Throughout the championship history of the Steelers, it often has been a bitter rival that has stood in the way of a trip to the Super Bowl. Here's a look at six battles against three of those teams:

• Round: Divisional playoff.

• Date: Dec. 23, 1972.

• Where:Three Rivers Stadium.

Raiders 0 0 0 7 -- 7
Steelers 0 0 3 10 -- 13

• The skinny: With only seconds remaining, Steelers rookie running back Franco Harris pulled in a broken pass from Terry Bradshaw that had been deflected off Frenchy Fuqua and raced 42 yards to the end zone for the winning score. "Whatever it takes ... that's the story of this team, isn't it?" coach Chuck Noll said. The matchup was the first of five consecutive playoff games against Oakland.

• Round: AFC championship.

• Date: Dec. 29, 1974.

• Where: Oakland Coliseum.

Steelers 0 3 0 21 -- 24
Raiders 3 0 7 3 -- 13

• The skinny: After losing to the Raiders the year before in the divisional round, Jack Ham came up with two big interceptions, the second of which erased the last of two Oakland leads and led to the killing touchdown that put the Steelers on top to stay. The win gave Pittsburgh its first AFC title, which the Steelers turned into their first of five NFL championships at Super Bowl IX against Minnesota.

• Round: AFC championship.

• Date: Jan. 7, 1979.

• Where: Three Rivers Stadium.

Oilers 0 3 2 0 -- 5
Steelers 14 17 3 0 -- 34

• The skinny: 49,917 Steelers fans braved terrible weather and sat through nearly four hours of freezing rain to watch Terry Bradshaw and company win their third trip to the Super Bowl in five years. Despite the ice that was a factor in an NFL-record 12 fumbles in the game, Bradshaw threw for 200 yards and two scores and the stingy Steelers defense held Oilers great Earl Campbell to 62 yards rushing.

• Round: AFC championship.

• Date: Jan. 6, 1980.

• Where: Three Rivers Stadium.

Oilers 7 3 0 3 -- 13
Steelers 3 14 0 10 -- 27

• The skinny: For the second consecutive year, the Steelers faced the Oilers in the AFC title game. Terry Bradshaw's two touchdown passes set an NFL record for scoring completions in the postseason (26) and the Steelers held Earl Campbell to 15 yards rushing. The win sent Pittsburgh to the Super Bowl for a fourth time in six seasons. It was, however, the end of an era. They would not return until 1995.

• Round: AFC championship.

• Date: Jan. 27, 2002.

• Where: Heinz Field.

Patriots 7 7 7 3 -- 24
Steelers 0 3 14 0 -- 17

• The skinny: From 1996 to 2004, the Steelers faced the Patriots in four of five trips to the playoffs, two games of which were AFC championships. This season, the Steelers were the No. 1 seed and allowed touchdowns on a blocked field goal and a punt return as the Patriots earned their first of four trips to the Super Bowl in the decade. Steelers QB Kordell Stewart threw three interceptions.

• Round: AFC championship.

• Date: Jan. 23, 2005.

• Where: Heinz Field.

Patriots 10 14 7 10 -- 41
Steelers 3 0 14 10 -- 27

• The skinny: Losing became commonplace at Heinz Field in the AFC title game. For the second time in four seasons, the Patriots won the AFC title in Pittsburgh, and it was the Steelers' fourth loss in five such games in 11 years. Riding a 15-game winning streak, rookie Ben Roethlisberger couldn't keep the dream alive, throwing three interceptions. on 14 of 24 passing for 226 yards.