Bill Cowher's team won the Wild Card Game, defeating the rival Cleveland Browns at home, but lost to AFC South champion Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Kordell Stewart began the game, going 15–25 for 143 yards, but was intercepted by Robert Griffith of the Browns.
The Falcons' Brian Finneran had caught six passes for 72 yards, but in his career debut on special teams he pulled off the play of the game by blocking the kick.
Late in the extra quarter Maddox was picked off by Kevin Mathis, but the subsequent 56-yad Feely try was blocked, with one second left on the clock.
at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee Maddox's career nearly ended in tragedy as he threw a pass that Hines Ward turned into a 72-yard touchdown, but after completing just 14 of 28 throws for 194 yards and three picks he was sacked; the hit left him briefly paralyzed and he was taken to the hospital on a stretcher.
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida Kordell Stewart made his last start as a Steelers quarterback, running for a touchdown.
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The Steelers were stunned at home against the expansion Houston Texans, failing to find any offensive footing at all.