1974 Steelers season part VIII

With the continuing rotation of the Steelers’ three quarterbacks indicating no permanent starter in sight, Ray Mansfield gave his view on the perpetual changes.

Ray Mansfield media photo As the team’s starting center, on the field, Mansfield (picture left) was the closest player to his three teammates. “Quarterback controversy. What quarterback controversy?” asked Mansfield. “Maybe if those three guys hated each other, we’d have a controversy, but they like each other.”

“You know I haven’t analysed this thing all that much,” Mansfield continued, “but I don’t see what is so bad about three quarterbacks starting at different times. These three are all good. They have proven that they can produce in this league and they all have our respect.

Really, there is no drop off in talent. If there were an appreciable drop off, well then things might be different. But with them being so close in ability, I think the system might be a real good one.”

As a defensive player, Joe Greene viewed the situation from a different perspective. “I don’t care whose ego gets punctured as long as we win,” Greene commented. “I think two years ago this kind of situation might have destroyed our team. We couldn’t have coped with it, but now we’ve matured and there are no problems because we don’t have a number one quarterback.

I’m only close to the defensive linemen, but even I can tell it ain’t happening over there on offense. Something is missing. But heck, what can I do about it? Nothing. It won’t go on like this forever and, in a roundabout way, maybe it has made all of us play a little harder.

I know that every man in this locker room is concerned only about winning. So if the defense has to win a game for us, we do it. Every man in this room has an opinion on who should start at quarterback, but we don’t count and we know it. We have a lot of faith in the man whose decision counts and that’s Noll. We believe in him.

Chuck Noll is not being paid to make the wrong decisions. If he makes them, he’s gone. But you’ve got to admire the way the man has handled himself in a very tough situation. His dealings with us are just like they were before the quarterback controversy began, and I think that says a lot for him.

But all this controversy about the quarterbacks has to bother you a lot. But at the same time, you have to have faith in the man who is being paid to make the decisions.”

Franco Harris viewed the situation logically. “If this were a one man game, I guess the quarterback thing could hurt us a lot. But you don’t see me or anybody else on this team playing any differently for any of the three quarterbacks.”

“Our jobs are on the line each week too,” Harris added. “So we can’t show any favouritism once we’re on the field. As long as we win, there’ll be no problems and this team is going to keep on winning.”

Ron Shanklin was realistic about the issue, “The only thing that matters to us is that Super Bowl. We missed a trip to the Super Bowl by four points two years ago and that is like getting a glimpse of paradise. We want to see what paradise is really like and nothing is going to stop us. If this quarterback business goes on year after year, well, we might react differently. But, right now it doesn’t matter who the quarterback is.

WHAT QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY?

Chuck Noll media photo “I know, but I’m not telling. I want everybody to keep guessing,” Terry Bradshaw teased the journalists the Friday before Pittsburgh travelled to play New Orleans in their second Monday night game.

The usual ‘who will be the Steelers starting quarterback,’ debate always increased as each game day approached. “I don’t think we will find out until even later in the week,” said Terry Hanratty.

As usual, coach Noll was saying as little as possible. “I’ve made my mind up,” he confirmed. “Have I told them which one is starting? Yes and no.” When pressed on the subject, Noll conceded he had told one of the quarterbacks of his decision, but would not elaborate any further.

“I think the entire quarterback situation has been blown way out of proportion,” Noll said. “It sounds trite and it is not what people or the media want to hear, but football is a team game and there is more to winning a football game than just who plays quarterback.

I’m not interested in seeing that someone breaks a big story about my quarterback situation. Maybe it is only a question of priorities, but I’m only interested in the welfare of my football team and winning as many games as we possibly can.

I think we have a good football team. I think we have proven that in spite of what has been written and the people who have written it.”

NOLL’S VIEW ON THE STEELERS’ NEXT OPPONENTS – NEW ORLEANS

Turning away from the quarterback discussion, Noll offered his view on his coaching philosophy. “I never say something that isn’t the truth. I don’t believe in doing that. If I don’t think something is the truth, I won’t say it. A lot of people can’t buy that because I’m not anxious to tell them what they want to hear.

