With the 2025 season on the horizon, Steelers.com is bringing you Looking Back, where a game against each of our opponents is highlighted. In this edition, it's the Los Angeles Chargers.
Steelers 24, Los Angeles Chargers 22
October 10, 2005
Qualcomm Stadium
There is something about Monday Night Football that brings out something special in the Steelers and that was the case on this night.
It came down to the wire, but the Steelers pulled out a win in the closing seconds to head back to Pittsburgh happy.
But the news wasn't all good. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger injured his knee at the end of the game, an injury that would sideline him the following week.
It could have been worse, though.
"The news on Ben is very good," said Coach Bill Cowher. "We thought the injury could have been much worse when you look at the hit he took.
"It's good that we have Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch. As of now, Charlie is the starter by default."
Before he was hurt, though, he managed to get the Steelers in field goal range. On the final drive of the game, down 22-21 after running back LaDainian Tomlinson put the Chargers on top after a two-yard touchdown run, Roethlisberger set the stage.
A nine-yard completion to receiver Antwann Randle-El to the Chargers 29-yard line ended with a helmet to the knee for Roethlisberger.
"He laid it on the line," said receiver Hines Ward. "He's lying there hurt on the ground, and he said to me, 'At least we're in field goal range."'
Roethlisberger was taken off the field on a cart, replaced by quarterback Charlie Batch. A steady dose of running back Jerome Bettis gave kicker Jeff Reed a little more breathing room and he hit a 40-yard game-winning field goal with six seconds to play.
"I went to Charlie and said, 'Give it to me, look it all the way in, follow me as I go through, and I'll do the rest,'" said Bettis, who missed the previous three games with a calf injury and was hearing critics say he was washed up.
"The frustrating part for me was listening to everybody talk about, well, should I play," said Bettis. "I heard it from fans and media. I think I deserve more respect than I was getting.
"There was a possibility I could have played against New England, but we had a bye week after that, and they wanted to give me another two weeks. It turned out to be the best call."
Bettis finished the game with 17 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown.
"I feel great, I feel fresh," said Bettis. "And officially, I am back."
