American Football Database
1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Owner(s) {{{owner}}}
Head Coach Bill Cowher
Home Field Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record 9–7
Place 2nd AFC Central
Playoff Finish Lost AFC Wild Card to Kansas City
Pro Bowlers
Team MVP Rod Woodson
Team ROY Chad Brown
Timeline
Previous season Next season
1992 1994

The 1993 Pittsburgh Steelers looked to continue the progress made under second year head coach Bill Cowher. However, the team would take a slight step backwards, finishing 9–7 (three games behind the eventual AFC Central champion Houston Oilers). Despite that, the Steelers clinched the final wild card spot, making the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The team would lose to the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime in the AFC Wild Card Round of the playoffs, in what is considered one of the best playoff games in NFL history even though the Steelers were on the losing end.

Notable about the season came in the second week, when the Steelers suffered a rare shutout loss to the Los Angeles Rams 27–0 in one of the team's last visit to the Los Angeles area in the foreseeable future. The day was highlighted by the emergence of Rams rookie Jerome Bettis running over the Steelers defense. Though no one knew it at the time, it would foreshadow what was to come with Bettis' career—as a member of the Steelers, who would acquire Bettis in a draft day trade with the Rams three years later.

1993 was also the season in which the Steelers began their policy of "blacking out" regular season contract negotiations. Early in the season the Steelers had reached contract extensions with Rod Woodson and Barry Foster and continued negotiations with other players. However, this led to discord in the locker room, and management felt that contract talk was taking the team's focus off of winning. At mid-season the Steelers broke off all contract negotiations, and have refused to negotiated contracts during the regular season since.[1]

Personnel[]

Staff[]

1993 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front Office

  • President – Dan Rooney
  • Vice President – John R. McGinley
  • Vice President – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Administration Advisor – Chuck Noll
  • Director of Football Operations – Tom Donahue

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Ron Erhardt
  • Running Backs – Dick Hoak
  • Wide Receivers – Bob Harrison
  • Tight Ends – Pat Hodgson
  • Offensive Line – Kent Stephenson
 

Defensive Coaches

Special Teams Coaches

  • Special Teams – John Guy

Strength and Conditioning

  • Conditioning Coordinator – Chet Fuhrman

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Location Time (ET) TV Result Record
1 Sunday September 5 San Francisco 49ers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm CBS L 24–13 0–1
2 Sunday September 12 Los Angeles Rams Anaheim Stadium 4:00 pm NBC L 27–0 0–2
3 Sunday September 19 Cincinnati Bengals Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm NBC W 34–7 1–2
4 Monday September 27 Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 9:00 pm ABC W 45–17 2–2
5 Sunday October 3 Bye
6 Sunday October 10 San Diego Chargers Three Rivers Stadium 4:00 pm NBC W 16–3 3–2
7 Sunday October 17 New Orleans Saints Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm CBS W 37–14 4–2
8 Sunday October 24 Cleveland Browns Cleveland Municipal Stadium 4:00 pm NBC L 28–23 4–3
9 Sunday October 31 Bye
10 Sunday November 7 Cincinnati Bengals Riverfront Stadium 1:00 pm NBC W 24–16 5–3
11 Monday November 15 Buffalo Bills Three Rivers Stadium 9:00 pm ABC W 23–0 6–3
12 Sunday November 21 Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium 4:00 pm NBC L 37–13 6–4
13 Sunday November 28 Houston Oilers Astrodome 8:00 pm ESPN L 23–3 6–5
14 Sunday December 5 New England Patriots Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm NBC W 17–14 7–5
15 Monday December 13 Miami Dolphins Joe Robbie Stadium 9:00 pm ABC W 21–20 8–5
16 Sunday December 19 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm NBC L 26–17 8–6
17 Sunday December 26 Seattle Seahawks Kingdome 4:00 pm NBC L 16–6 8–7
18 Sunday January 2 Cleveland Browns Three Rivers Stadium 1:00 pm NBC W 16–9 9–7

Standings[]

AFC Central
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Houston Oilers 12 4 0 .750 368 238
Pittsburgh Steelers 9 7 0 .563 308 281
Cleveland Browns 7 9 0 .438 304 307
Cincinnati Bengals 3 13 0 .188 187 319

Game summaries[]

Week 1 (Sunday September 5, 1993): vs. San Francisco 49ers[]

1 2 3 4 OT
49ers 10 7 0 7 24
Steelers 0 3 10 0 13



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 74 °F (Mostly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 57,502
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Stockton (play by play), Dan Fouts (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

  • San Francisco – FG Cofer 37
  • San Francisco – Rice 5 pass from Young (Cofer kick)
  • San Francisco – Rice 6 pass from Young (Cofer kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
  • Pittsburgh – Foster 5 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
  • San Francisco – B. Jones 5 pass from Young (Cofer kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 12, 1993): at Los Angeles Rams[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 0 0 0 0
Rams 0 14 3 10 27



at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 50,588
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Joe Gibbs (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

