Jump to content

2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney family
General managerKevin Colbert
Head coachBill Cowher
Home fieldHeinz Field
Results
Record15–1
Division place1st AFC North
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Jets) 20–17 (OT)
Lost AFC Championship
(vs. Patriots) 27–41
Pro Bowlers
9
AP All-Pros
6
  • Alan Faneca (1st team)
  • James Farrior (1st team)
  • Jeff Hartings (1st team)
  • Troy Polamalu (2nd team)
  • Joey Porter (2nd team)
  • Hines Ward (2nd team)
Team MVPJames Farrior
Team ROYBen Roethlisberger

The 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 72nd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. It would be the first season the franchise would have under quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He would play 18 seasons as a Steeler, a franchise record.

The team looked to come back after a disappointing 6–10 season the year before, which saw the team go through the entire season without winning consecutive games.[1]

The team finished with a 15–1 record, topping the 14–2 team record from 1978 and joined the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, the 1985 Chicago Bears, and the 1998 Minnesota Vikings as the only teams in NFL history to that point since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978 to finish with such a record. This also made the Steelers the first AFC team to achieve a 15–1 record, a conference-best at the time (the 2007 Patriots would surpass that by going a perfect 16–0); they are also the only AFC team to do so. Along the way, the Steelers ended the New England Patriots NFL-record 21-game winning streak in Week 8, then defeated their cross-state rival the Philadelphia Eagles the following week to hand the NFL's last two undefeated teams their first losses in back-to-back weeks, both at home.

The season was highlighted by the surprising emergence of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the team's top pick in that year's draft. Originally intended to sit behind veteran Tommy Maddox the entire season, plans abruptly changed when Maddox was hurt in the team's Week 2 loss to Baltimore. Surrounded by talent, "Big Ben" went an NFL-record 13–0 as a rookie starting quarterback before being rested for the final game of the season, shattering the old NFL record (and coincidentally, also the team record) of 6–0 to start an NFL career set by Mike Kruczek filling in for an injured Terry Bradshaw in 1976.

The Steelers hosted the AFC Championship for the fifth time in eleven years. However, for the fourth time in that same span, the Steelers lost at home one game away from the Super Bowl, and, like in 2001, lost to the Patriots in a rematch from Week 8.[2]

The 2006 edition of Pro Football Prospectus[3] listed the 2004 Steelers as one of their "Heartbreak Seasons", in which teams "dominated the entire regular season only to falter in the playoffs, unable to close the deal." Said Pro Football Prospectus, "In the playoffs, Roethlisberger hit an inconvenient slump, just like the Pittsburgh quarterbacks who came before him.[4] He threw two killer interceptions against the Jets, but the Steelers were bailed out when Jets kicker Doug Brien missed a game-winning field goal. The next week against New England, head coach Bill Cowher was clearly worried about Roethlisberger, letting him throw only once on first or second down in the first quarter. By the time the offense opened up, the Patriots were beating the Steelers by two touchdowns. A Roethlisberger interception was returned 87 yards for a touchdown by Rodney Harrison, and the game was effectively over. For the second time in seven years,[5] a 15–1 team had failed to make it to the Super Bowl." This was the first of, through the 2023 season, 20 consecutive non-losing seasons for the Steelers.

The Steelers led the NFL in rushing attempts for the 2nd time in 4 years, running the ball 618 times.

