# 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1996 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 64th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
This was Bill Cowher's fifth season as head coach of the Steelers, which resulted in yet another trip to the playoffs for the team, as Pittsburgh won the AFC Central championship for the fourth time under Cowher.
The team's 10–6 record was not enough to earn the Steelers a first-round bye. In their first playoff game, a rematch of the previous year's AFC Championship Game, the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 42–14. The following their season would come to a halt as the Steelers lost to the New England Patriots, 28–3.
This would be the final season that the team wore block numerals, the next year they would switch to rounded numerals where it has remained ever since.

## Personnel
### Staff

Notable additions include Jerome Bettis, Earl Holmes and Carlos Emmons.

### Roster
## Preseason
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Result | Record |
| 1 | Sat. Jul. 27 | vs. San Diego Chargers | Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan) | 10:00 p.m. | ESPN | L 20–10 | 0–1 |
| 2 | Sat. Aug. 3 | St. Louis Rams | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | W 16–10 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Sun. Aug. 11 | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 8:00 p.m. | TNT | L 24–17 | 1–2 |
| 4 | Sat. Aug. 17 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | W 13–3 | 2–2 |
| 5 | Fri. Aug. 23 | at Philadelphia Eagles | Veterans Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | WPXI | L 20–19 | 2–3 |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Game Site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | TV Announcers | Result | Record |
| 1 | Sun. Sep. 1 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | Alltel Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Marv Albert & Sam Wyche | L 24–9 | 0–1 |
| 2 | Sun. Sep. 8 | Baltimore Ravens | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Marv Albert & Sam Wyche | W 31–17 | 1–1 |
| 3 | Mon. Sep. 16 | Buffalo Bills | Three Rivers Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 24–6 | 2–1 |
| 4 | Sun. Sep. 22 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 5 | Sun. Sep. 29 | Houston Oilers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | W 30–16 | 3–1 |
| 6 | Mon. Oct. 7 | at Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 17–7 | 4–1 |
| 7 | Sun. Oct. 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Charlie Jones & Randy Cross | W 20–10 | 5–1 |
| 8 | Sun. Oct. 20 | at Houston Oilers | Astrodome | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 23–13 | 5–2 |
| 9 | Sun. Oct. 27 | at Atlanta Falcons | Georgia Dome | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Dan Hicks & Bob Trumpy | W 20–17 | 6–2 |
| 10 | Sun. Nov. 3 | St. Louis Rams | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | FOX | Joe Buck & Bill Maas | W 42–6 | 7–2 |
| 11 | Sun. Nov. 10 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Cinergy Field | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 34–24 | 7–3 |
| 12 | Sun. Nov. 17 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Jim Lampley & Bob Golic | W 28–3 | 8–3 |
| 13 | Mon. Nov. 25 | at Miami Dolphins | Pro Player Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | W 24–17 | 9–3 |
| 14 | Sun. Dec. 1 | at Baltimore Ravens season | Memorial Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Jim Lampley & Bob Golic | L 31–17 | 9–4 |
| 15 | Sun. Dec. 8 | San Diego Chargers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Tom Hammond & Bob Trumpy | W 16–3 | 10–4 |
| 16 | Sun. Dec. 15 | San Francisco 49ers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | FOX | Pat Summerall & John Madden | L 25–15 | 10–5 |
| 17 | Sun. Dec. 22 | at Carolina Panthers | Ericsson Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | Don Criqui & Beasley Reece | L 18–14 | 10–6 |

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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Jaguars | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 70,210
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* 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 1 run (Hollis kick)

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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ravens | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Steelers | 14 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 31 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 57,241
* Referee: Gerry Austin
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Steelers | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C) (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 59,002
* Referee: Larry Nemmers
* 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 5 (Sunday September 29, 1996): vs. Houston Oilers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 16 |
| Steelers | 17 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) (Mostly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,608
* Referee: Tom White
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 17 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 79,189
* Referee: Howard Roe
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,875
* Referee: Gary Lane
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Oilers | 3 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
* Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 50,337
* Referee: Red Cashion
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
| Falcons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 58,760
* Referee: Ron Blum
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Steelers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C) (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 58,148
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Bengals | 3 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 57,265
* Referee: Mike Carey
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jaguars | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Steelers | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 58,879
* Referee: Bernie Kukar
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
* Game time: 9:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 73,849
* Referee: Walt Coleman
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Ravens | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 51,882
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Bob Golic (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Baltimore – Ogden 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Steelers | 6 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 56,368
* Referee: Gerry Austin
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 25 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 15 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C) (Partly Sunny)
* Game attendance: 59,823
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* 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 (kick failed)
* 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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Panthers | 7 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 72,217
* Referee: Dick Hantak
* 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

### Standings

AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(3)}$ Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 344 | 257 | L2 |
| $^{(5)}$ Jacksonville Jaguars | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 325 | 335 | W5 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 372 | 369 | W3 |
| Houston Oilers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 345 | 319 | W1 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 371 | 441 | L3 |

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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Steelers | 10 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 42 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 12:30 pm EST
* Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) (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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Patriots | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
* Game time: 12:30 pm EST
* Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) (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

* No. 26 Rod Woodson-Cornerback
* No. 36 Jerome Bettis-Running Back
* No. 37 Carnell Lake-Safety
* No. 63 Dermontti Dawson-Center
* No. 94 Chad Brown-Outside Linebacker
* No. 99 Levon Kirkland-Inside Linebacker