2001 Pittsburgh Steelers

In 2001, after 3 mediocre seasons in which they had a combined regular-season record of 22-26, the Steelers returned to the top seed in the AFC, rolling to a 13-3 record in their first season playing at Heinz Field. The Steelers went 7-1 in their new home stadium, with the only loss coming to the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens (a loss the Steelers avenged in the divisional playoffs).

However, for the third time in Bill Cowher's coaching tenure, the Steelers fell in the AFC Championship Game at home. This time, the eventual champion New England Patriots defeated the top-seeded Steelers.

Week 1 (Sunday September 9, 2001): at Jacksonville Jaguars
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 63,785
 * Referee: Mack Gentry
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Don Criqui (play by play), Craig James (color commentator)

Week 2 (Sunday September 16, 2001): vs. Cleveland Browns
Due to the September 11th attacks the National Football League postponed all games. It was played after the rest of the scheduled season had been completed.

Week 4 (Sunday September 30, 2001): at Buffalo Bills
at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Orchard Park, New York


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 72,874
 * Referee: Tom White
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 5 (Sunday October 7, 2001): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 45 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 62,335
 * Referee: Larry Nemmers
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Bill Macatee (play by play), Trevor Matich (color commentator)

This was the first game at Heinz Field.

Week 6 (Sunday October 14, 2001): at Kansas City Chiefs
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 78,413
 * Referee: Ron Blum
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 7 (Sunday October 21, 2001): at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 65,588
 * Referee: Ed Hochuli
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 8 (Monday October 29, 2001): vs. Tennessee Titans
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 9:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 50 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 63,763
 * Referee: Terry McAulay
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Dan Fouts & Dennis Miller (color commentators), Eric Dickerson & Melissa Stark (sideline reporters)

Week 9 (Sunday November 4, 2001): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 63 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 62,906
 * Referee: Bob McElwee
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 10 (Sunday November 11, 2001): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 73,218
 * Referee: Dick Hantak
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 11 (Sunday November 18, 2001): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:05 pm EST
 * Game weather: 56 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 62,644
 * Referee: Ron Winter
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Ian Eagle (play by play), Solomon Wilcots (color commentator)

Week 12 (Sunday November 25, 2001): at Tennessee Titans
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 68,801
 * Referee: Bill Leavy
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

Week 13 (Sunday December 2, 2001): vs. Minnesota Vikings
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 48 °F (Mostly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 62,661
 * Referee: Tony Corrente
 * TV announcers: (Fox) Dick Stockton (play by play), Troy Aikman & Daryl Johnston (color commentators)

Week 14 (Sunday December 9, 2001): vs. New York Jets
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:15 pm EST
 * Game weather: 41 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 62,884
 * Referee: Terry McAulay
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Week 15 (Sunday December 16, 2001): at Baltimore Ravens
at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland


 * Game time: 8:30 pm EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 69,506
 * Referee: Tom White
 * TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann & Paul Maguire (color commentators), Suzy Kolber (sideline reporter)

Week 16 (Sunday December 23, 2001): vs. Detroit Lions
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 45 °F (Light Rain)
 * Game attendance: 62,809
 * Referee: Johnny Grier
 * TV announcers: (Fox) Kenny Albert (play by play), Tim Green (color commentator)

Week 17 (Sunday December 30, 2001): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 20 °F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 63,751
 * Referee: Jeff Triplette
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

Week 18 (Sunday January 6, 2002): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 32 °F (Light Snow)
 * Game attendance: 59,189
 * Referee: Bernie Kukar
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Gus Johnson (play by play), Brent Jones (color commentator)

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 20, 2002): vs. Baltimore Ravens
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 12:30 pm EST
 * Game weather: 21 °F (Mostly Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 63,976
 * Referee: Tony Corrente
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Enberg (play by play), Dan Dierdorf (color commentator)

AFC Championship Game (Sunday January 27, 2002): vs. New England Patriots
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 12:30 pm EST
 * Game weather: 50 °F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 64,704
 * Referee: Ed Hochuli
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Greg Gumbel (play by play), Phil Simms (color commentator)

Pro Bowl Representatives
See: 2002 Pro Bowl


 * No. 10 Kordell Stewart-Quarterback
 * No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
 * No. 66 Alan Faneca-Offensive Guard
 * No. 86 Hines Ward-Wide Receiver
 * No. 92 Jason Gildon-Outside Linebacker
 * No. 97 Kendrell Bell-Inside Linebacker (as "need" player)