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2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerThe Rooney Family
General managerKevin Colbert
Head coachMike Tomlin
Home fieldHeinz Field
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st AFC North
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Jaguars) 42–45
Pro Bowlers
10
AP All-Pros
5
Team MVPAntonio Brown
Team ROYJuJu Smith-Schuster
Uniform

The 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 85th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL). It was the 18th season under leadership of general manager Kevin Colbert and the eleventh under head coach Mike Tomlin. It was also the Steelers' first full season since the death of Dan Rooney.

The Steelers clinched the AFC North division title for the second consecutive season with a 39–38 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, and secured a first-round playoff bye for the first time since 2010 following a 34–6 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day in Week 16. In the Divisional Round however, the Steelers suffered a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 45–42 after falling behind 28–14 at halftime. After their loss, the Steelers were criticized for looking past the Jaguars and anticipating a rematch with the New England Patriots.[1][2] With a record of 13–3, the Steelers posted their best mark since 2004, as well as their first 13–3 record since 2001. The Steelers were also the solitary team in 2017 that swept their division.

Transactions

[edit]

The Steelers were involved in the following transactions during the 2017 season:

Trades

[edit]
Player Acquired from Traded to Date Trade terms
CB Dashaun Phillips Washington Redskins August 23, 2017 C Lucas Crowley
TE Vance McDonald San Francisco 49ers August 29, 2017 San Francisco receives Pittsburgh's 2018 4th Rd. pick
Pittsburgh receives San Francisco's 2018 5th Rd. pick
WR Sammie Coates Cleveland Browns September 2, 2017 Pittsburgh receives Cleveland's 2018 6th Rd. pick
Cleveland receives Pittsburgh's 2019 7th Rd. pick
CB Ross Cockrell New York Giants September 2, 2017 2018 conditional pick
SS J. J. Wilcox Tampa Bay Buccaneers September 3, 2017 Tampa Bay receives Pittsburgh's 2018 6th Rd. pick
Pittsburgh receives Tampa Bay's 2019 7th Rd. pick

Free agents

[edit]
Player Acquired from Lost to Date Contract terms
WR Markus Wheaton Chicago Bears March 9, 2017 2 years/$11.0 million
ILB Lawrence Timmons Miami Dolphins March 10, 2017 2 years/$12.0 million
OLB Jarvis Jones Arizona Cardinals March 14, 2017 1 year/$2.25 million
SS Shamarko Thomas New York Jets June 2, 2017 1 year/$775,000
WR Justin Hunter Buffalo Bills March 15, 2017 1 year/$855,000
RB Knile Davis Kansas City Chiefs March 20, 2017 1 year/$755,000
CB Coty Sensabaugh New York Giants March 20, 2017 2 years/$2.6 million
NT Tyson Alualu Jacksonville Jaguars March 21, 2017 2 years/$6.0 million
SS Daimion Stafford Tennessee Titans May 30, 2017 1 year/$775,000

Signings

[edit]
Player Date Contract terms
RB Brandon Brown-Dukes January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
CB Brandon Dixon January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
T Matt Feiler January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
FS Jacob Hagen January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
CB Mike Hilton January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
FB Gus Johnson January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
T Keavon Milton January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
RB Dreamius Smith January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
WR Marcus Tucker January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
RB Karlos Williams January 24, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
FB Roosevelt Nix January 26, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000
WR Cobi Hamilton January 27, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000
NT Farrington Huguenin January 27, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
SS Jordan Dangerfield January 28, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000
CB Greg Ducre January 30, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
LS Greg Warren February 2, 2017 1-year extension/$1.08 million
K Chris Boswell February 2, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000
TE Xavier Grimble February 7, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000
ILB Akil Blount February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
OLB Jason Fanaika February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
C Kyle Friend February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
CB Devonte Johnson February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
C Mike Matthews February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
RB Trey Williams February 14, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
OLB Anthony Chickillo February 14, 2017 1-year extension/$615,000
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint February 14, 2017 1-year extension/$690,000
ILB Steven Johnson February 15, 2017 1-year extension/$775,000
LS Kameron Canaday February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
P A. J. Hughes February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
TE Ryan Malleck February 21, 2017 (Reserve/Future)
RB Le'Veon Bell February 27, 2017 1-year extension/$12.12 million (Exclusive rights franchise tag)
OLB James Harrison March 1, 2017 2-year extension/$3.5 million
G B. J. Finney March 8, 2017 1-year extension/$540,000
QB Landry Jones March 9, 2017 2-year extension/$4.4 million
TE David Johnson March 9, 2017 2-year extension/$2.05 million
NT Nelson Adams April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
NT Christian Brown April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
G Ethan Cooper April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
DE Francis Kallon April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
DE Keith Kelsey April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
TE Scott Orndoff April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
QB Nick Schuessler April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
RB Rushel Shell April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
FS Terrish Webb April 29, 2017 (UDFA)
T Jake Rodgers May 5, 2017 1 year
TE Phazahn Odom May 16, 2017 1 year
ILB Matt Galambos May 16, 2017 1 year
QB Bart Houston May 17, 2017 1 year
WR Canaan Severin May 17, 2017 1 year
RB Terrell Watson May 18, 2017 1 year
SS Daimion Stafford May 30, 2017 1 year
LS Kameron Canaday May 30, 2017 1 year
RB Brandon Brown-Dukes June 14, 2017 1 year
T Alejandro Villanueva July 28, 2017 4-year extension/$24.0 million
TE Jake McGee August 2, 2017 1 year
CB JaCorey Shepherd August 5, 2017 1 year
C Ruben Carter August 25, 2017 1 year
CB Joe Haden August 30, 2017 3 years/$27.0 million
C Kyle Friend September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
ILB Matt Galambos September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
FS Jacob Hagen September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
NT Lavon Hooks September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
NT Farrington Huguenin September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
TE Jake McGee September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
CB Dashaun Phillips September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
WR Marcus Tucker September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
WR Justin Thomas September 3, 2017 Practice Squad
ILB Steven Johnson September 4, 2017 1 year
DE Stephon Tuitt September 9, 2017 5-year extension/$60.0 million
ILB Steven Johnson September 12, 2017 1 year
ILB L. J. Fort September 13, 2017 Practice Squad
T Jake Rodgers September 20, 2017 Practice Squad
ILB L.J. Fort September 23, 2017 1 year
ILB Matt Galambos September 26, 2017 Practice Squad
WR Justin Thomas September 26, 2017 Practice Squad
DE Keith Kelsey September 28, 2017 Practice Squad
SS Jordan Dangerfield October 16, 2017 Practice Squad
T Jake Rodgers October 18, 2017 Practice Squad
WR Justin Thomas November 6, 2017 Practice Squad
T Jake Rodgers November 20, 2017 Practice Squad
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint November 25, 2017 1 year
RB Terrell Watson November 27, 2017 Practice Squad
ILB Sean Spence December 5, 2017 1 year
RB Stevan Ridley December 19, 2017 1 year
WR Justin Thomas December 21, 2017 Practice Squad

