REFLECTIONS ON THE THE STEELERS 2007 SEASON
The 2007 Steelers season may have ended sooner than we had hoped in the playoffs, but on reflection, we can look back on 2007 with approval.
The season began with many questions surrounding the team’s prospects.
How would Mike Tomlin do in his first season as the new head coach? How would Ben fare after his abysmal (by his standards) performance the year before? Would the team perform better than their Super Bowl hangover season when they just managed to break even with an 8-8 record?
After their season finished against the Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs, we now have the answers to those questions and surely can be proud of what the Steelers achieved.
Mike Tomlin became just the second Steelers’ head coach to post a winning record (10-6) in his first season. Bill Cowher was the only other coach to finish his first season with a winning 11-5 record.
The Steelers have won 18 division titles since the NFL merger in 1970, the most in the AFC during that time. 2007 marked the third time they have captured the AFC North Crown since 2002.
Statistically, Ben Roethlisberger had the best season in Steelers’ history for a quarterback and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Ben finished the regular season with a 104.1 passer rating, which breaks his own record set in 2005 of 98.6.
He also threw at least one touchdown 15 straight games, setting a team record, and also had a Steelers’ record 32 touchdown passes for the season.
Ben threw a career-high five touchdowns in the Week 9 victory over Baltimore which tied a team record for touchdown passes in a single game, initially set by Mark Malone (Sept. 8, 1985 vs. Indianapolis) and Terry Bradshaw (Nov. 15,1981 at Atlanta.)
Hines Ward now ranks first in team playoff history with 67 receptions, while he is third in career receiving yards (896) and touchdown receptions (8).
Ward finished the regular season heading the Steelers’ all-time receivers list with 8,737 yards and 65 touchdowns.
Each fan will have their own memory of the season. Mine is of the great week I spent in Pittsburgh for the Ravens and Browns games and the Steelers 75th Anniversary celebrations.