Today In Patriots History 2005: Pats snap Steelers' 16-game win streak on Vinateiri's last second FG

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
2005: Pats snap Pittsburgh's 16-game winning streak
Vinatieri wins game with last second 43-yard FG
Brady throws for 372 yards, completes last 12 passes in a row in 23-20 thriller​

Sunday Sept 25, 2005 at 4:15
Week 3, Game 3 at Heinz Field
New England Patriots 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 20
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Bill Cowher
QBs: Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger
Odds: Steelers favored by 3
Patriots improve to 2-1, Steelers drop to 2-1


Adam Vinatieri kicked a game-winning 43-yard field goal with one second left as the Patriots rallied in the second half for a three-point win.

Trailing 20-13, Ben Roethlisberger had just hit Hines Ward on a four-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 1:21 left to play. On the ensuing possession Tom Brady drove the Pats 37 yards on five plays to set up Vinatieri's kick.

Pittsburgh had been within two games of New England's NFL record of 18 consecutive regular-season victories. The Pats also snapped a Steeler streak of 11 consecutive regular-season home victories, and Ben Roethlisberger's record streak of 15 consecutive regular-season victories by a quarterback to start his NFL career.

Nearly overlooked by the last minute drama was David Givens having a career-best 130-yards receiving game on nine catches. (Givens would top that mark with 137 yards against Tampa later in the season.)

The game was not without its setbacks though, as Rodney Harrison suffered a devastating season-ending left knee injury, tearing his ACL. MCL and PCL.

Patriots outlast Steelers after key Adam Vinatieri kick - The Boston Globe

The Patriots kicker booted a game-winning field goal with one second left to power a 23-20 victory in Pittsburgh on a day when New England committed three turnovers.

www.bostonglobe.com

Patriots 23, Steelers 20

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Don't write off the New England Patriots after one loss. The Super Bowl champions were good enough to beat what coach Bill Belichick called the NFL's best team on the road with back…

www.fosters.com

Don't write off the New England Patriots after one loss. The Super Bowl champions were good enough to beat what coach Bill Belichick called the NFL's best team on the road with backups, a patched-up defense and good old determination.​

Oh, yes, and with Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri, too.​

​

The Patriots, badly depleted by injuries, withstood the longest scoring pass play against them in 15 years and two turnovers inside the Pittsburgh 10 to rally in the fourth quarter behind Brady and beat the Steelers 23-20 Sunday on Vinatieri's 43-yard field goal with one second remaining.​

New England was within one play of winning when Chad Scott, cut by Pittsburgh after last season, was called for pass interference against Quincy Morgan on a fourth-and-11 play from the Steelers' 27. Ben Roethlisberger, off his game most of the day, threw his second scoring pass to Hines Ward from the 4 a play later to tie it at 20 with 1:21 remaining.​

But that was too much time for Brady, the NFL's best late-in-the-game quarterback, and Vinatieri, its best clutch kicker.​

​

​

Brady, shouldering most of the offense, completed his last 12 passes and went 31-of-41 for 372 yards and Corey Dillon, all but absent the week before in a 27-17 loss at Carolina, scored from the 7 early in the fourth quarter to help end Pittsburgh's 16-game winning streak.​

The Patriots won this one with perseverance and, yes, a lot of Brady when it looked like they were certain to lose.​

Already without three injured cornerbacks, including starter Tyrone Poole, they lost backup cornerback Duane Starks on the Steelers' first play from scrimmage (he returned later). Then, after allowing an 85-yard Hines Ward touchdown reception, New England lost safety Rodney Harrison and left tackle Matt Light to leg injuries.​

It was the longest TD pass against the Patriots since an 86-yarder by Kansas City in 1990.​

Without so many players hurt, the Patriots were forced to patch together a secondary on almost every series and to call plays that kept the pressure off rookie offensive linemen Logan Mankins and Nick Kazur. They gave up two sacks early in the second half before tightening up.​

Despite Flaws vs. Steelers, Patriots Can Rely on Vinatieri (Published 2005)