Well, that’s tough, but I’m not about to change. That is the only way I can deal with people. I can’t help it if people don’t believe me. I said Houston would beat a lot of people and everyone refused to believe me. They have won a lot of football games (four straight) lately. I said New Orleans is a good team and I don’t think too many people believe me.

Because the only name anybody knows about is Archie Manning (the New Orleans’ quarterback), it is hard to convince my players that New Orleans is a good football team. I can show then that on films in here, but there is an awful lot of negative reinforcement out there from fans, press and the like. So, it is hard to get ready for the Saints.”

Focusing on their next opponents, Noll declared, “Defensively, they are an excellent football team. They are very physical and hard hitting. They have good people; they force a lot of fumbles (28) and get a lot of sacks (29). In those aspects of defense, they are an awful lot like us. The statistics are fairly close too.

They are third in total defense in the NFC and that is saying a lot. No one might believe, but they stopped Los Angeles last week about as well as you can stop a football team. So, our main problem with them will be attacking their defense.

Besides, they are at home and they are a much better football team at home. You have to be a good football team to take advantage of a crowd factor like they have and they are doing just that now.”

STEELERS SIGN RUNNING BACK TO FILL THE GAP

Frenchy Fuqua was placed on injured reserve while Reggie Harrison, a rookie free agent running back from the University of Cincinnati, was signed to strengthen the Steelers backfield. Fuqua had surgery to repair a dislocated wrist. Under NFL rules he will not now be able to compete in any further regular season or playoff games.

In addition to Fuqua’s injury, Preston Pearson will miss the remainder of the regular season as he will have surgery for a severe hamstring injury. Rocky Bleier is still recovering from a bruised ankle suffered in the loss to Cincinnati two weeks previously.

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 media photo 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

JOE GREENE THANKS THE OILERS

Joe Greene media photo With just three games left in the 1974 season, the Steelers held a game and a half advantage over Cincinnati. Joe Greene thanked the Houston Oilers for that lead.

“Where would we be without them (Houston),” Greene (picture right) offered. “They knocked off Cincinnati twice for us, didn’t they? That is the difference in the standings.

Before the season started, every player I know of mentally goes over the schedule and decides what games you think you are sure of winning, those you think you have a good shot at losing and those that are borderline wins or borderline losses.

For example, I put question marks beside Cleveland games. In a rivalry game like that, anything can happen. When you win them, they are a big plus. But what I like about our team this year is that we are yet to lose a game to a team that has no right to beat us.

I’m sure Cincinnati figured it had two wins over Houston locked up and one over San Diego. Losing these three games has really hurt them.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2-1) vs the Houston Oilers (5-6)

The Steelers edged ahead in the first quarter with Roy Gerela’s 44-yard field goal before the team exchanged touchdowns in the second period. Terry Bradshaw completed a 32-yard pass to Franco Harris with 32 seconds left in the half to give the Steelers a 10-7 lead.

Houston’s interception midway through the third quarter set the Oilers up for 42-yard field goal that tied the game. With both defenses dominating, a controversial holding penalty against the Steelers’ Glen Edwards provided the opportunity for the Oilers go ahead score.

Bradshaw commented, “We looked terrible. It was the worst day offensively I can remember since we’ve been here. No excuses or pointing fingers. We just looked bad.

There were too many distractions. It was a short week after a Monday Night game and Thanksgiving was there. We weren’t ready, maybe it was too much turkey.”

Coach Noll said, “The defense and special teams played well enough to win, but you don’t win many wars playing defense alone. We didn’t throw the ball well at times and we didn’t make the blocks and the running game won’t go if you don’t sustain the blocks.

What we have to do now is not dwell on this. This is history. We’ve got two games left and if we win them both, we win the division. If we dwell on what could and have should have happened, it’ll kill us.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers 10 vs the Houston Oilers 13
Three Rivers Stadium December 1st 1974; 41,195

Passing:
Bradshaw 6-20-60, Hanratty 0-5-0

Rushing:
Harris 7-29, Lewis 1-22, Bleier 6-15, Davis 4-7, Bradshaw 2-2
Receiving:

Harris 3-39, Lewis 1-12, Shanklin 1-9, Davis 1-0

AFC CENTRAL
Cincinnati 3 Miami 24
Cleveland 7 San Francisco 0

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

CHUCK NOLL ACCENTUATES THE POSITIVES

Chcuk Noll and Terryb Bradshaw media photo That was the headline for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s sports pages following the Steelers' unexpected home loss to the Houston Oilers. At his weekly press conference, Chuck Noll stressed that things were not as bad as they appeared with his team only looking impressive in three of the twelve games played.

