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 New York Jets.
Steelers 20, New York Jets 17
January 15, 2005
Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium)
It took longer than normal for the Steelers to come out on top in this game, but in overtime it was kicker Jeff Reed who would come through big-time with a game-winning field goal, sending the Steelers to the AFC Championship game.
"What can you say about the game? The first thing that comes to mind is the effort by the New York Jets," said Coach Bill Cowher. "They are a football team. They played hard. They were opportunistic. But we won the game. We are going to have to play a lot better, there is no question about it. We were fortunate. We recognize that.
"Let me say this about our football team, we are resilient, even through everything that took place. There was never anything on that sideline or in that locker room or at halftime, we were just focusing on the next series, the next play and doing what you have to do. We were fortunate but we won the game, and that is what is most important."
The Steelers jumped out to a 10-0 lead courtesy of a 45-yard field goal by Jeff Reed and three-yard touchdown run by running back Jerome Bettis. The defense did their part as well, forcing two punts on the Jets first two drives, and then safety Troy Polamalu ending their third when he intercepted quarterback Chad Pennington.
Returner Santana Moss would do damage for the Jets on special teams, returning a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, 10-10.
Splash plays continued to haunt the Steelers when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted by safety Reggie Tongue, who returned it 86 yards for a touchdown and the Jets led for the first time, 17-10.
"It was one of those plays where I stepped up in the pocket and probably could have run," said Roethlisberger. "I saw Antwaan Randle El, he cleared a linebacker and looked at me, so I was ready to throw it to him quick. Then he saw the safety coming and tried to go behind the safety, but the safety came up because the ball was in the air. It was one of those things where I tried to do too much. I should have run and got a five-yard gain and kept the drive alive."
The Steelers fought back. Roethlisberger executed a 12-play, 66-yard drive to tie the game, 17-17, when he hit receiver Hines Ward for a four-yard touchdown.
With a final opportunity to win in overtime, Roethlisberger was intercepted by cornerback David Barrett, who returned it to the Steelers 37-yard line.
"As a quarterback, when you have two minutes in a tie game with timeouts left, you love that situation," said Roethlisberger. "It was a miss-read on my part. I thought Plax (Plaxico Burress) was going to go a little higher than he did, but he came flat, which was the right thing to do. I made a mistake and threw it too high."
The Jets moved the ball to the Steelers 24-yard line, bringing on Doug Brien for a 43-yard field goal to end the game. While Steelers Nation held their collective breath, Brien's kick went wide left, his second miss of the day, to send the game into overtime.
After holding the Jets, Roethlisberger would march the Steelers down the field, where Reed hit a game-winning 33-yard field goal, sending the fans into a frenzy.
"It's just great to be able to continue playing," said Ward, knowing the AFC Championship game was up next.
