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It feels like yesterday, but on this day four years ago, Jesse James' touchdown catch against the Patriots was overturned and the Steelers ended up losing, 27-24. It's a day that will forever be ingrained in the minds of Steelers fans.
Senior Vice President of Officiating Al Riveron felt that James didn't have complete possession of the ball and ruled it as an incomplete pass. Two plays later, Roethlisberger was intercepted in the end zone by Duron Harmon and that secured the win for New England. The James non-catch promoted a rule change in the offseason.
The Patriots ended up having home-field advantage as the No. 1 seed because of the win, and the Steelers got upset by the Jaguars in the Divisional Round at Heinz Field, so there was no rematch.
The Steelers went 13-3 in 2017, and that season really was their best chance recently to win another Super Bowl. Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell were in their primes. Everything seemed to be set up well, but then Ryan Shazier unfortunately suffered a career-ending spinal injury against the Bengals in Week 13, and things started to go sideways defensively without Shazier's presence.
Steelers second-round pick Pat Freiermuth is very familiar with the infamous "Jesse James catch," as he grew up in Massachusetts and was a Patriots fan. He's also talked to fellow Penn Stater James about the play. And Freiermuth agrees that James got robbed.
"I do remember the play," Freiermuth told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com in May. "I personally do think Jesse caught the ball if we are being completely honest. Not just saying it because I am a Steeler now. But he did catch the ball. I worked out with him and we talked about that and he did catch it."