Cuts

[edit]
Position Player Date
CB Justin Gilbert February 6, 2017
RB Karlos Williams March 9, 2017
OLB Jason Fanaika April 19, 2017
QB Zach Mettenberger May 1, 2017
RB Brandon Brown-Dukes May 2, 2017
FB Gus Johnson May 2, 2017
WR Canaan Severin May 2, 2017
CB Al-Hajj Shabazz May 2, 2017
WR Dez Stewart May 5, 2017
LS Kameron Canaday May 5, 2017
WR Dez Stewart May 11, 2017
RB Dreamius Smith May 12, 2017
CB Devonte Johnson May 16, 2017
TE Ryan Malleck May 16, 2017
ILB Akil Blount May 17, 2017
QB Nick Schuessler May 17, 2017
TE Ladarius Green May 18, 2017
LS Greg Warren May 18, 2017
P A. J. Hughes May 30, 2017
RB Rushel Shell June 18, 2017
TE Scott Orndoff August 2, 2017
DE Nelson Adams August 5, 2017
C Mike Matthews August 8, 2017
WR Canaan Severin August 14, 2017
CB Greg Ducre August 23, 2017
RB Brandon Brown-Dukes August 23, 2017
DE Christian Brown August 29, 2017
TE Phazahn Odom August 29, 2017
WR Demarcus Ayers September 2, 2017
C Ruben Carter September 2, 2017
G Ethan Cooper September 2, 2017
RB Knile Davis September 2, 2017
CB Brandon Dixon September 2, 2017
C Kyle Friend September 2, 2017
ILB Matt Galambos September 2, 2017
OLB Austin Gearing September 2, 2017
FS Malik Golden September 2, 2017
CB Senquez Golson September 2, 2017
FS Jacob Hagen September 2, 2017
WR Cobi Hamilton September 2, 2017
LS Colin Holba September 2, 2017
NT Lavon Hooks September 2, 2017
QB Bart Houston September 2, 2017
NT Farrington Huguenin September 2, 2017
TE David Johnson September 2, 2017
ILB Steven Johnson September 2, 2017
DE Francis Kallon September 2, 2017
DE Keith Kelsey September 2, 2017
NT Johnny Maxey September 2, 2017
TE Jake McGee September 2, 2017
T Brian Mihalik September 2, 2017
T Keavon Milton September 2, 2017
CB Dashaun Phillips September 2, 2017
NT Roy Philon September 2, 2017
T Jake Rodgers September 2, 2017
CB JaCorey Shepherd September 2, 2017
WR Justin Thomas September 2, 2017
RB Fitzgerald Toussaint September 2, 2017
WR Marcus Tucker September 2, 2017
FS Terrish Webb September 2, 2017
RB Trey Williams September 2, 2017
SS Jordan Dangerfield September 4, 2017
ILB Steven Johnson September 9, 2017
ILB L. J. Fort September 12, 2017
ILB Matt Galambos September 13, 2017
WR Justin Thomas September 20, 2017
ILB Steven Johnson September 23, 2017
T Jake Rodgers September 26, 2017
ILB Matt Galambos September 29, 2017
FS Jacob Hagen October 16, 2017
WR Justin Thomas October 18, 2017
T Jake Rodgers November 6, 2017
WR Justin Thomas November 20, 2017
RB Terrell Watson November 25, 2017
T Jake Rodgers December 21, 2017
OLB James Harrison December 23, 2017

Other

[edit]
Name Date Details
T Ryan Harris March 3, 2017 Retired

Draft

[edit]
Main article: 2017 NFL draft
2017 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 30 T. J. Watt OLB Wisconsin
2 62 JuJu Smith-Schuster WR USC
3 94 Cameron Sutton CB Tennessee
3* 105* James Conner RB Pittsburgh
4 135 Josh Dobbs QB Tennessee
5 173 Brian Allen FS Utah
6 213 Colin Holba LS Louisville
7 248 Keion Adams OLB Western Michigan

