With six Tremendous Bowl wins, the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the crucial profitable franchises in NFL historical past. However regardless of all their success, there may be one factor they’ve by no means been in a position to pull off, which they’re going to have an opportunity to do in Week 7: Win a Thursday night time street sport towards a divisional opponent.
The Steelers have performed a complete of eight divisional Thursday video games on the street in franchise historical past, they usually’ve gone 0-8 in these video games, which incorporates going 0-6 below Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers had an opportunity to finish the streak final yr however ended up shedding a 24-19 shocker to the Cleveland Browns in a sport the place Pittsburgh was favored by 3.5 factors.
The Steelers may have an opportunity to finish their inexplicable shedding streak after they journey to Cincinnati to tackle the Bengals in a Thursday sport the place Pittsburgh is favored by 5.5 factors, per Caesars Sportsbook.
The streak began in 1980 with a loss to the Houston Oilers, and it is now been occurring for 45 years.
|
Oilers (AFC Central) |
Oilers 6-0 |
Dec. 4, 1980 |
|
Jaguars (AFC Central) |
Jaguars 20-6 |
Dec. 2, 1999 |
|
Browns (AFC North) |
Browns 13- |
Dec. 10, 2009 |
|
Ravens (AFC North) |
Ravens 22-20 |
Nov. 28, 2013 |
|
Ravens (AFC North) |
Ravens 26-6 |
Sept. 11, 2014 |
|
Browns (AFC North) |
Browns 21-7 |
Nov. 14, 2019 |
|
Browns (AFC North) |
Browns 29-17 |
Sept. 22, 2022 |
|
Browns (AFC North) |
Browns 24-19 |
Nov. 21, 2024 |
That is 0-8 straight up and 1-7 towards the unfold.
This streak has been occurring for therefore lengthy that the Steelers have performed two divisional video games towards opponents who aren’t even of their division anymore (Jaguars and Oilers/Titans).
It is not simply divisional video games, although, Thursday nights have usually been a nightmare for the Steelers. Because the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Steelers are 3-15 in Thursday street video games, which is the worst profitable proportion of any NFL group in that span.
This is a have a look at the three groups which were the worst in Thursday street video games since 1970 (through CBS Sports activities Analysis):
1. Steelers: 3-15 (.167)
2. Browns: 2-8 (.200)
3. Jets: 3-11 (.214)
The truth that the Browns and Jets are on that listing is no surprise to anybody, however seeing the Steelers lumped in there may be positively stunning. Total, the Steelers are 12-18 on Thursdays in franchise historical past.
Should you have a look at simply the video games performed since Tomlin was employed, the numbers do not get any higher. The Steelers coach is 2-9 on the street in Thursday video games, together with 0-6 towards divisional opponents. Because the begin of the 2019 season, the Steelers are 1-5 on Thursday night time.
If anybody will help the Steelers snap this streak, it is Aaron Rodgers. The four-time NFL MVP has gained 11 Thursday night time video games in his profession, which is the second-most in league historical past. (He has a Thursday document of 11-5.) The one QB with extra Thursday wins is Tom Brady, and Rodgers may tie him with a win over the Bengals.
It is virtually becoming that Rodgers may tie Brady as a result of he’ll be tying one other Brady mark as quickly as he takes the sector in Cincinnati. The matchup between Rodgers and Joe Flacco will mark simply the second pairing ever of two quarterbacks over the age of 40. The one different time it occurred got here in 2020 when Brady and Drew Brees performed one another 3 times whereas enjoying for the Buccaneers and Saints.
Brady additionally has probably the most wins of any QB ever towards the Steelers with 12, which is value noting as a result of Flacco is true behind him. If the Bengals pull the upset, not solely will Pittsburgh’s nightmare shedding streak proceed, however Flacco will tie Brady for probably the most wins ever over the Steelers.
