This isn't Troy Polamalu's most eye-popping play, but it makes the top 10 because it's his longest return of an interception or fumble. Shaun Suisham's 41-yard field goal gave the Steelers a 19-16 win over the lowly Bills and improved their record to 8-3 going into an AFC North showdown at Baltimore the following week. Later, Johnson dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone.
They punted from their own 1 and Leodis McKelvin fumbled the return 15 yards backwards to put the ball on the Bills' 34. While Polamalu saved the Steelers in regulation, their luck saved them in OT. Polamalu's pick prevented the Bills from taking the lead, even if they did kick a field goal to send the game into overtime. Troy Polamalu dove for the interception at the Steelers' 1 and returned it to the 6. Steve Johnson couldn't hold onto a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass near the goal line, sending the ball into the air. The Steelers led the Buffalo Bills 16-13 at Buffalo with three minutes left in regulation, but the Bills had the ball at the Steelers' 12. Once again during their run to Super Bowl XLV, the Steelers easily could have come down on the wrong side of that paper-thin margin between victory and defeat. Having the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year helped, and the first of his seven interceptions gave them a boost in this game. The Falcons won the coin toss, but the Steelers forced them to punt and Rashard Mendenhall ran 50 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the Steelers' first offensive play of OT.īen Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season, so the Steelers needed stay afloat during his absence. The game went to overtime when Jeff Reed missed a 40-yard field-goal attempt. On the first play of the drive, Troy Polamalu intercepted Matt Ryan at the Falcons' 31, gained a yard and went out of bounds. With the game tied 9-9, the Falcons had the ball at their own 21 with two timeouts and 1:45 remaining in regulation. This wasn't a dazzling play, but it's memorable enough to make the list because it came at a critical juncture in this game and pointed the Steelers in the direction of Super Bowl XLV in their season-opening win. He would make a similar one later in the season. It was one of seven interceptions in 2008 for Polamalu. Since the Steelers lost this game, however, it was forgettable. Polamalu dove for the interception, catching the ball just before it hit the ground. With the Steelers trailing 10-6 early in the third quarter, Bryant McFadden broke up Kevin Kolb's pass and the ball shot into the air. The Steelers lost this game at Philadelphia 15-6, even though it was just a speed bump on their way to their sixth championship. This interception is worthy of the highlight reel, but to make the list of Polamalu's greatest plays, it needs to come in a Steelers win. Honorable Mention: Interception at Philadelphia This deserves a mention because it's one of four touchdowns Polamalu has scored in his career, but it doesn't make the top dozen because it came in a win over a 2-14 team.Īnd for crying out loud, the Steelers shouldn't have needed one of Polamalu's greatest plays to beat Curtis Painter. The Steelers allowed Painter to drive 80 yards and tie the game, but won it 23-20 on Shaun Suisham's field goal with four seconds left to improve to 2-1. Polamalu picked it up, looking for a moment like he was dribbling a basketball, and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown and a 20-13 Steelers lead with five minutes left in the game. The Steelers and Indianapolis Colts were tied 13-13 when James Harrison sacked Curtis Painter and forced a fumble.