They’ll take the fifth
The Steelers and Patriots will be meeting for the fifth time in the playoffs. The Patriots won three of the first four meetings, including both times the teams played in the AFC title game. A look back at their previous matchups:
JAN. 5, 1997: Patriots 28, Steelers 3 at Foxboro
curtis Martin ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns as the patriots opened their road to super bowl XXXi with a rout in the divisional playoffs. The patriots scored touchdowns on three of their first four drives to bury pittsburgh beneath a deficit that was too deep for Mike Tomczak to pull out of.
JAN. 3, 1998: Steelers 7, Patriots 6 at Pittsburgh
steelers coach bill cowher said he “screwed up” when he authorized a failed bid for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal from the 1 that gave the patriots the ball with 1:44 left. but Drew bledsoe couldn't rally the patriots and their season ended when Mike vrabel forced a bledsoe fumble to send pittsburgh to the divisional playoffs.
JAN. 27, 2002: Patriots 24, Steelers 17 at Pittsburgh
The underdog pats shocked the steelers — and disrupted their plans for a week-long stay in new orleans — with a win that clinched a berth in super bowl XXXvi. Drew bledsoe relieved an injured Tom brady and threw a touchdown pass, and Troy brown returned a punt for a score to set up a date for the pats with the rams.
JAN. 23, 2005: Patriots 41, Steelers 27 at Pittsburgh
Tom brady (two touchdown passes) and rodney harrison (87-yard interception return for a score) staked the pats to a 24-3 second-quarter lead that earned them a third super bowl berth in four years. it marked the first career loss for ben roethlisberger, the rookie who entered the game with wins in his first 14 starts.