None of the Patriots' mistakes mattered because kicker Adam Vinatieri had the ball on his foot at the final second.

www.nytimes.com

Tom Brady approached the locker room door and bellowed the obvious.​

"Oh, they hate us here," he yelled, to nobody in particular. 'They hate us here. Wouldn't you hate us?"​

Wouldn't all the teams in the N.F.L. hate the Patriots? They might, after they see a tape of what a dynasty looked like Sunday in Pittsburgh. New England was deeply flawed but resilient, mistake-prone but indomitable.​

The Patriots, with considerable cracks in the foundation of their championships on display, beat the Steelers anyway, 23-20.​

On Sunday, the Patriots (2-1) endured 10 penalties, 3 sacks, 3 turnovers, 2 crucial injuries and innumerable missed opportunities, a recipe for loss for any other franchise in football. But none of it mattered because Brady had the ball in his hand in the final minute and kicker Adam Vinatieri had the ball on his foot with time running out.​

And the defense, with its fierce pass rush and patchwork secondary - playing brilliantly without the injured safety Rodney Harrison - bedeviled the Steelers' offense enough to keep the game within reach.​

Brady, who was 12 of 12 for 167 yards in the fourth quarter, led the 18th game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime of his career. He finished 31 of 41 passing for 372 yards.​

Vinatieri, who kicked the 43-yarder that won the game, had not missed a game-winning field goal attempt since 2003.​

The Patriots did not look like world champs for long stretches Sunday. Whether they can survive if Harrison and left tackle Matt Light are lost for an extended time is a major question after this game. Both left the game in the first half with leg injuries.​

After Corey Dillon scored on a 4-yard run early in the first quarter to put New England ahead, 7-0, the Patriots did not get their groove back until late in the third quarter, when their furious rally began.​

The Steelers (2-1) forced a fumble by Kevin Faulk at the Pittsburgh 8-yard line early in the second quarter; intercepted Brady at the Pittsburgh 4 at the end of the second; forced another Faulk fumble in the third; and made sure the Patriots did not come close to scoring.​

But the Patriots' defense was keeping Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger off balance, too. On the first play after Dillon's touchdown in the first quarter, Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward in stride for an 85-yard touchdown. But Roethlisberger completed only 11 other passes for an additional 131 yards the rest of the way.​

Trailing by 13-7 with less than two minutes left in the third quarter, the Patriots forced Pittsburgh to punt from its 15-yard line. They began their drive at the Steelers' 30 and Vinatieri ended it with a 48-yard field goal to pull the Patriots to 13-10.​

The defense held again, and the Patriots went on a 7-play, 86-yard drive that included five passes from Brady. Dillon finished it with a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Patriots a 17-13 lead.​

Ups and downs

A look at who's up and who's down in the Patriots' win.

www.boston.com

Up:​

Tom Brady –- Quarterback finished 31-of-41 for 372 yards and completed his last 12 passes. He noted the déjà vu (see previous update) of taking over with 1:21 left on the clock and the game tied – connecting that performance with Super Bowl XXXVI vs. the Rams.​

Run defense -– The Steelers rely on the running game, but were held to 79 yards on 23 carries (3.4 average). Big-time credit to the stout defensive front seven.​

Coaches –- Why were players rotating on the offensive line through the first two weeks? For exactly the situation that arose in Pittsburgh, with Matt Light suffering an injury. Because Nick Kaczur had previous game experience, he didn’t enter the game without a base on which to build, which is a credit to the coaches.​

Tim Dwight -– Punt returner averages 13.8 yards per return in the game, which is a dramatic upgrade from the team’s 5.8-yard average in 2004.​

Adam Vinatieri –- Another game-winning kick with little time left on the clock.​

David Givens –- Nine catches for a career-high 130 yards.​

Down:​

Kevin Faulk –- Despite seven catches for 71 yards, his two lost fumbles could have been costly.​

​

14:47 Highlight Video
Brady & Big Ben Clutch Duel! (Patriots vs. Steelers, 2005) | NFL Vault Highlights