“I try to set a positive atmosphere,” Noll said. “We would have liked to be 12-0, but we are 8-3-1 and I like to emphasis the things that got us the eight wins. I think we are capable of winning ten games. If we do that, we will win our division. I think we have that kind of team.”

The Post-Gazette accepted the Steelers’ defense were up to scratch, but their offense was suspect. Asked if anyone on the offense that could only produce 84 yards played well, Noll responded, “Our defense and our special teams played very well.” His grin and non-answer said it all.

The coach declined to specify whether he thought the quarterback or the receivers were to blame. “It’s a major problem all over. We spent a great deal of time on our running game early in the season because it wasn’t going well and our passing suffered,” Noll offered.

Noll indicated he will continue to alternate rookies Lynn Swann and John Stallworth with starters Ron Shanklin and Frank Lewis at the wide receivers position. The coach also suggested that Terry Bradshaw would be the team’s starter provided there are no lingering effects from his bruised ribs.

“Give the credit to the Oilers. They were magnificent,” Noll said in praise of the team he had predicted earlier in the season were not as bad as everyone thought.

GILLIAM READY TO PLAY - IF HE IS THE COACH'S CHOICE

Joe Gilliam media photo “When Noll switched to Bradshaw before the Atlanta game, I was surprised,” said Joe Gilliam, who led the Steelers to a 4-1-1 start to the season.

“It was the kind of thing you could see coming. I thought my performance spoke for itself. We were in first place, we were leading the league in total offense most of the time and our passing attack was the best in the league.

But I suffered from a lack of support in the media. My contribution was always underplayed. What I was doing didn’t seem to matter.”

Coach Noll had hinted that Gilliam’s reluctance to use the running game was the major reason for his demotion. “There are always many factors,” Gilliam added. “A lot of them were out of my control too.
In my own mind, I’m still getting better. But it hasn’t been an easy year for me. I’m a human just like the others. I’ve never had trouble sleeping before. Now I do.

I’m still here just waiting for my chance. I think my record still speaks for itself and I certainly think I’m capable of getting the job done.”

Next up for the Steelers are the New England Patriots. A team with a secondary that is one of the worse in the NFL, providing a golden opportunity for an effective passer to dominant. Only coach Noll knows which one of his quarterbacks that will be.

What a difference a year makes. In 1973, Ron Shanklin (picture right) was named the Steelers MVP by his teammates. He caught 10 touchdown passes while averaging a NFL high 23.7 yards per catch of his 30 receptions that saw him go to the Pro Bowl.

With the introduction of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, Shanklin had only caught 19 passes for a single touchdown and an average of 17.1 yards. With the Steelers offense not keeping up with their defense, it was easy to blame the receivers for under performing.

But the critics needed to reflect on the changes at quarterback that would affect the receivers and their rotation that wouldn’t provide the stability necessary for a successful offense.

“I would think that many people realise this and I’m sure many of them understand the situation,” Shanklin offered in his defense. “Sure, we’re humans, we’re not machines. We make mistakes, but I still think we have the best group of receivers in the leagues bar none. We function as a group and we take the rap as a group.

Look, we’re in first place. And what it’s all about at the end of the year is being successful as a team. I’m mature enough to understand that and I never try to second guess Chuck. I have a lot of respect for him. I’ve seen what comes out of his head and it falls into place and wins games.

Splitting time is hard. It’s harder to get open and it’s harder to familiarise yourself with the cornerbacks you’re going against. Coming off an all-pro season, there are psychological effects to becoming a part time. I try to make the adjustments and not complain or get into one of those ‘I am’ things. Cool is the word. You try not to get hung up on personal things.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explained the irony of the current situation. Shanklin was pleased when the Steelers drafted Swann and Stallworth. He figured the team needed reserve depth at the wide receiver spots because the passing game suffered the previous year when Shanklin was side-lined at the end of the season with injury.

