2004 AFC Championship Game
Four Steelers turnovers and Rodney Harrison's pick-six send the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXIX.
The 2004 AFC Championship Game was played in Pittsburgh between the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004–05 NFL playoffs. The Patriots won 41–27, handing rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger his first loss as a starter after a 14-game winning streak, and went on to win Super Bowl XXXIX.
Quick Facts
- Dates
- January 8–February 6, 2005
- Season
- 2004
- Teams
- 12
- Games
- 11
- Title game name
- Super Bowl XXXIX
- Stadium
- Alltel Stadium
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Defending champions
- New England Patriots
Facts from the source article.
Background
The game-time temperature made it the second-coldest game ever played in Pittsburgh. The Patriots converted four Steelers turnovers into 24 points without committing one. Eugene Wilson intercepted Roethlisberger's first pass, Mike Vrabel recovered a Jerome Bettis fumble, and Tom Brady threw touchdown passes of 60 yards to Deion Branch and 9 yards to David Givens before Rodney Harrison returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown and a 24–3 halftime lead. The Steelers became the second team to finish a regular season 15–1 and miss the Super Bowl.
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