2:16:11 Full Video
2005 Week 3: Patriots @ Steelers
​

Patriots Media Dept Pre-Game Press Release

Official NFL Media Game Summary

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats and Full Play-by-Play:

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 25th, 2005 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 23 at Pittsburgh Steelers 20 on September 25th, 2005 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[signbabybrady]

Put that kicker in Canton

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Oh, regular season winning streak. I was just gonna kindly and humbly remind that we pounded that ass the previous January

 

[Pape]

adam vinateri... the one guy i wished BB had kept around... gost was a great kicker, but was no adam vinateri

too bad av tarnished his legacy by replacing the idiot kicker

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1983: It's a Terrible Towel Two-for-One
Pats upset Steelers 28-23, stun Yinzers in Pittsburgh
Grogan's 78-yard TD to Stephen Starring with 3:59 to play wins it​

Sunday Sept 25, 1983 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 4 at Three Rivers Stadium
New England Patriots 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 23
Head Coaches: Ron Meyer, Chuck Noll
QBs: Steve Grogan, Cliff Stoudt
Odds: Steelers favored by 8½
Patriots improve to 2-2, Steelers drop to 2-2


Steve Grogan hit Stephen Starring down the left sideline at the 40-yard line, and the rookie cut back and weaved his way into the end zone for the winning score with 3:59 left in the game. Pittsburgh had outplayed the Patriots all day, but the defense stepped up with two interceptions by Rick Sanford and another pick by Steve Nelson to keep the game close.

Nelson's interception was a beauty, as he returned the ball six yards, then lateraled to fellow linebacker Clayton Weishuhn, who ran it in 27 yards for a pick-six. Sanford's first interception set up another TD, and the second one in the fourth quarter thwarted a Pittsburgh comeback.

On the next drive the Patriot defense came up with two clutch sacks after the Steelers had driven deep into New England territory. The Patriots had five sacks overall on the day.

The Patriots also scored on a 4-yard pass from Grogan to Derrick Ramsey, and a 4-yard run by Tony Collins.

Pittsburgh had a commanding edge in first downs (30-12), total yards (448-296) and time of possession (35:32 -24:28) but it didn't matter thanks to the Patriots' timely big plays.



Patriots Pass By as Harris Rushes On

Steve Grogan passed to rookie Stephen Starring on a 76-yard touchdown play with 3:59 remaining as the New England Patriots rallied to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-23, spoiling Franco Harris' run into the NFL record books today.​

Harris carried 25 times for 106 yards to become the NFL's second all-time leading rusher with 11,309 yards. He passed O.J. Simpson, who had 11,236 yards, in the first half and finished the game 1,003 yards behind career rushing leader Jim Brown.​

The Patriots, who stunned the New York Jets in their previous game, turned two interceptions off Cliff Stoudt into touchdowns to take a 14-13 halftime lead, then cooled a fourth-period rally by Pittsburgh with Grogan's second scoring pass of the day.​

Stoudt found Walter Abercrombie open in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 4:58 left in the game to end a quick 65-yard scoring drive and push the Steelers into a 23-21 lead, their first since an early 7-0 advantage.​

​

But Grogan, repeatedly completing passes in the Pittsburgh secondary, then found Starring open at the Patriots' 40-yard line on a second-down play. Cornerback Dwayne Woodruff appeared to have Starring trapped against the sideline, but the rookie from McNeese State swerved back to the middle of the field, eluding Woodruff, and moved untouched into the end zone for the second scoring pass of his NFL career.​

Rick Sanford later intercepted Stoudt for the second time in the game, and the Patriots stopped Pittsburgh's final possession by twice sacking Stoudt after the Steelers had driven to the New England 32 in the final minute.​

Tony Collins ran four yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to give the Patriots a 21-13 lead on an 80-yard drive in which Grogan had a 32-yard pass to Starring.​

22:24 Highlight Video
1983 Patriots at Steelers GOTW week 4



2:12:07 Full Game
**** Enberg, Merlin Olsen
1983 Week 4 - New England at Pittsburgh
​

