The Steelers have a long history of memorable moments throughout the years, and during the 2025 season we are going to highlight those moments against each week's opponent.
This week, we feature the home games against the Cleveland Browns.
Steelers 15, Cleveland Browns 9
September 24, 1978
The NFL passed an overtime rule in 1974, and it would take four years for the Steelers to win a game in OT.
And it was a big one.
Anytime you defeat a divisional rival is huge, but doing so in overtime takes it to another level.
The game pitted two 3-0 teams, and through 60 minutes it was a battle of field goal kickers. Steelers kicker Roy Gerela and Browns kicker Don Cockroft accountedfor all of the scoring in regulation.
The game was tied 9-9 with 37 seconds left and the Browns had the ball at the Steelers 36-yard line. All they needed was a few more yards to put Cockroft, one of the NFL's most accurate kickers, into his comfort zone.
Quarterback Brian Sipe went to running back Michael Pruitt in the flat, linebacker Jack Lambert read the play and blew it up for an eight-yard loss, knocking the Browns out of FG range, and the game went into overtime.
The Steelers won the toss, and running back Franco Harris converted a fourth-and-1 at the 50-yard line, and another from the Browns 37-yard line. Quarterback Terry Bradshaw called '84 Reverse Gadget Pass,' where he handed off to running back Rocky Bleier, who handed off to Lynn Swann, who pitched it back to Bradshaw, who threw it to tight end Bennie Cunningham for the game-winning touchdown.
Steelers 17, Cleveland Browns 10
December 22, 1991
It's not a game that would make you think twice, but it is a game that has great historical value.
In Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Noll's final game with the Steelers, he led his team to a win over the Cleveland Browns, who were coached by Bill Belichick at the time.
While Noll retired just four days later, the win was one that will always hold a special place in the hearts of every Steelers player on the field that day.
During the game, a rare photo of Noll and his wife, Marianne, from the team's Christmas party was shown on the Three Rivers Stadium scoreboard and fans responded with thunderous applause.
Receiver Dwight Stone pulled in a 65-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Bubby Brister for a 10-3 lead.
In classic fashion, the game was a defensive battle, with Richard Shelton's 57-yard interception return for a touchdown sealing the 17-10 win.
Steelers 36, Cleveland Browns 33
AFC Wild Card Game
January 5, 2003
Quarterback Tommy Maddox led the Steelers to an improbable come-from-behind win in the AFC Wild Card Game.
Maddox completed 30 of 48 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns while pulling the Steelers out of a 24-7 deficit to a 36-33 victory. All three touchdown passes came in the last 19 minutes of the game.
Receiver Antwaan Randle El got the Steelers on the board in the second quarter with a 66-yard punt return to pull the black and gold within a touchdown at 14-7. But the Browns kept hammering.
Backup quarterback Kelly Holcomb had a stellar performance for the Browns, throwing for 429 yards and three touchdowns. Despite Holcomb's heroics, the Browns defense couldn't hold off a late surge by Maddox.
Maddox relied on receivers Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress, who combined for 17 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns. Maddox connected with Burress for a six-yard touchdown, tight end Jerame Tuman for a three-yard touchdown, and Ward for a five-yard touchdown to cut the Browns lead to 33-28.
With just 54 seconds to play, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala took it in from five yards out, and Randle El hit Tuman for the two-point conversion and 36-33 win.
Steelers 30, Cleveland Browns 27
September 7, 2014
The Steelers started off the 2014 season by getting an early lead on the Cleveland Browns, going into the locker room at halftime up 27-3 and things looking good.
But the game was definitely a tale of two halves.
The Browns came out in the second half on fire, and before the Steelers knew what happened the game was tied 27-27 in the fourth quarter.
It took every second of the 60-minute game for the Steelers to put the Browns away. With literally no time left on the clock, Shaun Suisham hit on a 41-yard field goal, giving the Steelers a 30-27 win and sending them to the locker room at the end of the game breathing a sigh of relief.
"Well, that was exciting, wasn't it?" said Coach Mike Tomlin "It's great to get a win. We did what was necessary. The game was a tale of two halves, but I like the team's ability to smile in the face of adversity, but to go beyond that (and) to stand and make significant plays at significant moments on defense, really to get the ball back and on offense to put ourselves in position to kick the game winner and then the field goal unit executed there at the end. A lot of positives to pull from a circumstance like that, (but) negatives to get in those circumstances, but it's great to make the necessary corrections with a 'W.'
On the final drive, the Steelers took over with just 47 ticks on the clock from their own 43-yard line. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit receiver Markus Wheaton for an 11-yard gain. With just 20 seconds to play, Roethlisberger connected with Wheaton again, this time for 20 yards on a play where Roethlisberger made some adaptations. With five seconds to play Roethlisberger spiked the ball to bring on Suisham for the game-winning field goal.
"It was an adjustment, we changed the play," said Roethlisberger. "To me that is why we put the work in, and why the credit goes to those guys. That's where it comes from, we make an adjustment last minute no one blinks, no one flinches, they run the proper play, and we get into field goal range. My hat goes off to Markus Wheaton for making the adjustment. I threw it before he came out of his break. He turned his head and found the ball and made a great catch. Kudos to him."