Personnel

[edit]
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • Chairman – Daniel M. Rooney
  • President – Arthur J. Rooney II
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Administration advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of business – Mark Hart
  • Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger
  • Human relations/office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn
  • Business operations coordinator – Omar Khan
  • Accounting manager – Jodie Spagnolli
  • Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl
  • Public relations/media manager – David Lockett
  • Information technology administrator – Scott Phelps
  • Football operations
  • Director of football operations – Kevin Colbert
  • College scouting coordinator – Ron Hughes
  • Pro scouting coordinator – Doug Whaley
  • Special assistant/pro and college personnel – Joe Greene
  • Pro/college scout – Phil Kreidler
  • College scout – Mark Gorscak
  • College scout – Bob Lane
  • College scout – Bruce McNorton
  • College scout – Dan Rooney
  • College scout – Bill Nunn
  • BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher
  • Marketing
  • Director of marketing – Tony Quatrini
  • Marketing coordinator – Rick Giugliano
  • Client services administrator – Amy Regan
  • Marketing manager – John Wodarek
  • Producer/broadcasting manager – Rick Fairbend
  • Broadcasting assistant – Pete Gergely
  • Marketing/community relations manager – Lynne Molyneaux
  • Marketing assistant – John Simpson
  • Marketing assistant – Mike Marchinsky
  • Ticket operations
  • Ticket manager – Ben Lentz
  • Season ticket assistant – Libby Patcher

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Chet Fuhrman
  • Medical staff
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Francis Mah
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph Maroon
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze
  • Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Training staff
  • Head athletic trainer – John Norwig
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ryan Grove
  • Assistant athletic trainer – Ariko Iso
  • Football staff
  • Player development – Raymond Jackson
  • Equipment manager - Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Field manager – Rich Baker
  • Field/equipment assistant – Kalvin Jones
  • Video coordinator – Bob McCartney
  • Video assistant – Andy Lizanich
  • Video assistant – Rob Brakel
  • Photographer – Mike Fabus

[6]


Notable additions include Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker.

Roster

[edit]
2004 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad


[7] [8] [9] Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 7 reserve, 8 practice squad

Offseason

[edit]

The Steelers went into the NFL draft with the eleventh overall pick, their highest selection since selecting Plaxico Burress eighth overall in 2000. Although the team was ready to select Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger if he were to still be available, the team was ready to select other players at "need" positions. However, with Roethlisberger still available, the team snatched him up, making him the third quarterback selected. Alongside Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and J. P. Losman, Roethlisberger was part of the "Class of 2004" quarterbacks. In addition, "Big Ben" became the first quarterback the Steelers selected with their first-round pick since they selected Mark Malone in 1980.

2004 Pittsburgh Steelers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 11 Ben Roethlisberger *  QB Miami (OH)
2 38 Ricardo Colclough  CB Tusculum
3 75 Max Starks  OT Florida
5 145 Nathaniel Adibi  DE Virginia Tech
6 177 Bo Lacy  OT Arkansas
6 194 Matt Kranchick  TE Penn State
6 197 Drew Caylor  C Stanford
7 212 Eric Taylor  DT Memphis
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[10]

Free agent-wise, the Steelers would sign former Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley. Many thought this signing was the team preparing for a future without Jerome Bettis. However, Staley's injury-prone history from Philly would continue with the Steelers. On the undrafted front, the team signed North Carolina running back Willie Parker. Although Parker would play sparingly his rookie season, he would become a major component of the offense in the future. The team also signed veteran punter Chris Gardocki (releasing longtime punter Josh Miller in the process), who up to that point was best remembered by Steelers fans for flipping head coach Bill Cowher the finger twice on live TV after being leveled by Joey Porter while Gardocki was with the Cleveland Browns. (Porter would be penalized for roughing the punter.) Gardocki was fined $5,000 for the incident, and his signing by the team made him the only player to have played for Cowher and give him an expletive in public.

The most notable releases made in the offseason included releasing veteran defensive players Jason Gildon and Dewayne Washington, who both would subsequently sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and would both play against the Steelers in Week 13.

In the personnel department, the Steelers went back to the future with the return of "Mean Joe" Greene and Dick LeBeau to the organization. Greene, who along with the entire Arizona Cardinals coaching staff was fired after the dismissal of head coach Dave McGinnis, retired from coaching and returned to the Black & Gold as the "special assistant of player personnel" for the team. Meanwhile, LeBeau, who popularized the zone blitz defensive schemes as the team's defensive coordinator in the mid-1990s (referred to as "Blitzburgh" by fans), returned to the team in that same capacity after a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills, replacing the fired Tim Lewis.