  • Los Angeles Rams – Drayton 22 pass from Everett (Zendejas kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – Gary 6 run (Zendejas kick)
  • Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 54
  • Los Angeles Rams – FG Zendejas 50
  • Los Angeles Rams – Bettis 29 run (Zendejas kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 19, 1993): vs. Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Bengals 0 7 0 0 7
Steelers 7 10 10 7 34



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring Drives:

Week 4 (Monday September 27, 1993): at Atlanta Falcons[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 7 17 7 14 45
Falcons 14 3 0 0 17



at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Scoring Drives:

Week 5 (Sunday October 3, 1993): Bye Week[]

Week 6 (Sunday October 10, 1993): vs. San Diego Chargers[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Chargers 0 3 0 0 3
Steelers 3 7 3 3 16



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 47 °F (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 55,264
  • Referee: Gary Lane
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Week 7 (Sunday October 17, 1993): vs. New Orleans Saints[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Saints 0 0 0 14 14
Steelers 14 10 6 7 37



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 65 °F (Light Rain)
  • Game attendance: 56,056
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Ryan (play by play), Matt Millen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Week 8 (Sunday October 24, 1993): at Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 14 6 3 23
Browns 0 14 7 7 28



at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Scoring Drives:

  • Cleveland – Jackson 62 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
  • Cleveland – Metcalf 91 punt return (Stover kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Foster 4 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
  • Cleveland – Wolfey 4 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
  • Cleveland – Metcalf 75 punt return (Stover kick)

Week 9 (Sunday October 31, 1993): Bye Week[]

Week 10 (Sunday November 7, 1993): at Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 14 0 10 24
Bengals 3 13 0 0 16



at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 51,202
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Drew Goodman (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

  • Cincinnati – FG Pelfrey 32
  • Cincinnati – Williams 97 interception return (kick failed)
  • Cincinnati – Query 7 pass from Schroeder (Pelfrey kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Green 71 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 9 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 23

Week 11 (Monday November 15, 1993): vs. Buffalo Bills[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Bills 0 0 0 0 0
Steelers 7 3 10 3 23



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring Drives:

Week 12 (Sunday November 21, 1993): at Denver Broncos[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 0 6 7 13
Broncos 10 10 14 3 37



at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Scoring Drives:

  • Denver – FG Elam 48
  • Denver – Delpino 1 run (Elam kick)
  • Denver – Russell fumble recovery in end zone (Elam kick)
  • Denver – FG Elam 27
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
  • Denver – Delpino 1 run (Elam kick)
  • Denver – V. Johnson 13 pass from Elway (Elam kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
  • Denver – FG Elam 28
  • Pittsburgh – Thigpen 39 pass from Tomczak (Anderson kick)

Week 13 (Sunday November 28, 1993): at Houston Oilers[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 3 0 0 3
Oilers 0 10 10 3 23



at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Scoring Drives:

  • Houston – FG Del Greco 43
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Houston – Brown 3 run (Del Greco kick)
  • Houston – Jeffires 66 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 21
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 28

Week 14 (Sunday December 5, 1993): vs. New England Patriots[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Patriots 14 0 0 0 14
Steelers 17 0 0 0 17



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 51,358
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Week 15 (Monday December 13, 1993): at Miami Dolphins[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 7 7 7 21
Dolphins 3 3 0 14 20



at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

Scoring Drives:

  • Miami – FG Stoyanovich 22
  • Pittsburgh – Thompson 3 run (Anderson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 2 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Miami – K. Jackson 3 pass from DeBerg (Stoyanovich kick)
  • Miami – McDuffie 72 punt return (Stoyanovich kick)

Week 16 (Sunday December 19, 1993): vs. Houston Oilers[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Oilers 14 6 3 3 26
Steelers 0 3 7 7 17



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Scoring Drives:

  • Houston – G. Brown 38 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
  • Houston – Orlando 38 interception return (Del Greco kick)
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 34
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 22
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 33
  • Pittsburgh – Green 36 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Houston – FG Del Greco 21
  • Pittsburgh – Hoge 5 run (Anderson kick)

Week 17 (Sunday December 26, 1993): at Seattle Seahawks[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 3 0 3 6
Seahawks 7 3 3 3 16



at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Scoring Drives:

  • Seattle – Green 2 pass from Mirer (Kasay kick)
  • Seattle – FG Kasay 32
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
  • Seattle – FG Kasay 48
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
  • Seattle – FG Kasay 35

Week 18 (Sunday January 2, 1994): vs. Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Browns 0 9 0 0 9
Steelers 0 3 3 10 16



at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 32 °F (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 49,208
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

Playoffs[]

Game summary[]

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Saturday January 8, 1994): at Kansas City Chiefs[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 7 10 0 7 24
Chiefs 7 0 3 14 27



at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Cooper 10 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Kansas City – Birden 23 pass from Krieg (Lowery kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
  • Pittsburgh – Mills 26 pass form O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 23
  • Kansas City – Allen 2 run (Lowery kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Green 22 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
  • Kansas City – Barnett 7 pass from Montana (Lowery kick)
  • Kansas City – FG Lowery 32

Notes[]

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Cincinnati Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City NY Giants Detroit LA Rams
Miami Houston LA Raiders Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans
New England Pittsburgh San Diego Phoenix Minnesota San Francisco
NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1993 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXVIII