Steel City Blitz
Like many of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rivalries, the one with the Cincinnati Bengals goes back to the 1970 AFL/NFL merger. The Steelers are comfortably ahead on the win count, both at home and in Cincinnati. The last decade saw the Steelers with a 6-4 advantage in games played in Pittsburgh.
The 1995 draft saw the Steelers use their first-round pick on tight end Mark Bruener. They picked Kordell Stewart with their second choice. It was the highest they had selected a quarterback since using a first on Mark Malone in 1980. It showed they considered him a future starter.
Initially, Stewart was used in a variety of roles. His athleticism allowed him to be a wide receiver or running back as well as the quarterback position that earned him two Bowl victories with the Colorado Buffaloes. Our Myron Cope admired his versatility and nicknamed him “Slash,” and the fans were quite happy to go with that.
Stewart became the Steelers starting quarterback at the beginning of the 1997 season leading them to the AFC Championship game. They lost 24-21, but he had confirmed himself in that position for four years.
Three of those years were lean ones, but in 2001 Stewart led the team to a 13-3 regular season which ended in the AFC Championship game in New England.
The Steelers went into the 2002 season with Stewart as their starter and a big question over whether he could put together solid back-to-back seasons? Stewart was backed up by Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch.
The Steelers opened the new season against the Super Bowl champions in New England. Stewart versus Tom Brady. The Steelers lost 30-14. They next lost their home opener to the Raiders 30-17.
After a very early bye week, they hosted the Browns. Coach Cowher warned Stewart that he might replace him if his performance wasn’t up to scratch. And so, it proved. Down 13-6 late in the fourth quarter, Stewart threw an interception. That was the sign for Cowher to bring on Tommy Maddox.
After the Steelers’ defense held their opponents to a punt, Maddox took just two minutes to draw the Steelers level. The stadium erupted as the fans expressed their relief with the game now heading towards overtime.
The Steelers won the game with a field goal. After their first win on the season, the quarterback controversy began despite Coach Cowher indicating that Stewart would remain the starter.
At a team meeting on the Wednesday before their next game against the Saints, Cowher announced Maddox as the starter. Maddox, who started four games for Denver a decade earlier, was now the man. Cowher had lost patience with Stewart and had turned to the 2001 XFL MVP.
After a 32-29 loss in New Orleans, Maddox would lead the team to four wins and a tie. They travelled to Tennessee on top of the division at 5-3-1, one game ahead of Baltimore and Cleveland.
The Steelers were struggling against the Titans when Maddox went down after...
