1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Infobox NFL season
team = Pittsburgh Steelers
year = 1996
record = 10-6
division_place = 1st in AFC Central
coach = Bill Cowher
stadium = Three Rivers Stadium
playoffs = L - Divisional Playoff to New England
previous = 1995
next = 1997

Game Summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1996): at Jacksonville Jaguars

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=3
R2=3
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Jaguars
H1=7
H2=7
H3=0
H4=10"at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 70,210
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Jacksonville - Jackson 38 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 48
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 29
* Jacksonville - McCardell 15 pass from Brunell (Hollis kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 23
* Jacksonville - FG Hollis 52
* Jacksonville - J. Stewart|Stewart 1 run (Hollis kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1996): vs. Baltimore Ravens

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Ravens
R1=7
R2=10
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=14
H3=3
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 75°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 57,241
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Woodson 43 interception return (Johnson kick)
* Baltimore - Testaverde 6 run (Stover kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Baltimore - Alexander 17 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
* Pittsburgh - C. Johnson 5 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 20 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Baltimore - FG Stover 29
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 35

Week 3 (Monday September 16, 1996): vs. Buffalo Bills

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bills
R1=3
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=7
H2=17
H3=0
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 58°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 59,002
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

* Buffalo - FG Christie 31
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 30
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 43 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Lake 47 interception return (Johnson kick)
* Buffalo - FG Christie 45

Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1996): Bye Week

Week 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. Houston Oilers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oilers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=14
R4=2
Home=Steelers
H1=17
H2=3
H3=0
H4=10"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 59°F (Mostly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,608
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Stewart 16 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 33
* Pittsburgh - C. Johnson 62 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 36
* Houston - Davis 4 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick)
* Houston - Lewis 36 interception return (Del Greco kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG N. Johnson 36
* Pittsburgh - Perry 13 interception return (Johnson kick)
* Houston - Safety, Edge ran out of end zone

Week 6 (Monday October 7, 1996): at Kansas City Chiefs

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=6
R3=8
R4=3
Home=Chiefs
H1=0
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0"at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 79,189
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

* Kansas City - Allen 6 run (Stoyanovich kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 21
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 32
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 5 run (Bruener pass from Tomczak)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 43

Week 7 (Sunday October 13, 1996): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bengals
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=7
Home=Steelers
H1=3
H2=0
H3=7
H4=10"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: 64°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,875
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Randy Cross (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 33
* Cincinnati - FG Pelfrey 19
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 32 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 22
* Pittsburgh - Woodson 42 fumble return (Johnson kick)
* Cincinnati - Pickens 3 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)

Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1996): at Houston Oilers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Oilers
H1=3
H2=6
H3=0
H4=14"at Astrodome, Houston, Texas"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 50,337
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Houston - FG Del Greco 22
* Pittsburgh - C. Johnson 70 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 26
* Houston - FG Del Greco 32
* Houston - FG Del Greco 48
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 29
* Houston - W. Davis 34 pass from Chandler (Del Greco kick)
* Houston - George 2 run (Del Greco kick)

Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1996): at Atlanta Falcons

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=3
R2=0
R3=14
R4=3
Home=Falcons
H1=7
H2=3
H3=0
H4=7"at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 58,760
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 27
* Atlanta - Tobeck 1 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
* Atlanta - FG Andersen 41
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 112 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Atlanta - Emanuel 4 pass from Hebert (Andersen kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 20

Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1996): vs. St. Louis Rams

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Rams
R1=0
R2=3
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=7
H3=14
H4=7"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 38°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,148
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (FOX) Joe Buck (play by play), Bill Maas (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Bettis 3 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 50 run (Johnson kick)
* Saint Louis - FG Lohmiller 25
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 7 run (Johnson kick)
* Saint Louis - FG Lohmiller 27
* Pittsburgh- Pegram 91 kickoff return (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 2 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Pegram 17 run (Johnson kick)

Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1996): at Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=17
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Bengals
H1=3
H2=14
H3=7
H4=10"at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 57,265
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Cincinnati - FG Pelfrey 32
* Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 46
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 6 run (Johnson kick)
* Cincinnati - Carter 1 run (Pelfrey kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Cincinnati - Dunn 90 kickoff return (Pelfrey kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Cincinnati - Bieniemy 33 run (Pelfrey kick)
* Cincinnati - Carter 12 pass from Blake (Pelfrey kick)
* Cincinnati - FG Pelfrey 34

Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1996): vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Jaguars
R1=0
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=14
H3=0
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 50°F (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 58,879
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Thigpen 12 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 3 run (Johnson kick)
* Jacksonville - FG Hollis 40
* Pittsburgh - Lake 85 fumble return (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Thigpen 28 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)

Week 13 (Monday November 25, 1996): at Miami Dolphins

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=3
R2=7
R3=7
R4=7
Home=Dolphins
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=0"at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 73,849
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

* Miami - McDuffie 2 pass from Marino (Nedney kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 47
* Miami - Jackson 61 interception return (Nedney kick)
* Pittsburgh- Lester 5 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 5 run (Johnson kick)
* Miami - FG Nedney 41
* Pittsburgh - Mills 20 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 1, 1996): at Baltimore Ravens

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=3
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Ravens
H1=7
H2=17
H3=0
H4=7"at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 51,882
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Baltimore - Odgen 1 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 30 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh- FG Johnson 22
* Baltimore - Alexander 24 pass from Testaverd (Stover kick)
* Baltimore - Byner 7 run (Stover kick)
* Baltimore - FG Stover 40
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 5 pass from Tomzak (Johnson kick)
* Baltimore - Green 3 pass from Testaverde (Stover kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1996): vs. San Diego Chargers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chargers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=6
H2=7
H3=0
H4=3"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 40°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 56,368
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 49
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 39
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 11 pass from Tomzak (Johnson kick)
* San Diego - FG Carney 25
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 21

Week 16 (Sunday December 15, 1996): vs. San Francisco 49ers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=49ers
R1=16
R2=6
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=8
H4=7"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather: 38°F (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 59,823
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (FOX) Pat Summerall (play by play), John Madden (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* San Francisco - Rice 4 pass from S. Young (Wilkins kick)
* San Francisco - Safety, B. Young sacked Tomczak in end zone
* San Francisco - Rice 4 pass from S. Young (Wilkins kick)
* San Francisco - Owens 20 pass from S. Young (Wilkins kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (C. Johnson pass from Tomczak)
* San Francisco - FG Wilkins 22
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 42 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)

Week 17 (Sunday December 22, 1996): at Carolina Panthers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=14
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Panthers
H1=7
H2=2
H3=6
H4=3"at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 72,217
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Beasley Reece (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Carolina - Walls 9 pass from Collins (Kasay kick)
* Carolina - Safety, Tomczak intentional grounding in end zone
* Pittsburgh - Hastings 6 pass from Tomczak (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 80 run (Johnson kick)
* Carolina - FG Kasay 35
* Carolina - FG Kasay 30
* Carolina - FG Kasay 29

Post Season

Game Summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoff (Sunday December 29, 1996): vs. Indianapolis Colts

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Colts
R1=0
R2=14
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=10
H2=3
H3=8
H4=21"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 12:30 PM EST
* Game weather: 60°F (Partly Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 58,078
* Referee: Ed Hochuli
* TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Phil Simms & Paul Maguire (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 29
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 50
* Indianapolis - Daniel 59 interception return (Blanchard kick)
* Indianapolis - Bailey 9 pass from Harbaugh (Blanchard kick)
* Pittsburgh - Bettis 1 run (Farquhar pass from Stewart)
* Pittsburgh- Bettis 1 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Witman 31 run (Johnson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stewart 3 run (Johnson kick)

AFC Divisional Playoff (Sunday January 5, 1997): at New England Patriots

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=3
R4=0
Home=Patriots
H1=14
H2=7
H3=0
H4=7"at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts"

* Game time: 12:30 PM EST
* Game weather: 40°F (Fog)
* Game attendance: 60,188
* Referee: Bernie Kukar
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Sam Wyche & Randy Cross (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

* New England - Martin 2 run (Vinatieri kick)
* New England - Byars 34 pass from Bledsoe (Vinatieri kick)
* New England - Martin 78 run (Vinatieri kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Johnson 29
* New England - Martin 23 run (Vinatieri kick)

Honors and Awards

Pro Bowl Representatives

* #26 Rod Woodson-Cornerback
* #36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
* #37 Carnell Lake-Safety
* #63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
* #94 Chad Brown-Outside Linebacker
* #99 Levon Kirkland-Inside Linebacker

References