What was the biggest upset the Steelers pulled off and would beating Kansas City on Sunday be the biggest?

[saturdaysarebetter]

What was the biggest upset the Steelers pulled off and would beating Kansas City on Sunday be the biggest?

In modern times, the Steelers have always been competitive to great so the upsets may not be huge but upsets nonetheless. The upsets that come to my mind in the post-season are in chronological order:

1974 AFC Championship Game at Oakland
1984 Divisional playoffs at Denver
2005 Divisional playoffs at Indianapolis
2005 AFC Championship Game at Denver

I would think we were underdogs in all those games. Any others that come to mind?

What was the biggest upset the Steelers pulled off and would beating Kansas City be the biggest?

[tube517]

The 74 team was young and underdogs but up and coming not a huge upset

The 05 team would have been 13-3 if not for Tommy Pick 6 Maddox twice losing starting for an injured Ben. They were a #6 seed but not giant underdogs.

The 84 team with a Magnum PI wannabe at QB was definitely a team that "didn't belong" in the AFCC game and beat a 13-3 Denver team that would later win the AFC 4 times. Winning in Denver is never easy and that 9-7 team did it and Noll outcoached Reeves.

1989 team making the playoffs was unreal due to the horrendous start of the season. And Walter at QB.

[vasteeler]

This will certainly be the biggest one!

[Dwinsgames]

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...8410140sfo.htm

[ETL]

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...8410140sfo.htm

I was thinking this. Brian Hinkle’s interception sealing the deal.

[Fire Goodell]

This will certainly be the biggest one!

That’s what she said

[vasteeler]

That’s what she said

walked right into that one... Lol

[tube517]

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...8410140sfo.htm

Hell yeah! Chuck Noll took down the mighty 49ers

[DesertSteel]

We were the first 6 seed to ever win the Super Bowl... now it's time to be the first 7 seed to do so...

[Fire Goodell]

The team nobody wants to play is a team with nothing to lose

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

Beating the Colts in Indy in 2005 was a bigger upset. That was the second best Colts team Manning ever had. They had the second best defense in the NFL. Colts had 4x HOF in Peyton, Harrison, Wayne and Edgerrin. Pretty ridiculous. Kelce probably a HOF and Mahomes for sure but not Hill.

Imagine playing Mahomes but he had a defense behind him allowing 16 points per game- that was the 2005 Colts. KC is the most over hyped team in the NFL.

[Mojouw]

The gap between the Steelers and Chiefs is bigger than gap between the Steelers and Colts.

[pczach]

The gap between the Steelers and Chiefs is bigger than gap between the Steelers and Colts.

I agree. The 2005 Steeler team was strong. They simply got healthy late in the year.

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

I agree. The 2005 Steeler team was strong. They simply got healthy late in the year.

The 2005 Steelers are way better than the 2021 Steelers I agree. But the 2005 Colts were way better than the 2021 Chiefs. This Chiefs defense finished 27th in yards allowed... Chiefs have allowed 25 ppg since 2018 with Mahomes from 2004-06 the Colts allowed 18 (3rd best and ahead of the 5th best Steelers over that span).

[tube517]

The gap between the Steelers and Chiefs is bigger than gap between the Steelers and Colts.

Such a small and precise statement went way over some people on this board lol.

[86WARD]

Such a small and precise statement went way over some people on this board lol.

Yep…

[oneforthetoe]

I still think about 84. We were taking it to the Dolphins for a half. Frank Pollard was a machine. I can never stop wondering what would have happened if we would have met the 49's in the Super Bowl. Sure, they were a better team than us and had a (cough) slight advantage at QB, but we beat them at their house in the only loss they suffered that year. That Steelers defense was kind of a preview of things to come. A lot of fans seem to think that Dick Lebeau switched the Steelers to 3- 4 defense but I'm sure as most of you know it was Noll. If I recall correctly, it was around 82 or 83 that he made that switch. I don't think the 84 Steelers were running any type of zone blitz but the style of 3-4 defense they were playing did seem to match up well vs the west coast offense.

We probably would have lost but if a 17-year-old Steeler's fan can dream, then he can hold on to that dream when he is 54.

Edited to ad: Just looking at the stats Merryweather had 15 sacks that year. I knew he was good for short time he was here but the number surprised me.

Stallworth had 80 catches from a combination of Malone, Scott Cambell and David Woodley.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...984_roster.htm

[Edman]

The 2005 Steelers were a major upset only because of just how good the Colts were that season.