This would also be the final season for longtime Steelers radio color commentator Myron Cope, who missed several games this year due to poor health. It was one of only two times in 35 years that Cope would miss time broadcasting for the Steelers, the other being the 1994 season after the death of his wife. Though Cope would later recover, he felt that it was best to retire, and did so at the end of the season.

Preseason

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap
1 August 14 at Detroit Lions L 21–27 0–1 Ford Field
2 August 21 Houston Texans W 38–3 1–1 Heinz Field
3 August 26 at Philadelphia Eagles W 27–21 2–1 Lincoln Financial Field
4 September 2 Carolina Panthers L 13–16 2–2 Heinz Field

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site NFL Recap
1 September 12 Oakland Raiders W 24–21 1–0 Heinz Field Summary
2 September 19 at Baltimore Ravens L 13–30 1–1 M&T Bank Stadium Summary
3 September 26 at Miami Dolphins W 13–3 2–1 Pro Player Stadium Summary
4 October 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 28–17 3–1 Heinz Field Summary
5 October 10 Cleveland Browns W 34–23 4–1 Heinz Field Summary
6 October 17 at Dallas Cowboys W 24–20 5–1 Texas Stadium Summary
7 Bye
8 October 31 New England Patriots W 34–20 6–1 Heinz Field Summary
9 November 7 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–3 7–1 Heinz Field Summary
10 November 14 at Cleveland Browns W 24–10 8–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Summary
11 November 21 at Cincinnati Bengals W 19–14 9–1 Paul Brown Stadium Summary
12 November 28 Washington Redskins W 16–7 10–1 Heinz Field Summary
13 December 5 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 17–16 11–1 Alltel Stadium Summary
14 December 12 New York Jets W 17–6 12–1 Heinz Field Summary
15 December 18 at New York Giants W 33–30 13–1 Giants Stadium Summary
16 December 26 Baltimore Ravens W 20–7 14–1 Heinz Field Summary
17 January 2, 2005 at Buffalo Bills W 29–24 15–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Summary
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders

[edit]
Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Raiders 0 7311 21
• Steelers 7 773 24

It was the 22nd lifetime meeting between the two clubs. The Raiders erased a 21-13 Steelers lead in the fourth quarter but Jeff Reed connected on the winning field goal with seven seconds left. With the win, the Steelers started their season 1–0 for the 2nd straight year. Jerome Bettis scored 18 points (3 Touchdowns) on 5 carries, yet gained only 1 yard total for an average of 0.2 yards per carry.

Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens
1 234Total
Steelers 0 0013 13
• Ravens 7 6710 30

With the loss, the Steelers fell to 1–1 for the 2nd straight year. 0–1 in division games and 1–1 in conference games.

Week 3: at Miami Dolphins

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Miami Dolphins
1 234Total
• Steelers 3 037 13
Dolphins 0 003 3

The game was originally to be played at 1:00 pm, but was delayed until evening due to Hurricane Jeanne. The game was not broadcast nationally, it was only shown on local stations in the primary and secondary markets of the two teams. With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–1. The contest marked Ben Roethlisberger's first NFL start and victory.

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Bengals 7 370 17
• Steelers 7 7014 28

With the win the Steelers improved to 3–1. 1–1 in division games.

Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns

[edit]
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Browns 10 337 23
• Steelers 14 1370 34

With their 2nd straight win over the Browns, the Steelers improved to 4–1.