Notes

  • As the result of a negative differential of free agent signings and departures that the Steelers experienced during the 2016 free agency period, the team received one compensatory selection at the end of the 3rd round for the 2017 draft.[3]

Staff

[edit]
2017 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


Final roster

[edit]
2017 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
  • 95 Lavon Hooks NT
  • 41 Farrington Huguenin OLB
  • 57 Keith Kelsey ILB
  • 80 Jake McGee TE

Reserve

  • 34 Antonio Crawford CB (IR)
  • 62 Mike Matthews C (IR)
Rookies in italics
53 active, 6 reserve, 10 practice squad

Preseason

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 11 at New York Giants W 20–12 1–0 MetLife Stadium Recap
2 August 20 Atlanta Falcons W 17–13 2–0 Heinz Field Recap
3 August 26 Indianapolis Colts L 15–19 2–1 Heinz Field Recap
4 August 31 at Carolina Panthers W 17–14 3–1 Bank of America Stadium Recap

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]

The Steelers' regular season schedule was announced on April 20.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 10 at Cleveland Browns W 21–18 1–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
2 September 17 Minnesota Vikings W 26–9 2–0 Heinz Field Recap
3 September 24 at Chicago Bears L 17–23 (OT) 2–1 Soldier Field Recap
4 October 1 at Baltimore Ravens W 26–9 3–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
5 October 8 Jacksonville Jaguars L 9–30 3–2 Heinz Field Recap
6 October 15 at Kansas City Chiefs W 19–13 4–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
7 October 22 Cincinnati Bengals W 29–14 5–2 Heinz Field Recap
8 October 29 at Detroit Lions W 20–15 6–2 Ford Field Recap
9 Bye
10 November 12 at Indianapolis Colts W 20–17 7–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap
11 November 16 Tennessee Titans W 40–17 8–2 Heinz Field Recap
12 November 26 Green Bay Packers W 31–28 9–2 Heinz Field Recap
13 December 4 at Cincinnati Bengals W 23–20 10–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
14 December 10 Baltimore Ravens W 39–38 11–2 Heinz Field Recap
15 December 17 New England Patriots L 24–27 11–3 Heinz Field Recap
16 December 25 at Houston Texans W 34–6 12–3 NRG Stadium Recap
17 December 31 Cleveland Browns W 28–24 13–3 Heinz Field Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns

[edit]
Week One: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 7 7021
Browns 7 0 3818

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

The Steelers started their season on the road against the Browns. They scored first in the first quarter when Tyler Matakevich blocked a punt and Anthony Chickillo recovered it for a touchdown for a 7–0 lead. Later on in the quarter, DeShone Kizer ran for a 1-yard touchdown to tie the game up 7–7. In the second quarter, the Steelers retook the lead when Ben Roethlisberger found Jesse James on a 4-yard pass to make it 14–7 at halftime. After the break, the Browns came closer in the third quarter when Zane Gonzalez nailed a 24-yard field goal to make it 14–10. Though the Steelers moved ahead by double digits when Roethlisberger found James again on a 2-yard pass to make it 21–10. The Browns tried to rally in the fourth quarter but could only come up with 8 when Kizer found Corey Coleman on a 3-yard pass with a 2-point conversion tacked on to make the final score 21–18.

With their 5th straight win over the Browns, the Steelers started their season 1–0. It also took the team's regular season winning streak to 8 straight while taking their winning streak against division rivals to 5 straight.

Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Week Two: Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 3 609
Steelers 7 7 6626

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

After a tough road win, the Steelers traveled home to take on the Vikings. In the first quarter, the Steelers would score first as Ben Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant on a 27-yard pass to make it 7–0 for the only score of the period. They increased their lead in the second quarter when Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 4-yard pass to make it 14–0. The Vikes then got on the board later on in the quarter when Kai Forbath kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 14–3 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Steelers went back to work as Chris Boswell kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 17–3. The Vikes drew closer when C.J. Ham ran for a 1-yard touchdown (with a failed PAT) to make it 17–9. The Steelers however pulled away later on in the quarter when Boswell kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 20–9. In the fourth quarter, it was all Steelers as they closed out the game with 2 more field goals: from 37 and 43 yards out to make it 23–9 and the eventual final score 26–9.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–0. The team's regular season winning streak also increased to 9 straight.

The 17-point margin of victory marked the largest by Pittsburgh over Minnesota in series history.

Week 3: at Chicago Bears

[edit]
Week Three: Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Steelers 0 7 73017
Bears 7 10 00623

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: September 24
  • Game time: 12:00 pm. CDT
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 62,172
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

The Steelers traveled to Chicago to take on the Bears. In the first quarter, the Bears scored first when Jordan Howard ran for a 3-yard touchdown to take a 7–0 lead for the only score of the quarter. In the second quarter, the Steelers managed to tie it up at 7–7 when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 7-yard pass. The Bears moved ahead by double digits later on when Mike Glennon found Adam Shaheen on a 2-yard pass to make it 14–7. This would be followed up by Connor Barth's 24-yard field goal to make it 17–7 at halftime. After the break, the Steelers got back to work and came within 3 as Le'Veon Bell ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 17–14. They would tie the game up in the fourth quarter when Chris Boswell nailed a 32-yard field goal. The Steelers then tried their hand at coming back for the win later on in the quarter, but Roethlisberger was sacked in Bears territory, sending the game into overtime. In overtime, the Bears got the ball. They would win it by way of Howard's 19-yard run for a touchdown and the final score 23–17.

