Heartbreak and Optimism in Denver

Another tough playoff loss in Denver got me thinking: that has never been a good post-season spot for the Steelers. Their 2005 AFCCG win is their lone post-season victory there, with losses in the 77, 89, 11, and now 15 seasons.

But of those losses, this is the one that most felt like a moral victory:

 

Usually when you play on the road, results aren't good in the playoffs.
Look at the Patriots and Bellicheck. 0-3 their last 3 road playoff games.

Look at the Super Bowl the #1 seeds out of both conferences.
This is the 3rd straight super bowl that this has happened.

Which is why you can't lose to bad teams, and need to go 12-4 or 13-3.

 

Thanks for posting. This brought back some memories. If Bubby Brister's talent level was anywhere close to his cockiness level he'd be in the HOF today. Lipps was the man, though!

 

Steelers also won in 84 with Mark Malone at QB in Elway's first playoff game in Denver. They then got lit up for 45 points in the AFC Championship Game by Dan Marino and the Dolphins.

That Steelers team was the only team to beat the eventual SB Champion 49ers.

 

Thanks for posting, brought back a lot of memories.

Preferred both team's uniforms back then...

Also, had forgotten quite how bad Brister's mechanics could look.

 

All I could think of when the OP stated 2005 was our lone post-season victory in Denver was my Sports Illustrated with Walter Abercrombie on the cover and that January 1985 win.

In addition to the Niners, we actually swept California that year. 4-0. Wins at Candlestick and the LA Coliseum and home wins over the LA Rams and the Chargers. I remember thinking that was pretty cool as a kid. Doubt that ever happened before. Probably rare enough for one team to even face all four in a single season.

 

Unless you are the Pittsburgh Steelers. There's no such thing as home field advantage at Heinz. That's why one of their most recent SB's came as a 6th seed.

 

YES!!!! Thank you for that correction! HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT THAT GAME???

 

I get your 6th seed point. But only two teams have ever done that and I'm glad we are one of them, and we were the 1st team to do that.

But overall history. 2008 Superbowl, we hosted the divisonal round, afc championship game, won both went to the Super Bowl and won.
we also did the same in 2010, but lost the Super Bowl.

 

They are 11-5 in the last 20 years at home in the playoffs. That is 69%, which also happens to be the exact same win percentage of home teams in the playoffs since the merger.

 

I think you are including some Three Rivers wins. I'm talking about Heinz and Pittsburgh teams in general recently. Pirates have had two play in games at home and get blown out. Penguins always one of the best teams in the East and can't win big games at Consol. Steelers lose to the Ravens 2 years ago. There's no such thing as home field advantage in Pittsburgh right now.

 

I have watched Cowher and Kordell lose at home far too many times in AFC championship games to really prove
that home field advantage is all that? LOL