1998 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1998 season marked the first time since 1991 that the Steelers failed to reach the playoffs. Pittsburgh finished 7–9 after starting the season 5–2, losing their last five games to knock themselves out of the playoffs. It was Bill Cowher's first losing record as coach of the Steelers.

The season was marked by a controversial ending to the team's Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions, where Jerome Bettis claimed he called the coin toss in overtime as "tails" although referee Phil Luckett heard "heads." The Lions won 19–16 and started the Steelers' losing streak to finish the season.

The poor play of Kordell Stewart was cited as another problem, as the fans slowly began to turn on him. After their 11–5 1997 season, Pittsburgh lost two key offensive components: Chan Gailey, the offensive coordinator who went on to become head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and their leading receiver, Yancey Thigpen, a Pro Bowler for Pittsburgh in 1997, who joined the Tennessee Oilers.

Week 1 (Sunday September 6, 1998): at Baltimore Ravens
at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 68,847
 * Referee: Walt Coleman
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27
 * Baltimore – FG Stover 41
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
 * Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 20 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Baltimore – FG Stover 25
 * Baltimore – J. Lewis 64 pass from Zeier (Stover kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 13, 1998): vs. Chicago Bears
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 84 °F (Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 59,084
 * Referee: Gerald Austin
 * TV announcers: (FOX) Kenny Albert (play by play), Tim Green (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Chicago – Engram 54 pass from Kramer (kick failed)
 * Pittsburgh – Bettis 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Chicago – FG Jaeger 19
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
 * Pittsburgh – Coleman 13 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Chicago – FG Jaeger 36

Week 3 (Sunday September 20, 1998): at Miami Dolphins
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 73,748
 * Referee: Bill Carollo
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Miami – Abdul-Jabbar 3 run (Mare kick)
 * Miami – L. Thomas 8 pass from Marino (Mare kick)
 * Miami – Z. Thomas 17 interception return (Mare kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 27, 1998): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:05 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 83 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 58,413
 * Referee: Johnny Grier
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 33
 * Seattle – Fauria 14 pass from Moon (Peterson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 10 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
 * Seattle – FG Peterson 47

Week 6 (Sunday October 11, 1998): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 59,979
 * Referee: Tom White
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
 * Pittsburgh – Bettis 13 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 44
 * Cincinnati – Scott 44 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed)
 * Pittsburgh – Huntley 9 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 48
 * Cincinnati – Scott 30 pass from O'Donnell (pass failed)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40
 * Cincinnati – Pickens 25 pass from O'Donnell (Pelfrey kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 18, 1998): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 73 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 58,620
 * Referee: Ron Blum
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41
 * Baltimore – FG Stover 41
 * Baltimore – FG Stover 40
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 55 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 42
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 40

Week 8 (Monday October 26, 1998): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri


 * Game time: 8:20 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 79,431
 * Referee: Bernie Kukar
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Dierdorf & Boomer Esiason (color commentators), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – McAfee recovered blocked punt in end zone (N. Johnson kick)
 * Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 20
 * Kansas City – FG Stoyanovich 28
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 34
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22
 * Kansas City – Rison 2 pass from Grbac (Stoyanovich kick)
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 5 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 1, 1998): vs. Tennessee Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 55 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 58,222
 * Referee: Mike Carey
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Tennessee – FG Del Greco 43
 * Tennessee – Wycheck 2 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Tennessee – Dyon 6 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
 * Tennessee – FG Del Greco 32
 * Tennessee – George 37 run (Del Greco kick)
 * Tennessee – Davis 29 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hawkins 3 pass from Stewart (C. Johnson pass from Stewart)
 * Tennessee – Marts 27 interception return (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 37 pass from Tomczak (C. Johnson pass from Tomczak)
 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 2 pass from Tomczak (Blackwell pass from Tomczak)

Week 10 (Monday November 9, 1998): vs. Green Bay Packers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 8:20 pm EST
 * Game weather: 44 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 60,507
 * Referee: Ron Winter
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Dierdorf & Boomer Esiason (color commentators), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – C. Johnson 8 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stewart 1 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 45
 * Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 5 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 21
 * Green Bay – FG Longwell 42
 * Green Bay – McKenzie 88 fumble return (pass failed)
 * Green Bay – Harris 2 run (Freeman pass from Favre)
 * Green Bay – FG Longwell 37

Week 11 (Sunday November 15, 1998): at Tennessee Oilers
at Vanderbilt Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 41,104
 * Referee: Johnny Grier
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Craig Bolerjack (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Tennessee – FG Del Greco 46
 * Pittsburgh – Bruener 10 pass from Stewart (George kick)
 * Tennessee – Davis 25 pass from McNair (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Fuamatu-Ma'afala 26 pass from Stewart (George kick)
 * Tennessee – FG Del Greco 24
 * Tennessee – FG Del Greco 22
 * Tennessee – Roan recovered fumble in end zone (Del Greco kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 22, 1998): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 47 °F (Mostly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 59,124
 * Referee: Walt Coleman
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – Washington 52 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 29
 * Jacksonville – Taylor 2 run (Hollis kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 41
 * Pittsburgh – Bruener 9 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Jacksonville – J. Smith 33 pass from Brunell (McCardell pass from Brunell)
 * Pittsburgh – Washington 78 interception return (N. Johnson kick)

Week 13 (Thursday November 26, 1998): at Detroit Lions
at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan


 * Game time: 12:30 pm EST
 * Game weather: Dome
 * Game attendance: 78,139
 * Referee: Phil Luckett
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 30
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 38
 * Detroit – FG Hanson 45
 * Pittsburgh – Blackwell 24 pass from Stewart (N. Johnson kick)
 * Detroit – FG Hanson 52
 * Detroit – Moore 21 pass from Batch (Hanson kick)
 * Detroit – FG Hanson 35
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 25
 * Detroit – FG Hanson 42

Week 14 (Sunday December 6, 1998): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 68 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 58,632
 * Referee: Dick Hantak
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * New England – FG Vinatieri 21
 * New England – FG Vinatieri 29
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 49
 * New England – Glenn 86 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 26
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 43
 * New England – FG Vinatieri 35
 * New England – Edwards 4 run (Vinatieri kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 13, 1998): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 65,335
 * Referee: Tony Corrente
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 27
 * Tampa Bay – FG Husted 39
 * Tampa Bay – FG Husted 37
 * Tampa Bay – Alstott 3 run (Husted kick)
 * Tampa Bay – FG Husted 21

Week 16 (Sunday December 20, 1998): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 42 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 52,017
 * Referee: Bernie Kukar
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Mark May (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:


 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 33
 * Cincinnati – Shade 55 fumble return (Pelfrey kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 37
 * Pittsburgh – Lake 15 interception return (N. Johnson kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 43
 * Pittsburgh – Oldham 54 fumble return (N. Johnson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Bettis 4 run (N. Johnson kick)
 * Cincinnati – Scott 61 pass from Blake (bad snap)
 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 22
 * Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 21

Week 17 (Monday December 28, 1998): at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida


 * Game time: 8:20 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 74,143
 * Referee: Bill Carollo
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Dierdorf & Boomer Esiason (color commentators), Lesley Visser (sideline reporter)

Scoring Drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG N. Johnson 24
 * Jacksonville – Quinn 15 run (Hollis kick)
 * Jacksonville – Taylor 9 pass from Quinn (Hollis kick)
 * Jacksonville – Taylor 12 run (Hollis kick)