The2005Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 73rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of theNational Football League (NFL). It was the 6th season under the leadership of general managerKevin Colbert and the 14th underhead coachBill Cowher. The Steelers failed to improve upon their 15–1 record from2004 and in 2005, the Steelers struggled. At one point, they were 7–5 and in danger of missing the playoffs but rose to defeat theChicago Bears on December 11 and started a four-game win streak to finish the season at 11–5.

The Steelers qualified for the playoffs as awild-card team as the #6 seed and became just the second team ever (and the firstin 20 years) to win three playoff games on the road after they beat the #3 seedCincinnati Bengals (11–5),^[1] the top-seededIndianapolis Colts (14–2),^[2] and the #2 seedDenver Broncos (13–3) to become theAmerican Football Conference representative inSuper Bowl XL.^[3][4] They defeated theNFC championSeattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL to secure their league-tying fifth Super Bowl title.^[5][6] In doing so, they also became the only team at the time since the1970AFL-NFL merger to win a Super Bowl without playing a single home playoff game; though the New York Giants would repeat the feattwo years later.^[7]

Notable additions include Heath Miller and Nate Washington.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C) (Mostly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 62,931
• Referee:Gerald Austin
• TV announcers: (CBS)Kevin Harlan (play by play),Randy Cross (color commentator)

Ben Roethlisberger became the NFL's first quarterback sinceTrent Green in 2003 to post a perfect (158.3)passer rating, and college backupWillie Parker put up 161 rushing yards and a touchdown in a dazzling NFL debut.

atReliant Stadium,Houston, Texas

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 95 °F (35 °C) (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 70,742
• Referee:Bill Vinovich
• TV announcers: (CBS)Don Criqui (play by play),Steve Tasker (color commentator)

Pittsburghstrong safetyTroy Polamalu led a defensive onslaught with a career-high three of the Steelers' eight sacks, andWillie Parker followed up his outstanding NFL debut with 111 rushing yards and a touchdown on 25 carries as the Steelers hammered theTexans.

As the game took place on a hot, humid day, the Texans left the roof of Reliant Stadium open in the hopes that the Steelers' performance would be hampered by their black jerseys. However, the tactic failed and Houston fans were angered by having to sit in sweltering conditions and watch their team lose.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:15 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) (Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 64,868
• Referee:Bill Carollo
• TV announcers: (CBS)Jim Nantz (play by play),Phil Simms (color commentator),Bonnie Bernstein (sideline reporter)

New England quarterbackTom Brady led a five-play, 37-yard drive toAdam Vinatieri's game-winning 43-yard field goal with :01 remaining. The drive counteredHines Ward's 4-yard scoring catch that tied the score at 20–20, but left 1:25 for Brady to march the Patriot offense. On the day, Brady completed 31 of 41 passes for 372 yards, with an interception.

atQualcomm Stadium,San Diego, California

• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 68,537
• Referee:Jeff Triplette
• TV announcers: (ABC)Al Michaels (play by play),John Madden (color commentator),Sam Ryan (sideline reporter)

The Steelers returned to Monday night football for the first time since 2003 after being exiled for a year due to the 6–10 record.Jeff Reed booted a 40-yard field goal with :06 remaining to lift the Steelers to a win, but a play late in the game caused star quarterbackBen Roethlisberger to leave with a hyperextended knee and left his availability for the following week in doubt. The hit came from Charger rookie defensive linemanLuis Castillo and forced Roethlisberger to the sideline, and backupCharlie Batch merely handed off toJerome Bettis three times to set up Reed's kick.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 63,891
• Referee:Terry McAulay
• TV announcers: (CBS)Dick Enberg (play by play),Dan Dierdorf (color commentator),Armen Keteyian (sideline reporter)

Tommy Maddox capped a poor performance by throwing an overtime pass into a crowd of Jaguar defenders, andRashean Mathis made him pay dearly, intercepting the pass and returning it 41 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Subbing for an injuredBen Roethlisberger (hyperextended knee), Maddox completed just 11 of 28 passes for 154 yards, with a touchdown and three interceptions.