With the loss and 9-game regular season winning streak snapped, the Steelers dropped to 2–1 and with the Ravens' loss to the Jaguars moved into a tie on top of the AFC North.

The loss was the Steelers' third straight against the Bears, and dropped the Steelers to a record of 1–12 all-time against the Bears in Chicago.

Week 4: at Baltimore Ravens

[edit]
Week Four: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 16 0726
Ravens 0 0 909

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

After their first loss of the season, the Steelers traveled to Baltimore to play the Ravens. The Steelers forced a punt on the Ravens' first drive before the Steelers offense produced a 16-play, 84-yard drive which took up 10 minutes and 23 seconds of game time and led to a 30-yard Chris Boswell field goal, making the score 3–0. This would remain the score until Boswell added a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter, making the score 6–0. The Steelers finally reached the end zone on their next drive, as Le'Veon Bell scored from the 1-yard line to put the Steelers up 13–0. The Steelers scored again on their final offensive drive of the half as Ben Roethlisberger connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster for an 11-yard touchdown pass (and the Steelers failed their 2-point conversion attempt), putting the Steelers up 19–0 going into halftime. The Ravens' Justin Tucker missed a 62-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

The Steelers received the ball to begin the second half, and Roethlisberger was intercepted by Eric Weddle, who was credited with the turnover after a coach's challenge by John Harbaugh. The play had initially been ruled a catch by Antonio Brown, but after review, the officials determined that Brown had never established possession of the ball, and because it had never touched the ground, the Ravens took over on the Steelers' 18-yard line. Baltimore capitalized by adding a Tucker 42-yard field goal, making the score 19–3 in favor of the Steelers. On the Steelers' next drive, Boswell missed a 44-yard field goal, and after taking over on downs, the Ravens took only three plays to score on a 16-yard touchdown from Joe Flacco to Mike Wallace. The Ravens attempted a 2-point conversion, but Terrance West (though initially ruled as successfully scoring) was stopped at the 1-yard line by the Steelers defense, making the score 19–9. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers defense intercepted Flacco twice, with the second interception leading to another 1-yard touchdown run by Bell, making the final score 26–9. The Steelers moved into sole possession of first place in the AFC North with the victory while the team improved to 3–1. The team would win their 6th straight game against a divisional opponent.

The victory marked the first time that the Steelers defeated the Ravens in Baltimore since 2012. It would also be Roethlisberger's first win in Baltimore since 2010. Pittsburgh also scored the most points in Baltimore of any Steelers team since 2002. Seventeen points marked the largest margin of victory for the Steelers in Baltimore in series history, and the largest such margin against any team in Baltimore since the Steelers defeated the Colts in Memorial Stadium by twenty-six points in the 1976 NFL Playoffs.

Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]
Week Five: Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 0 7 131030
Steelers 3 3 309

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

After a huge road win, the Steelers returned home for a game against the Jaguars. In the first quarter the Steelers scored first as Chris Boswell kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead and the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Jaguars got on the board when Leonard Fournette ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 7–3. The Steelers drew closer before halftime though as Boswell kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 7–6. After the break, the Steelers would retake the lead in the third quarter when Boswell kicked a 20-yard field goal to make it 9–7. The Jaguars would score 23 unanswered points when Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted twice: Telvin Smith returned one 28 yards for a touchdown (with a failed PAT) as the Jags moved ahead 13–9. This would be followed up by a Barry Church interception that was returned 51 yards for a touchdown to make it 20–9 to finish the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Jason Myers added a 47-yard field goal to make it 23–9. Later on, the Steelers' rush defense stalled as Fournette ran for a 90-yard touchdown to make the final score 30–9.

With the loss, the Steelers dropped to 3–2. The 21-point loss was the largest home loss in Mike Tomlin's career as the team's head coach. Ben Roethlisberger also set a new career high of five interceptions in a single game including two which were returned for touchdowns.

The team failed to score a touchdown at home for the first time since their 11–10 victory over the Chargers in 2008.

Week 6: at Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Week Six: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 2 10 0719
Chiefs 3 0 01013

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

After being blown out at home, the Steelers traveled to Kansas City to face the undefeated Chiefs. The Steelers scored first in the first quarter when Zach Fulton fumbled the ball into the end zone for a safety giving them a 2–0 lead. The Chiefs took the lead later on in the quarter when Harrison Butker kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 3–2. The Steelers moved back ahead in the second quarter when Le'Veon Bell ran for a 3-yard touchdown making the score 9–3. This would be followed up by Chris Boswell kicking a 24-yard field goal to put the team up 12–3 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, the Chiefs came within 2 as Alex Smith connected with De'Anthony Thomas on a 57-yard pass to make it 12–10 to start the fourth quarter. Later on, the Steelers would move ahead by 9 when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 51-yard pass to make it 19–10. The Chiefs came within 6 when Butker nailed a 33-yard field goal to make it 19–13. The Chiefs later on failed to convert a fourth down, sealing the win for the Steelers.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 4–2. Roethlisberger's record against the Chiefs increased to 6–1.

