Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen, right, is on the sideline with his new fiancee Maria Hanslovan before game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
With the Steelers facing the possibility of the franchise’s first losing season in a decade and a gametime temperature of 26 degrees and a 12-degree wind chill, there were large swaths of empty seats at Heinz Field. While the Steelers continued a sellout streak that stretches back to 1972, only 45,873 actually made it inside the stadium. It was the smallest crowd at Heinz Field since it opened in 2001, and there were likely only 20,000 still standing when the final gun went off. A Pittsburgh Steelers fan dressed as Santa Claus waves a terrible towel during the first quarter an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 30-20. (AP Photo/Don Wright) Former Pittsburgh Steelers Hall-of-Fame running back Franco Harris, left, talks with Steelers defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Mel Blount greets members of the one time Pittsburgh Steelers cheerleaders, the Steelerettes, before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jason Grilli watches from the sidelines during warm ups before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Football fans watch the NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
