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2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach Bill Cowher
Home Field Heinz Field
Results
Record 15–1
Place 1st in AFC North
Playoff Finish Lost AFC Championship Game (New England Patriots)
Pro Bowlers
Team MVP James Farrior
Team ROY Ben Roethlisberger
Timeline
Previous season Next season
2003 2005

The 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers looked to rebound after a disappointing 6–10 season the year before, which saw the team go through the entire season without winning consecutive games.

The team would more than rebound, finishing with a 15–1 record, topping the team-record 14–2 record from 1978 and joining the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, and 1998 Minnesota Vikings as only the fourth team in NFL history since the league adopted a 16-game schedule in 1978 to finish with such a record. This also makes the Steelers the first AFC team to achieve a 15–1 record. Along the way, the Steelers ended the New England Patriots NFL-record 21-game winning streak in Week 8, then defeated the Philadelphia Eagles the following week to hand the NFL's last two undefeated teams their first losses in back-to-back weeks, both at home.

The season was highlighted by the surprising emergence of rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the team's top pick in that year's draft. Originally planned to sit behind veteran Tommy Maddox the entire season, plans abruptly changed when Maddox was hurt in the team's Week 2 loss in Baltimore. Surrounded by talent, "Big Ben" wouldn't disappoint, going an NFL-record 13–0 as a rookie starting QB, shattering the old NFL record (and ironically, also the team record) of 6–0 to start an NFL career set by Mike Kruczek filling in for an injured Terry Bradshaw in 1976.

The Steelers would host the AFC Championship for the fifth time in eleven years. However, for the fourth time in that same span, the Steelers would lose at home one game away from the Super Bowl, and as in 2001, lost to the Patriots in a rematch from Week 8.

Offseason[]

The Steelers went into the NFL draft with the eleventh overall pick, their highest selection since selecting Plaxico Burress eighth overall in 2000. Although the team was ready to select Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger if he were to still be available, the team was ready to select other players at "need" positions. However, with Roethlisberger still available, the team snatched him up, making him the third quarterback selected. Alongside Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and J. P. Losman, Roethlisberger was part of the "Class of 2004" quarterbacks. In addition, "Big Ben" became the first quarterback the Steelers selected with their first-round pick since they selected Mark Malone in 1980.

Free agent-wise, the Steelers would sign former Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley. Many thought this signing was the team preparing for a future without Jerome Bettis. However, Staley's injury-prone history from Philly would continue with the Steelers. On the undrafted front, the team signed North Carolina running back Willie Parker. Although Parker would play sparingly his rookie season, he would become a major component of the offense in the future. The team also signed veteran punter Chris Gardocki (releasing longtime punter Josh Miller in the process), who up to that point was best remembered by Steelers fans for flipping head coach Bill Cowher the finger twice on live TV after being leveled by Joey Porter while Gardocki was with the Cleveland Browns. (Porter would be penalized for roughing the punter.) Gardocki was fined $5,000 for the incident, and his signing by the team made him the only player to have played for Cowher and give him an expletive in public.

The most notable releases made in the offseason included releasing veteran defensive players Jason Gildon and Dewayne Washington, who both would subsequently sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and would both play against the Steelers in Week 13.

In the personnel department, the Steelers went back to the future with the return of "Mean Joe" Greene and Dick LeBeau to the organization. Greene, who along with the entire Arizona Cardinals coaching staff was fired after the dismissal of head coach Dave McGinnis, retired from coaching and returned to the Black & Gold as the "special assistant of player personnel" for the team. Meanwhile, LeBeau, who popularized the zone blitz defensive schemes as the team's defensive coordinator in the mid-1990s (commonly referred to as Blitzburgh by fans), returned to the team in that same capacity after a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills, replacing the fired Tim Lewis.

2004 would also be the final season for longtime Steelers radio color-commentator Myron Cope, who missed several games that year due to poor health. It was one of only two times in 35 years that Cope would miss time broadcasting for the Steelers, the other being the 1994 season after the death of his wife. Though Cope would later recover, he felt that it was best to retire, and did so at the end of the season.