“There was no insecurity on my part,” explained Shanklin. “I didn’t take it as an insult. What was there to be insecure about? I was coming off an all-pro season. It was easy to accept the platooning early in the year because the rookies had worked so well with Joe Gilliam in the exhibition season during the players strike. The surprise came when Noll switched back to platooning the receivers as the season heads down the stretch.

I’m told Noll sees it as the way to get us there and that’s good enough for me right now. But after it’s all over, I’d kind of like to know just what the reasons were.”

Two days before facing their next opponents, the New England Patriots, and with their second division title on the cards, Andy Russell said, “We had our best day of practice all year.“

Going into the game, the Patriots’ quarterback, Jim Plunkett, had completed 51.2% of his passes for 17 touchdowns. Reacting to the stat that New England hadn’t been held to under 14 points all season, Joe Greene commented, “We have the best defense in football and they haven’t faced us yet.”

Terry Bradshaw felt confident that the predominantly ineffective offense during the rest of the season was now beginning to come to the boil. “I can feel it out there,” he said after practice. “We’ve looked sharp.”

With a gusting 30-mile wind hampering the passing game, the Steelers ground attack played a major part in securing their victory.

Having won the coin toss, the Patriots elected to take the wind and not the ball. Defending his call, the Patriots’ coach said, “I wanted to play for field position and it worked for a while. Then we had the fumble, the bad kick and the interception.”

Presented with great field position after Bobby Walden’s 28-yard punt into the wind, New England took the lead in the first period with Jim Plunkett’s 17-yard touchdown pass to Mack Herron.

Early in the second period, Roy Gerela (picture left) kicked a 40-yard field goal and then the Steelers defense, with the wind now at its back, began to apply the pressure. Mel Blount recovered a Herron fumble to set up a Franco Harris 2-yard touchdown run. With the Steelers’ point after attempt being blocked, they owned a 9-7 lead.

A poor New England punt set up another Gerela field goal, this one a 27 yarder. Two plays later, Jam Ham made a diving interception, but the Steelers could not convert the turnover into points, missing a 47-yard field goal attempt.

Just before the half expired, a 48-yard Plunkett pass to Herron set up a 20-yard field goal that reduced the Steelers’ lead to 12-10 at halftime.

After exchanging turnovers in the third quarter, Lynn Swann returned a punt 15 yards to the Patriots’ 38 giving the Steelers a golden opportunity to forge ahead. Swann completed the series making a 7-yard scoring diving catch to increase the Steelers’ lead. Joe Gilliam then replaced Bradshaw who was still recovering from his rib injury.

Pittsburgh’s defense crowned another potent performance with L.C. Greenwood’s sack of Plunkett in the end zone for a safety. Herron completed the scoring with his five-yard sweep around.

After his team's loss, Plunkett commented, “This is probably the best we’ve faced this year. I think so. It’s hard to find holes in that defense.”

Ray Mansfield observed, “We looked at the films of the Patriots’ game against Oakland last week and Oakland, with that great running attack of theirs could not run against them on a consistent basis. They had trouble getting anything going against them on the ground.

New England had the best defense in the AFC against the run and we could see why. They are very quick and very aggressive. They posed a lot of problems.

We wanted to pass, but coming into this game or passing attack… well, our passing attack was stinking. So we did what we have been doing best lately – run the ball and run it some more. As long as Franco and Rocky are healthy, we can run with anybody.”

Franco Harris said, “If we play as well as we did today, we can make it to the Super Bowl. In retrospect, maybe losing to Houston was a good thing for our offense. I think it woke a lot of people up. We were very dedicated to winning this game and ending the (division) race once and for all.”

Mansfield (picture right) added, “I’ve been with this team a long time, but I’ve never seen it so quiet on the bus ride to the stadium or before the game. There was almost no talking or joking at all. It was eerie in a way, because it wasn’t our style.”

After the Steelers had won only their second division title, the final words came from Mansfield who summed up the difference between the team’s offense and defense. “The defense believe they are very good. We (the offense) think we’re very good.”

