The surging Pittsburgh Steelers went up to Foxboro to play the New England Patriots on a Saturday night in Week 16 of the 1997 regular season. The Steelers were on a two-game winning streak after beating the Denver Broncos at Three Rivers Stadium the week prior. Little did the two teams know, but two short weeks later, they would battle again in Pittsburgh.
It was the first match up between the two teams since the previous year's playoff match up. The defending AFC Champion Steelers had traveled up to New England and received a thorough beat down, 28-3. The Patriots weren't bothered by the fog that set on the stadium and made visibility limited.
Rod Woodson is beat for a touchdown in the 1996 AFC Divisional Playoffs. | CBS Sports
Now it was time for Kordell Stewart to extract revenge for Pittsburgh. The Patriots would receive the opening kickoff from Norm Johnson and the Steelers, but they'd fail to do anything on their opening possession. Pittsburgh would follow suit and punt after picking up three first downs on their first drive. One of those first downs came on a fourth down conversion from their own 29-yard line.
It would take until the second quarter for either team to muster a solid drive. But it was New England that found the endzone first. Drew Bledsoe would find Ben Coates for an 18-yard score after Stewart was intercepted by Lawyer Milloy.
Pittsburgh's next drive would end with the same result. This time, Stewart was intercepted by Willie Clay on the Pittsburgh 38-yard line. Bledsoe would again make Stewart and the Steelers pay for their mistake. This time, he found fullback Sam Gash for a one-yard touchdown reception. Quickly this game was starting to look like the '96 playoff game.
With 3:57 left in the second quarter, Stewart and the Pittsburgh offense would get it going. Stewart would drive the Steelers down the field with his arm and his legs. Jerome Bettis would also get some traction for the first time putting the Steelers inside the two-yard line after a 16-yard run. From there, Stewart would scramble into the endzone to put Pittsburgh on the board. It was 14-7.
Steelers running back George Jones catches a pass against New England. | Getty Images
Pittsburgh would receive the second half kick off and put together a methodical 13-play drive that would end with a Johnson field goal. Pittsburgh was slowly climbing out of their 14-0 deficit. On the ensuing drive, Bledsoe would be intercepted by Darren Perry and that would put Pittsburgh back in business. The Steelers would move the ball down to the New England 16-yard line before stalling. Johnson would hit his second field goal of the game to cut the Patriots lead to just 1.
The Steelers defense was unable to hold New England, though. Bledsoe completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to cap a quick 6-play touchdown drive. After trading a few punts, time was starting to become a factor for Pittsburgh. Stewart had led the Steelers into New England territory, but a failed fourth down conversation ended a promising drive. Stewart completed the fourth and 6 pass to Courtney Hawkins, but he was hauled down one yard short of the marker. Pittsburgh would get the ball back after their defense stopped Bledsoe, but they were forced to punt with 3:13 left in the game, trailing by 8.
Classic Clip of the Weekend
— Steel City Star (@steelcitystar) September 6, 2019
🏈 Pittsburgh’s dramatic win at Patriots in ‘97
Pats (9-5) have ball and 8-pt lead vs Pit (10-4) with 2:10 left...
- Henry INT
- Thigpen 4th down catch
- @KSlash10 to Bruener TD
- Slash to Thigpen 2pt conversion
- OT Slash to Hawkins
- Johnson FG pic.twitter.com/J3bD6O7hJc
That's when the game changed. After the Steelers used their last time out, Bledsoe dropped back to pass on third down. A conversion would've ended the game. But defensive lineman Kevin Henry would intercept Bledsoe and return it for what should've been a touchdown. Henry had lateraled to Orpheus Roye who took it into the endzone untouched, but it was ruled an illegal forward pass. Without the aid of replay in 1997, the play would stand.
So, coming out of the two-minute warning, the Steelers and Stewart would set up from the Patriots 18-yard line. Bettis would rush for three yards on first down. That would be followed by two incomplete passes intended for Yancey Thigpen. It was 4th down and 7 and the game was now on the line. Stewart would drop back and find Thigpen who would make a dazzling catch on the sideline. Stewart put the ball in the only spot he could, and Thigpen laid completely out keeping his feet in bounds for the first down.
A few plays later, Stewart would find his tight end, Mark Bruener for a touchdown. Needing the two-point conversion, Stewart again looked to his favorite target, Thigpen. Coming back across the field, Stewart would thread the needle to a sliding Thigpen for the tie. This one was set for overtime.
Steelers tight end Mark Bruener catches a late touchdown from Kordell Stewart.
New England would never see the ball in the sudden death overtime. Stewart would find Hawkins for a 41-yard gain, and then Bruener for 16 more. After two Bettis runs, Bill Cowher would send Johnson out to win it. His kick would split the uprights, and Pittsburgh would win their third straight, 24-21.
13 Dec 1997: Kicker Norm Johnson #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with holder Mike Tomczak #18 during the Steelers 24-21 win over the New England Patriots at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport