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys
1 234Total
• Steelers 7 3014 24
Cowboys 7 3100 20
Scoring summary
19:14CowboysRichie Anderson 21-yard run (Billy Cundiff kick)Cowboys 7–0
15:22SteelersPlaxico Burress 5-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick)Tie 7–7
24:27SteelersJeff Reed 51-yard field goalSteelers 10–7
2:15CowboysBilly Cundiff 47-yard field goalTie 10–10
35:38CowboysBilly Cundiff 39-yard field goalCowboys 13–10
32:57CowboysKeyshawn Johnson 22-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Billy Cundiff kick)Cowboys 20–10
411:48SteelersJerame Tuman 7-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick)Cowboys 20–17
4:30SteelersJerome Bettis 2-yard run (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 24–20

It was the 29th meeting between the two clubs. The Cowboys jumped to a 20–10 lead following a Keyshawn Johnson touchdown catch in the third, but Ben Roethlisberger led two touchdown drives, the last a Jerome Bettis run with thirty seconds to go. The Cowboys raced to the Steelers 30 but a last-second touchdown attempt was swatted away by Russell Stuvaints. With the win, the Steelers went on their bye week 5–1.

Week 8: vs. New England Patriots

[edit]
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Patriots 3 737 20
• Steelers 21 3100 34

This was the game that ended New England's NFL-record 21-game winning streak. Following an Adam Vinatieri field goal in the first quarter, the Steelers erupted, as Ben Roethlisberger twice hit Plaxico Burress for touchdowns and a Tom Brady interception was run back by Deshea Townsend for a touchdown and a 21–3 Steelers lead after one quarter. Brady was picked off twice and Roethlisberger made no mistakes in throwing for 196 yards and amassing a quarterback rating of 126.4. The Steelers routed the Patriots 34–20 and wound up winning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs as a result. With the win, the Steelers improved to 6–1.

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Philadelphia Eagles at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Eagles 0 300 3
• Steelers 14 733 27
Scoring summary
18:56SteelersHines Ward 16-yard run (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 7–0
12:27SteelersHines Ward 20-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 14–0
210:51SteelersJay Riemersma 2-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 21–0
26:14EaglesDavid Akers 33-yard field goalSteelers 21–3
32:36SteelersJeff Reed 42-yard field goalSteelers 24–3
47:58SteelersJeff Reed 31-yard field goalSteelers 27–3

The Steelers for the 2nd week in a row face an undefeated team, the 7–0 Eagles. With the win, the Steelers improved to 7–1 while the Eagles dropped to 7–1. The game gained wider notoriety in subsequent days following broadcast of footage from the Eagles sideline where Terrell Owens was angrily barking at Donovan McNabb with McNabb striving to ignore him.

Week 10: at Cleveland Browns

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns
1 234Total
• Steelers 7 7010 24
Browns 3 007 10

With their 3rd straight win over the Browns, the Steelers improved to 8–1.

Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
1 234Total
• Steelers 3 772 19
Bengals 7 700 14

The Bengals clawed to a 14–10 lead on two Carson Palmer touchdowns, but Roethlisberger, despite being sacked seven times, tossed a touchdown late in the third quarter to Dan Kreider, then late in the fourth Palmer dropped back to his own endzone and threw an incompletion; it was ruled intentional grounding and the resulting Pittsburgh safety finished off the game.

Week 12: vs. Washington Redskins

[edit]
Washington Redskins at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Redskins 0 070 7
• Steelers 3 1003 16

With the win the Steelers improved to 10–1 and went 3–0 against the NFC East.

Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars
1 234Total
• Steelers 7 703 17
Jaguars 7 063 16

For the first time Jerome Bettis was not the all-time active rushing leader in the NFL upon kickoff, as he and Curtis Martin dueled throughout the season for the title, Bettis would retake the title by game's end.

Week 14: vs. New York Jets

[edit]
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Jets 0 033 6
• Steelers 3 0014 17

In an NFL first, both running backs came into the game ready to break the 13,000 career yards mark, Jerome Bettis having a 6-yard lead over native Curtis Martin. After the game Martin would lead Bettis by 9 yards.