atPaul Brown Stadium,Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 66,104
• Referee:Tony Corrente
• TV announcers: (CBS)Kevin Harlan (play by play),Randy Cross (color commentator)

Pittsburgh regrouped following a sloppy first quarter to take an easy win in Cincinnati. After allowing two marches into the Steeler red zone, the defense tightened and gave up only two field goals, then coasted on the heels of twoBen Roethlisberger touchdown strikes and 131 rushing yards fromWillie Parker.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C) (Partly Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 64,187
• Referee:Pete Morelli
• TV announcers: (ABC)Al Michaels (play by play),John Madden (color commentator),Sam Ryan (sideline reporter)

Underachieving against a Ravens team missing defensive standoutsRay Lewis andEd Reed, the Steelers regrouped on the heels of a late 60-yard drive that set upJeff Reed's game-winning 37-yard field goal with 1:36 remaining.Ben Roethlisberger completed 18 of 30 passes for 177 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.

atLambeau Field,Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Game time: 4:15 p.m. EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 70,607
• Referee:Ed Hochuli
• TV announcers: (CBS)Jim Nantz (play by play),Phil Simms (color commentator),Bonnie Bernstein (sideline reporter)

WithCharlie Batch starting at quarterback for an injuredBen Roethlisberger (knee), the Steelers capitalized on Packer mistakes – three turnovers – and won despite a lackluster offensive showing. The game's highlight came fromTroy Polamalu, whose sack ofBrett Favre forced a fumble that Polamalu himself scooped up and returned 77 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 8:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C) (Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 63,491
• Referee:Larry Nemmers
• TV announcers: (ESPN)Mike Patrick (play by play),Joe Theismann andPaul Maguire (color commentators),Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)

The Steelers handled the division-rival Browns despite another serious quarterback injury. BackupCharlie Batch, subbing forBen Roethlisberger, broke his hand late in the first half and exited. Beleaguered third-stringerTommy Maddox inherited a 17–7 third-quarter lead and, despite some miscues, cruised to the win. Wide receiver (and college quarterback)Antwaan Randle El completed a 51-yard scoring pass toHines Ward in the third, making Ward the team's all-time receptions leader (passingHall of Fame wideoutJohn Stallworth).

atM&T Bank Stadium,Baltimore, Maryland

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 70,601
• Referee:Ron Winter
• TV announcers: (CBS)Ian Eagle (play by play),Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

An anemic offensive showing led to a surprising Steeler defeat at the hands of theRay Lewis-less Ravens. Third-team quarterbackTommy Maddox got the starting nod and completed 19 of 36 passes for 230 yards, with a touchdown and an interception (a bizarre play that caromed off of wideoutHines Ward's swinging foot and was snatched byTerrell Suggs), but the Steelers' inability to handle the Raven pass rush was a serious blow. Maddox was sacked six times and under nearly constant duress.Matt Stover won the game on a 44-yard field goal in overtime.

atRCA Dome,Indianapolis, Indiana

• Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 57,442
• Referee:Bill Leavy
• TV announcers: (ABC)Al Michaels (play by play),John Madden (color commentator),Sam Ryan (sideline reporter)

The banged-up Steelers were simply no match for the undefeated Colts on Monday Night. Indianapolis' first offensive play proved a harbinger for the Steelers, withMarvin Harrison scorching Pittsburgh cornerbackIke Taylor on an 80-yard touchdown strike and a 7–0 advantage.Ben Roethlisberger's return from a two-game absence (knee injury) was a shaky one; his first interception potentially caused a six-point swing, snuffing out a Steeler drive late in the first half and setting up the Colts to kick a field goal, taking a 16–7 lead into the break. Roethlisberger's struggles were heightened when injured left tackleMarvel Smith grew less and less able to deal with All-Pro Colt pass rusherDwight Freeney & Co., and eventually left with an ankle injury.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C) (Flurries)
• Game attendance: 63,044
• Referee:Bernie Kukar
• TV announcers: (CBS)Dick Enberg (play by play),Dan Dierdorf (color commentator),Armen Keteyian (sideline reporter)

Ben Roethlisberger put up the most prolific numbers of his young career in his return from a knee injury, but he was ultimately out dueled byCarson Palmer. Roethlisberger outpassed his counterpart 386–227 and each threw three touchdowns, but his three interceptions were backbreakers. Ultimately, the Bengals simply made too many big plays, including a 94-yard kickoff return byTab Perry, for the Steelers to keep pace.

