My Top 10 Favorite Steelers Games of All-Time

Last week I threw out to our readers my list of my Top 10 Favorite Steelers of All-Time, which can be seen by simply clicking HERE. Over the 6 months it took me to do my upcoming book – 100 Things Steelers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” (which can be ordered HERE), I have had the time and ability to go back in time and recall many of the teams best and worst games of their history as well.

With that, I decided to go ahead and do another favorites list, this time a list of my ‘Top 10 Favorite Steelers Games of All-Time.’ Now mind you, I was just a toddler during the great Super Bowl dynasty of the 70’s, but through the magic of DVD’s, I have watched all of the first four Super Bowls (just watched XIV vs the Rams last week), so I feel that having seen some of the old games I have the right to add them to my list  if I want.  As always, I look forward to hearing from you some of yours as well!

10. at Cleveland 10/15/89 – I am sure unless you were there or watched it live, you probably don’t remember this 17-7 Steelers win. I remember it for two reasons – 1. I was there, and 2. the way the Steelers paid back Cleveland for the 51-0 beating they took at home that season on opening day. It was a sloppy game, as Todd Blackledge filled in for an injured Bubby Brister, and the Steelers D picked off Bernie Kosar four times, and Dwight Stone sealed the deal with a 73-yard kickoff return after Cleveland cut the deficit to 10-7. Blackledge went just 9-for-28, but threw a score to Rodney Carter and the team pulled out a win in a year that started with disaster to the same team.

9. Super Bowl XIII vs Dallas 1/21/79 – At three years old, I am not going to sit here and talk as if I watched this game live, but have seen it more than once on DVD and on NFL Network, and have a deep appreciation for the shootout between Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. I also love the rivalry between what was Dallas, who called themselves “America’s Team,” and the Steelers, who felt they were America’s Team with beating the Cowboys twice in the biggest game of the year. Bradshaw and the offense torched Dallas for 35 points, and he took home the MVP. If you’ve never seen this game, find a copy and take time to appreciate it like I have grown to over the years.

8. vs Houston 9/06/92 – In Bill Cowher’s first game as Steelers coach, the club was heavy underdogs, but went down to Texas and stunned the Oilers for a 29-24 win. They picked off Warren Moon five times, and a fake punt turned the game around. Barry Foster ran for 107 yards and a score, and this win started what was a 3-0 start for the team, and then they ended up the year at 11-5 and Cowher won the award for the AFC Coach of the Year. Rod Woodson had two big picks in the win as well.

7. at Chicago 1995 11/4/95 – The Steelers were 4-4 entering Chicago, and had never won in the ‘Windy City’ but pulled out a gutsy 37-34 overtime win. This game really started the teams run towards winning the AFC Central and eventually the AFC to make it to Super Bowl XXX. Neil O’Donnell threw 52 times for 342 yards and two scores, including one on a 4th down late to Ernie Mills to tie the game and send it into OT. Greg Lloyd had a big pick and Yancy Thigpen had 10 grabs for 108 yards. This game to me was the key to going on that streak that put them in the Super Bowl that January.

6. at Houston AFC Wild Card Game 1/31/89 – Chuck Noll and Jerry Glanville had some great games as rival coaches, and as a Steeler fan this was my favorite as the Steelers knocked the Oilers out of the playoffs and got Glanville fired. The Steelers had a tough start to the 89 season, losing the opener 51-0 to the Browns and then 41-10 at Cincy the next week. But they rebounded, and went 9-7 and got it the playoffs for the last time for Noll. Merril Hoge went for 100 yards on 17 carries, and the Steelers held the ‘run and shoot’ in check. The game went to OT, and Rod Woodson laid a hit on Lorenzo White to knock the ball out, and Gary Anderson hit a 50-yard field goal to win it. A great way to celebrate New Years.

5. Super Bowl XL vs Seattle 2/05/06 – As I called it in my book “A Day of Redemption” as Bill Cowher and the Steelers finally earned their 5th ring. This was by no means a pretty game, but you know what, they got it done, and for all the near misses this team had over the years, they earned it. Ben Roethlisberger was rusty, but he got them there with some big playoff games, and the defense and run game with Willie Parker going 75 to start the second half did enough. It was a storybook ending for Jerome Bettis, winning a ring in his hometown, then saying ‘goodbye’ on the podium.

4. vs Cleveland AFC Wild Card Game 1/5/03 – This was a rather wild game vs the Browns, as they were outplayed all day, yet with Tommy Maddox leading the way, they were able to score 22 points in the fourth quarter to overcome what seemed to be a sure defeat by their rivals.  Maddox threw for 367 yards and three scores, yet the game-winner with less than a minute to go was scored by Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala. A crazy game that by the end the Steelers were able to pull out 36-33. The following week they fell to the Titans in a game they simply they should have won.

3. at Indianapolis AFC Divisional Playoff Game 1/15/06 – To me this was the biggest upset the Steelers have ever pulled off.  Double digit underdogs against a Colts team that seemed unbeatable at home.  No one, and I mean no one felt the Steelers had a chance but them, and they came out right away and went up 14-0 by throwing the ball and making some great pressures on Peyton Manning early.  Of course we all remember how that game turned in the second half, Steelers up 21-3, Colts comeback to make it 21-10, and then the Steelers get robbed of a pick that the refs screwed up.  Then after they stop Manning with two Joey Porter sacks to seal the win, Jerome Bettis fumbles and Nick Harper picks it up, and Ben Roethlisberger makes an unreal play to save the season.  Then Mike Vanderchoke sends one wide, and we’re off to Denver.  I knew that day this team was going to win the Super Bowl.

2. vs Indianapolis AFC Championship Game 1/14/95 – Another game I was there for at old Three Rivers Stadium, but this time as a fan of the black and gold.  I remember the tension that day, coming back from a year ago when the team lost to the Chargers in the same game, same stadium.  Plus it was an odd day with the weather being just beautiful, 50 degrees at kickoff.  When Floyd Turner caught a TD from Jim Harbaugh to go up16-13 with about 6 minutes left, you had a huge lump in your throat.  Two plays I won’t ever forget – the 4th and three repeat of a year ago when Neil O’Donnell hit Andre Hastings for a first down, then hit a perfect sideline route to Ernie Mills that put the ball at the one.  Steelers win 20-16, and I will admit I was choked up with Bill Cowher held up the Ralph Wilson award and dedicated it to Mr.Rooney and the fans of Pittsburgh.

1. Super Bowl XLIII vs Arizona 2/1/2009 – The most exciting sporting event I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of, either as a fan or as a member of the media, and I was honored enough to be in Tampa as a member of the media for this classic.  I will never, ever forget the big plays the Steelers made to overcome the Cards 27-23 to win their NFL record 6th Super Bowl Championship.  From James Harrison’s 100-yard INT return to make it 17-7 at the half, to the amazing toe-tapper from now Jets WR Santonio Holmes (boy does that sound strange) to win the game, and then LaMarr Woodley wraps it up with an amazing strip and sack, it was just a roller coaster of emotions.  A day I will never forget, along with Steeler Nation.