The 2013 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 81st in the National Football League (NFL), their 14th under general manager Kevin Colbert and their seventh under head coach Mike Tomlin.
The Steelers finished the season 8–8, competing with the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and San Diego Chargers for the final AFC playoff spot going into Week 17. The Steelers tried to prevent their worst start since 1968 in Week 4, but the Minnesota Vikings would defeat them 34–27 in London. Baltimore, Miami, and San Diego were all 8–7 going into Week 17, while Pittsburgh was 7–8. This meant that the Steelers had to win and the Ravens, Dolphins, and Chargers all had to lose. Despite a win from the Steelers and losses from the Ravens and Dolphins, the Chargers went on to beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27–24 in overtime, taking the final playoff spot. It was the first season since the 1999 and 2000 seasons that the Steelers would miss back-to-back postseasons.
Staff
Roster
Draft class
Notes The Steelers acquired this fourth-round selection in a trade that sent their 2014 third-round selection to the Cleveland Browns. Compensatory selection.
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Giants L 13–18 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 at Washington Redskins L 13–24 0–2 FedExField Recap 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 20–26 0–3 Heinz Field Recap 4 at Carolina Panthers L 10–25 0–4 Bank of America Stadium Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Tennessee Titans L 9–16 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–20 0–2 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 3 September 22 Chicago Bears L 23–40 0–3 Heinz Field Recap 4 September 29 at Minnesota Vikings L 27–34 0–4 Wembley Stadium Recap 5Bye 6 October 13 at New York Jets W 19–6 1–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 7 October 20 Baltimore Ravens W 19–16 2–4 Heinz Field Recap 8 October 27 at Oakland Raiders L 18–21 2–5 O.co Coliseum Recap 9 November 3 at New England Patriots L 31–55 2–6 Gillette Stadium Recap 10 November 10 Buffalo Bills W 23–10 3–6 Heinz Field Recap 11 November 17 Detroit Lions W 37–27 4–6 Heinz Field Recap 12 November 24 at Cleveland Browns W 27–11 5–6 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 13 November 28 at Baltimore Ravens L 20–22 5–7 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 14 December 8 Miami Dolphins L 28–34 5–8 Heinz Field Recap 15 December 15 Cincinnati Bengals W 30–20 6–8 Heinz Field Recap 16 December 22 at Green Bay Packers W 38–31 7–8 Lambeau Field Recap 17 December 29 Cleveland Browns W 20–7 8–8 Heinz Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Tennessee Titans
The Steelers started their 2013 season at home against the Titans. They scored first when Darius Reynaud down the ball in their own end zone to give the Steelers a safety for a 2–0 lead in the first quarter. In the 2nd quarter, the Titans took the lead as Jackie Battle ran for a 3-yard TD to make the score 7–2 at halftime. After the break, the Titans went right back to work as Rob Bironas nailed 3 field goals starting off in the 3rd quarter when he nailed one from 26 yards and also two in the 4th quarter from 44 and 27 yards out to take leads of 10–2, 13–2, and 16–2 respectively. The Steelers then tried their luck at a comeback attempt but only came up short as Ben Roethlisberger found Jerricho Cotchery on a 4-yard TD pass for a final score of 16–9 and their 3rd straight 0–1 seasonal start.
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
After a tough season-opening loss, the Steelers traveled to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. The Steelers scored first when Shaun Suisham scored a field goal from 44 yards out to make the score 3–0. The Bengals took the lead as Giovani Bernard ran for a 7-yard touchdown making the score 7–3. The Bengals scored again in the 2nd quarter as Mike Nugent nailed a 41-yard field goal to make the score 10–3, followed up by Ben Roethlisberger finding Derek Moye on a 1-yard pass to tie the game at 10–10 at halftime. The Bengals retook the lead in the 3rd quarter as Andy Dalton found Bernard on a 27-yard pass to make the score 17–10, which was followed up by Nugent's 25-yard field goal in the 4th quarter for a final score of 20–10.
With their 2nd straight loss to the Bengals, the Steelers started a season 0–2 for the first time since 2002.
Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears
The Steelers returned home after a tough road loss to the Bengals to take on the Bears. The first quarter was all Bears as they scored 17 unanswered points with Robbie Gould nailing a 47-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead followed up by Matt Forte's 5-yard touchdown run to make the score 10–0 and then Michael Bush's 1-yard touchdown run for a 17–0 lead. The Steelers managed to get on the board in the 2nd quarter when Shaun Suisham nailed a 27-yard field goal to shorten the lead to 17–3, however the Bears increased their lead when Major Wright returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown to make the score 24–3. The Steelers came within 14 points at halftime as Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 33-yard touchdown pass to shorten the score 24–10. After the break, Gould kicked a 32-yard field goal increasing the Bears' lead to 27–10, but the Steelers answered with 13 straight points starting in the 3rd heading into the 4th quarter as Suisham nailed a 36-yard field goal for a 14-point deficit (27–13) and then a 21-yard pass to Brown from Roethlisberger again, shortening the lead to 7 at 27–20. In the 4th quarter, the Steelers came within 4 points as Suisham nailed a 44-yard field goal to make the score 27–23. However, the Bears were able to seal the victory with Jay Cutler's 17-yard pass to Earl Bennett for a score of 34–23 and then Julius Peppers' 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown (with a failed PAT) for a final score of 40–23.
