ThePatriots–Steelers rivalry is aNational Football League (NFL)rivalry between theNew England Patriots and thePittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots and Steelers are the two most storied franchises in the Super Bowl era, the Patriots and Steelers have played each other intermittently since the 1970s, but the two teams did not become full-fledged rivals until the late 1990s, when they became Super Bowl contenders.[2][3][4] The rivalry would reach new heights during the 2000s and 2010s when both teams, led by quarterbacksTom Brady andBen Roethlisberger for the Patriots and Steelers respectively, posted winning seasons and several playoff appearances during this time period with both teams making it to the Super Bowl and taking home more than one Vince Lombardi Trophy.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The two met each other in three AFC championship games during the 2000s and 2010s in which the Patriots defeated the Steelers each time and eventually made their way to the Super Bowl, winning a title in each appearance.[13][14][15]Despite the Patriots' dominant reign over the NFL from 2001 to 2019, the Steelers would still prove themselves to be a consistent playoff contender during that time period with three Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl victories. However, the Steelers would be more successful in the postseason during the 2000s than in the 2010s.[16][17][2][18][19][20][21][22][23] In 2020,CBS Sports ranked the Patriots–Steelers rivalry as the 8th best NFL rivalry of the 2000s.[24]
Because they play in different intraconference divisions, the Patriots in theAFC East and the Steelers in theAFC North, they do not play each other every season. Instead, based on the NFL's scheduling formula, the two teams play each other at least once every three seasons and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium when their divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if the two teams meet in the playoffs or they finish in the same place in their respective divisions.[25][26][27]
History
The Steelers initially dominated the rivalry, winning 10 of its first 13 meetings with the Patriots. But in the1996 AFC Divisional Round, the Patriots routed the Steelers 28–3 atFoxboro Stadium, ending Pittsburgh's five-game winning streak against New England. It also began a stretch where the Patriots won 14 of the next 20 meetings with the Steelers, including four of five postseason matchups. The Patriots would go on to reach and then loseSuper Bowl XXXI against theGreen Bay Packers.[28][29][30] The following year, also in thedivisional round, the Steelers exacted revenge atThree Rivers Stadium, winning by a 7–6 score to reach their third AFC championship game in four years. This was also the only playoff meeting in which the winner did not eventually advance to the Super Bowl, as the Steelers lost to the eventual championDenver Broncos in theAFC championship game.[29][30] Earlier that season, the Steelers overcame a 14–0 deficit to beat the Patriots on the road 24–21 in overtime. In that game, quarterbackKordell Stewart managed a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter culminating in a touchdown toMark Bruener and a two-point conversion toYancey Thigpen. In overtime, placekickerNorm Johnson won the game with a 31-yard field goal. The win gave the Steelers a first-round bye and ensured a home game in the divisional round.[31]
In the2001 season, the Steelers finished with the top seed in the AFC at 13–3. Meanwhile, the Patriots overcame an early-season injury toDrew Bledsoe, and led by then-second year quarterbackTom Brady and coached byBill Belichick, rallied to finish second at 11–5. The two teams met in theAFC championship game atHeinz Field, and with Bledsoe replacing Brady due to injury, the Patriots upset the Steelers 24–17 and went on to win theirfirst Super Bowl.[29][30]
The2004 season saw the emergence ofBen Roethlisberger as the Steelers' starting quarterback. En route to a 15–1 season, Roethlisberger and the Steelers ended the Patriots' record 21-game winning streak on October 31, taking home a 34–20 victory. The Steelers entered theAFC championship game having won all 15 games Roethlisberger started in his rookie season. However, the streak ended at home as New England defeated Pittsburgh 41–27 en route to winning theirthird Super Bowl championship. The defeat also prevented the Steelers from facing theirin-state rivalPhiladelphia Eagles, who had clinched theNFC championship.[29][30]
The Patriots and Steelers would not meet in the postseason again until2016. Between those playoff meetings, the Steelers made three Super Bowl appearances and won two (Super Bowl XL andXLIII), while the Patriots also made three Super Bowls but won only once (Super Bowl XLIX). Facing each other atGillette Stadium in theAFC championship game, the Patriots again routed the Steelers 36–17 and went on to win theirfifth Super Bowl.[30][32] In 2018, the Steelers would upset the Patriots 17-10 fueled by 142 rushing performance by rookieJaylen Samuels.[33] Soon after, New England would recover from the loss en route to asixth Super Bowl title, tying the Steelers with the most Super Bowl championships.
In 2025, the Steelers defeated the Patriots 21-14, led by a defensive performance that included five turnovers. This game marked quarterbackDrake Maye, the Patriots' first start in the rivalry.[34]
Season–by–season results
New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Season-by-Season Results[1]
AFC Divisional Round. First postseason meeting in the series. Patriots host first playoff game since1978. Largest margin of victory in a playoff game in the series. This was the only Patriots' home victory over the Steelers prior to the Tom Brady era. Patriots loseSuper Bowl XXXI.
AFC Divisional Round.Kordell Stewart's 40-yard touchdown run in the first quarter proved to be the winning score. Most recent NFL playoff game in which neither team scored at least 10 points.
AFC Championship Game. First meeting at Heinz Field. First start in the series forTom Brady. Later replaced byDrew Bledsoe due to injury. Patriots winSuper Bowl XXXVI.
Patriots take first lead in the series. In the closing seconds,Jesse James of the Steelers appeared to have scored a go-ahead touchdown that would have clinched the AFC's #1 seed, but after review, the call was overturned ruling that Jesse James didn't maintain control of the ball. Two plays later,Duron Harmon's interception ofBen Roethlisberger sealed the win for the Patriots, who would instead finish as the AFC's #1 seed. Patriots loseSuper Bowl LII.
