Schedule Per the
NFL's predetermined scheduling formula, the Steelers played every team in the
AFC East and
NFC South, the teams from the
AFC South and
West who finished in the same position as the Steelers in 2009 (third), and their usual
AFC North division rivals. The Steelers played a
Sunday night game on October 31 against the defending
Super Bowl champion
New Orleans Saints in a game which conflicted with game four of baseball's
World Series. This marked the first time the NFL has scheduled a Sunday night game opposite a World Series contest that is not a seventh game. The league explained that the decision of which game to show in this time slot was made with an eye toward minimizing the possibility that one of the competitors would be from the same market as a team participating in the World Series – New Orleans has no
Major League Baseball team and the
Pittsburgh Pirates were considered long shots to participate in the post-season (and indeed, they posted the worst record in Major League Baseball in 2010). There was also a feeling among the schedulers that the Steelers have a
following independent of other sports. Additionally, while the Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions, the Steelers had won
Super Bowl XLIII the season before. The game was considered for the
NFL Kickoff game, but before the Saints eventual opponent (the
Minnesota Vikings) was announced, the Steelers publicly declined the offer due to the Pirates being scheduled to play at nearby
PNC Park during Weeks 2 and 3 of the Steelers season, and the fact that the two teams prefer not to play in
Pittsburgh on the same day due to parking issues along Pittsburgh's
North Side, where both PNC Park and
Heinz Field are located. The Steelers hosted the
Atlanta Falcons in their season opener instead. The Steelers' only
Monday Night Football appearance occurred on November 8 against the
Cincinnati Bengals. Although it is generally unusual to have more than two consecutive home or away games, the Steelers schedule featured three consecutive away games (weeks 7–9)
and three consecutive home games (weeks 14–16). The team brought back their
throwback uniform for a fourth year. It was worn October 17
against the
Cleveland Browns and November 14 against the
New England Patriots. This marked the first season since the uniforms were introduced in
2007 that the Steelers did not wear their throwback uniform against the
rival Baltimore Ravens.
Note: Intra-divisional opponents are in
bold text.
Standings Game summaries Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons The Steelers began their season at home in an interconference duel with the
Atlanta Falcons. Pittsburgh delivered the opening punch in the first quarter as kicker
Jeff Reed made a 52-yard field goal. The Falcons would answer in the second quarter with kicker
Matt Bryant making a 49-yard field goal. Atlanta would take the lead in the third quarter with Bryant's 39-yard field goal, but Pittsburgh would tie the game on Reed's 36-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Steelers would regain the lead as Reed got a 34-yard field goal. However, the Falcons would respond as Bryant nailed a 23-yard field goal. In overtime, Pittsburgh made quick work of their lone possession as running back
Rashard Mendenhall got the game-ending 50-yard touchdown run. With the win, the Steelers not only began their season at 1–0, but they also picked up their eighth consecutive opening day win.
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans Hoping to maintain their winning streak, the Steelers flew to
LP Field for an AFC Duel with the Titans. The Steelers wasted no time getting the early lead when on the opening kickoff,
Mewelde Moore handed the ball off to rookie wide receiver
Antonio Brown, who returned it 89 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee would cut the lead when
Rob Bironas nailed a 21-yard field goal. Throughout the rest of the game, Pittsburgh scored steadily with kicker
Jeff Reed, who hit field goals of 36, 34, 25, and 27 yards, putting the Steelers up 19–3. The Titans finally scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter with a
Kerry Collins 2-yard pass to former Steeler
Nate Washington, and successfully converted the 2-point conversion and
onside kick necessary to give themselves the chance to tie the game on the final drive. However, Pittsburgh's defense was able to stop Chris Johnson on a reception as the clock ran out, sealing the victory. Starting quarterback
Dennis Dixon sprained his left knee during the second quarter and was replaced by
Charlie Batch, but the Steelers defense swarmed the Titans, coming up with four sacks and forcing seven turnovers, the most by Tennessee since 2000. The Titans pulled their starting QB,
Vince Young, after his third turnover. After replacing Young, Kerry Collins had two turnovers of his own. Pittsburgh also ended Tennessee running back
Chris Johnson's 100-yard rushing streak at 12 games. The NFL's rushing champion had a chance to move one game away from the league record of 14 held by Barry Sanders, but he finished with just 16 carries for 34 yards. Steelers linebacker
James Harrison had three sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another. Safety
Troy Polamalu was credited for an interception and an impressive leaping tackle on Kerry Collins during an attempted goal-line stand by the Steelers to win the game and improve to 2–0.
Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coming off their road win over the Titans, the Steelers flew to
Raymond James Stadium for a Week 3 interconference duel with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With quarterback
Dennis Dixon recovering from injury, veteran quarterback
Charlie Batch made his first start since Week 17 of the 2007 season. Pittsburgh trailed early in the first quarter as Buccaneers kicker
Connor Barth got a 40-yard field goal following a Batch interception. Afterwards, the Steelers would answer as Batch completed a 46-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Mike Wallace. Tampa Bay would respond in the second quarter as Barth nailed a 24-yard field goal, but Pittsburgh would strike back, beginning with a 3-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall. Batch would then find Wallace again on a 41-yard touchdown pass, followed by his 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Hines Ward. The Steelers would pull away in the second half as kicker
Jeff Reed booted a 24-yard field goal in the third quarter, followed by defensive end
Brett Keisel returning an interception 79 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Buccaneers would close out the game as running back
LeGarrette Blount got a 1-yard touchdown run. With the win, the Steelers got their first 3–0 start since 2007.
Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens Coming off their impressive road win over the Buccaneers, the Steelers went home for an AFC North duel with the
Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh would deliver the opening punch in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall. The Ravens would take the lead in the second quarter as running back
Willis McGahee got a 9-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker
Billy Cundiff getting a 33-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers would regain the lead as Mendenhall picked up a 7-yard touchdown run. However, Baltimore would get the last laugh as quarterback
Joe Flacco completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
T. J. Houshmandzadeh with 33 seconds remaining. The Steelers would get the ball back with 20 seconds remaining but quarterback
Charlie Batch threw a pass that was picked off by linebacker
Ray Lewis, effectively ending the game. With the loss, Pittsburgh went into their bye week at 3–1.
Week 6: vs. Cleveland Browns Coming off their bye week, the Steelers stayed at home, donned their throwback uniforms, and played their Week 6 AFC North duel with their archrival, the
Cleveland Browns, as quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger made his season debut following his four-game suspension. Pittsburgh trailed in the first quarter as Browns kicker
Phil Dawson got a 39-yard field goal. The Steelers answered in the second quarter as Roethlisberger found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 29-yard touchdown pass. The Steelers added onto their lead in the third quarter as Roethlisberger connected with wide receiver
Hines Ward on an 8-yard touchdown pass. In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh continued its dominating day as running back
Rashard Mendenhall got a 2-yard touchdown run. Cleveland tried to rally as quarterback
Colt McCoy completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Benjamin Watson, but the Steelers pulled away as Roethlisberger connected with tight end
Heath Miller on a 14-yard touchdown pass. With the win, Pittsburgh improved to 4–1.
Week 7: at Miami Dolphins Coming off their home win over the Browns, the Steelers flew to
Sun Life Stadium for a Week 7 intraconference duel with the
Miami Dolphins. Pittsburgh trailed in the first quarter as Dolphins kicker
Dan Carpenter made a 39-yard and a 23-yard field goal. The Steelers took the lead in the second quarter with a 22-yard field goal from kicker
Jeff Reed, followed by quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger hooking up with wide receiver
Hines Ward on a 21-yard touchdown pass. Miami answered with Carpenter getting a 22-yard field goal, yet Pittsburgh came right back as Roethlisberger found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 53-yard touchdown pass. The Dolphins would close out the half with quarterback
Chad Henne completing a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Davone Bess. In the third quarter, the Steelers added onto their lead as Reed booted a 39-yard field goal. Miami answered with Carpenter making a 37-yard field goal. Miami retook the lead in the fourth quarter as Carpenter got a 40-yard field goal, yet Pittsburgh struck back as Reed got an 18-yard field goal. The Dolphins tried to rally, but the Pittsburgh defense stiffened and held for the victory. With the win, the Steelers improved to 5–1.
