Steelers
Steelers, Titans Set for 8th Game in NFL History Between 5-0 or Better Unbeaten Teams
The Steelers and Tennessee Titans will meet as a battle of unbeaten teams on Sunday, with both squads owning 5-0 records coming into the game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
It’s just the eighth time in NFL history that unbeaten teams with five or more wins will meet one another on the field, according to the Steelers public relations department. It will be the first time the Steelers are involved in such a game.
“We’ve got a significant challenge in the form of the Tennessee Titans coming up this week,” head coach Mike Tomlin said after the Steelers dominated the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to improve to 5-0. “That’s life in this game. We’re appreciative and more importantly we’re really excited. You can’t take anything for granted in this environment.”
The last time it happened was in 2015, when the 6-0 Denver Broncos faced the 6-0 Green Bay Packers. There have been five instances in the past 20 years, but there was just one from 1925 to 2005.
The last (and only) time the Steelers were 5-0 came in 1978, when they won their first seven games to start the season. That year, they faced the 2-3 New York Jets while 5-0, the 2-4 Atlanta Falcons while 6-0 and lost to the 4-3 Browns after going 7-0.
Here’s the full list of game between 5-0 or better unbeaten foes in NFL history:
2015 6-0 Denver Broncos 29, 6-0 Green Bay Packers 10
2007 8-0 New England Patriots 24, 7-0 Indianapolis Colts 20
2007 5-0 New England Patriots 48, 5-0 Dallas Cowboys 27
2004 5-0 New England Patriots 13, 5-0 New York Jets 7
1973 6-0 Minnesota Vikings 10, 6-0 Los Angeles Rams 9
1923 5-0 Canton Bulldogs 7, 5-0 Chicago Cardinals 0
1921 7-0 Akron Pros 0, Buffalo All-Americans 0
Zach Banner has become a prominent member of the Steelers, but that’s not because he’s had success on the field over the past year. Banner’s success has come off the field by connecting with fans on social media and doing his part to help those in need than he has on a football field. But by no means is that Banner’s fault.
He suffered a season ending torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2020 season. This injury was especially devastating for the USC product because it occurred on the heels of Banner winning the starting right tackle position following a tough training camp battle with Chukwuma Okorafor.
Due to Banner’s injury, it was Okorafor who ended up starting 16 games, including the postseason. While Banner kept in good spirits and became his team’s loudest cheerleader on Twitter during games, it was clear he wanted to be on the field and contributing.
Earning a starting spot as a member of the Steelers offensive line was a major career achievement for Banner, but it was one he didn’t get to enjoy. With Banner expected to be ready for a return next season, should the Steelers sign the 27-year-old with the anticipation that he could be a key piece to bolster the offensive line that was missing during the 2020 season?
Best exit interview ever… Back to work…
— Zach Banner (@ZBNFL) January 14, 2021
Do you believe in Zach Banner? Comment below with why or why not.
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Zach Banner is sending a clear message about his priorities ahead of the 2021 NFL season. Banner, who is a free agent and looking for a new deal with the Steelers, tweeted that he is going to stay off social media until he officially signs on the dotted line.
Locking it down on social and media until my new contract is signed. 🤫🔒
Stay tuned… #HulkSmash
— Zach Banner (@ZBNFL) February 28, 2021
Zach Banner has become a prominent member of the Steelers, but that’s not because he’s had success on the field over the past year. Banner’s success has come off the field by connecting with fans on social media and doing his part to help those in need than he has on a football field. But by no means is that Banner’s fault. He suffered a season ending torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2020 season. This injury was especially devastating for the USC product because it occurred on the heels of Banner winning the starting right tackle position following a tough training camp battle with Chukwuma Okorafor.
Due to Banner’s injury, it was Okorafor who ended up starting 16 games, including the postseason. While Banner kept in good spirits and became his team’s loudest cheerleader on Twitter during games, it was clear he wanted to be on the field and contributing.
Earning a starting spot as a member of the Steelers offensive line was a major career achievement for Banner, but it was one he didn’t get to enjoy. Banner now hopes to return to Pittsburgh and be the missing piece the Steelers offensive line desperately needs.
There is plenty that remains up in the air about the 2021 NFL offseason, but the Pittsburgh Steelers still have plans to resume one of their enduring traditions that was broken by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The Steelers were forced to forgo their trip to the campus of St. Vincent College near Latrobe, Pennsylvania in 2020 due to the NFL’s rules regarding keeping players isolated during the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s unclear how much those restrictions will change for the NFL teams this summer, but as things stand as of today, the Steelers are still making plans to return to the Laurel Highlands for the team’s annual training camp this summer.
“As we sit here today, our plan is to have training camp in Latrobe,” team president Art Rooney II said to Steelers.com on Friday. “We still have a ways to go to get there, but I think there’s a pretty good chance that’s going to be able to happen. We’re still hopeful we’re going to have some form of offseason program, and it’s probably not going to start on time but I think it’s important particularly for the young players that we get back to having an offseason program and then a full training camp and preseason games. I think we need to have that to help the young players continue to develop.”
Displaced from their usual bucolic summer home and from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side due to capacity limitations, the Steelers spent the 2020 training camp and preseason at Heinz Field.