Week 7: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
Week Seven: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 7 7 0014
Steelers 7 13 6329

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 4:25 pm. EDT
  • Game weather: 79 °F (26 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 65,363
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

After a tough win on the road, the Steelers returned home for Game 1 against the division rival Bengals. The Steelers would score first when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 7-yard pass to make it 7–0. Later on in the quarter, the Bengals would tie it up when Andy Dalton found Brandon LaFell on a 6-yard pass to make it a 7–7 game. In the second quarter, the Steelers moved back into the lead when Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 31-yard pass to make it 14–7. The Bengals tied it up again when Dalton found Tyler Kroft on a 1-yard pass making it 14–14. The Steelers closed the half with 2 field goals kicked by Chris Boswell: From 22 and 24 yards out to retake the lead 17–14 and then make it 20–14 at halftime. In the highly defensive second half, the Steelers managed to score more field goals starting in the third quarter when Boswell went for 2 more, from 41 and 49 yards out, to increase the Steelers' lead from 9 to 12 and making the score change from 23–14 to 26–14. In the last quarter, the Steelers would seal the game when Boswell hit his fifth field goal of the game from 29 yards out to make the final score 29–14.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 5–2. The team also picked up their 7th straight win against a divisional opponent and picked up their fifth straight win over the Bengals.

Week 8: at Detroit Lions

[edit]
Week Eight: Pittsburgh Steelers at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 7 10020
Lions 3 9 0315

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

After winning at home, the Steelers traveled to Detroit to take on the Lions. The Steelers would score first when Chris Boswell nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 3–0. The Lions tied the game up later on when Matt Prater kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 3–3. The Lions moved into the lead when Prater kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it 6–3. The Steelers moved back into the lead when Le'Veon Bell ran for a 5-yard touchdown to make it 10–6. The Lions retook the lead when Prater kicked 2 more field goals from 51 and 34 yards out to make the score 10–9 and then move up 12–10 at halftime. In the third quarter, it was all Steelers as they retook the lead when Chris Boswell kicked a 38-yard field goal to make it 13–12. Later on in the quarter, Ben Roethlisberger connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 97-yard pass making it 20–12. The Lions scored their only points of the second half in the fourth quarter when Prater kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 20–15. This would eventually be the final score of the game.

With the win, the Steelers went into their bye week 6–2.

After falling behind in the all-time series to the Lions 4–12–1 through 1965, the Steelers' victory moved them to 13–2 against Detroit since 1966.

The team also held an opponent without a touchdown on the road for the first time since their 28–12 victory over the Browns in 2015.

Week 10: at Indianapolis Colts

[edit]
Week Ten: Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 61120
Colts 0 10 7017

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

  • Date: November 12
  • Game time: 1:00 pm. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoor (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 66,146
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green and Jamie Erdahl
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Coming back from their bye week, the Steelers traveled to Indianapolis to take on the Colts. Neither team scored in the first quarter. But in the second, the Colts grabbed an early lead when Jacoby Brissett found Donte Moncrief on a 60-yard pass to make it 7–0. Adam Vinatieri tacked on a 48-yard field goal to make it 10–0. The Steelers got on the board later on in the quarter when Chris Boswell kicked a 41-yard field goal to make the halftime score 10–3. In the third quarter, the Colts went back to work when Brissett found Chester Rogers on a 61-yard pass to make the score 17–3. Though the Steelers would score a touchdown when Ben Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 7-yard pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 17–9. Getting the ball back deep in Colts territory after a Ryan Shazier interception, the Steelers managed to tie the game up in the fourth quarter when Roethlisberger found Vance McDonald on a 7-yard pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make it 17–17. The defense would hold the Colts off in the last quarter. The Steelers got the ball back and were able to complete the game-winning drive when Boswell sealed the game with a 33-yard field goal to make the final score 20–17.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 7–2.

Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans

[edit]
Week Eleven: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Titans 7 0 10017
Steelers 10 6 71740

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

The Steelers went back home for a Thursday Night duel against the Titans. In the first quarter, the Steelers scored first when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 41-yard pass to make it 7–0. They would make it 10–0 after Chris Boswell nailed a 41-yard field goal. The Titans got on the board later on in the quarter when Marcus Mariota ran for a 7-yard touchdown, making it 10–7. In the second quarter the Steelers pulled away as Boswell kicked 2 more field goals from 28 and 50 yards to make the score 13–7 and then 16–7 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Titans came within 2 when Mariota found Rishard Matthews on a 75-yard pass, making it 16–14. The Steelers would pull away again as Roethlisberger and Brown connected on a 5-yard pass, making the score 23–14. The Titans came within 6 later on when Ryan Succop kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 23–17. In the fourth quarter, it was all Steelers as they sealed the game when Roethlisberger found Jesse James on a 1-yard pass to make it 30–17. This would be followed by Roethlisberger and Brown connecting on a 10-yard pass to make it 37–17. Boswell then finished with a 26-yard field goal to make the final score 40–17.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 8–2, and enjoyed the best 10-game start of Mike Tomlin's career, and the best 10-game start for the Steelers since 2004 when they began 9–1.

The victory marked the first time since 1984 that the Steelers defense forced at least 4 turnovers and 5 sacks in the same game. Their plus-4 turnover ratio was the first time this was accomplished by the Steelers since November 24, 2013 against the Cleveland Browns.