Week 8: at New Orleans Saints Coming off their road win over the Dolphins, the Steelers flew to the
Louisiana Superdome for a Week 8 interconference duel with the
New Orleans Saints on Sunday night. After a scoreless first quarter, Pittsburgh struck first in the second quarter with a 19-yard field goal from kicker
Jeff Reed. The Saints answered with a 31-yard field goal from kicker
Garrett Hartley. New Orleans took the lead as Hartley got a 23-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Saints increased their lead as quarterback
Drew Brees completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Marques Colston. The Steelers responded with a 38-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall, but New Orleans struck back with Brees completing an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Lance Moore. With the loss, Pittsburgh fell to 5–2.
Week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Saints, the Steelers flew to
Paul Brown Stadium for a Week 9 AFC North duel with the
Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Pittsburgh delivered the opening strike in the first quarter as running back
Rashard Mendenhall got a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by a 25-yard field goal from kicker
Jeff Reed. The Bengals answered in the second quarter as quarterback
Carson Palmer completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Terrell Owens, yet the Steelers responded with quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger hooking up with wide receiver
Hines Ward on an 8-yard touchdown pass, followed by Reed's 53-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, Pittsburgh added onto their lead in the fourth quarter as wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 39-yard touchdown pass. Cincinnati tried to rally as Palmer completed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Owens, followed by running back
Cedric Benson getting a 1-yard touchdown run, thanks in no small part to two consecutive penalties called against the Steelers, both of which were later deemed by the NFL to have been incorrect. Fortunately, the defense held on to preserve the victory. With the win, the Steelers improved to 6–2.
Week 10: vs. New England Patriots The Steelers' ninth game was an AFC duel with the Patriots. The Steelers trailed early as QB
Tom Brady made a 19-yard TD pass to TE
Rob Gronkowski. This was followed by kicker
Shayne Graham getting a 31-yard field goal. The Steelers responded in the second quarter with kicker
Jeff Reed nailing a 22-yard field goal. The Steelers struggled further when Brady threw another TD pass to Gronkowski, this one from 9 yards out. That was followed by Brady's scramble 3 yards to the endzone for a touchdown (With a failed PAT as the kick went wide-right). The Steelers scored first in the 4th quarter when QB
Ben Roethlisberger completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR
Emmanuel Sanders. The Steelers looked to create another scoring drive, but it came to a halt when Roethlisberger's pass was intercepted by SS
James Sanders and returned 32 yards for a touchdown (With a failed 2-point conversion). The Steelers tried to cut the lead with a Roethlisberger 15-yard TD pass to WR
Mike Wallace, but the Patriots replied with Brady getting a 25-yard TD pass to Gronkowski. Again the Steelers tried to get closer when Roethlisberger completed a 33-yard TD pass to Wallace, but the Patriots put the game away after Graham hit a 36-yard field goal. With the loss, the Steelers fell to 6–3.
Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Patriots, the Steelers stayed at home for a Week 11 duel with the
Oakland Raiders. Pittsburgh trailed early in the first quarter as Raiders kicker
Sebastian Janikowski made a 41-yard field goal. However that would turn out to be the Raiders' only points of the game. The Steelers took the lead in the second quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall, followed by quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger's 16-yard touchdown run and his 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver
Emmanuel Sanders. After a scoreless third quarter, the Steelers added onto their lead in the fourth quarter as Roethlisberger found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Pittsburgh punctuated the game with a 16-yard touchdown pass to running back
Isaac Redman. With the win, the Steelers improved to 7–3.
Week 12: at Buffalo Bills Coming off their win over the Raiders, the Steelers flew to
Ralph Wilson Stadium for a Week 12 intraconference duel with the
Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh delivered the opening punch in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall. The Steelers would add onto their lead in the second quarter with a 45-yard and a 46-yard field goal from kicker
Shaun Suisham. Suisham sets the NFL record with all 4 FGs being 40+ yards & with the OT game winner. The Bills answered in the third quarter with quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick completing a 65-yard touchdown pass to running back
Fred Jackson. Buffalo continued to creep closer in the fourth quarter as kicker
Rian Lindell got a 29-yard and a 32-yard field goal. Pittsburgh regained the lead with Suisham's 48-yard field goal, but the Bills tied the game again with Lindell making a 49-yard field goal. In overtime, the Steelers got the last laugh as Suisham nailed the game-ending 41-yard field goal. With the win, Pittsburgh improved to 8–3.