The Pittsburgh Steelers 21 at the New England Patriots 17
Schaefer Stadium December 8th 1974; 52,107

Rushing:
Harris 29-136, Bleier 12-42, Bradshaw 1-6, Davis 3-4, Gilliam 1-(-1)

AFC CENTRAL
Detroit 23 Cincinnati 19
Denver 37 Houston 14
Dallas 41 Cleveland 17

Having clinched the 1974 division title, the Steelers’ final regular season game against Cincinnati became meaningless, except for Pittsburgh pride. Despite that, coach Noll announced he would still be playing his regulars unless they were 100% injured. Doctors have said it would be unwise to play Mike Wagner because of his concussion so he was the only player excused. Noll praised Wagner’s replacement in their last game, rookie Donnie Shell saying, “We knew he could hit, but he played awfully well.”

“If you don’t have confidence in yourself, then no one else will,” said revealed Shell (picture left). With the injury to Mike Wagner, Shell found himself projected as having his first pro start against the Bengals in the Steelers’ last regular season game.

Shell, who played his college football at South Carolina State, came to Pittsburgh as a free agent after failing to be selected by any team in the draft. “I thought I might go as high as the fifth round,” he offered. “I’m still not sure why I wasn’t drafted. It could be because I had a blood clot in my thigh at the Orange Blossom Classic and I was limping and didn’t play until the third quarter.

But Bill Nunn (Steelers assistant director of player personnel) called me the day after the draft and said the Steelers were interested in signing me. I also got calls from Houston and Denver and I talked it over with my college coach, Willie Jefferies, and I figured I’d go with the Steelers because they had the best team.”

Dan Rooney confirmed that Shell had been on the Steelers’ list. “He was one of the guys we were interested in. Bill Nunn was high on him. Sometimes you just run out of picks before you select all the guys you want. But we still wanted to get him, even after the draft. Then came the strike and Shell and the other rookies got a lot of playing time.”

“I played cornerback in the exhibition season, but I like safety more because you get more chance to hit there and I’m a hitter,” said Shell. He made the team as a reserve defensive back and a member of the special teams where his hitting had been eye catching.

Shell’s first opportunity to shine in the regular season came when Glen Edwards was ejected in the first Cincinnati game. Shell’s solid development provides strength for the Steelers in the secondary as they head towards the playoffs.

L.C. Greenwood’s 1974 season had seen the defensive end put together a safety, a blocked extra point, two recovered fumbles and eleven sacks. His supreme outside pass rush has complemented Joe Greene’s inside pass rush.

Greenwood had contributed to the Steelers another season that should have guaranteed him an acceptable raise with a new contract. “But I felt that I had just as strong a position last year,” commented Greenwood, “but things didn’t work out that way. I don’t see how things have changed this time.”

After negotiations with Steelers’ vice-president Dan Rooney bogged down, Greenwood decided to look towards the new World Football League for financial improvement. Part of the temptation to sign with the Birmingham team was a rewarding advance. “It’s just upfront money,” Greenwood said, “but they haven’t missed a payment yet.”

With talk of the fragility of the new league, Greenwood added, “I’m not worried whether the WFL is in business next year or not. If the league folds, I can sell my services somewhere else or even here.

If I said I was in this business only for fun, I’d be lying. Money is the biggest factor, but I’ve been in this league for six years now and my financial future is not secure yet. That is what I am looking for when I get too old and too bruised to play any further.”

The myth that NFL players waiting to go into the WFL would not give their best in their final year had been put to rest by Greenwood’s stats. “Protecting myself for the WFL itself has never been an objective,” said Greenwood.

“I’ve played with injuries this year just like I have in the past,” he added. “It’s not so much the WFL thing, it’s just that this team can go all the way and win the Super Bowl. I’ve know that all season and I didn’t want to be the reason we failed.

Winning the Super Bowl and the money that goes with it is too much of an incentive to overlook.”

His contribution to the team for the 1974 season would serve him well if the WFL did fold. “There’s no bitterness on either side over what happened at contract time last year or since I’ve signed with the WFL. I’d be happy to play here next year if the WFL folds and the Steelers make me the best offer. That would be just fine with me. This team has a great future.”

From the outset, it appeared that Cincinnati’s coach Paul Brown had no interest in the final 1974 regular season game. Presumably, this and the large Bengals’ injury list, explained the Bengals’ lethargy.

The Steelers could have put points on the board with their first drive, but chose to punt rather than attempt a 44-yard field goal leading to a chorus of boos. The dissent would have faded when the Steelers defense stopped the Bengals on their subsequent drive and fan’s groans turned to cheers when Lynn Swann returned Cincinnati’s punt 69 yards to their 18.

