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The best loss in team history was the Halloween game against the Steelers in 2004, where their 21-game winning streak came to an end. For one, it took the pressure off the team. Ever since that game, though, from the Steelers coaches to players to fans, the term "punch them in the mouth" became their caveman rally cry and overall philosophy, as they've tried to replicate it time and time again. The truth is during the Halloween Game, the Steelers were really hot and the Patriots just played like garbage; I think the streak was wearing them down; they didn't have Dillon and Law due to injuries. Brady threw two picks.
The final was 34-20 but not even that close. It was a rare total beatdown against Brady and Belichick.
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 31st, 2004 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
That game re-affirmed the identity of those tough 70s Steelers team. The "Blitzburgh" buzzword returned, the fading power running game became overrated again. Before, during, the after the game, tons of Steelers players talked so much smack about becoming the new king's of the league. "The Halloween Game" became an arrogant, smug reference for every Steelers fan leading up to the rematch, and even after getting beaten down, it was continued to be referenced for years later as the blueprint to beat "soft" Brady. In reality, the Patriots often had the more physical teams in the trenches, but their intellectual edge was leaps and bounds ahead, as they adapted while the Steelers stubbornly refused to adapt.
But the best part is that the heavy blitzing, zone concepts, power running, and a playbook with about five plays, became the Steelers recipe going forward again and again, and we even see it at times today. Even as these concepts proved to be relics in today's NFL, the Steelers continued with them, particularly the defense, having some success against some teams but certainly not the Patriots. They did win two Super Bowls, but that was more the result of some incredible defensive talent, not scheme. Last night's game shows the Steelers have moved on in many ways, especially on offense, but their are still LeBeau's fingerprints all over that defense.
The final was 34-20 but not even that close. It was a rare total beatdown against Brady and Belichick.
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 31st, 2004 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
That game re-affirmed the identity of those tough 70s Steelers team. The "Blitzburgh" buzzword returned, the fading power running game became overrated again. Before, during, the after the game, tons of Steelers players talked so much smack about becoming the new king's of the league. "The Halloween Game" became an arrogant, smug reference for every Steelers fan leading up to the rematch, and even after getting beaten down, it was continued to be referenced for years later as the blueprint to beat "soft" Brady. In reality, the Patriots often had the more physical teams in the trenches, but their intellectual edge was leaps and bounds ahead, as they adapted while the Steelers stubbornly refused to adapt.
But the best part is that the heavy blitzing, zone concepts, power running, and a playbook with about five plays, became the Steelers recipe going forward again and again, and we even see it at times today. Even as these concepts proved to be relics in today's NFL, the Steelers continued with them, particularly the defense, having some success against some teams but certainly not the Patriots. They did win two Super Bowls, but that was more the result of some incredible defensive talent, not scheme. Last night's game shows the Steelers have moved on in many ways, especially on offense, but their are still LeBeau's fingerprints all over that defense.
