2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season

"at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 70°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 64,922
* Referee: Jeff Triplette
* TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Nantz (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

The Steelers went back home for an AFC North fight against the Cincinnati Bengals. In the first quarter, running back Willie Parker scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. However, on the very first play of the second quarter, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw an interception and Cincinnati was able to score shortly after with quarterback Carson Palmer completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Henry. On Cincinnati's next drive, the Bengals scored on a three yard touchdown pass to Henry. In the third quarter, the Steelers rallied a comeback, as kicker Jeff Reed kicked a 37-yard field goal. Shortly after, Parker scored on a one yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 17-14 lead. Pittsburgh's lead deteriorated as Ricardo Colclough muffed a punt, allowing the Bengals to recover. Carson Palmer then helped put Cincinnati ahead on 9-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Cincinnati was able to increase their lead when Pittsburgh's running back, Verron Haynes lost a fumble, allowing Palmer to complete a 30 yard touchdown pass to Houshmandzadeh on the next drive. Reed would help Pittsburgh out with a 36-yard field goal. On the very last drive, the Steelers tried to fight back and tie the game, but the game ended as Roethlisberger was intercepted by DB Kevin Kaesviharn, eliminating any hope of a comeback. The Steelers would head into their Week 4 Bye Week at 1-2. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20060924_CIN@PIT Stats]

Week 4 (Sunday October 1, 2006): Bye Week

Week 5 (Sunday October 8, 2006): at San Diego Chargers

"at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 71,151
* Referee: Ron Winter
* TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Nantz (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Hoping to build on their dominating win over the Chiefs, the Steelers flew to the Georgia Dome to face the Atlanta Falcons. In the first quarter, a Santonio Holmes fumble on a punt return helped set up quarterback Michael Vick's 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Alge Crumpler. Afterwards, the Steelers took the lead with a 28-yard field goal by Jeff Reed and QB Ben Roethlisberger completing an 11-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Hines Ward. In the second quarter, Roethlisberger completed a one yard touchdown pass to Heath Miller. A fumble by Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lead to a second Vick touchdown pass to Crumpler. Then, a surprise onside kick recovered by the Falcons lead to Vick completing a 17-yard TD pass to receiver Michael Jenkins. The Steelers would respond with Roethlisberger completing a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Nate Washington. In the third quarter, things became grim for Pittsburgh. First, Roethlisberger was injured on a pass to Miller, which caused him to leave the game with a concussion. Second, Atlanta would retake the lead with running back Warrick Dunn completing a one yard touchdown run, which was started from a fumble by Willie Parker. The Steelers would respond as quarterback Charlie Batch completed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Ward. However, the Falcons would retake the lead with Vick and Crumpler hooking up with each other for a third touchdown pass, this time for 31 yards. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta kicker Morten Andersen nailed a 25-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 7-point lead. Pittsburgh would resond with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Ward, his third touchdown. Near the end of regulation, things got complicated for Atlanta on a field goal attempt. Kicker Michael Koenen nailed a 56-yard field goal, but it got negated due to a late Steelers time-out. Koenan would rekick it. It was no good, yet safety Troy Polamalu was called for running into the kicker. The Falcons would bring in kicker Andersen to make a 52-yard field goal, yet it came up short. On the following drive, the Steelers could not score after a controversial false start call with the Steelers in field goal range prompted a 10-second runoff, which ended regulation. In overtime the Falcons won the coin toss. Falcons kicker Morten Andersen, after a 11 play 65 yard drive, won the game with a 32-yard field goal and gave the Steelers their fourth loss of the season. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061022_PIT@ATL Stats]

Week 8 (Sunday October 29, 2006): at Oakland Raiders

"at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 4:15 PM EST
* Game weather: 39°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 61,911
* Referee: Bill Carollo
* TV announcers: (FOX) Joe Buck (play by play), Troy Aikman (color commentator), Pam Oliver (sideline reporter)

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the New Orleans Saints on Sunday in a shoot out. Pittsburgh jumped to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Hines Ward caught a touchdown pass and when the Steelers capitalized on a Saints turnover with another touchdown pass to Heath Miller. Unfortunately for the Steelers, the Saints came marching back and took the lead with Reggie Bush's rush TD on the double reverse and pulled further ahead with a Deuce McAllister 4-yd TD run near the end of the half. A Reggie Bush fumble, a missed field goal, and Willie Parker's two 70+ yard runs set up two scores, which allowed the Steelers to come back and take the lead to win. The Steelers went to 3-6 with the win while the Saints fell to 6-3. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061112_NO@PIT Stats]

Week 11 (Sunday November 19, 2006): at Cleveland Browns

"at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 4:05 PM EST
* Game weather: 40°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 59,843
* Referee: Terry McAulay
* TV announcers: (FOX) Ron Pitts (play by play), Jesse Palmer (color commentator)

Following a humiliating road loss to the Ravens, the Steelers went home for a Week 13 fight with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were visiting Pittsburgh for the first time since 1983. In the first quarter, the Steelers drew first blood with QB Ben Roethlisberger's 2-yard TD pass to TE Jerame Tuman for the only score of the quarter. In the second quarter, Pittsburgh increased its lead with kicker Jeff Reed's 50-yard field goal for the only score of the quarter. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers continued its dominance in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger would complete a 16-yard TD pass to TE Heath Miller, while Reed nailed a 39-yard field goal. The only response from the Bucs would be on the final play of the game, when kicker Matt Bryant spolied Pittsburgh's chance for a shutout with a 27-yard field goal. The win improved the Steeler's record to 5-7. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061203_TB@PIT Stats]

Week 14 (Thursday December 7, 2006): vs. Cleveland Browns

"at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 42°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 63,224
* Referee: Larry Nemmers
* TV announcers: (CBS) Kevin Harlan (play by play), Rich Gannon (color commentator)

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Steelers on December 24, 2006, therefore eliminating the Steelers from playoff contention, and ending their defense of their Super Bowl championship. The Steelers are the first Super Bowl champion since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003 to not reach the playoffs the following season. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061224_BAL@PIT Stats]

Week 17 (Sunday December 31, 2006): at Cincinnati Bengals

"at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 54°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 66,049
* Referee: Bill Carollo
* TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Hoping to end their season on a high note, the Steelers flew to Paul Brown Stadium for an AFC North rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals. After a scoreless first quarter, Pittsburgh drew first blood in the second quarter with RB Willie Parker getting a 1-yard TD run. Afterwards, the Bengals would manage to salvage a 34-yard field goal by kicker Shayne Graham. After a scoreless third quarter, Cincinnati took the lead by getting a Willie Parker fumble and ending it with QB Carson Palmer completing a 66-yard TD pass to WR Chris Henry. Fortunately, Parker managed to make amends with another 1-yard TD run. However, the Bengals went back into the lead with Palmer completing a 5-yard TD pass to TE Tony Stewart. The Steelers would manage to tie the game late in the game with kicker Jeff Reed nailing a 35-yard field goal. Cincinnati quickly managed to get into field goal range, yet fortunately, Graham's 39-yard field goal went wide right. In overtime, Pittsburgh took full advantage and won with QB Ben Roethlisberger's 67-yard TD pass to rookie WR Santonio Holmes. With the win, not only did the Steelers end their season at 8-8, but they also wiped out any hope that the Bengals had of reaching the playoffs. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/gamebook/NFL_20061231_PIT@CIN Stats]

Division standings

References