It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers have a big reputation to live up to. Not only are they the oldest team in the American Football Conference, they also have the most champion wins. They've played in no less than six Super Bowls and have won the Super Bowl not once but five times! Maybe the most memorable thing about the Steelers is that they are the only team in the NFL to go from a sixth seed position to a Super Bowl win. Today, the question on every football fan's mind is, 'Will the Steelers pull off a win this time too?
Ketchup And Mustard
You can't talk about Steelers football without mentioning Heinz Field. Affectionately referred to as the 'Big Ketchup Bottle and the Mustard Palace', Heinz Field has been the home turf for the Steelers since 2001. There has always been a lot of buzz about Heinz Field, and it hasn't always been good. For instance, in 2006 the field was voted as having the worst turf according to a survey by the NFL Players Association - in fact, it has gained a reputation for having one of the most difficult kicking surfaces. However the turf has been improved since then and Green Packers rookie Mason Crosby broke the NFL record for kicking at Heinz Field.
Today, Heinz Field is home to a team that is on the rebound. It's no secret that the Steelers have been working through some rough patches. 2006 was a tough year for the team, as it struggled to improve their 11-5 record and defend their Super Bowl title. The year before had been littered with player injuries, with Steelers Superstar Ben Roethlisberger being hospitalized after a motorcycle accident. But the team have definitely made a comeback; in 2007 they were able to bring their 11-5 record up to an impressive 8-8 tie.
Tomlin - Roethlisberger Magic
If there seems to be some magic in the Steelers, it might be because of two pieces of heavy-duty arsenal that the team has. One is Coach Mike Tomlin, the first ever African-American head coach for the team. Though Tomlin has never played in the NFL, he has been one of the best defensive coaches in the league. He was the defensive coordinator for the Vikings in 2006 and they had the distinction of having the best defense against the run. Expectations are high regarding how Tomlin will lead the Steelers in future games.
The second weapon that the Steelers have is a player called Ben Roethlisberger. Often referred to as Big Ben, he was named Rookie of the Year in 2005. But he's probably best remembered for leading the Steelers to a Super Bowl win, becoming the youngest quarterback to win the Super Bowl in NFL history. Roethlisberger is getting back into gear after his 2006 accident and seems to be in top-notch comeback form. In 2007, he was also named to his first Pro Bowl.
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