Today In Patriots History 2005: Pats steamroll 15-1 Steelers in AFCCG, 41-27

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Clock strikes midnight for rookie Ben Roethlisberger
Rodney Harrison's 87-yard pick-six gives Pats a 24-3 halftime lead
Defense forces 4 turnovers; Pats crush Steelers at Heinz Field​

Another day in Patriots History, another season-ending loss for the Pittsburgh Steelers and their yinzer fans.


Sunday January 23, 2005 at 6:36
2004 AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field
New England Patriots 41, Pittsburgh Steelers 27
Head Coaches: Bill Belichick, Bill Cowher
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger
Odds: Patriots favored by 3; over/under 36½
Weather: 11°, 9 mph wind, minus-1° wind chill
Game MVP: Rodney Harrison
Pats improve to 16-2; advance to Super Bowl 39 vs Eagles in Jacksonville
Steelers finish 16-2, snapping a 15-game winning streak extending back to week two

No, this is not a duplicate post from yesterday. Four times the Pittsburgh Steelers have ended their season with a loss to the Patriots in the playoffs - and three of those instances have come in the conference championship, one game away from the Super Bowl. It is no wonder that their fans hate the Patriots and Pats fans.

Rodney's alert jump on the pass, and smart runback waiting for a block on the TD sucked the life out of the crowd.​

This perspective from a Pittsburgh Steeler fan sums up the first half, when the Patriots jumped out to a 24-3 lead:
The 12 Most Heartbreaking Playoff Losses In Pittsburgh Steelers History: #3

This AFC Championship Game, played at home, was especially painful since there is no question in my mind that the Steelers could have whooped Philadelphia in the Super Bowl. In fact, we had already beaten New England and Philly in back-to-back weeks during the regular season making this loss hard to swallow. It was also painful physically. The temperature of 11 degrees was the coldest playoff game in Pittsburgh history and one of the coldest Steelers' games ever, period. With the wind-chill, it was somewhere in the minus category. ​

For the first time all season, our rookie quarterback looked like a rookie quarterback. The clock struck midnight for Ben Roethlisberger, who previously had been brilliant, albeit in a limited system. Roethlisberger's first pass of the game was picked off by Eugene Wilson, putting the Steelers in the hole, 3-0. The Steelers drove to the New England 39-yard line on their next possession, but Jerome Bettis' fumble was recovered by ex-Steeler Mike Vrabel. On the very next play, Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady hit Deion Branch with a 60-yard touchdown strike. After a Jeff Reed field goal, the Patriots scored again on Tom Brady's second touchdown pass, this time to David Givens. Trailing 17-3, Pittsburgh drove down the field and looked ready to score when Roethlisberger was intercepted by Rodney Harrison, who bolted 87 yards for a touchdown. At half the score was 24-3. Three horrific first-half turnovers took all the air, cold as it was, completely out of the stadium.​

Jarvis Green forces a fumble as Pittsburgh was driving, attempting to respond after Rodney's pick-six.
The play killed the Steelers drive, causing them to punt - and go into the locker rrom down by 21.​

Even though the Patriots scored 41 points, the stars for this game were on defense. Rodney Harrison had the 87-yard pick six, a game-high 12 tackles (nine solo), one tackle for a loss and a pass deflection. Eugene Wilson had two interceptions, and Tedy Bruschi had nine tackles (eight solo). Jarvis Green had a strip sack and five tackles subbing for Richard Seymour (out with a knee injury), and Mike Vrabel had six tackles (five solo) and a fumble recovery created by Rosevelt Colvin.

Tom Brady completed 67% of his passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. His 60 yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch on the first play after a Jerome Bettis fumble on 4th-and-one set the tone for the night, putting the Patriots up 10-0. Branch had four receptions for 116 yards to go with that TD, plus two rushes for 37 yards. David Givens had five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown - and Corey Dillon scored on a 25-yard carry to restore the lead to 21 points in the third quarter, squashing any thoughts of a Steeler comeback.

Rodney Harrison's pick-six gave the Patriots an insurmountable 21-point lead:
Rodney Harrison Pick Six AFC Title Game (2004)
18-second highlight play



Patriots vs. Steelers 2004 AFC Championship Game: Grudge Match | NFL Films (7:24)



THROWBACK: 2004 AFC Championship Game New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
56:20 Patriots Highlight film



AFC Championship 2004 Patriots at Steelers:
2:10:34 Full Game
​

AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 23rd, 2005 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

New England Patriots 41 at Pittsburgh Steelers 27 on January 23rd, 2005 - Full team and player stats and box score

www.pro-football-reference.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
January 23 Transactions​

Jan 23, 2024:
Pats lose practice squad CB Quandre Mosely to Tampa Bay
The 24-year Kentucky Wildcat has one NFL snap to his credit, on defense in the week 17 2022 23-21 loss to Miami.
That will surely help his LinkedIn profile in the near future.


Jan 23, 2016:
LB Kevin Snyder is elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.
Equally obscure, Mr. Snyder never played for the Pats, but the LB from Rutgers(!) did get on the field for two NFL games with Denver.


Jan 23, 2007:
With their 2006 season complete after the no-AC/flu-ridden AFCCG loss at Indy, the Pats sign several players to futures contracts:
C Brian Barthelmes, Virginia
P Danny Baugher, Arizona
OT Sean Bubin, Houston
FB Quadtrine Hill, Miami
TE Matt Kranchick, Penn State
P Tom Malone, USC
DE Santonio Thomas, Miami


Jan 23, 1981:
**** Roach is hired as a defensive assistant coach
A google search for his name will yield lots of nasty bugs, but our Mr Roach had a lengthy career as a defensive backs coach, from 1976-2000 - mostly in the NFL, as well as a few seasons in the CFL and USFL. Most notably he was on the Bills staff from '87-'98, including when they won four consecutive AFC championships.

Former college corners often make best safety prospects

The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more.

www.nfl.com

Jan 23, 1975:
Patriots trade FB John Tarver to Philadelphia for two draft picks:
A 1975 fifth round pick (#117-Steve Freeman) and a 1976 eighth round pick (#217-Rich Sorenson).
Tarver scored seven touchdowns in his three seasons with the Patriots.
Neither of the other two ever played for the Pats, though Freeman did go on to have a 13-year NFL career, mostly with the Bills after being waived in the middle of the 1975 preseason by Chuck Fairbanks. Oops.


Jan 23, 1974:
Patriots re-sign RB Ike Brown, an 8th round 1973 draft pick.
Isaac never did play for the Pats, and had previously played in the Atlantic Coast Football League and the CFL before he was eligible for the NFL draft.


Jan 23, 1960:
Boston Patriots sign one of their inaugural draft picks, HB Ron Burton.
The first-ever Pats draft pick (other than regional pick Ger Schwedes) scored 17 touchdowns with the early Pats, and is memorialized with the annual Ron Burton Award, in honor of his community work and charitable work.

 

[Brotherblues]

Might want to double check the Stork bit. Week 14 in late January doesn't add up.

 

[signbabybrady]

Beating the Steelers in AFC championships was so much fun. I hope we can do that again soon.

 

[jmt57]

Might want to double check the Stork bit. Week 14 in late January doesn't add up.

Thanks, good catch; I got messed up going back and forth between two databases.
One in particular is great for having the most information, but not always the best on details - in this case, the specific date.

 

[scott99]

That bomb to Branch was one of the best passes I ever saw. Perfect bomb.