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with handwritten corrections

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 25th, 1983 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers 23 on September 25th, 1983 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1994: Myron Guton's interception clinches win
Pats overcome iconic spectacular runs by Barry Sanders
Patriots 23, Lions 17​

Sunday Sept 25, 1994 at 4:15
Week 4, Game 4 at the Pontiac Silverdome
New England Patriots 23, Detroit Lions 17
Head Coaches: Bill Parcells, Wayne Fontes
QBs: Drew Bledsoe, Scott Mitchell
Odds: Lions favored by 3
Patriots improve to 2-2, Lions drop to 2-2


The most memorable part of this game was Barry Sanders' epic run (see the first highlight video below).

PRO FOOTBALL : Loss Turns Lion Kings Into Paupers : Interconference: Following big victory over Dallas, Detroit loses to New England, 23-17.

Barry Sanders couldn't do it all by himself, not even against the NFL's worst defense.

www.latimes.com

Barry Sanders couldn’t do it all by himself, not even against the NFL’s worst defense. Especially when that defense made two late interceptions.​

Call it a post-Monday night letdown.​

The New England Patriots defeated the Detroit Lions, 23-17, Sunday despite two vintage touchdown runs of 35 and 39 yards by Sanders.​

“I thought we might have a shot today because I knew the difficult situation Detroit was in, coming off a big win on Monday night,” Patriot Coach Bill Parcells said. “I’ve been in that situation before and I know how tough it is. “I thought if we were sharp, we’d have a pretty good shot to win the game.”​

Parcells was talking about last Monday night, when Sanders rushed 40 times for 194 yards in the Lions’ 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The Lions arrived home late after the long flight back from Dallas and practiced poorly all week.​

“They outplayed us,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said. “It’s a big-time league and you have to be up every week or you’re going to get beat.”​

Drew Bledsoe, who had passed for more than 300 yards in each of the Patriots’ first three games--making New England’s offense the best in the league--completed 21 of 33 for 251 yards against Detroit, including a seven-yard touchdown pass to Ben Coates.​

“We realized the Lions might be down after their big win at Dallas,” Bledsoe said. “But this is still a huge win for us.”​

Sanders carried 18 times for 131 yards. Scott Mitchell was 14 of 29 for 189 yards, but his two second-half interceptions thwarted the kind of comeback the Lions staged in Dallas.​

“I think we all sensed we weren’t emotionally into the game as we should have been,” Mitchell said. “But good teams find a way to win and play over that, and we didn’t.”​

Three of Detroit’s mistakes--a shanked punt by Greg Montgomery that traveled only 22 yards, one of Mitchell’s interceptions and a bad guess by the coaching staff--led to field goals by Matt Bahr.​

Detroit had a fourth and one at its own 38 on its first possession of the game, but the Lions elected not to punt and sent Mitchell on a quarterback sneak.​

It failed, and the Patriots soon had a 3-0 lead on a 20-yard field goal by Bahr. His other field goals were from 28 and 21 yards.​

Patriots 23, Lions 17 - UPI Archives

The New England defense hasn't exactly been up to the usual standards of coach Bill Parcells this season, but it still knows how to make big plays from time...

www.upi.com

The New England defense hasn't exactly been up to the usual standards of coach Bill Parcells this season, but it still knows how to make big plays from time to time. Myron Guyton intercepted a Scott Mitchell pass at the Detroit 34 with two minutes left Sunday, preserving the Patriots' 23-17 victory over the Detroit Lions. Linebacker Chris Slade hit Detroit quarterback Scott Mitchell's arm in the act of throwing on the play, resulting in a wobbler that Guyton picked off with ease.​

'That's the biggest win since I've been here,' Parcells said. 'We're even now (at 2-2). We're happy but realistic. Had we lost it, the way we played it would have been very disappointing. I thought they really played aggressively.'​

Drew Bledsoe threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ben Coates, Marion Butts scored on a 5-yard run and Matt Bahr kicked three field goals to account for the New England scoring. Bledsoe completed 21 of 33 passes for 251 yards and no interceptions. He had a club-record streak of four straight 300-yard passing games snapped.​