In a snowy atmosphere, the Steelers snapped their three-game losing streak by ending the Bears' eight-game winning run.Jerome Bettis churned through the snow and mud for a season-high 101 rushing yards, scoring twice in the physical win.

atHubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 64,136
• Referee:Ed Hochuli
• TV announcers: (CBS)Kevin Harlan (play by play),Randy Cross (color commentator)

Desperately trying to keep pace in the AFC playoff picture, the Steelers again dominated an NFC North opponent and again snapped a winning streak. The Vikings had won six straight games, but were pounded up and down the field in losing to Pittsburgh. The Steelers forced three Minnesota turnovers and added a safety in the victory.

atCleveland Browns Stadium,Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C) (Cloudy)
• Game attendance: 73,136
• Referee:Bill Carollo
• TV announcers: (CBS)Gus Johnson (play by play),Steve Tasker (color commentator)

The Steelers turned a nearly flawless performance into a dominating win in Cleveland. The Browns were sacked eight times and were never really in the game.Willie Parker's 80-yard touchdown scamper in the third quarter broke the game open at 27–0.Ben Roethlisberger completed 13 of 20 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown before giving way toCharlie Batch with the game well in hand.

atHeinz Field,Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 63,794
• Referee:Walt Coleman
• TV announcers: (FOX)Ron Pitts (play by play),Tim Ryan (color commentator)

Mere weeks after being all but counted out in an extremely tight AFC playoff race, the Steelers clinched a Wild Card berth, trading punches with lowly Detroit and coming out on top. Unexpectedly, the 5–10 Lions leapt to a 14–7 first-quarter lead on twoJoey Harrington touchdown passes, butJerome Bettis tied the game later in the period with the first of his three touchdown runs in his final game in Pittsburgh. Bettis andWillie Parker combined for 176 rushing yards as the Steelers closed out their regular season.

Carson Palmer was injured early on in a tackle byKimo von Oelhoffen

The Steelers became the first No. 6 playoff seed (since the league expanded to a 12-team playoff format in 1990) to defeat a No. 1 seed, and also the first No. 6 seed to reach a conference championship game.

Roethlisberger's game-saving tackle on Harper would later be known as"The Immaculate Redemption" or just"The Tackle".

atInvesco Field at Mile High,Denver, Colorado

• Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
• Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) (Partly Sunny)
• Game attendance: 76,775
• Referee:Terry McAulay
• TV announcers: (CBS)Jim Nantz (play by play),Phil Simms (color commentator),Bonnie Bernstein andArmen Keteyian (sideline reporters)

atFord Field,Detroit,Michigan

• Game time: 6:30 p.m. EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 68,206
• Referee:Bill Leavy
• TV announcers: (ABC)Al Michaels (play by play),John Madden (color commentator),Michele Tafoya andSuzy Kolber (sideline reporters)

The Pittsburgh Steelers became the fourth wild card team to win the Super Bowl, and the first to have done so while winning three playoff games on the road. Hines Ward was the Super Bowl MVP, recording 5 catches for 143 yards and a touchdown.

See:2006 Pro Bowl

• No. 43Troy Polamalu- Strong safety
• No. 55Joey Porter- Outside linebacker
• No. 64Jeff Hartings- Center
• No. 66Alan Faneca- Offensive guard
• No. 98Casey Hampton- Nose tackle

• 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season at Pro Football Reference
• 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season statistics at jt-sw.com

• 2005 NFL season by team
• Pittsburgh Steelers seasons
• American Football Conference championship seasons
• Super Bowl champion seasons
• 2005 in sports in Pennsylvania

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