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]
| First meeting | October 22, 1972 Steelers 33, Patriots 3 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | December 7, 2023 Patriots 21, Steelers 18 |
| Next meeting | TBA |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 35 |
| All-time series | Patriots, 19–16 |
| Postseason results | Patriots, 4–1 List
Patriots 36, Steelers 17 |
| Largest victory | Patriots 34–0 October 19, 1986 |
| Longest win streak | Patriots and Steelers (5 each) |
| Current win streak | Patriots, 3 (2019–present) |
| Championship success | |
| Super Bowl Championships (12) | |
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
editThe 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
edit| New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Season-by-Season Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1970s (Steelers, 3–1)
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1980s (Steelers, 3–2)
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1990s (Steelers, 6–2)
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2000s (Patriots, 5–2)
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2010s (Patriots, 7–2)
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2020s (Patriots, 2–0)
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Summary of Results
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See also
editNotes and references
edit- ^ a b Quinn, Sam (November 16, 2017). "The five teams that the New England Patriots hate most". New England Patriots. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Boyer, James (2019-07-24). "Steelers Dynasty vs. Patriots Dynasty: Which was more impressive?". Behind the Steel Curtain. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ 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". The Athletic. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Howe, Jeff (2017-01-19). "Tom Brady-Ben Roethlisberger meeting has been a long time coming". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Lean, Andrew (October 28, 2011). "NFL Week 8: Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger Continue Underrated QB Rivalry". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Ben Roethlisberger: Sharing field with Patriots QB Tom Brady is 'an honor'". RSN. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Benbow, Julia (January 18, 2017). "Rivalry with Patriots helped fuel Ben Roethlisberger's fire". Boston Globe.
- ^ Fowler, Jeremy (2017-12-14). "Brady vs. Big Ben by the numbers: A study in dominance; a shot at redemption". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Bradford, Chris. "Steelers have a history with Patriots in AFC Championship Game". Beaver County Times. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Koehler, Allison (2020-07-04). "The Pittsburgh Steelers appear twice in NFL's top rivalries of the 2000s". Steelers Wire. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Shelley, Tom. "Steelers or Patriots: Who Is the Team of the Decade?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Bledsoe delivers, with plenty of help". ESPN.com. January 27, 2002. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "Big Ben turns to Gentle Ben in Steelers' loss". ESPN.com. January 23, 2005. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "They're Back: Brady and Patriots win AFC, 36-17 vs Steelers". ESPN.com. January 22, 2017. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ McAlear, Brady (2019-12-18). "The 10 best Patriots games of the 2010s decade: Nos. 10-7". Musket Fire. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Morry, Bryan (January 16, 2017). "Patriots - Steelers rivalry heats up again". www.patriots.com. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Bires, Mike. "Mass. woes". Beaver County Times. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ Hartman, Jeff. "Point/counterpoint: Why Steelers' 2010s were more disappointing than 1990s". DK Pittsburgh Sports. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
- ^ Das, Andrew (November 11, 2009). "Team of the 2000s: Patriots, Colts or Steelers?". The New York Times.
- ^ "Decade of Dominance | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site". pfhof. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ "Throwback: Steelers end Patriots' 21-game winning streak in 2004". Pittsburgh Steelers. Retrieved 2022-06-12.[dead link]
- ^ "Truth Hurts: Tom Brady Reigns over Pittsburgh in Steelers Patriots Rivalry". Steel Curtain Rising. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2022-06-12.
- ^ DeArdo, Bryan (July 3, 2020). "Ranking NFL's top rivalries of the 2000s: Epic QB clash tops list of historic matchups". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ Davis, Scott. "The NFL schedule is created with the help of a simple formula". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ "NFL gives East teams a break traveling West". ESPN.com. 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Trapasso, Chris. "How Is the NFL Schedule Created?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
- ^ Austin Murphy/SI. "A Souper Sunday: The Steelers Were in a Fog Against the Patriots, Who Beat Them at Their Own Game". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-12-11.
- ^ a b c d Bryan DeArdo (6 September 2019). "Steelers vs. Patriots history: Six most memorable games ahead of their Week 1 showdown". CBS Sports. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
- ^ a b c d e Eric Dockett (5 July 2021). "Top 10 Pittsburgh Steelers Rivals of All Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
- ^ Bryan Anthony Davis (15 February 2018). "Steelers Throwback Thursday 12/13/1997: Mayhem in Massachusetts". SB Nation. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ^ Shpigel, Ben (January 22, 2017). "Tom Brady and Patriots Overwhelm Steelers and Advance to Super Bowl LI". The New York Times. Foxborough, Massachusetts. Retrieved August 30, 2021.