2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

Season Summary: The Steelers roared back in 2010 with familiar toughness. They played the first month without Ben Roethlisberger but still went 3–1, leaning on Rashard Mendenhall and a defense that reasserted its dominance. When Ben returned, the offense found its rhythm. Wallace stretched the field, Ward was clutch, and Mendenhall carried the ground game. Suddenly, Pittsburgh looked whole again.

The defense was suffocating, one of the great units of the era, finishing #1 in the league and giving up a historically stingy 62 rushing yards per game. Troy Polamalu, fully healthy, won Defensive Player of the Year by turning instincts into art... diving picks, perfectly timed blitzes, splash plays that changed games in an instant. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley wrecked pockets off the edge, and veterans like James Farrior and Casey Hampton anchored a front that simply bullied opponents. With Mendenhall piling up nearly 1,300 yards and 13 TDs, and a ferocious defense paired with Ben's improvisational brilliance, Pittsburgh had the look of a champion.

They finished 12–4, outlasting Baltimore in a street-fight for the division, then beat the Ravens again in the playoffs with a furious second-half rally, highlighted by rookie Antonio Brown's stunning 58-yard helmet catch to set up the winning score. In the AFC Championship, they buried the Jets early and held on to punch their ticket to Super Bowl XLV. Against the Packers, turnovers dug a hole, but the Steelers clawed back within striking distance. With the ball in Big Ben's hands at the two-minute warning, it felt like another trademark comeback was inevitable. This time it slipped away, however, and Green Bay held on 31–25, denying Pittsburgh a 7th Lombardi.