Week 12: vs. Green Bay Packers

[edit]
Week Twelve: Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 14 0 7728
Steelers 6 8 71031

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 8:30 pm. EST
  • Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), clear
  • Game attendance: 62,147
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

After a huge win, the Steelers stayed home for a game against the Packers. They would score first in the first quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Xavier Grimble on a 1-yard pass (with a failed PAT) to make it 6–0. The Packers scored 2 touchdowns to close out the first half. The first one followed an interception thrown by Roethlisberger when QB Brett Hundley found Randall Cobb on a 39-yard pass to make it 7–6. The Steelers' defense also stalled later on in the quarter when Hundley found Jamaal Williams on a 54-yard pass to make it 14–6 in favor of the Packers. In the second quarter, the Steelers managed to tie the game when Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant on a 17-yard pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make the score 14–14 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Packers retook the lead when Hundley found Davante Adams on a 55-yard pass to make it 21–14. Later on, the Steelers tied it back up when Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 1-yard pass to make it 21–21. The Steelers managed to take the lead when Roethlisberger and Brown hooked up again this time on a 33-yard pass to make it 28–21. The Packers would tie it up later on in the quarter when Williams ran for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 28–28. With seconds left, Chris Boswell would put up the game-winning 53-yard field goal to make the final score 31–28.

With their sixth straight win, the Steelers improved to 9–2.

The game marked the Steelers' first victory while suffering a negative-3 turnover ratio since defeating the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2, 2007. It was also the Steelers' fifth consecutive regular season win over the Packers, as well as their fifth consecutive win over the Packers in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers' 462 yards of offense represented their most since December 6, 2015 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
Week Thirteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 0 3 71323
Bengals 10 7 3020

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game information

After winning in a close game at home, the Steelers traveled to Cincinnati for Game 2 against the Bengals. On a 2nd and 5 early in the game, Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered a career-ending spinal cord injury while tackling Bengals wide receiver Josh Malone. Shazier was paralyzed from the waist down but later regained the ability to walk and run.[4] The Bengals scored first in the first quarter when Randy Bullock kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 3–0. They would then make it 10–0 when Andy Dalton found A.J. Green on an 8-yard pass. In the second quarter, Dalton and Green connected again on a 15-yard pass to make it 17–0. The Steelers managed to get on the board before halftime when Chris Boswell put a 30-yard field goal through to make the score 17–3. In the third quarter, the Steelers drew closer when Ben Roethlisberger found Le'Veon Bell on a 35-yard touchdown to make it 17–10. The Bengals moved back ahead by double digits when Randy Bullock kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 20–10. In the fourth quarter, it was all Steelers when Boswell put up a 37-yard field goal to make it 20–13. Roethlisberger then found Antonio Brown on a 6-yard pass to tie the game up at 20–20. Finally, Boswell was able to seal the victory with a 38-yard field goal to make the final score 23–20.

With their sixth straight win over the Bengals, the Steelers improved to 10–2. The victory marks the third time that the Steelers have recorded two different 7+ win streaks within consecutive and separate regular seasons (1975–76, 1994–95).

The team also won their 8th straight game against a divisional opponent. With the win, the Steelers began 4–0 in their division for the first time since 2008.

The 17-point comeback was the Steelers' largest since they came back from down 17 on December 20, 2015, against the Denver Broncos, and their largest on the road since their 21-point comeback on October 5, 1997, against the Baltimore Ravens.

Week 14: vs. Baltimore Ravens

[edit]
Week Fourteen: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 14 17738
Steelers 7 13 01939

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 8:30 pm. EST
  • Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 60,069
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

After a tough win on the road, the Steelers went back home for their second game of the season against the Ravens. Pittsburgh scored first in the first quarter when Ben Roethlisberger found Le'Veon Bell for a 20-yard pass to make it 7–0 and the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Steelers moved up 14–0 when Bell ran for a 1-yard touchdown. The Ravens got on the board when Joe Flacco found Chris Moore on a 30-yard pass to make it 14–7. The Steelers then moved ahead by double digits again when Chris Boswell put up a 52-yard field goal to make it 17–7. The Ravens then came within 3 when Alex Collins ran for an 18-yard touchdown to make the score 17–14. The Steelers closed out the half with another field goal kicked by Boswell from 43 yards out to make it 20–14 at halftime. In the third quarter, it was all Ravens when they took the lead after scoring 3 times: First when Justin Tucker managed to nail a 47-yard field goal to make it 20–17. This would be followed by Javorius Allen's 1-yard touchdown run as they took the lead 24–20. Flacco then found Patrick Ricard on a 6-yard pass as the Ravens moved up by double digits 31–20. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers managed to come within 2, starting with a 24-yard field goal kicked by Boswell shortening the Ravens' lead to 31–23. This would then be followed up by Roethlisberger connecting with Roosevelt Nix on a 1-yard pass (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make it 31–29. The Ravens managed to pull away when Allen ran for a 9-yard touchdown to make it 38–29. The Steelers then completed the comeback when Bell ran for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 38–36. This would be followed by Boswell kicking a 46-yard field goal to make it 39–38. The Ravens then got the ball back, but Flacco was sacked by T. J. Watt as time expired, sealing the win for the Steelers.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 11–2 and were awarded the AFC North division title. The team also managed to win their 9th straight game over a divisional opponent. They would win 8 in a row during a single season for the first time since 2004.

Pittsburgh notched their first 3-game win streak over the Ravens since defeating them three times during the 2008 season (including the playoffs). The teams' 77 combined points marked the most in series history. The team also swept the Ravens for the first time since 2008. With the division clinched, the team would win consecutive titles for the first time since the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The Steelers' second consecutive 11+ point comeback victory marked the first time the Steelers had accomplished this feat since coming back from down 14 against the Denver Broncos on December 7, 1997, and then again from down 14 against the New England Patriots on December 13, 1997.

