Steelers Competing For NFL History
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - As the Steelers head into this weekend's game against the Baltimore Ravens, they are not only competing for a chance to advance in the post-season, they will also be playing for the chance to make history in the NFL.
If the Steelers beat the Ravens on Saturday, they will advance to their fifth AFC Championship game in the past 10 seasons. They'll also be one victory away from their third Super Bowl in six seasons. Only four franchises - including Pittsburgh - have won at least three Super Bowls with the same quarterback and core group of players.
The other four franchises are the San Francisco 49ers with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice; the Dallas Cowboys with Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith; the New England Patriots with Tom Brady; and the Steelers with Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and Mean Joe Greene.
The Steelers are among the NFL's most accomplished teams, but they are also among the oldest teams in the league. James Farrior and Charlie Batch are 36. Hines Ward and Aaron Smith will turn 35 in a few months. Chris Hoke is 34, Casey Hampton is 33, Brett Keisel is 32. Even Troy Polamalu will be 30 in April.
"We have one or two more years left in us," Ward said Wednesday. "That's why this one is a little more special to us. We're two games away and we know how hard it is to get in this position."
When asked about the potential of competing for NFL history, Smith said: "We'd love to be part of the same legacy the previous Steelers had. But I think, really, this group is so focused on just winning this one. When we're all said and done and we're 10 years out of this league, we can look back and think about what kind of special group this was. But I think this group is just motivated on winning games and winning Super Bowls right now."
As the Steelers head into Saturday's game against the Ravens, they have the numbers in their favor.
Roethlisberger has a winning record against the Ravens in his career. The last time the Steelers played the Ravens in the playoffs they beat them 23-14 in the AFC Championship game. Also, the Steelers have won five of their last six and seven of their last nine divisional playoff games.