'We knew coming in we'd have to be patient because they don't give up the big play,' Bledsoe said. 'Sometimes it gets frustrating to keep throwing the little routes to the fullbacks, but that was all they were giving us.'​

Barry Sanders scored on runs of 35 and 39 yards for Detroit, marking his first two-touchdown game since Oct. 25, 1992, against Tampa Bay. Sanders gained 131 yards on 18 carries.​

Mitchell completed 14 of 29 on the day for 189 yards and two interceptions. 'We weren't consistent offensively,' Mitchell said. 'It's frustrating to me and everybody else. We're too good a team to lose a game like the one today.'​

Bahr's 20-yard field goal 9:08 into the game put the Patriots ahead 3-0, and New England drove 89 yards in five plays before Butts' scoring run made it 10-0 in the second quarter. Bledsoe completed passes of 32 yards to Kevin Turner and 43 yards to Vincent Brisby to set up the touchdown.​

Sanders answered with his 35-yard touchdown run, but Bledsoe and Coates hooked up to complete a 14-play, 68-yard drive with 27 seconds left in the half for a 17-7 New England lead. Butts picked up two yards on fourth-and-1 from the Detroit 38 to keep the drive alive. 'We feel we can make the first down on short yardage every time,' Bledsoe said.​

Bahr's 28-yard field goal 5:33 into the third quarter made put the Patriots ahead 20-7, but Sanders broke loose for a 39-yard touchdown on the Lions' next possession to make it 20-14. 'You can't get upset about that guy doing something like that,' Patriots cornerback Maurice Hurst said. 'He's just unbelieveable. There's no way to defend that. No matter what you do, he beats you. I don't think it's possible for one guy to bring him down in an open field.'​

Bahr kicked a 21-yard field goal 2:04 into the fourth quarter after Hurst's interception gave New England the ball on its 32. Detroit's Jason Hanson finished the scoring with a 27-yard field goal with 5:39 remaining.​

'To come here and win on the road is a big boost for our team as a whole,' Patriots linebacker Vincent Brown said. 'There are a a lot of people in the media who wrote us off. You have to be ignorant in this day and age in this league to completely give a team no chance of winning and I think a lot of people did.'​

Detroit coach Wayne Fontes was expecting bad things. 'If you don't make the plays in this league, you won't win,' Fontes said. 'They outplayed us. You have to be up every week in this league. We had chances, but we didn't make the plays to win. I said all week that we didn't practice well.'​

Bledsoe and the Patriots are in the playoff chase after four games for the first time in a number of years. 'Now it means something to win two in a row,' the second-year quarterback said. 'Last year we won four straight at the end of the year when it really didn't mean anything. We're in the hunt now, but we have to win some in the division.'​

1:15 Barry Sanders at his best
1994 - Barry Sanders Amazing Juke Makes Defender Lose Track of Him!




2:35 Highlight Video
1994 Patriots at Lions Week 4



2:12:17 Full Game
1994 Week 4 - New England at Detroit
​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Other September 25 Games​

Sunday Sept 25, 2022 at 1:00
Week 3, Game 3 at the Gillette Stadium
Baltimore Ravens 37, New England Patriots 26
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, John Harbaugh
QBs: Mac Jones, Lamar Jackson
Odds: Ravens favored by 2½
Patriots drop to 1-2, Ravens improve to 2-1


Lamar Jackson throws four TD passes, runs for another.

