-US.
  16. Web site: Morry . Bryan . January 16, 2017 . Patriots - Steelers rivalry heats up again . 2022-06-12 . www.patriots.com . en-US.
  17. Web site: Bires . Mike . Mass. woes . 2022-06-12 . Beaver County Times . en-US.
  18. Web site: Hartman . Jeff . Point/counterpoint: Why Steelers' 2010s were more disappointing than 1990s . June 12, 2022 . DK Pittsburgh Sports.
  19. News: Das . Andrew . November 11, 2009 . Team of the 2000s: Patriots, Colts or Steelers? . The New York Times .
  20. Web site: Decade of Dominance Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site . 2022-06-12 . pfhof . en.
  21. Web site: Throwback: Steelers end Patriots' 21-game winning streak in 2004 . 2022-06-12 . Pittsburgh Steelers . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2017-01-27 . Truth Hurts: Tom Brady Reigns over Pittsburgh in Steelers Patriots Rivalry . 2022-06-12 . Steel Curtain Rising . en-US.
  23. Web site: DeArdo . Bryan . July 3, 2020 . Ranking NFL's top rivalries of the 2000s: Epic QB clash tops list of historic matchups . 2022-08-24 . CBSSports.com . en.
  24. Web site: Davis . Scott . The NFL schedule is created with the help of a simple formula . 2024-01-05 . Business Insider . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2009-03-23 . NFL gives East teams a break traveling West . 2024-01-05 . ESPN.com . en.
  26. Web site: Trapasso . Chris . How Is the NFL Schedule Created? . 2024-01-05 . Bleacher Report . en.
  27. Web site: Austin Murphy/SI . A Souper Sunday: The Steelers Were in a Fog Against the Patriots, Who Beat Them at Their Own Game . Sports Illustrated . 2020-12-11.
  28. Web site: Bryan DeArdo . Steelers vs. Patriots history: Six most memorable games ahead of their Week 1 showdown . CBS Sports . 6 September 2019 . 2021-08-30.
  29. Web site: Eric Dockett . Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Rivals of All Time . 5 July 2021 . Sports Illustrated . 2021-08-30.
  30. Web site: Bryan Anthony Davis . Steelers Throwback Thursday 12/13/1997: Mayhem in Massachusetts . 15 February 2018 . SB Nation . 2021-08-31.
  31. News: Shpigel. Ben. Tom Brady and Patriots Overwhelm Steelers and Advance to Super Bowl LI. August 30, 2021. The New York Times. January 22, 2017. Foxborough, Massachusetts.