The Pittsburgh Steelers have experienced varying levels of success since their last trip to the Super Bowl in 2010. Not much has gone Pittsburgh's way over the past decade and we are going to focus in on three plays that have defined the franchise in the last 10 years. There are many plays and decisions that have changed the course of a season for the black and gold, but the following two plays stick out as moments that could have significantly changed the trajectory of the Steelers season and franchise.
Jesse James Overturned Touchdown Call
This was quite possibly the biggest play that ultimately costs Pittsburgh a chance to play in a Super Bowl during the 2017 season. For those who were living under a rock in 2017, the Steelers were driving down the field against the New England Patriots during a game in December at Heinz Field. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a pass to tight end, Jesse James that was clearly a catch and called one on the field. Upon further review however, the referees overturned the call stating James did not maintain possession after contacting the ground which he clearly did. Roethlisberger ended up throwing an interception two plays later and the Steelers ultimately lost to the Patriots, 27-24.
This game would end up being the defining game that allowed the Patriots to obtain home field advantage and the #1 seed in the playoffs. The Steelers ended up matching up against a Jacksonville Jaguars team that had already beaten them earlier on in the season and marched into Heinz Field and knocked off the 2nd seeded Steelers. The Jaguars ultimately lost in the AFC Championship game to the aforementioned Patriots. However, it's hard to argue history would not have been drastically different had the referees not blown the James call and the Steelers ended up having the #1 overall seed in the playoffs.
Antonio Brown Concussion in 2016 Wild Card Round versus Bengals
Steelers' Antonio Brown takes vicious hit from Bengals linebacker, Vontaze Burfict. (PC: ESPN)
The Steelers have had their share of memorable games against the Cincinnati Bengals, but this game and more specifically this play, may be at the top. The Steelers were clearly a force to be reckoned with going into the 2015-2016 playoffs. They had won 4 of their last 5 games going into January and Brown had his best season to date finishing second in Offensive Player of the Year voting. Bengals linebacker, Vontaze Burfict decided to end Brown's season early in the Wild Card game on a dirty hit that perhaps changed the entire course of Brown's career.
Brown would be knocked out cold by Burfict and miss the remainder of the game. The Steelers would hold on for an 18-16 victory, but would lose in the divisional round to the Denver Broncos the following week without Brown. Had Brown been able to play, it's hard to think they wouldn't have won. Their receiving corps were extremely depleted without Brown and they had already beaten the Broncos a few weeks earlier where Brown had 16 catches for 189 yards and two scores. The season would have been drastically different had that Burfict hit on Brown not taken place.
As previously stated, there are multiple plays to choose from that have changed the trajectory of the franchise for the Steelers. However, it's hard to argue that the blown call against the Patriots and the injury to Brown in the 2015-2016 playoffs did not significantly change the course of the franchise. Had the call gone the Steelers way, they would have had a much easier path to a Super Bowl and had Brown not gotten injured, then the Steelers would have had much more firepower going into that game against the Broncos.
Unfortunately, both went against the black and gold and they have failed to get back to a Super Bowl since 2010. Let's hope that those circumstances go the Steelers way over the next decade and they can return back to a Super Bowl.
#SteelerNation