Ravens 37-26 Patriots (Sep 25, 2022) Game Recap - ESPN

Expert recap and game analysis of the Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots NFL game from September 25, 2022 on ESPN.

www.espn.com

Lamar Jackson scores 5 touchdowns as the Ravens beat the Patriots 37-26

It's time to see how the New England Patriots' defense fares against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

www.boston.com

5 takeaways from the Patriots' back-and-forth defeat to the Ravens

Here are five takeaways from the Patriots' Week 3 loss to the Ravens. Mac Jones left the game late with an injury.

www.boston.com

Ten Takeaways From Patriots' Wild Week 3 Loss To Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens spoiled the New England Patriots' home opener Sunday, prevailing 37-26 in a back-and-forth affair at Gillette Stadium.

nesn.com

Look: 40 Photos From the New England Patriots' Tough Loss to the Baltimore Ravens

Mac Jones' apparently serious ankle injury just adds to the misery of Sunday's loss to the Ravens.

wblm.com

4:59 Patriots Highlight Video
New England Patriots Highlights vs. Baltimore Ravens | 2022 Regular Season Week 3



13:13 NFL Highlights Video
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots | Week 3 2022 Game Highlights
​

Sunday Sept 25, 2011 at 1:00
Week 3, Game 3 at the Ralph Wilson Stadium
Buffalo Bills 34, New England Patriots 31
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Chan Gailey
QBs: Tom Brady, Ryan Fitzpatrick
Odds: Patriots favored by 7½
Patriots drop to 2-1, Bills improve to 3-0


Buffalo picks off Tom Brady four times; Rian Lindell hits game-winning field goal as time expires.

Patriots lose to Bills 34-31 on late field goal

Rian Lindell hit a 28-yard field goal as time expired to cap a stunning comeback for a 34-31 victory over the New England Patriots on today, snapping Buffalo's 15-game losing streak against the Patri…

www.capecodtimes.com

Game Recap: Bills 34, Patriots 31

Sept. 25 in Bills history: Bills end 15-game losing streak to Patriots

Maiorana's Memories: FitzMagic was alive as Bills ended 15-game losing streak to Pats

The Bills ended a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots with a dramatic comeback win led by Ryan Fitzpatrick.

www.democratandchronicle.com

13:37 Highlight Video
The Legend of FitzMagic is Born! (Patriots vs. Bills, 2011) | NFL Vault Highlights



2:26:03 Full Game
Fitzpatrick's 21-Point Comeback vs. Brady! Bills vs. Patriots Week 3, 2011 Full Game
​

Sunday Sept 25, 1988 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 4 at the Houston Astrodome
Houston Oilers 31, New England Patriots 6
Head Coaches: Raymond Berry, Jerry Glanville
QBs: Steve Grogan, Cody Carlson
Odds: Oilers favored by 3½
Patriots drop to 1-3, Oilers improve to 3-1

The Patriots turned the ball over six times, including four interceptions by Steve Grogan. Alan Pinkett rushed for one TD for Houston, and caught two more on pass plays of 51 and 22 yards.

PRO FOOTBALL : Pinkett Finishes Off New England : Houston Reserve Scores 3 Touchdowns in Oilers' 31-6 Victory

Allen Pinkett can't break into the starting lineup, so he doesn't waste any time when he gets his chance.

www.latimes.com

1:48:36 Full Game
1988 - Wk. 04 Patriots vs. Oilers
1988 - Wk. 04 Patriots vs. Oilers​

Sunday Sept 25, 1966 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 3 at the Fenway Park
Kansas City Chiefs 43, Boston Patriots 24
Head Coaches: Mike Holovak, Hank Stram
QBs: Babe Parilli, Len Dawson
Odds: Chiefs favored by 10
Patriots drop to 1-2, Chiefs improve to 3-0

Kansas City was the best team in the league, with a plus-172 point differential, scoring 90 more points than any other team. The Chiefs won the AFL title before losing to Green Bay in what would later become known as the first Super Bowl.

Jim Nance scored two TDs for the Patriots, who could not keep up with the high powered KC offense. Len Dawson threw five touchdown passes for the Chiefs.

Chiefs Turn Back Patriots, 43-24; Dawson Passes for Five Touchdowns --3 to Burford (Published 1966)

www.nytimes.com

2:21 Highlight Video
9/25/1966 Kansas City Chiefs at Boston Patriots highlights, American Football League Week 4

9/25/1966 Kansas City Chiefs at Boston Patriots highlights, American Football League Week 4

This is a short video of highlights from the Sept. 25, 1966 American Football League game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Boston Patriots at Fenway Pa...

www.youtube.com

 

[Delicate Genius]

I was so hungover for that 2005 game that I used my cell phone to call the house phone upstairs to ask my mother if she could please bring me down a bowl of cereal. Great win.