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Kickoff (ET) TV Opponent Result Record Game site NFL Recap
1 Sunday September 12 1:00 pm CBS Oakland Raiders W 24–21 1–0 Heinz Field Recap
2 Sunday September 19 1:00 pm CBS Baltimore Ravens L 30–13 1–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
3 Sunday September 26 8:30 pm CBS Miami Dolphins W 13–3 2–1 Pro Player Stadium Recap
4 Sunday October 3 1:00 pm CBS Cincinnati Bengals W 28–17 3–1 Heinz Field Recap
5 Sunday October 10 1:00 pm CBS Cleveland Browns W 34–23 4–1 Heinz Field Recap
6 Sunday October 17 4:15 pm CBS Dallas Cowboys W 24–20 5–1 Texas Stadium Recap
7 Sunday October 24 Bye Week
8 Sunday October 31 4:15 pm CBS New England Patriots W 34–20 6–1 Heinz Field Recap
9 Sunday November 7 1:00 pm Fox Philadelphia Eagles W 27–3 7–1 Heinz Field Recap
10 Sunday November 14 1:00 pm CBS Cleveland Browns W 24–10 8–1 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap
11 Sunday November 21 1:00 pm CBS Cincinnati Bengals W 19–14 9–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
12 Sunday November 28 1:00 pm Fox Washington Redskins W 16–7 10–1 Heinz Field Recap
13 Sunday December 5 8:30 pm ESPN Jacksonville Jaguars W 17–16 11–1 Alltel Stadium Recap
14 Sunday December 12 4:05 pm CBS New York Jets W 17–6 12–1 Heinz Field Recap
15 Saturday December 18 1:30 pm CBS New York Giants W 33–30 13–1 Giants Stadium Recap
16 Sunday December 26 1:00 pm CBS Baltimore Ravens W 20–7 14–1 Heinz Field Recap
17 Sunday January 2 1:00 pm CBS Buffalo Bills W 29–24 15–1 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap

Game summaries[]

Week 1 (Sunday September 12, 2004): vs. Oakland Raiders[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Raiders 0 7 3 11 21
Steelers 7 7 7 3 24



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

With the win, the Steelers started their season 1–0 for the 2nd straight year.

Week 2 (Sunday September 19, 2004): at Baltimore Ravens[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 0 0 0 13 13
Ravens 7 6 7 10 30



at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

With the loss, the Steelers fell to 1–1 for the 2nd straight year. 0–1 in division games and 1–1 in conference games.

Week 3 (Sunday September 26, 2004): at Miami Dolphins[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 3 0 3 7 13
Dolphins 0 0 0 3 3



at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Game time: 8:30 pm EDT
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 72,225
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers: (CBS – Local to Miami & Pittsburgh (and surrounding areas)) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

The game was originally to be played at 1:00 pm, but was delayed until evening due to Hurricane Jeanne. The game was not broadcast nationally, it was only shown on local stations in the primary and secondary markets of the two teams. With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–1.

Week 4 (Sunday October 3, 2004): vs. Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Bengals 7 3 7 0 17
Steelers 7 7 0 14 28



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 58 °F (Mostly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 62,402
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

With the win the Steelers improved to 3–1. 1–1 in division games.

Week 5 (Sunday October 10, 2004): vs. Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Browns 10 3 3 7 23
Steelers 14 13 7 0 34



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 54 °F (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 63,609
  • Referee: Gerald Austin
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Steve Tasker (color commentator)

With their 2nd straight win over the Browns, the Steelers improved to 4–1.

Week 6 (Sunday October 17, 2004): at Dallas Cowboys[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 7 3 0 14 24
Cowboys 7 3 10 0 20



at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

With the win, the Steelers went on their bye week 5–1.

Week 7 (Sunday October 24, 2004): Bye Week[]

Week 8 (Sunday October 31, 2004): vs. New England Patriots[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Patriots 3 7 3 7 20
Steelers 21 3 10 0 34



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was the game that ended New England's NFL-record 21-game winning streak. Following an Adam Vinatieri field goal in the first quarter, the Steelers erupted, as Ben Roethlisberger twice hit Plaxico Burress for touchdowns and a Tom Brady interception was run back by Deshea Townsend for a touchdown and a 21–3 Steelers lead after one quarter. Brady was picked off twice and Roethlisberger made no mistakes in throwing for 196 yards and amassing a quarterback rating of 126.4. The Steelers routed the Patriots 34–20 and wound up winning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs as a result. With the win, the Steelers improved to 6–1.

Week 9 (Sunday November 7, 2004): vs. Philadelphia Eagles[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Eagles 0 3 0 0 3
Steelers 14 7 3 3 27



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Steelers for the 2nd week in a row face an undefeated team. The 7–0 Eagles. With the win, the Steelers improved to 7–1 while the Eagles dropped to 7–1.

