5 most insane Wild Card weekend games in Steelers history

PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 02: Ben Roethlisberger #7 and Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate Ward's second touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2, 2007 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 02: Ben Roethlisberger #7 and Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrate Ward's second touchdown catch against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2, 2007 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
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Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson bursts through a hole against Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half of the AFC Wild Card Playoffs. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Steelers have played in some insane and memorable Wild Card games in our history 

According to Merriam-Webster, the word insane has several meanings, one of which is this: Exceptionally good or impressive.  The Steelers have certainly played in some exceptionally good Wild Card games, despite not always emerging as the victor.

As with any list, the games were are about to discuss as being the top five insane Wild Card games are subject to debate.  Just to level-set, when I say Steelers history, I am referring to the modern era.  What I can tell you is that I watched each one of the games we are about to discuss.

With that in mind, let’s see what game came in at number five.

The Steelers traveled to play the Cincinnati Bengals on Wild Card weekend following the 2005 season

Despite finishing the 2005 season with a record of eleven wins and five losses, we found ourselves playing our Division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals, on the road.  The Bengals were playing well that season and we were on a four-game winning streak, but I still did not feel totally confident about our chances.

After being down by ten points heading into the second quarter, I remember thinking this:  Let’s just sustain a drive and score points. We need to get something on the board.  In the second quarter, we finally got on the board to close the deficit to three points.

We again found ourselves down by ten points. This time I was thinking that the season my end in Cincinnati.  Fortunately, it did not.  The Steelers would go on to score twenty-four points, hold the Bengals to zero points and win the game pretty handily.

Who knows how the game would have played out had Carson Palmer not gotten injured.  We will never know and I am grateful for that as the Steelers went on to win Super Bowl XL.

Let’s see what game came in at number four.

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