Week 15: vs. New England Patriots

[edit]
Week Fifteen: New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 3 61127
Steelers 7 10 7024

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 4:25 pm. EST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C), mostly cloudy
  • Game attendance: 68,574
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

After another close win, the Steelers stayed home for a game against the Patriots. The Pats scored first in the first quarter when Rex Burkhead ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. The Steelers tied the game up later on when Ben Roethlisberger found Eli Rogers on an 18-yard pass to make it 7–7. In the second quarter, the Steelers took the lead when Chris Boswell kicked a 51-yard field goal to make it 10–7. The Pats would tie it up again when Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 32-yard field goal to make it 10–10. The Steelers then moved ahead when Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant on a 4-yard pass to make it 17–10 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Pats drew closer when Tom Brady found Brandin Cooks on a 4-yard pass to make it 17–16 (with a failed PAT). The Steelers then moved further ahead when Le'Veon Bell ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 24–16 following a Brady interception. In the fourth quarter, Gostkowski's 46-yard field goal made it 24–19. Dion Lewis then ran for an 8-yard touchdown (with a successful 2-point conversion) to make it 27–24. The Steelers managed to make it deep into Patriots territory on the ensuing drive. However, an apparent touchdown pass to tight end Jesse James was controversially overturned after replay, and Roethlisberger was intercepted two plays later, sealing the win for the Pats.[5]

With their 8-game winning streak snapped, the Steelers fell to 11–3. This loss prevented the Steelers from clinching the #1 seed and instead conceded control of the #1 seed to Patriots.

Week 16: at Houston Texans

[edit]

NFL on Christmas Day

Week Sixteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Texans – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 10 10 7734
Texans 0 0 066

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: December 25
  • Game time: 4:30 pm. EST/3:30 pm. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 71,842
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (NBC/NFLN/Amazon Video): Mike Tirico, Kurt Warner and Heather Cox
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

After a tough loss at home, the Steelers traveled to Houston to take on the Texans. In the first quarter, it was all Steelers when Chris Boswell kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 3–0. They would then make it 10–0 when Ben Roethlisberger found Justin Hunter on a 5-yard pass. In the second quarter, the Steelers would increase their lead when Roosevelt Nix ran for a 1-yard touchdown followed up by Boswell kicking a 36-yard field goal to make it 17–0 and then 20–0 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Steelers continued their dominance when Le'Veon Bell ran for a 10-yard touchdown to make it 27–0. In the fourth quarter, the Texans finally got on the board when T. J. Yates found DeAndre Hopkins on a 3-yard pass (with a failed 2-point conversion) to make it 27–6. The Steelers were able to seal the game when Roethlisberger found JuJu Smith-Schuster on an 18-yard pass to make the final score 34–6.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 12–3, marking the tenth 12-win season in franchise history. With the Jaguars' loss to the 49ers on Sunday, the team was able to clinch a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. The team also finished the regular season at 7–1 on the road for only the fourth time in franchise history (1978, 2004, 2010).

Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns

[edit]
Week Seventeen: Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 14 10024
Steelers 7 14 7028

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

After a huge win on the road, the Steelers returned home for their last regular season game against the 0–15 Browns. The Steelers would score first in the first quarter when Darrius Heyward-Bey ran for a 29-yard touchdown to make it 7–0. They would make it 14–0 in the second quarter when Landry Jones found JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 20-yard pass. The Browns managed to get on the board when Duke Johnson Jr. ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 14–7. The Steelers pulled away when Stevan Ridley ran for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 21–7. DeShone Kizer then found Rashard Higgins on a 56-yard pass to make the score 21–14 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Browns tied the game up when Kizer and Higgins connected again on a 5-yard pass to make it 21–21. The Steelers managed to pull away when Smith-Schuster returned the subsequent kick 96 yards for a touchdown to make it 28–21. The Browns then came within 4 when Zane Gonzalez put up a 51-yard field goal to make it 28–24. In a highly defensive and scoreless fourth quarter, this would be the final score of the game.

With the win, the Steelers finished their season at 13–3, marking their most wins since 2004, and tied for the third-most wins in team history. The team also won its 10th straight game over a divisional opponent. They also swept the division for the first time since 2008 and became the first AFC North team to sweep the division since the Ravens in 2011. The Steelers also ended the chances of the Browns winning a game in 2017, who finished 0–16. Additionally, because the Patriots also won their game against the Jets that same day, the Steelers were unable to finish with the #1 seed, as the Patriots held the head-to-head tiebreaker with their victory against the Steelers two weeks back. The Steelers entered the postseason with the 2nd seed in the AFC and, like the Patriots, had a 1st-round bye.

Team leaders

[edit]
Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Ben Roethlisberger 4,251
Passing touchdowns Ben Roethlisberger 28
Rushing yards Le'Veon Bell 1,291
Rushing touchdowns Le'Veon Bell 9
Receptions Antonio Brown 101
Receiving yards Antonio Brown 1,533
Receiving touchdowns Antonio Brown 9
Points Chris Boswell 142
Kickoff return yards JuJu Smith-Schuster 240
Punt return yards Eli Rogers 146
Tackles Sean Davis 92
Sacks Cameron Heyward 12
Forced fumbles Cameron Heyward

Ryan Shazier

William Gay

2
Interceptions Sean Davis

Ryan Shazier

2

Standings

[edit]

Division

[edit]
AFC North
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers 13 3 0 .813 6–0 10–2 406 308 W2
Baltimore Ravens 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 395 303 L1
Cincinnati Bengals 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 290 349 W2
Cleveland Browns 0 16 0 .000 0–6 0–12 234 410 L16

