<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (July 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> The Pittsburgh Steelers have three primary rivals, all within their division: (Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals). They also have rivalries with other teams that arose from post-season battles in the past, most notably the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys . They also have an intrastate rivalry with the Philadelphia Eagles, but under the current scheduling the teams play each other only once every four years . </P> <Ul> <Li> The Cleveland Browns and the Steelers have been divisional rivals since the two cities' teams began playing against each other in 1950 . After posting a 9--31 record in the first 40 games of the series between the two cities, the Steelers recently took over the all - time series lead for the first time ever (64--56); partly due to their dominance over the post-1999 Cleveland Browns franchise and won twelve straight before the Browns snapped their losing skid against them by beating them 13--6 on December 10, 2009 . Additionally, the Browns lost 16 straight years in Pittsburgh from 1970--1985 and posted an abysmal 5--24 record at Three Rivers Stadium overall . Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher coached the Browns special teams and secondary before following Marty Schottenheimer for a brief tenure as Kansas City Defensive Coordinator, and then hired by Pittsburgh . This has only intensified the rivalry . </Li> <Li> The Baltimore Ravens and the Steelers have had several memorable match - ups and have a bitter divisional rivalry . Both teams handed the other their first losses at their current home fields . The Steelers won the inaugural game played at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium in 1998, 20--13, and three years later the Ravens handed the Steelers their first - ever loss at Heinz Field, 13--10 . Later that season (2001) Pittsburgh won a divisional playoff game 27--10 against Baltimore, who was the defending Super Bowl champion . During their NFL championship season in 2000, the Ravens defeated the Steelers in Pittsburgh, 16--0, in the season opener with the Steelers later exacting revenge, 9--6, in Baltimore (the Ravens' final loss of the season). During the Steelers 2008 Championship run, they beat the Ravens three times, including a win in the AFC Championship game . The Steelers lead the series (begun in 1996), 16--10 . The two teams complement each other by consistently fielding strong defenses in their division . </Li> <Li> The Cincinnati Bengals--Steelers rivalry dates from the 1970 season, when the AFL--NFL merger was completed . In 1976, the Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive (they later won the division) with a late - season 7--3 win in snowy Cincinnati . One of the most memorable games was the 2005 AFC Wildcard playoff game, in which the Steelers, en route to a Super Bowl title, won a 31--17 come - from - behind victory after Bengals QB Carson Palmer was forced to leave the game with a knee injury . The injury happened when nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen contacted Palmer's knee during a passing play . The Bengals players called this a dirty play; the NFL ruled that it was accidental and did not fine von Oelhoffen for the hit . This incident has led to an intensifying of the rivalry since this game . The Bengals beat the Steelers in week 13 of the 2005 season 38--31, and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh used a Terrible Towel to polish his cleats while walking up the tunnel after the game, fueling the rivalry . The Steelers and Bengals finished 2005 and 2006 with identical records (11--5 and 8--8 respectively), splitting both regular - season series, the Bengals winning the tiebreaker both years due to having a superior division record . The Steelers also are responsible for ending the Bengals' season in Cincinnati two years in a row, eliminating them from the playoffs in 2005 and taking them out of contention in 2006 . The Steelers lead the all - time series, 52--32 . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The Cleveland Browns and the Steelers have been divisional rivals since the two cities' teams began playing against each other in 1950 . After posting a 9--31 record in the first 40 games of the series between the two cities, the Steelers recently took over the all - time series lead for the first time ever (64--56); partly due to their dominance over the post-1999 Cleveland Browns franchise and won twelve straight before the Browns snapped their losing skid against them by beating them 13--6 on December 10, 2009 . Additionally, the Browns lost 16 straight years in Pittsburgh from 1970--1985 and posted an abysmal 5--24 record at Three Rivers Stadium overall . Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher coached the Browns special teams and secondary before following Marty Schottenheimer for a brief tenure as Kansas City Defensive Coordinator, and then hired by Pittsburgh . This has only intensified the rivalry . </Li>

Where did the name pittsburgh steelers come from