2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach	Bill Cowher
Home Field	Heinz Field
Results
Record	6–10
Place	3rd in AFC North
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	3 G Alan Faneca NT Casey Hampton WR Hines Ward
Team MVP	Hines Ward
Team ROY	Troy Polamalu
Timeline
Previous season	Next season
2002	2004

The 2003 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 10–5–1 record from 2002 in which they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

With the team suffering through injuries as well as less reliance on the running game than normal, the Steelers stumbled to a 6–10 record, going the entire season without winning consecutive games. As of 2010, it is the team's only losing season since moving to Heinz Field. The team's 6–10 finish matched their worst under Bill Cowher (1999).

Personnel

Staff

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers staff
Front Office Chairman – Dan Rooney President – Art Rooney II Vice President – John R. McGinley Vice President – Art Rooney, Jr. Administration Advisor – Chuck Noll Director of Football Operations – Kevin Colbert College Scouting Coordinator – Ron Hughes Pro Scouting Coordinator – Doug Whaley Head Coaches Head Coach – Bill Cowher Offensive Coaches Offensive Coordinator – Mike Mularkey Quarterbacks – Tom Clements Running Backs – Dick Hoak Wide Receivers – Kenny Jackson Tight Ends – Ken Whisenhunt Offensive Line – Russ Grimm Offensive Assistant – Mike Miller			Defensive Coaches Defensive Coordinator – Tim Lewis Defensive Line – John Mitchell Linebackers – Keith Butler Defensive Backs – Willy Robinson Assistant Defensive Backs – Darren Perry Defensive Assistant – Lou Spanos Special Teams Coaches Special Teams – Kevin Spencer Strength and Conditioning Conditioning – Chet Fuhrman

Monday Night Controversy

The team did gain some notoriety during the season. The NFL tried to make it easier on teams after playing a Monday night game by giving every team that was away for a Monday night game either a home game or their bye week the following week. The Steelers were the only team that season to play on the road following a Monday night road game, playing the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on November 17 before traveling to Cleveland the following week to play against the rival Cleveland Browns on November 23.

While Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was livid at the team playing a road game after a Monday night road game, team president Dan Rooney mentioned that the league putting the Steelers in Cleveland—only 112 miles from Pittsburgh—after flying to the West Coast was somewhat as a compromise to the team.

The Steelers got mixed results from the back-to-back road games on a short week, losing to the 49ers 30–14 in the game the 49ers retired Ronnie Lott's number 42 during halftime, but defeating the Browns 13–6, the latter being the first of the team's twelve-game winning streak against their bitter rivals, which ended in a 2009 game in Cleveland.

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	TV	Result
1	Sunday September 7	Baltimore Ravens	1:00 pm	CBS	W 34–15
2	Sunday September 14	at Kansas City Chiefs	1:00 pm	CBS	L 41–20
3	Sunday September 21	at Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 pm	CBS	W 17–10
4	Sunday September 28	Tennessee Titans	1:00 pm	CBS	L 30–13
5	Sunday October 5	Cleveland Browns	8:30 pm	ESPN	L 33–13
6	Sunday October 12	at Denver Broncos	4:15 pm	CBS	L 17–14
7	Sunday October 19	Bye
8	Sunday October 26	St. Louis Rams	1:00 pm	FOX	L 33–21
9	Sunday November 2	at Seattle Seahawks	4:05 pm	CBS	L 23–16
10	Sunday November 9	Arizona Cardinals	1:00 pm	FOX	W 28–15
11	Monday November 17	at San Francisco 49ers	9:00 pm	ABC	L 30–14
12	Sunday November 23	at Cleveland Browns	1:00 pm	CBS	W 13–6
13	Sunday November 30	Cincinnati Bengals	1:00 pm	CBS	L 24–20
14	Sunday December 7	Oakland Raiders	1:00 pm	CBS	W 27–7
15	Sunday December 14	at New York Jets	1:00 pm	CBS	L 6–0
16	Sunday December 21	San Diego Chargers	4:05 pm	CBS	W 40–24
17	Sunday December 28	at Baltimore Ravens	8:30 pm	ESPN	L 13–10 (OT)

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 7, 2003): vs. Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	OT
Ravens	0	0	7	8	15
Steelers	6	7	14	7	34

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 73 °F (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 63,157
• Referee: Ron Winter
• TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 2 (Sunday September 14, 2003): at Kansas City Chiefs

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	17	3	0	0	20
Chiefs	7	20	7	7	41

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 78,416
• Referee: Larry Nemmers
• TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Week 3 (Sunday September 21, 2003): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	7	7	3	17
Bengals	0	0	3	7	10

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 64,596
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 4 (Sunday September 28, 2003): vs. Tennessee Titans

	1	2	3	4	OT
Titans	0	16	7	7	30
Steelers	3	10	0	0	13

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather: 55 °F (Light Rain)
• Game attendance: 63,244
• Referee: Walt Anderson
• TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 5 (Sunday October 5, 2003): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Browns	10	13	7	3	33
Steelers	0	10	3	0	13

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
• Game weather: 50 °F (Partly Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 64,595
• Referee: Gerald Austin
• TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)

Week 6 (Sunday October 12, 2003): at Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	3	3	0	8	14
Broncos	0	7	0	10	17

at Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 4:15 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 75,974
• Referee: Mike Carey
• TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Week 8 (Sunday October 26, 2003): vs. St. Louis Rams

	1	2	3	4	OT
Rams	7	10	10	6	33
Steelers	7	7	7	0	21

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 59 °F (Light Rain)
• Game attendance: 62,665
• Referee: Johnny Grier
• TV announcers: (FOX) Sam Rosen (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)

This was the 1,000 game in Steelers history.

