Steelers out to end incredible 45-year losing streak

This week’s Thursday Night Football sees the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to the Cincinnati Bengals looking to end a bizarre 45-year losing run.

Incredibly, the Steelers have never won a Thursday game on the road against a divisional opponent, a run dating back to their first Thursday outing in 1980. It looked like they were going to end that run last year, when they took on the Cleveland Browns as 3.5-point favorites. Instead they suffered a shock 24-19 loss and extended that unwanted streak to eight games.

Pittsburgh’s Thursday night struggles actually go beyond the divisional games, racking up a horrific 3-15 record across all Thursday road games since 1970. That .167 record is comfortably the worst in the league, followed by the Cleveland Browns (.200) and the New York Jets (.214).

What makes the Steelers’ struggles particularly striking is that they have broadly been a very successful NFL team. With six Super Bowl championships the Steelers are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, but four of those titles came during the 1970s glory years. The team did not play its first divisional road game on a Thursday until 1980, by which point that all-conquering team was in decline and they would not return to the Super Bowl until 1995.

It’s unlikely to be a big focus of the Pittsburgh players when they take on the Bengals but it may well be in the minds of some superstitious Steelers fans. With a 4-1 record from the first five games the Steelers are in good shape to make history again this year.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.