2018 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Week 1: at Cleveland Browns

The Steelers started their season on the road against the Browns. After a scoreless first quarter, the Steelers struck first in the second when second-year RB James Conner ran for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 at halftime. After the break, the Browns went to work as Tyrod Taylor ran for a 20-yard touchdown to tie the game up at 7-7. However, the Steelers retook the lead with 2 more touchdowns: Ben Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 22-yard pass followed up by Conner's second touchdown of the day from 22-yards out to make it 14-7 and then 21-7. In the fourth quarter however, it was all Browns when Carlos Hyde ran for a 1-yard touchdown followed by Taylor connecting with Josh Gordon on a 17-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 and then 21-21. In overtime, both teams' defenses showed out. Neither team would score, leading to a tie.

With the tie, the Steelers started their season 0-0-1. It was the first time ever that they played the Browns to a tie game. This would snap their 6-game winning streak over the Browns. Also, the team's winning streak against division rivals was snapped. They also had their first tie game since 2002 against the Atlanta Falcons. Roethlisberger tied his career high of 5 turnovers in a game (3 interceptions, 2 lost fumbles) as the team turned the ball over 6 times including a Conner fumble late in the fourth quarter.

On a positive note, the team's defense was able to get a turnover of their own (1 interception) and sack Taylor 7 times.

Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Steelers had their home opener against the Chiefs. In the first quarter, it was all Chiefs when Patrick Mahomes threw 3 touchdowns: a 15-yard pass to Chris Conley, a 19-yard pass to Travis Kelce, and a 5-yard pass to Kareem Hunt to make the score 7-0, 14-0, and then 21-0. In the second quarter, the Steelers responded with 3 touchdowns of their own to tie the game up when Ben Roethlisberger connected with Jesse James on a 26-yard pass, followed up with him connecting with JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 2-yard pass (with a failed PAT), and then connecting with James Washington on a 14-yard pass (with a successful 2-point conversion pass to James Conner) to make it 21-7, 21-13, and then 21-21 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Chiefs moved back into the lead when Mahomes found Kelce again on a 25-yard pass to make it 28-21. The Steelers would tie it up when James Conner ran for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 28-28. The Chiefs would pull away again as Mahomes connected with Demarcus Robinson on a 3-yard pass to make it 35-28. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs moved ahead by double digits as Mahomes found Hill on a 29-yard pass to make it 42-28. The Steelers scored twice to come within 5: first when Hunt was tackled by Artie Burns and Morgan Burnett in the end zone for a safety followed by Roethlisberger's 3-yard run for a touchdown to make it 42-30 and then 42-37. With seconds left, the defense was able to get the stop and were about to get their offense back on the field for likely one final play. But a late flag for roughing the kicker would keep the Chiefs' offense on the field, sealing the game.

With the loss, the Steelers dropped to 0-1-1. With the Browns' loss to the Saints, both teams remain tied for third place in the AFC North.

Roethlisberger's record against the Chiefs would drop to 6-2.

Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a tough loss at home, the Steelers traveled to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers. The Bucs scored first when Cameron Brate caught a 4-yard pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick to make it 7-0. The Steelers would answer when Ben Roethlisberger found Vance McDonald on a 75-yard pass to make it 7-6. The Steelers continued to score heading into the second quarter: they took the lead with Chris Boswell's 38-yard field goal to make it 9-7. This would be followed up by Roethlisberger finding Antonio Brown on a 27-yard pass to make it 16-7, and then Bud Dupree intercepted Fitzpatrick to return it 10 yards for a touchdown to make it 23-7. The Bucs came closer when Chandler Catanzaro kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 23-10. The Steelers wrapped up the first half scoring when Roethlisberger found Ryan Switzer on a 1-yard pass to make it 30-10. In the second half, it was all Bucs as they would outscore the Steelers 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter when Catanzaro kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 30-13 in the third. In the fourth, the Bucs ended up coming within 3 when Fitzpatrick threw 4-yard and 24-yard passes to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to make it 30-20 and then 30-27. The Steelers' defense held them off at the last moment to win the game, sealing the win.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 1-1-1. This would be the teams first 1-1-1 start since 1974.

The defense which had earned 2 turnovers in their first 2 games earned 4 turnovers in this game alone (3 interceptions, 1 recovered fumble).

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens

After winning in prime time on the road, the Steelers returned home for a prime time game against their arch-rival Ravens. In the first quarter it was all Ravens when Flacco threw 2 touchdown passes: A 33-yard pass to John Brown followed up by a 3-yard pass to Alex Collins to make it 7-0 and then 14-0. In the second quarter, it was all Steelers when Chris Boswell nailed field goals from 34 and 39 yards out to make it 14-3 and then 14-6. This would be followed by Ben Roethlisberger finding Antonio Brown on a 26-yard pass (with a successful 2-point conversion) to tie the game up at 14-14 going into halftime. In the second half, it was all Ravens starting in the third quarter when Justin Tucker kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 17-14. He would kick 3 more in the fourth to seal the game from 49, 28, and 31 yards out to make it 20-14, 23-14, and the final score 26-14.

With the loss, the Steelers fell to 1-2-1. Also, their 3-game winning streak against the Ravens was snapped.

Week 5: vs. Atlanta Falcons

After a tough loss, the Steelers stayed at home for a duel against the Falcons. In the first quarter, it was all Steelers when James Conner ran for a 1-yard touchdown (with a failed PAT) to make it 6-0. Ben Roethlisberger then connected with JuJu Smith-Schuster on an 18-yard pass to make it 13-0. In the second quarter, it was all Falcons when Matt Ryan found Mohamed Sanu on a 43-yard pass to make it 13-7. This would be followed by Matt Bryant kicking a 47-yard field goal to make it 13-10 at halftime. In the third quarter, it was all Steelers when Roethlisberger found Antonio Brown on a 9-yard pass to make it 20-10. This would be followed up by Conner running for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 27-10. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons drew closer when Ito Smith ran for a 2-yard touchdown to make it 27-17. However, the Steelers pretty much sealed the game with 2 more touchdowns: Roethlisberger found Brown on a 47-yard pass to make it 34-17 followed by L.J. Fort recovering a fumble in the end zone to make the final score 41-17.

With the win, the Steelers improved to 2-2-1.

Also, the team which had been outscored 29-0 in the second half of their previous 2 games, had outscored the Falcons 28-7 in the second half of this game alone.

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

Division

Conference