Week 10 (Sunday November 14, 2004): at Cleveland Browns[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 7 7 0 10 24
Browns 3 0 0 7 10



at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Week 11 (Sunday November 21, 2004): at Cincinnati Bengals[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 3 7 7 2 19
Bengals 7 7 0 0 14



at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Week 12 (Sunday November 28, 2004): vs. Washington Redskins[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Redskins 0 0 7 0 7
Steelers 3 10 0 3 16



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (Partly Sunny)
  • Game attendance: 63,707
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers: (FOX) Sam Rosen (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)

Week 13 (Sunday December 5, 2004): at Jacksonville Jaguars[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 7 7 0 3 17
Jaguars 7 0 6 3 16



at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Week 14 (Sunday December 12, 2004): vs. New York Jets[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Jets 0 0 3 3 6
Steelers 3 0 0 14 17



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Week 15 (Saturday December 18, 2004): at New York Giants[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 10 10 3 10 33
Giants 14 0 10 6 30



at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Week 16 (Sunday December 26, 2004): vs. Baltimore Ravens[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Ravens 7 0 0 0 7
Steelers 7 3 7 3 20



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 26 °F (Cloudy)
  • Game attendance: 64,227
  • Referee: Jeff Triplette
  • TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Week 17 (Sunday January 2, 2005): at Buffalo Bills[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Steelers 10 6 0 13 29
Bills 7 3 7 7 24



at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Playoffs[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Kickoff (ET) TV Opponent Result Game site NFL Recap
Divisional Saturday January 15 4:30 pm CBS New York Jets W 20–17 Heinz Field Recap
Conference Sunday January 23 6:30 pm CBS New England Patriots L 41–27 Heinz Field Recap

Game Summaries[]

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 15, 2005): vs. New York Jets[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Jets 0 10 7 0 17
Steelers 10 0 0 7 20



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

After a brilliant 15–1 regular season the Steelers pulled one out of the fire in the divisional playoffs against the Jets. Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted at the Jets 14-yard line and Reggie Tongue ran back an 86-yard touchdown in the third quarter. After tying the game at 17 in the fourth the Steelers had to sweat out a Jets drive in the final minutes of regulation; they set up for a Doug Brien 37-yard field goal but the kick missed. In overtime Roethlisberger was intercepted again and another Brien field goal was set up, this one 35 yards out – but it again missed. The Steelers drove down field and Jeff Reed's 33-yard field goal ended a 20–17 Pittsburgh win.

AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 23, 2005): vs. New England Patriots[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Patriots 10 14 7 10 41
Steelers 3 0 14 10 27



at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Revenge for their Halloween loss drove the 15–2 Patriots back to Heinz Field and the conference championship. The shaky play of the Steelers against the Jets the week before was exploited by New England as Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted almost right away, then on their next possession the Steelers were stopped on downs. The Patriots raced to a 17–3 lead in the second quarter before Roethlisberger drove them down field and threw a back-breaking interception to Rodney Harrison at the Patriots 13-yard line; Harrison ran back the 87-yard touchdown and fans at Heinz began chanting for Tommy Maddox to come in to replace Roethlisberger. The Steelers managed a pair of third-quarter touchdowns (a 5-yard Jerome Bettis run and 30-yard Roethlisberger pass to Hines Ward) but these only sandwiched another Patriots score (a 25-yard run by ex-Bengal Corey Dillon) and the Steelers simply could not overcome New England's offense as the Patriots finished off Pittsburgh 41–27, the third playoff win in four career tries by the Patriots over the Steelers.

The game is also significant as the final game by the team's radio broadcaster, Myron Cope. Cope had served as the color commentator on the team's radio broadcast for 35 years. He would publicly announce his retirement five months later.[1]

Roster[]

2004 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen


Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Standings[]

AFC North
view · talk · edit W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Pittsburgh Steelers 15 1 0 .938 5-1 11-1 408 231 W14
Baltimore Ravens 9 7 0 .563 2–4 5–7 317 268 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 8 8 0 .500 2–4 4–8 374 372 W2
Cleveland Browns 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 276 390 W1

Honors and awards[]

Pro Bowl Representatives[]

See: 2005 Pro Bowl

References[]

  1. "Cope also created Terrible Towel". ESPN.com. AP. June 21, 2005. Archived from the original on November 15, 2011. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2091527. Retrieved November 15, 2011.
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