Week 9 (Sunday November 2, 2003): at Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	3	3	10	16
Seahawks	3	3	3	14	23

at Seahawks Stadium, Seattle, Washington

• Game time: 4:05 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 66,507
• Referee: Bill Leavy
• TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 10 (Sunday November 9, 2003): vs. Arizona Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Cardinals	0	3	6	6	15
Steelers	0	7	21	0	28

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 38 °F (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 59,520
• Referee: Jeff Triplette
• TV announcers: (FOX) Ron Pitts (play by play), Tim Ryan (color commentator)

Week 11 (Monday November 17, 2003): at San Francisco 49ers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	0	7	7	14
49ers	7	3	14	6	30

at San Francisco Stadium, San Francisco, California

• Game time: 9:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 67,877
• Referee: Ed Hochuli
• TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), John Madden (color commentator), Lisa Guerrero (sideline reporter)

Week 12 (Sunday November 23, 2003): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	10	0	3	13
Browns	3	3	0	0	6

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 73,658
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 13 (Sunday November 30, 2003): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bengals	7	7	0	10	24
Steelers	0	3	7	10	20

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 43 °F (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 58,797
• Referee: Bernie Kukar
• TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Steve Tasker (color commentator)

Week 14 (Sunday December 7, 2003): vs. Oakland Raiders

	1	2	3	4	OT
Raiders	7	0	0	0	7
Steelers	0	17	7	3	27

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 30 °F (Mostly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 53,079
• Referee: Johnny Grier
• TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 15 (Sunday December 14, 2003): at New York Jets

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Jets	3	3	0	0	6

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 77,900
• Referee: Terry McAulay
• TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 16 (Sunday December 21, 2003): vs. San Diego Chargers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Chargers	0	10	7	7	24
Steelers	14	7	7	12	40

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:05 pm EST
• Game weather: 38 °F (Partly Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 52,527
• Referee: Bill Carollo
• TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Steve Tasker (color commentator)

Week 17 (Sunday December 28, 2003): at Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	0	10	0	10
Ravens	7	0	0	3	13

at Ravens Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 8:30 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 70,001
• Referee: Walt Anderson
• TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)

Roster

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks 16 Charlie Batch 8 Tommy Maddox 2 Brian St. Pierre Running Backs 36 Jerome Bettis 22 Dee Brown 34 Verron Haynes 35 Dan Kreider FB 21 Amos Zereoue Wide Receivers 80 Plaxico Burress 82 Antwaan Randle El 83 Chris Doering 89 Lee Mays 86 Hines Ward Tight Ends 87 Mark Bruener 48 Matt Cushing 85 Jay Riemersma 84 Jerame Tuman		Offensive Linemen 66 Alan Faneca G/T 71 Todd Fordham T 64 Jeff Hartings C/G 78 Mathias Nkwenti T 56 Chukky Okobi C/G 73 Kendall Simmons G 77 Marvel Smith T 79 Oliver Ross G/T 68 Keydrick Vincent G Defensive Linemen 94 Rodney Bailey DE 96 Kendrick Clancy DT 98 Casey Hampton NT/DT 76 Chris Hoke DT 99 Brett Kiesel DE 67 Kimo von Oelhoffen DE 91 Aaron Smith DE		Linebackers 97 Kendrell Bell ILB 51 James Farrior ILB 50 Larry Foote ILB 92 Jason Gildon OLB 53 Clark Haggans OLB 95 Alonzo Jackson OLB 57 Clint Kriewaldt ILB 55 Joey Porter OLB Defensive Backs 27 Brent Alexander FS 28 Chris Hope FS 29 Chidi Iwuoma CB 31 Mike Logan SS 43 Troy Polamalu SS 30 Chad Scott CB 33 Russell Stuvaints SS 24 Ike Taylor CB 26 Deshea Townsend CB 20 Dewayne Washington CB Special Teams  3 Jeff Reed K  4 Josh Miller P 54 Mike Schneck LS

Standings

AFC North
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Baltimore Ravens	10	6	0	.625	4–2	7–5	391	281	W2
Cincinnati Bengals	8	8	0	.500	3–3	6–6	346	384	L2
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	10	0	.375	3–3	5–7	300	327	L1
Cleveland Browns	5	11	0	.313	2–4	3–9	254	322	W1