Times were uncertain for the Pittsburgh Steelers entering the 2010 season. The Steelers knew they would be without the face of their franchise, QB Ben Roethlisberger for four games, while he was out with a rape. Things got even worse when his backup, Byron Leftwich was injured in the pre-season, meaning inexperienced Dennis Dixon would be the quarterback. However, the Steelers knew they had a championship defense, and if the offense could be simply adequate, they would be alright.In Week 1, the Steelers opened at home against the Atlanta Falcons. Despite being underdogs the Steelers were able to win 15-9 in overtime. Dixon struggled as expected, but the defense held the dangerous Falcons offense without a touchdown. S Troy Polamalu came up with a huge interception in the 4th quarter, and RB Rashard Mendenhall ran it 50 yards for a touchdown in overtime to seal the win. The Steelers quarterback situation became even more tenuous in a Week 2, 19-11 victory at Tennessee. Dixon was knocked out of the game, and old man Charlie Batch had to take his place. It didn't matter though, as the Steelers defense forced seven turnovers, and WR Antonio Brown scored on a 89-yard kickoff return. In Week 3, the Steelers traveled to Tampa to take on the surprising 2-0 Buccaneers. They were starting Batch at quarterback and Batch showed instant chemistry with WR Mike Wallace, hitting him on two long touchdown bombs. Mendenhall gashed the Bucs defense for 143 yards rushing, and the Steelers defense remained stingy, all culminating in a 38-13 rout. Week 4 brought the Steelers biggest rivals, the Baltimore Ravens to Heinz Field. It would be the Steelers last game without Roethlisberger and they were trying to do what was considered impossible, and go undefeated without him. They came close, but the magic ran out. Batch struggled, and Mendenhall couldn't get the running game going. Despite that, the Steelers led late, but the defense was victimized with a late Joe Flacco to TJ Houshmandzadeh touchdown pass, resulting in a 17-14 loss. The Steelers were 3-1 a quarter way into the season, and had to be feeling good that they had survived the mess that was their quarterback position.
After a week off, the Steelers and Roethlisberger returned to host Cleveland. Roethlisberger showed no rust in throwing for 3 TDs, and 257 yards, as the Steelers throttled the Browns 28-10. This game will be remembered for LB James Harrison knocking out two Browns players with vicious hits. Week 7 was another memorable and controversial game for Pittsburgh. The Steelers stole a 23-22 win at Miami, with a strange Roethlisberger rushing touchdown being the deciding factor. Roethlisberger fumbled the ball prior to crossing the goal line and replays appeared to show that the Dolphins recovered. However, the officials said they couldn't determine who had recovered the ball, so they gave the Steelers the ball at the one, allowing Pittsburgh to kick the game winning field goal. The Steelers took on the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Saints in prime time in Week 8. The offense struggled all game, and a costly fumble by TE Heath Miller late, proved to be too much, as the Steelers lost 20-10. The Steelers would end up 6-2 at the halfway point, holding off the Bengals on Monday Night football, 27-21. WR Antwaan Randle El's 39 yard touchdown pass to Wallace put the Steelers ahead 27-7. However, the Bengals made a furious rally, and were in position to score. That is when the Steelers defense, specifically Harrison, made the play needed to win.
For the third straight week the Steelers played in prime time, but they probably wished they hadn't. They were manhandled and embarrassed by the Patriots at home, in a 39-26 loss. The defense, which had been so strong all season, was torched by Tom Brady and the Patriots. Despite having a respectable 6-3 record, the loss seemed to cement the fact that the Steelers weren't in the Patriots league. In Week 10, the Steelers had the hot Raiders coming into town. However, Pittsburgh played like a team with something to prove after getting embarrassed the week before, pounding the Raiders 35-3. Roethlisberger was spectacular, throwing for 3 TDs, while the defense only allowed 182 total yards, and forced three turnovers. This game will be remembered for Raiders DE Richard Seymour decking Roethlisberger after a play, something he was actually sort of celebrated for. In Week 12, the Steelers got more than the bargained for from the Bills in Buffalo. The Steelers jumped out to a 13-0 lead, and victory seemed imminent. However, the Bills showed hurt and tied the game at 16 right before the gun in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Then, the Bills had an opportunity to win the game, but WR Stevie Johnson dropped a sure touchdown pass, allowing Steelers K Shaun Suisham to hit a game winning field goal. The Steelers were now 8-3, and in a neck and neck battle with the Ravens for the AFC North. The rivals would meet in prime time on Sunday night. If the Steelers lost they could kiss their AFC North chances goodbye. It appeared they were on their way to a loss, trailing 10-6 late in the game. That is when the Defensive Player of the Year, Polamalu, made perhaps a season saving play. He stripped Ravens QB Joe Flacco, and Roethlisberger took the Steelers down the field, hitting Isaac Redman with a 9-yard touchdown pass to win the game, 13-10. With four games remaining, Pittsburgh was 9-3 and in control of the AFC North.
The Steelers hosted the Bengals in Week 14, and got a fight from Cincinnati. Pittsburgh led only 13-7 going into the fourth quarter, when the defense stepped up. LB LaMarr Woodley scored on a pick six and the Steelers eventually ran away with the game, 23-7. The Steelers defense accounted for both Steelers touchdowns on that day. Week 15 brought the reeling New York Jets to Pittsburgh. However, the Jets jumped ahead on the first play of the game, as Brad Smith returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. This caused the Steelers to play catch up all game, and they eventually fell short, 22-17. Week 16 saw Pittsburgh once again in prime time, this time on a Thursday night against the pathetic Carolina Panthers. Pittsburgh barely had to expend any effort in a 27-3 rout. The Steelers entered the final weekend of the regular season needing to win at Cleveland to secure a playoff bye and the AFC North title. They wasted no time assuring that, as they absolutely destroyed the Browns, 41-9. The Steelers finished the season 12-4 and had a week off, before hosting an AFC Divisional Round playoff game.
That game ended up being against their hated rivals, the Ravens. After jumping ahead 7-0, the Steelers surrendered 21 straight points, and trailed 21-7 going into the half. One bizarre play was a fumble by Roethlisberger where everyone assumed it was an incompletion, except for Cory Redding of the Ravens, who picked the ball up and scored a touchdown. It was hard to imagine the Steelers being able to come back against a tough Ravens defense, but the door was opened when Ray Rice fumbled to start the second half. The Steelers offense took advantage, and Roethlisberger connected with Miller to get the Steelers within seven. Another Ravens turnover set up the game tying score. Then late, with the score tied at 24 and the Steelers facing 3rd and 19, Roethlisberger hit Antonio Brown for a 59-yard completion, setting up a game winning two yard touchdown run by Mendenhall. The AFC Championship brought the Jets back to town, five weeks after they had defeated Pittsburgh. The Jets had confidence and swagger but they also faced an insurmountable deficit early. Mendenhall ran it down the Jets throats, the defense forced a Sanchez fumble, which turned into a touchdown and before the Jets knew it, they trailed 24-3 at the half. The Jets attempted to make a furious rally in the second half, and actually got within five. However, with the game on the line, Roethlisberger to Brown once again was the difference, sealing a 24-19 win, and the Steelers eighth trip to the Super Bowl. The Steelers hope to win an unprecedented seventh Super Bowl on Sunday.
Check back on Friday as I preview and predict Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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