Week 13: at Baltimore Ravens Coming off their overtime win over the Bills, the Steelers flew to
M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 13 AFC North rematch with the
Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night. Pittsburgh trailed in the first quarter as Ravens quarterback
Joe Flacco completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Anquan Boldin. After a scoreless second quarter, Pittsburgh answered in the third quarter with a 45-yard field goal from kicker
Shaun Suisham. Baltimore would respond with kicker
Billy Cundiff getting a 24-yard field goal. After adding a 19-yarder from Suisham, the Steelers defense would set up a 1st and Goal after safety
Troy Polamalu stripped the ball from Ravens quarterback
Joe Flacco with less than three and a half minutes to go, safety
Troy Polamalu's sack on Flacco forced a fumble, allowing linebacker
LaMarr Woodley to recover the ball and return it to the Baltimore 9, which was followed by quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger finding running back
Isaac Redman on a 9-yard touchdown pass on third down. The Ravens tried to rally, but Pittsburgh's defense held on to prevail with the victory. With the win, not only did the Steelers improve to 9–3, but it also allowed them to take the AFC North division lead for the first time since week 4.
Week 14: vs. Cincinnati Bengals Coming off their win over the Ravens, the Steelers went home for a Week 14 AFC North rematch with the
Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh trailed early in the first quarter as Bengals quarterback
Carson Palmer completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to offensive tackle
Andrew Whitworth. The Steelers took the lead in the second quarter with safety
Troy Polamalu returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown, followed by a 23-yard field goal from kicker
Shaun Suisham. Pittsburgh increased their lead in the third quarter with Suisham's 35-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Steelers pulled away in the fourth quarter with linebacker
LaMarr Woodley returning an interception 14 yards for a touchdown, followed by Suisham booting a 41-yard field goal. With the win, Pittsburgh improved to 10–3.
Week 15: vs. New York Jets Coming off their win over the Bengals, the Steelers stayed at home for a Week 15 intraconference duel with the
New York Jets. Pittsburgh immediately trailed in the first quarter with Jets wide receiver/quarterback
Brad Smith returning the game's opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. The Steelers answered in the second quarter with quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger finding tight end
Matt Spaeth on a 9-yard touchdown. New York struck back with kicker
Nick Folk making a 25-yard field goal, yet Pittsburgh tied the game with a 42-yard field goal from kicker
Shaun Suisham. The Steelers took the lead in the third quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall, but the Jets replied with quarterback
Mark Sanchez getting a 7-yard touchdown run. New York took back their lead in the fourth quarter with Folk booting a 34-yard field goal, followed by linebacker
Jason Taylor tackling running back
Mewelde Moore in the endzone for a safety. Pittsburgh tried to rally, but the Jets defense would hold on to preserve the win. With the loss, the Steelers fell to 10–4.
Week 16: vs. Carolina Panthers Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Jets, the Steelers stayed at home for a Week 16 interconference duel with the
Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Pittsburgh delivered the game's opening punch in the first quarter with a 26-yard field goal from kicker
Shaun Suisham. The Steelers added onto their lead in the second quarter as Roethlisberger found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 43-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall and a 29-yard field goal from Suisham. Pittsburgh continued their dominating night in the third quarter with Roethlisberger's 1-yard touchdown run. The Panthers would close out the game in the fourth quarter as kicker
John Kasay got a 27-yard field goal. With the win, the Steelers improved to 11–4.
Week 17: at Cleveland Browns Coming off their win over the Panthers, the Steelers made the two-hour bus trip north to
Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 17 AFC North rematch with the
Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh took the early lead in the first quarter as quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger found wide receiver
Mike Wallace on a 56-yard touchdown pass, followed by a 1-yard touchdown run from running back
Rashard Mendenhall. The Browns got on the board in the second quarter as kicker
Phil Dawson got a 19-yard field goal, yet the Steelers struck back with another 1-yard touchdown run by Mendenhall, followed by Roethlisberger's 4-yard TD pass to tight end
Heath Miller and kicker
Shaun Suisham nailing a 41-yard field goal. Pittsburgh added onto their lead in the third quarter as wide receiver
Antwaan Randle El connected with wide receiver
Hines Ward on a 3-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the Steelers closed out their dominating day with Suisham's 24-yard field goal. Cleveland closed out the game with quarterback
Colt McCoy completing a 20-yard TD pass to wide receiver
Brian Robiskie (with a failed two-point conversion). With the win, not only did Pittsburgh close out their regular season at 12–4, but they also locked up the AFC's No. 2 seed. ==Postseason==