2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

Season Summary: Hopes were high coming off the Super Bowl, but 2006 unraveled from the start. Big Ben's near-fatal motorcycle crash and emergency appendectomy left him vulnerable and erratic, and the defending champs stumbled to a 2-6 start. Turnovers piled up, the line couldn't protect Ben, and the running game never found consistency.

There were flashes. Willie Parker ripped off back-to-back 200-yard rushing games, Hines Ward delivered clutch performances, and Troy Polamalu remained a force. But for every high point came a crushing low, from a shutout in Jacksonville to a humiliating loss in Oakland to being mauled twice by the Ravens.

The Steelers fought back, going 6-2 down the stretch, but the hole was too deep and hopes of a title defense were gone in November. Shortly after the season, Cowher stepped down, closing a legendary 15-year run that brought a Lombardi back to Pittsburgh.