With the loss, the Steelers started a season 0–3 for the first time since 2000. With the Browns winning earlier in the day, the team was left in last in the AFC North.
Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings NFL International Series
The Steelers traveled to London, England and were considered the visitor team against a Matt Cassel-led Vikings team. The Vikes got off to a fast start as Blair Walsh nailed a 54-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead followed up by Matt Cassel hooking up with Greg Jennings on a 70-yard touchdown pass for a 10–0 lead. The Steelers managed to get on the board later on in the first quarter when rookie RB Le'Veon Bell ran for an 8-yard touchdown to make the game 10–7. The Vikes moved ahead by double digits in the second quarter as Adrian Peterson ran for a 60-yard touchdown for a 17–7 lead. Shaun Suisham got the Steelers within a touchdown by nailing a 26-yard field goal for a 17–10 lead. Walsh moved the Vikes ahead by 10 at halftime by kicking a 37-yard field goal for a 20–10 lead. The Steelers came within 3 as Le'Veon Bell ran for a 1-yard touchdown shortening the lead to 20–17 but the Vikes managed to move ahead 27–17 after Peterson ran for a 7-yard touchdown and then Cassel found Jennings again on a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the lead 34–17. In the 4th quarter, Jerricho Cotchery hooked up with Ben Roethlisberger on a 15-yard touchdown pass for a 34–24 lead, and then tried to rally as Suisham nailed a 28-yard field goal. The Steelers' comeback attempt was ruined again as Roethlisberger was sacked and fumbled the ball with less than a minute left in the game, sealing the victory for the Vikes.
With this loss, the Steelers are off to their worst start since the AFL–NFL merger. They had last started 0–4 in 1968, when they started 0–6. This is also the first time since 2006 in which the team would fall to 4 games below .500 when they started that season 2–6.
Week 6: at New York Jets
Coming off of their bye week, the Steelers traveled to East Rutherford, NJ to take on the Jets. The Jets scored first in the first quarter when Nick Folk scored a 25-yard field goal for a 3–0 lead for the only score of that period. The Steelers managed to tie it at first in the 2nd quarter followed by taking the lead with 2 other field goals as Suisham kicked field goals from 46, 33, and 48 yards out for scores of 3–3, 6–3, and 9–3 respectively. The Jets tried to rally as Folk nailed a 39-yard field goal for a 9–6 score at halftime. In the 2nd half, it was all Steelers as they pulled away when Ben Roethlisberger found Emmanuel Sanders on a 55-yard touchdown pass for a 16–6 lead in the 3rd quarter which was then followed up by Suisham's 32-yard field goal in the 4th quarter for a final score of 19–6.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 1–4.
Week 7: vs. Baltimore Ravens
After a road win, the Steelers returned home to take on the Ravens. The Steelers scored first in the first quarter as Ben Roethlisberger hooked up with Heath Miller on a 3-yard touchdown pass making the score 7–0. Justin Tucker then got the Ravens on the board after nailing a 36-yard field goal shortening the lead to 7–3. In the 2nd quarter, the Steelers moved ahead by a touchdown as Shaun Suisham nailed a 34-yard field goal to make the score 10–3. The Ravens moved within 4 as Tucker nailed a 38-yard field goal for a 10–6 game at halftime with the Steelers leading. After the break, the Steelers went back to work in the 3rd quarter as Suisham kicked a 28-yard field goal for a 13–6 lead. The Ravens drew within 4 points again in the fourth quarter as Tucker kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 13–9 score. Again, the Steelers retaliated and moved ahead by 7 points as Suisham kicked a 38-yard field goal for a 16–9 lead. However, Joe Flacco was able to find Dallas Clark on a 1-yard touchdown pass tying the game at 16–16. The Steelers managed to drive down the field for the game-winning field goal as Suisham nailed it from 42 yards out for a final score of 19–16 sending the Steelers to a 2–4 start.
Week 8: at Oakland Raiders
After winning at home against the Ravens, the Steelers traveled to Oakland to take on the Raiders. The Raiders got off to a fast start in the 1st quarter when Terrelle Pryor ran for a 93-yard touchdown to take a 7–0 lead. This remains the longest touchdown run by any QB in NFL history. Darren McFadden ran into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown run to make the score 14–0. The Steelers managed to get on the board in the 2nd quarter when Shaun Suisham nailed a 47-yard field goal for a 14–3 deficit. But the Raiders moved ahead as McFadden ran for another touchdown from 4 yards out for a 21–3 score at halftime. After a scoreless 3rd quarter, the Steelers went back to work in the 4th quarter as Ben Roethlisberger found Emmanuel Sanders on a 9-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21–10 and then Le'Veon Bell ran for a 4-yard touchdown with the successful 2-point conversion to make the final score 21–18 as their comeback attempt again was cut short and the team fell to 2–5. On a positive note, they had won 2 out of their last 3 games coming off their bye week.
Week 9: at New England Patriots