Week 15: at New York Giants

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
1 234Total
• Steelers 10 10310 33
Giants 14 0106 30
Scoring summary
114:45GiantsWillie Ponder 91-yard kickoff return (Steve Christie kick)Giants 7–0
17:26SteelersVerron Haynes 10-yard pass from Antwaan Randle El (Jeff Reed kick)Tie 7–7
14:02GiantsJeremy Shockey 2-yard pass from Eli Manning (Steve Christie kick)Giants 14–7
1:19SteelersJeff Reed 33-yard field goalGiants 14–10
25:36SteelersAntwan Randle El 35-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 17–14
2:14SteelersJeff Reed 21-yard field goalSteelers 20–14
38:35GiantsSteve Christie 22-yard field goalSteelers 20–17
34:24SteelersJeff Reed 36-yard field goalSteelers 23–17
3:29GiantsMarcellus Rivers 1-yard pass from Eli Manning (Steve Christie kick)Giants 24–23
411:35SteelersJeff Reed 28-yard field goalSteelers 26–24
48:15GiantsTiki Barber 1-yard run (pass failed)Giants 30–26
44:57SteelersJerome Bettis 1-yard run (Jeff Reed kick)Steelers 33–30

This was the first meeting between rookie quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning and was part of a rare NFL Saturday triple-header. The game lead tied or changed seven times as Manning and Roethlisberger combined for 498 passing yards; Antwaan Randle El also got into the act with a ten-yard touchdown throw to Verron Haynes, this atop 149 receiving yards. Jerome Bettis rushed 36 times for 140 yards and the winning touchdown in the final five minutes. With 3:31 to go Eli was intercepted by Willie J. Williams. Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenged the ruling but after review it was upheld, and the Steelers ran out the clock for the 33–30 win.

Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens

[edit]
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
Ravens 7 000 7
• Steelers 7 373 20

Jerome Bettis retook the all-time active rushing record from his season-long duel with native Curtis Martin by a margin of 81 yards, and also pass Eric Dickerson for fourth all-time.

The win also helped the team improve to 14–1. This would tie the team's franchise record in number of wins in a season.

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills

[edit]
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills
1 234Total
• Steelers 10 6013 29
Bills 7 377 24

With the win, the Steelers finish with a league-best 15–1 record.[11]

Standings

[edit]

Division

[edit]
AFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 372 251 W14
Baltimore Ravens 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 317 268 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 374 372 W2
Cleveland Browns 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 276 390 W1

Conference

[edit]
AFC[12]
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Pittsburgh Steelers North 15 1 0 .938 5–1 11–1 .484 .479 W14
2 New England Patriots East 14 2 0 .875 5–1 10–2 .492 .478 W2
3[a] Indianapolis Colts South 12 4 0 .750 5–1 8–4 .500 .458 L1
4[a] San Diego Chargers West 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .477 .411 W1
Wild cards
5[b] New York Jets East 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .523 .406 L2
6[b] Denver Broncos West 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 .484 .450 W2
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[c][d] Jacksonville Jaguars South 9 7 0 .563 2–4 6–6 .527 .479 W1
8[c][d] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .551 .472 W1
9[c] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 5–7 .512 .382 L1
10 Cincinnati Bengals North 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 .543 .453 W2
11[e] Houston Texans South 7 9 0 .438 4–2 6–6 .504 .402 L1
12[e] Kansas City Chiefs West 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .551 .509 L1
13[f] Oakland Raiders West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .570 .450 L2
14[f] Tennessee Titans South 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .512 .463 W1
15[g] Miami Dolphins East 4 12 0 .250 1–5 2–10 .555 .438 L1
16[g] Cleveland Browns North 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .590 .469 W1
Tiebreakers[h]
  1. ^ a b Indianapolis clinched the AFC #3 seed instead of San Diego based upon head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b New York Jets clinched the AFC #5 seed instead of Denver based upon better record against common opponents (New York Jets were 5–0 to Denver’s 3–2 against San Diego, Cincinnati, Houston, and Miami).
  3. ^ a b c Jacksonville and Baltimore finished ahead of Buffalo because they each defeated Buffalo head-to-head.
  4. ^ a b Jacksonville finished ahead of Baltimore based upon better record against common opponents (Jacksonville were 3–2 against Baltimore’s 2–3 versus Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Buffalo and Kansas City).
  5. ^ a b Houston finished ahead of Kansas City based upon head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ a b Oakland finished ahead of Tennessee based upon head-to-head victory.
  7. ^ a b Miami finished ahead of Cleveland based upon head-to-head victory.
  8. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.


