The Pittsburgh Steelers experienced a reawakening in the early 2000s, particularly during the 2001 and 2002 NFL seasons. In 2001, led by Head Coach Bill Cowher and a dominant defense, the Steelers finished the regular season with a 13-3 record, earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The team advanced to the AFC Championship Game, only to fall to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
Former Patriots head coach, Bill Belichick, who led the Patriots to victory during that era, recently released a book titled "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football" after stepping away from the NFL to coach at the college level. In the book, Belichick reflects on key moments from his career, including the matchups against the Steelers in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
"Our 2002 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers was the first game ever played at Gillette Stadium. The last time we had faced each other was the AFC Championship game that previous season, when we took the win, 24-17," Belichick wrote. "That was a massive upset. A matchup the Steelers would probably have won seven times out of 10, if not more."
This comment was written in reference to the 2001 AFC Championship Game, a pivotal matchup that saw the Patriots defeat the Steelers to advance to the Super Bowl. However, Belichick didn’t stop there, as he went on to discuss in greater depth the various challenges the Patriots faced when going up against the Steelers during both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
He shared a more detailed look into his thought process as a coach, reflecting on the tactical difficulties, and adjustments his team had to make in order to compete with a tough and Steelers team. His words reveal the level of respect he had for the Steelers' roster and coaching staff during that time, and how those battles influenced his overall approach.
"They were loaded in 2001 and again in 2002, and we couldn’t run the ball in the championship game," Belichick said. "We tried, and we didn’t like the chances of running ball in '02 any better. That day against the Steelers, we decided to spend a little of that confidence we had won against the Greatest Show on Turf several months earlier. We did something we had never done and what few teams ever do until time in the game is running out: we went to huddle and called 25 consecutive pass plays."
Belichick’s comments reflect the immense respect he had for the Steelers' defense during those early 2000s seasons, particularly their dominance in stopping the run. His decision to abandon the ground game entirely and throw 25 straight passes was both unconventional and telling as it highlighted just how prominent the Steelers' defensive line was.
Few teams in NFL history have forced an opponent to completely abandon their rushing attack, especially in the early stages of a game. This strategic shift, that Belichick believes was out of necessity, highlights the impact and fear the Steelers' defense instilled even in the most successful coaching minds of the era.
Steelers Had To Deal With Tom Brady During His Prime
Additionally, it’s important to note that the 2001-02 AFC Championship Game was the first time NFL legend Tom Brady appeared in such an AFC Championship. Brady was recognized for his exceptional poise and accuracy in the passing game, traits that would eventually define his Hall of Fame-worthy career. On the other side, the Steelers were more balanced and known for their powerful ground game, which had helped carry them deep into the playoffs. However, despite their strengths, Pittsburgh struggled to contain Brady and the Patriots' aerial attack. The combination of Brady's emerging dominance and the Patriots' aggressive passing approach proved to be too much, as the Steelers' defense simply could not come up with the stops needed to turn the tide.
Even later in his career, Brady continued to be a major pain to the Steelers. Whether playing with the Patriots or briefly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady often beat the Steelers in high-stakes matchups. His quick decision-making, precision passing, and ability to read Pittsburgh’s zone-heavy defense consistently gave him the upper hand.
