THE STEELERS DYNASTY STARTS HERE IN 1974>>>

BRADSHAW THE FANS’ CHOICE

As the debate over who should be the starting quarterback for the Steelers rumbled on, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a poll that showed 41% of fans wanted Terry Bradshaw as their starter. Terry Hanratty had 32% of the votes while Joe Gilliam was last with 20%.

The fans found humour in the poll with some votes going to Joe Greene, Myron Cope, Bobby Layne, Linda Lovelace and even the man who would make the decision, coach Noll.

As Pittsburgh travelled to New Orleans, the smart money was on Bradshaw leading the team out for their Monday Night game. Of the Steelers first ten games, Bradshaw had started just three. That was partly because he began the season with a sore hand providing Gilliam with an opportunity he turned into a 4-1-1 record.

Bradshaw’s two wins and one loss were not impressive, but he appeared to have leadership qualities that Noll identified as a requirement needed for the approaching playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2-1) at the New Orleans Saints (4-6)

Mel Blount’s (picture left) 31-yard return of the game’s opening kick-off set the tone as the Steelers excelled in front of a national television audience. The Steelers’ first drive was stopped in the end zone by an interception, but Pittsburgh’s defense held New Orleans and Lynn Swann’s 13-yard punt return gave his team the ball on the Saints’ 36.

Two running plays were followed by Bradshaw’s 31-yard touchdown pass to Frank Lewis to give Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead. Both teams swapped turnovers in the second quarter before Andy Russell’s interception set the Steelers up for another scoring drive. An offensive pass interference penalty on Randy Grossman cancelled Franco Harris’s catch in the end zone before Bradshaw weaved through the middle for an 18-yard touchdown run.

Pittsburgh’s defense continued their domination at the beginning of the second half with their fourth sack forcing New Orleans to punt. Swann took the ball from the Steelers’ 36 and assisted by Glen Edwards, who took out two potential tacklers, returned the ball 64 yards to increase Pittsburgh’s lead to 21-0.

Following another sack by the intense Steelers’ defense that blunted the next Saints attack, a fumble from Harris returned the ball to New Orleans providing a good field position from which they scored.

On the Steelers’ next series, Harris made up for his turnover by controlling the ball. During the drive, he carried the ball five consecutive times for 40 yards. Bradshaw’s 1-yd rollout touchdown pass to Larry Brown completed the drive and restored the Steelers’ lead, 28-7.

The Saints’ head coach, John North, remarked on the Steelers, “They were as solid a team as we’ve faced all season. Their defense, especially their pass rush, is everything it was supposed to be. They just don’t give you much time to operate.”

Joe Greene commented later, “It’s funny, but Noll has been saying all year that we will do whatever it takes to win. People are probably tired of hearing that from him, but in our case, it is very true. We haven’t had any costly slipups.”

Pittsburgh’s AFC leading defense took their sack total to 46 and their three interceptions also gave them the AFC lead in those stats.

The Pittsburgh Steelers 28 at the New Orleans Saints 7
Tulane Stadium November 25 1974; 71,907

Passing:
Bradshaw 8-19-90

Rushing:
Harris 19-114, Bradshaw 9-99, Davis 14-53,  Harrison 1-6

Receiving:
Lewis 2-42, Shanklin 1-22, Grossman 1-10, Swann 1-6, Brown 1-1, Harris 2-(-1)

AFC CENTRAL
Cincinnati 33 Kansas 6
Buffalo 15 Cleveland 10
Dallas 10 Houston 0

Steelers 8-2-1
Cincinnati 7-4
Houston 5-6
Cleveland 3-8

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Last updated May 24th 2013.

SteelerNationUK on tour 2012 added May 2013.
The Terrible Towel photos updated April 2013.
Steeler Nation UK in Dublin with the Steelers 1997 added April 2013.
Portsmouth Spartans added April 2013.

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