Playoffs

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Kickoff (ET) TV Opponent Result Game Site NFL Recap
Divisional January 15 4:30 p.m. CBS New York Jets W 20–17 (OT) Heinz Field Summary
Conference January 23 6:30 p.m. CBS New England Patriots L 27–41 Heinz Field Summary

Game summaries

[edit]

AFC Divisional: vs. New York Jets

[edit]
AFC Divisional Playoff
New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234OTTotal
Jets 0 10700 17
• Steelers 10 0073 20

After a brilliant 15–1 regular season the Steelers pulled one out of the fire in the divisional playoffs against the Jets. Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted at the Jets 14-yard line and Reggie Tongue ran back an 86-yard touchdown in the third quarter. After tying the game at 17 in the fourth the Steelers had to sweat out a Jets drive in the final minutes of regulation. The Jets set up for a Doug Brien 47-yard field goal but the kick missed, hitting the crossbar. On the ensuing possession, Roethlisberger was intercepted again and another Brien field goal was set up, this one from 43 yards away – but it again missed, sailing wide left. In overtime, the Jets won the kick-off but failed to score on their first possession. The Steelers, then, drove down field and Jeff Reed's 33-yard field goal ended a 20–17 Pittsburgh win.

AFC Championship: vs. New England Patriots

[edit]
AFC Championship game
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
1 234Total
• Patriots 10 14710 41
Steelers 3 01410 27

Revenge for their Halloween loss drove the 14–2 Patriots back to Heinz Field and the conference championship. The shaky play of the Steelers against the Jets the week before was exploited by New England as Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted almost right away, then on their next possession the Steelers were stopped on downs. The Patriots raced to a 17–3 lead in the second quarter before Roethlisberger drove them down field and threw a back-breaking interception to Rodney Harrison at the Patriots 13-yard line; Harrison ran back the 87-yard touchdown and fans at Heinz began chanting for Tommy Maddox to come in to replace Roethlisberger. The Steelers managed a pair of third-quarter touchdowns (a 5-yard Jerome Bettis run and a 30-yard Roethlisberger pass to Hines Ward) but these only sandwiched another Patriots score (a 25-yard run by ex-Bengal Corey Dillon) and the Steelers simply could not overcome New England's offense as the Patriots finished off Pittsburgh 41–27, the third playoff win in four career tries by the Patriots over the Steelers.

The game is also significant as the final game by the team's radio broadcaster, Myron Cope. Cope had served as the color commentator on the team's radio broadcast for 35 years. He would publicly announce his retirement five months later.[13]

Honors and awards

[edit]

Pro Bowl representatives

[edit]

See: 2005 Pro Bowl

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wexell, Jim (August 24, 2004). "Steelers looking to bounce back in 2004". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  2. ^ Fleming, Todd (May 17, 2009). "Reflections on the 2004 Steelers: The Year of the Quarterback". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  3. ^ Pro Football Prospectus 2006 (ISBN 0761142177), p. 73–75
  4. ^ The article mentions Neil O'Donnell, Mike Tomczak, Kordell Stewart, and Tommy Maddox.
  5. ^ 1998 Minnesota Vikings
  6. ^ 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  7. ^ 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  8. ^ 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  9. ^ "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Football Database. Retrieved 2014-May-11.
  11. ^ Westhead, Rick (January 3, 2005). "Reality of Steelers Puts a Quick End to the Bills' Dream". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "2004 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  13. ^ "Cope also created Terrible Towel". ESPN.com. AP. June 21, 2005. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2004_Pittsburgh_Steelers_season&oldid=1244890817"