The 2021 Steelers on the other hand, are one of the worst playoff teams in the modern NFL. A complete collection of flotsam. The only team you can definitively say they do not belong in the playoffs and even the most diehard Steelers homer won't disagree with you. At least with the 2005 Steelers and 2007 Giants they had real talent on the team. The 2021 Steelers have nothing of note.

They have people calling this game as close to a bye week for the Chiefs and even asking them to rest their starters. That's how weak and ineffectual this Steelers squad is.

Winning tomorrow night would be among the most unthinkable and improbable wins in the NFL.

[Steeler-in-west]

For sure, Bubby and a young semi talented Steelers team over Warren Moon’s heavily favored Oilers in the house of pain. Glanville was fired after that game.

if this squad with over the hill Ben can pull off the upset tomorrow I think they trump that 89 upset

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

The 2005 Steelers were a major upset only because of just how good the Colts were that season.


The 2021 Steelers on the other hand, are one of the worst playoff teams in the modern NFL. A complete collection of flotsam. The only team you can definitively say they do not belong in the playoffs and even the most diehard Steelers homer won't disagree with you. At least with the 2005 Steelers and 2007 Giants they had real talent on the team. The 2021 Steelers have nothing of note.

They have people calling this game as close to a bye week for the Chiefs and even asking them to rest their starters. That's how weak and ineffectual this Steelers squad is.

Winning tomorrow night would be among the most unthinkable and improbable wins in the NFL.

The only reason the Steelers are in the playoffs is because Jacksonville was written off as a free win by "experts."

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

The 2005 Colts that the Steelers beat went on win the Super Bowl the next year. That Colts team
had one of the best offenses and best defenses in the NFL.

Sorry, I don't buy that beating the 3rd best team in the AFC which won't even make the AFC Championship game this year is as big an upset as beating a Super Bowl team as good as the Colts was.

To recap: Super Bowl Champion > 3rd best AFC team

...

It's crazy how much talent the 2021 Steelers have. The Steelers issues are coaching related.

[86WARD]

The 2005 Colts that the Steelers beat went on win the Super Bowl the next year. That Colts team
had one of the best offenses and best defenses in the NFL.

Sorry, I don't buy that beating the 3rd best team in the AFC which won't even make the AFC Championship game this year is as big an upset as beating a Super Bowl team as good as the Colts was.

To recap: Super Bowl Champion > 3rd best AFC team

...

It's crazy how much talent the 2021 Steelers have. The Steelers issues are coaching related.

Again…Fake News.

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

Colts had 7x All-Pros in 2005. They won the Super Bowl in 2006.

No intelligent person is picking KC to go to the Super Bowl this year- just fantasy football nerds and PFF junkies.

Who are the Chiefs All-Pros this year? Patrick Mahomes and Creed Humphrey.

If the Steelers had taken Creed Humphrey instead of Freiermuth and Kendrick Green they would barely be underdogs at all.

It's like Steve Smith Sr. said, "Losing is like the stench of cigarette smoke. You don't even recognize it after a while."

And look at this fan base whining like losers about having to face the third best team in the AFC when we already beat the 2nd best team in the AFC this year. This Chiefs team is not good, and this is their last run with Kelce in his prime.

All of the Steeers problems are self-inflicted: failing to develop OL and DL depth, failing to draft the best C prospect available to the Steelers since Pouncey at a perfect time, can't even start the correct punter, playing nickel even when it is stupid to do so etc. It's all coaching. In terms of talent this Steelers teammis just as good as the 2005 Steelers minus a functioning OL. It's coaching.

[Dwinsgames]

well considering we handled the Titans who are the number 1 seed ...... and the titans handled the chiefs ...... I mean it is possible , there is a chance ....

[Mojouw]

Such a small and precise statement went way over some people on this board lol.

And it’s still rocketing over some heads.

Didn’t think it was a controversial point. Guess I overestimated some things.

[Fire Goodell]

well considering we handled the Titans who are the number 1 seed ...... and the titans handled the chiefs ...... I mean it is possible , there is a chance ....

We did but this time big boy will be playing, not sure we can stop him this time

[86WARD]

Who are the Chiefs All-Pros this year? Patrick Mahomes and Creed Humphrey.

More Fake News…

[Lloydwoodsonjr]

More Fake News…

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...021/allpro.htm

[86WARD]

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...021/allpro.htm

You’re serious?

[fansince'76]

You’re serious?

LOL, no doubt. Hint: The AP All-Pro selections are the only ones that matter. PFF is a fantasy football nerd site.