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

Today in Patriots History
1983: It's a Terrible Towel Two-for-One
Pats upset Steelers 28-23, stun Yinzers in Pittsburgh
Grogan's 78-yard TD to Stephen Starring with 3:59 to play wins it​

Sunday Sept 25, 1983 at 1:00
Week 4, Game 4 at Three Rivers Stadium
New England Patriots 28, Pittsburgh Steelers 23
Head Coaches: Ron Meyer, Chuck Noll
QBs: Steve Grogan, Cliff Stoudt
Odds: Steelers favored by 8½
Patriots improve to 2-2, Steelers drop to 2-2


Steve Grogan hit Stephen Starring down the left sideline at the 40-yard line, and the rookie cut back and weaved his way into the end zone for the winning score with 3:59 left in the game. Pittsburgh had outplayed the Patriots all day, but the defense stepped up with two interceptions by Rick Sanford and another pick by Steve Nelson to keep the game close.

Nelson's interception was a beauty, as he returned the ball six yards, then lateraled to fellow linebacker Clayton Weishuhn, who ran it in 27 yards for a pick-six. Sanford's first interception set up another TD, and the second one in the fourth quarter thwarted a Pittsburgh comeback.

On the next drive the Patriot defense came up with two clutch sacks after the Steelers had driven deep into New England territory. The Patriots had five sacks overall on the day.

The Patriots also scored on a 4-yard pass from Grogan to Derrick Ramsey, and a 4-yard run by Tony Collins.

Pittsburgh had a commanding edge in first downs (30-12), total yards (448-296) and time of possession (35:32 -24:28) but it didn't matter thanks to the Patriots' timely big plays.



Patriots Pass By as Harris Rushes On

Steve Grogan passed to rookie Stephen Starring on a 76-yard touchdown play with 3:59 remaining as the New England Patriots rallied to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-23, spoiling Franco Harris' run into the NFL record books today.​

Harris carried 25 times for 106 yards to become the NFL's second all-time leading rusher with 11,309 yards. He passed O.J. Simpson, who had 11,236 yards, in the first half and finished the game 1,003 yards behind career rushing leader Jim Brown.​

The Patriots, who stunned the New York Jets in their previous game, turned two interceptions off Cliff Stoudt into touchdowns to take a 14-13 halftime lead, then cooled a fourth-period rally by Pittsburgh with Grogan's second scoring pass of the day.​

Stoudt found Walter Abercrombie open in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 4:58 left in the game to end a quick 65-yard scoring drive and push the Steelers into a 23-21 lead, their first since an early 7-0 advantage.​

​

But Grogan, repeatedly completing passes in the Pittsburgh secondary, then found Starring open at the Patriots' 40-yard line on a second-down play. Cornerback Dwayne Woodruff appeared to have Starring trapped against the sideline, but the rookie from McNeese State swerved back to the middle of the field, eluding Woodruff, and moved untouched into the end zone for the second scoring pass of his NFL career.​

Rick Sanford later intercepted Stoudt for the second time in the game, and the Patriots stopped Pittsburgh's final possession by twice sacking Stoudt after the Steelers had driven to the New England 32 in the final minute.​

Tony Collins ran four yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter to give the Patriots a 21-13 lead on an 80-yard drive in which Grogan had a 32-yard pass to Starring.​

22:24 Highlight Video
1983 Patriots at Steelers GOTW week 4



2:12:07 Full Game
**** Enberg, Merlin Olsen
1983 Week 4 - New England at Pittsburgh
​

Official NFL Media Game Summary, with handwritten corrections

Box Score, Team & Individual Stats:

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 25th, 1983 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers 23 on September 25th, 1983 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

By Far The Greatest Uniform In Patriots History