When we've needed help...

ok, will do more research and have more specifics on events involved later- but to my memory-

The Steelers have gone into the final week of the season needing help from at least one other team plus a win of their own to make the players in 8 different seasons. Note that I'm saying the final week here- as in 1976 and 2005 they got needed help prior to the final week's play.

In 1977, 1989, and 1993, they got the help needed.
In 1980, 1987, 2000, 2009, and 2013 they did not get the help they needed.

For now, I can assure you, that in 1977 and 1993 they also suffered galling defeats in the second to last game that had us all pretty down and angry.

 

Football gods don't want us in lol. Time to pack it up, I can almost bet we either lose and jets lose or we win and they do.

 

Ok, I dug this up from a thread from 2013- and I'll add about the horror that happened then to boot.

1977-YES
As in 1976 a playoff clinch would come in the final game of the season at the Astrodome, but this time it would be the Oilers victory that got the Steelers into the playoffs. A turbulent regular season filled with dissension, injuries, penalties, and turnovers found the Steelers again tied with Cincinnati for first place at the end of week 13. Only this time, the Bengals had the tiebreaker edge. However, the Oilers rose up and defeated the Bengals 21-16 to put the Steelers (who won a meaningless game against the Chargers later that day) into the playoffs as AFC Central champions.

1980-NO
Going into the last week of the season, the Steelers still had a shot to be the last wild card. They needed to beat San Diego on Monday Night Football, giving the Raiders the AFC West, while the Patriots had to lose on Sunday to the 1-14 Saints. New Orleans gave it their all, leading the Patriots 27-24 late in the fourth quarter before giving up 2 touchdowns in the final minutes. With nothing to play for, the Steelers played out the string in a listless 26-17 loss to San Diego that signified the end of an era.

1987-NO
Following a horrible stretch from 1985-1986 in which the team lost 10 of 12 games (sound familiar) the Steelers began to snap out of it a bit, despite horrible play from Mark Malone at Qb. The team went 5-4 to finish 1986 and then were in first place at 8-5 with 2 weeks to go in the 1987 strike season. However, a week 15 loss in Houston dropped them out of the lead. They still had a chance to go as a wild card if they beat Cleveland in the final Saturday game at home while Houston lost the next day to Cincinnati. Trailing the whole game, reserve DB Cornell Gowdy put the Steelers within reach with a pick 6 in the fourth quarter to make the score 19-13 Browns. Unfortunately, they never got the ball back, as the Browns somehow managed to run out the last 7 minutes thanks to a couple of bad Steelers penalties.

1989- YES
The Steelers started 0-2 by getting crushed by the Browns and Bengals in the first two weeks and then found themselves 4-6 after being shut out by the Bears. The team rallied to go 4-1 in the next five games, but had a slim chance to make the playoffs in the last game of the season. All that had to happen was a Steelers win over Tampa Bay, while the Raiders, Colts, Dolphins, and Bengals all had to lose. The Steelers won their game easily and then had to wait and watch until Monday night, when the Vikings beat the Bengals giving the Steelers the last wild card spot. (Note-it was a nothing to play for Chiefs team whose road win over the Dan Marino Dolphins made this all happen…)

1993- YES
An underachieving Steelers team looked dead after losing to Houston and Seattle , which dropped them to 8-7 with a week to go. The Steelers needed to beat Cleveland and then get help from the division champion Oilers against the Jets. The Steelers rallied after a big half time speech by Greg Lloyd to win their game, but the arch rival Oilers had nothing to play for after the Bills wrapped up home field advantage in the early game. Still, the Oilers beat the Jets 24-0 and the Steelers were in the playoffs.

2000-NO
In a season much like 2013, the team started badly at 0-3. Cowher put Kordell Stewart back at QB and the team began to win, finishing on a 9-4 run with promises of better things to come. In the final week the Steelers still had a shot to make the playoffs provided they beat San Diego and the Colts lost to the Vikings. The Steelers did finally put away a terrible Chargers team, but it was to no avail. The division champion Vikings pulled their stars in the second half and the Colts won easily to take the last wild card spot away.


