With a new NFL season beginning, it is always interesting to look back on previous games played against the Steelers opponents. I will continue to share each week some of the interesting parts of Steelers history as the season progresses.
Atlanta has an interesting history behind its team. When Atlanta sought a professional football franchise in the sixties, the city found itself in an unusual situation. The city was granted a franchise in both the NFL and the rival AFL while the feud between the leagues continued.
As the city boomed and primarily to attract an MLB team, a new sports stadium was built. The city also found itself in the fortunate position of having the competing football leagues keen to grant a franchise to the city.
Pete Rozelle, the NFL’s commissioner, described Atlanta as an ideal warm weather addition for the league. In 1965 a record $8.5 million was paid to place an expansion team in Atlanta and a year later the Falcons played their first season in the NFL.
The meetings between the Falcons and the Steelers show a healthy 15-2-1 advantage to Pittsburgh. Even on the road the Steelers are 8-2.
The Steelers won their fifth Lombardi trophy in 2005 when Ben Roethlisberger led the team to victory in Detroit. The team would enter the following season as the reigning Super Bowl champions and with more expected from them.
Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl. In the offseason, he again made the headlines, but for the wrong reasons. He was involved in a motorcycle accident. Fortunately for the team and fans, he made a full recovery.
After the retirement of Jerome Bettis, the Steelers had full confidence in the ability of Willie Parker as a replacement. They signed him to a new four-year contract making him one of the highest paid players on the roster.
With expectations high, the Steelers went winless in preseason for the first time in nearly two decades. The Steelers also approached the new season with much speculation about Coach Cowher retiring.
Their game plan for the season opener suffered a huge setback when Roethlisberger was forced to have an emergency appendectomy four days before the game. Despite this challenge, Charlie Batch led the team to a 28-17 victory over the Dolphins and the Steelers looked solid enough to provide a robust defense of their championship.
When Roethlisberger returned for their next game in Jacksonville, the team lost. Two more defeats against the Bengals and the Chargers before a win over the Chiefs saw them slump to 2-3 before travelling to Atlanta.
The Falcons were led by a six-year veteran quarterback Michael Vick who moved them to 3-2 before the Steelers came to town. The Falcons were coming off a disappointing season and hoping to improve on their 8-8 finish.
The Falcons had managed only one win in their previous thirteen contests against the Steelers and that was in 1970.
Hines Ward was returning to his hometown, playing against the team he had followed as a boy.
The (2-3) Steelers at the (3-2) Falcons; October 22, 2006
The Falcons went three and out on their first possession, but the good start for the Steelers soon turned into a disaster. When Santonio Holmes caught the ensuing punt, he fumbled the ball when he was hit. Adam Jennings recovered for Atlanta on Pittsburgh’s 22.
Gifted such good field position, Michael Vick soon found Alge Crumpler in the end zone for a touchdown and with Morten Andersen’s successful point after attempt Atlanta went 7-0 ahead.
On the subsequent kickoff, Holmes returned the ball 42 yards to put the Steelers on their 42. Jeff Reed finished the drive with a 28-yard field goal.
A good kick return gave the Falcons a first down on their 46, but it was an opportunity for the Steelers defense to play their part. Troy Polamalu intercepted a Vick pass. With the Steelers back on offense, Roethlisberger capped a 70-yard drive with a touchdown pass of 11 yards to Hines Ward.
Following another stop by their defense, the Steelers went into the second quarter controlling the ball. Roethlisberger was finding his receivers while Willie Parker complemented the passing game. Roethlisberger completed the 90-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown completion to Heath Miller.
After another defensive display that saw the Steelers back on offense in quick time, Roethlisberger fumbled the first snap. This gift to Atlanta gave them a 25-yard field which took Vick six plays to throw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Crumpler.
While only three points behind, Atlanta Coach Mora decided to call for an onside kick. The Steelers Tyrone Carter muffed the kick catch as he was crushed by Jimmy Williams and the Falcons took over on their own 49. Seven plays later Vick completed a touchdown pass of 17 yards to Michael Jenkins and the Falcons were ahead for the first time.
With just two minutes left in the half, Roethlisberger took to the air. Completions to Cedrick Wilson, Ward, Verron Haynes, Sean Morey, and Holmes were followed by a 10-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington. The Steelers took a precarious 24-21 lead into the locker room.
The two teams exchanged possessions at the beginning of the second half before Roethlisberger was knocked out of the game. He was hit helmet on helmet by Chauncey Davis.
Charlie Batch replaced Roethlisberger before the Steelers impetus was further checked when Parker fumbled, presenting the Falcons with another short field. Five plays later, Atlanta were back in front 28-24.
Batch rallied his teammates and stunned the local fans with a 70-yard touchdown pass to Ward that returned the Steelers lead to three points. Vick replied with 31-yard touchdown pass giving the Falcons a 35-31 edge as the game went into the final quarter. The Falcons extended their lead with a 25-yard field goal.
With six minutes remaining, Batch proved his value as Roethlisberger’s backup. He led the team 79 yards on six plays finishing with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ward.
The game was tied 38-38 and the defense kept the Falcons to a 56-yard field goal attempt they missed. Polamalu gave Atlanta another opportunity for the win when he ran into the kicker, but they missed their second attempt, and the game went into overtime.
The Falcons won the coin toss and Vick ensured it paid off. On a third and nine from Atlanta’s 45, Vick stiff-armed the blitzing Polamalu and flicked a pass to Crumpler who ran 26 yards to take them into field goal range.
Anderson kicked a 32-yard field goal to give the Falcons their second win over the Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 38 at the Atlanta Falcons 41 (after overtime)
With eight catches, Hines Ward became the first Steelers receiver to reach 600 receptions. He also registered a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns. “I felt a little bitter the Falcons passed over me in the draft,” admitted Ward. “I really wanted to come out and make a name for myself.”
Michael Vick threw a career high four touchdowns, but the Falcons would finish the season 7-9.
Troy Polamalu blamed himself for the Vick run that gave the Falcons the game winning field goal opportunity. “That was totally my fault. I made a mistake on that play. I missed the tackle.”
“We kept fighting and battling,” said Aaron Smith. “We might not have won, but this team grew today.”
The Steelers finished the season a disappointing 8-8. Willie Parker ran for 1494 yards with 13 touchdowns.
On January 5, 2007, Coach Cowher confirmed the rumors and resigned.