Conference

[edit]
AFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1[a] New England Patriots East 13 3 0 .813 5–1 10–2 .484 .466 W3
2[a] Pittsburgh Steelers North 13 3 0 .813 6–0 10–2 .453 .423 W2
3[b] Jacksonville Jaguars South 10 6 0 .625 4–2 9–3 .434 .394 L2
4[b] Kansas City Chiefs West 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .477 .481 W4
Wild Cards
5[c] Tennessee Titans South 9 7 0 .563 5–1 8–4 .434 .396 W1
6[c] Buffalo Bills East 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .492 .396 W1
Did not qualify for the postseason
7[c] Baltimore Ravens North 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .441 .299 L1
8[c] Los Angeles Chargers West 9 7 0 .563 3–3 6–6 .457 .347 W2
9 Cincinnati Bengals North 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 .465 .321 W2
10[d] Oakland Raiders West 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .512 .396 L4
11[d] Miami Dolphins East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 .543 .531 L3
12[e] Denver Broncos West 5 11 0 .313 2–4 4–8 .492 .413 L2
13[e] New York Jets East 5 11 0 .313 2–4 5–7 .520 .438 L4
14[f] Indianapolis Colts South 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .480 .219 W1
15[f] Houston Texans South 4 12 0 .250 1–5 3–9 .516 .375 L6
16 Cleveland Browns North 0 16 0 .000 0–6 0–12 .520 – L16
Tiebreakers[g]
  1. ^ a b New England claimed the No. 1 seed over Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b Jacksonville claimed the No. 3 seed over Kansas City based on conference record.
  3. ^ a b c d Tennessee finished ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record, claiming the No. 5 seed.
    Buffalo and Baltimore finished ahead of Los Angeles Chargers based on conference record.
    Buffalo claimed the No. 6 seed over Baltimore based on strength of victory.
  4. ^ a b Oakland finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head victory.
  5. ^ a b Denver finished ahead of the New York Jets based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ a b Indianapolis finished ahead of Houston based on head-to-head sweep.
  7. ^ 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.

Postseason

[edit]
See also: 2017–18 NFL playoffs

Schedule

[edit]
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card First-round bye
Divisional January 14, 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars (3) L 42–45 0–1 Heinz Field Recap

Game summaries

[edit]

AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (3) Jacksonville Jaguars

[edit]
AFC Divisional Playoffs: (3) Jacksonville Jaguars at (2) Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 14 14 01745
Steelers 0 14 72142

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

The Steelers faced the Jaguars in the Divisional Round in a rematch of week 5, in the first quarter the Jaguars jumped out to a lead of 14–0 when Leonard Fournette ran for touchdowns from a yard and then 18-yards out. In the second quarter, they increased their lead to 21–0 when T.J. Yeldon ran for a 4-yard touchdown. The Steelers got on the board when Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 23-yard pass to make it 21–7. The Jaguars pulled away again when Telvin Smith returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown to make it 28–7, though the Steelers managed to decrease the deficit to 14 points at halftime when Roethlisberger found Martavis Bryant on a 36-yard pass to make the score 28–14. In the third quarter, the Steelers scored the only points when Roethlisberger found Bell on a 19-yard pass to make it 28–21. In the fourth quarter, the Jaguars pulled away when Fournette ran for a 3-yard touchdown to make it 35–21. The Steelers came within a touchdown again when Roethlisberger and Brown connected again on a 43-yard pass to make it 35–28. Though again, the Jaguars pulled away when Tommy Bohanon and Blake Bortles connected on a 14-yard pass to make it 42–28. Bell then ran for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score 42–35. However, the Jaguars sealed the game with Josh Lambo's 45-yard field goal to make it 45–35. With the ball back in the final seconds, the Steelers scored on their last play of the game and season when Roethlisberger connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster to make the final score 45–42.

With the loss, the Steelers finished their season 13–4. Ben Roethlisberger is also the first QB in NFL history to throw five touchdown passes in a postseason game and lose. Following the loss, the Steelers were criticized by their fans and the media for looking past the Jaguars and anticipating a rematch with the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

This would also be the last game that running back Le'Veon Bell would play for the Steelers, as he would sit out the 2018 season due to a contract dispute, then sign with the New York Jets once he became a free agent at the start of 2019.

Awards

[edit]
AFC Offensive Player of The Week/Month
Position Player Week/Month
RB Le'Veon Bell 6
WR Antonio Brown 11
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster 8
QB Ben Roethlisberger 14
RB Le'Veon Bell December
AFC Defensive Player of The Week/Month
Position Player Week/Month
DE Cameron Heyward 4, 12
CB Mike Hilton 16
AFC Special Teams Player of The Week/Month
Position Player Week/Month
K Chris Boswell 13
KR JuJu Smith-Schuster 17
Other Awards
Award Position Player Week
Castrol Edge Clutch Performer of The Week WR Antonio Brown 11
FEDEX Air Player of The Week QB Ben Roethlisberger 14
FEDEX Ground Player of The Week RB Le'Veon Bell 4

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bieler, Des (January 14, 2018). "The Jaguars roasted the Steelers for looking ahead at rematch with the Patriots". Retrieved February 4, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  2. ^ "Were the Steelers more concerned with beating the Patriots than the Jaguars?". SBNation.com. January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  3. ^ "Draft Resources". Over The Cap. January 1, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  4. ^ "Check out this video of Steelers LB Ryan Shazier running with his son". March 2019.
  5. ^ "Did the Steelers get robbed on a controversial non-catch call?". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
[edit]
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