2009-NO
The Steelers really had no one to blame but themselves this season. In one of the most aggravating slumps in franchise history, the team lost 5 in a row to find themselves at 6-7. The team rallied to win their next 2 with dramatic wins over the Ravens and Packers. In the final week, they needed to win against the Dolphins while the Ravens lost the late game to Oakland. The Steelers nearly blew a big lead in the fourth quarter (which they’d been doing all season) but hung on to beat the Dolphins 30-24. However, the Raiders, while hanging tough for 3 quarters, lost to the Ravens and the playoffs didn’t happen.

2013-NO
So close yet so far. Steelers were 7-8 but still had a chance to make it. The Steelers needed to beat Cleveland, which they did, while the Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers lost.
It looked soooo probable- the Ravens and Dolphins both lost (with a boost from Rex Ryan's Jets) The Chiefs rested all their good players yet only needed Ryan Succop to kick a very makeable FG at the end to put the Steelers in the playoffs. He missed it, as we well remember, and no playoffs.

 

I think we get the help next week I feel good about it right now. My mind could change though but I do feel that the Bills will beat the Jets in Buffalo and we will beat the Browns.

 

Thanks for posting, Jimmy. I feel like we are owed the help this year after the Chiefs-Raiders debacle in 2013.

 

Thanks for posting this Info Spiderman (this is what we locals called Jimmy)
when he played here. I wold like the Bills to do us a favor but I have my doubts.
This will be another lost season if we don't make the playoffs. Ben doesn't have too
many more years left.

 

After the Baltimore game..... It brings the road Cleveland game into doubt as well. Team needs to help themselves before help from others will matter. Nice research though. Thanks

 

Thanks for the info as always, Jimmy.

It's irritating to be in a position of needing help again.

 

Had to disagree.

"Deserve's got nothin' to do with it." --- William Munny

I want the Steelers to get in and ACTUALLY WIN A PLAYOFF GAME.

It looks like a longshot at this point and I feel a lot of responsibility goes to Tomlin...

But I still want the Steelers to make some noise in the playoffs.

 

Yeah and Cincinatti is winning by 14.... If the Bengals hold... And if the Steelers beat the Browns... and the Jets or Broncs lose in week 17 the Steelers are in!

Easy Peezy!

 

Chargers will DESTROY the Broncos in week 17.

Steelers use Woodley's cap space that has FINALLY cleared to sign disgruntled Charger Eric Weddle at FS and move Mitchell to SS, then draft Jalen Ramsey forming an elite defensive unit on the way to Superbowl LI.

Right?

 

Sounds good to me!

 

Steelers were only this close because of Tomlin. Remember certain impact players happened to go down in the thick of the season.


PS Tomlin didn't make bad throws all game.

 

Safety Eric Weddle sent to IR for Chargers' final game, fined $10K

 

Mike Tomlin vs Broncos: OK boys! Here is the game plan! Ben is going to go put there and throw bombs all day!

(Ben 40/55 380 Yards 3 TDs)

It worked! I'm a genius!

Mike Tomlin vs. Ravens: OK boys! First half sucked so now Ben go out there, throw bombs and win the game!

(Ben 17/22 160 yards 1 INT)

Ben lost the turnover battle today. Give credit to the Ravens.

 

Nobody saw Wheaton and Bryant literally drop the ball huh?

 

Screw the Ravens

 

Bengals are acting like its a playoff game. Now down 14-17

 

I agree but Tomlin couldn't stop complimenting how well they played in his presser... even though they had 12 penalties for 121 yards. Pretty undisciplined.

 

Not only did I see it, I could hear the "clank" off Wheaton's shoulder pad from my couch, lol.

That was a tough play but still a catch that should have been made. Bryant looked to be shoved by the CB causing him to lose his feet. That one would have been an amazing play had he caught it.

 

Frustrating yes, but not taking a sack and going for a higher percentage throw would be better options

 

Tied at 17 now. Even though a Bronco win hurts the Steelers, it kills the Bengals. They lose this game and they're not getting a bye and likely not going to have a healthy Dalton (insert your favorite Dalton playoff joke here). Misery loves company.