Five plays later, Terry Bradshaw found John Stallworth with a 5-yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers the spark that ensured they would not match the Bengals’ non- aggression tactics.

The Steelers went on to build a 17-0 halftime lead, with Bradshaw finding Gerry Mullins with a 7-yard touchdown pass before Roy Gerela kicked a 26-yard field goal.

The Bengals prevented a shutout by kicking a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter. Rookie Harrison increased the Steelers lead in the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run before Gerela closed out with a 42-yard field goal.

The Pittsburgh Steelers 27 vs the Cincinnati Bengals 3
Three Rivers Stadium December 14th 1974; 42,676

For the third straight year, the Steelers won 10 games and made the playoffs where their next opponents will be the Buffalo Bills and O.J. Simpson.

The team’s 3,074-yard total offense set a new franchise record. Roy Gerela won his second back-to-back scoring title.

Franco Harris’s 79 yards rushing were enough to provide him with his second 1000 yards season in three years.

“About the only thing we gained from that was exercise,” noted L.C. Greenwood, who blocked a field goal and recovered a fumble. “We needed that of course, but in terms of Buffalo, we got nothing out of it.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say the team was mine at last,” said Bradshaw. “But the Man (coach Noll) has stuck with me the last few weeks and I think both the team and I have responded with confidence.

The big thing is my confidence is finally coming back. Any quarterback who sits on the bench for six weeks like I did has to have a lot of his confidence destroyed. Nothing destroys your confidence more than idleness and I think the timing and instincts a quarterback needs come back a lot faster than confidence.”

John Stallworth commented on his big game, “I came into the regular season thinking I was going to bust the NFL wide open, I grew up a lot.” He had gone six straight games without a catch before his star performance against the Bengals.

Coach Noll was obviously unhappy with the no show Bengals, but was pleased with his team’s willingness to play in difficult circumstances. “The enthusiasm we showed toward a game that meant nothing was very gratifying,“ he offered. “We could have just gone through the motions, but instead we accepted the challenge and carried the battle. That shows me a lot. I’m convinced we have a good football team and a team that will do whatever it takes to win.”

Rushing:
Harris 17-79, Bleier 8-38, Davis 5-12, Harrison 5-24, Swann 1-14, Bradshaw 1-4

Receiving:
Stallworth 6-105, Swann 2-44, Grossman 1-18, Davis 1-7, Mullins 1-7, Harrison 1-2

That was the headline in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as the newspaper looked ahead to the 1974 NFL playoffs and their analysis follows:

There is no way to speed on the football highway to the Super Bowl. It’s a grind out route which begins on the first Sunday of the National Football League. Along the way there are fumbles, interceptions, quarterback sacks, blocked punts and injuries.

The team with the best quarterback doesn’t always make it to the Super Bowl. The team with the best running backs often watches the Super Bowl on television. The team with the most injuries doesn’t make it to the playoffs.

The one ingredient needed to reach the Super Bowl is an outstanding defense. It has been the key to the success of the Steelers this season and its effectiveness will determine how far Chuck Noll’s club will go in the post-season games.

The defenses of the Super Bowl winners are evident in the results. The 1968 Oakland Raiders, who lost 35-10 to the Green Bay Packers, are the only losers to score more than one touchdown in the Super Bowl.

The field generalship of the quarterback always is a big factor. During the season, a team can win some games with the quarterback having a poor day. It rarely happens in post-season play.

The reputations of most quarterbacks whose teams reach the Super Bowl has already been made. Some enhance their reputations with stellar Super Bowl performances such as Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Len Dawson and Bob Griese.

Journeyman Earl Morrall, a bust when the Colts were upset 16-7 by Namath’s Jets in Super Bowl III, redeemed himself in Super Bowl V when, in relief for injured Johnny Unitas, he led the Colts to a 16-13 comeback victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Morrall is number two quarterback in Miami now.

Among the eight clubs seeking the gold this season, only the Miami Dolphins, who are aiming for their fourth straight Super Bowl appearance, have a starting quarterback who knows both success and failure in Super Bowl competition.

Bob Griese has the dubious distinction of quarterbacking the only Super Bowl team that failed to score a touchdown. In Super Bowl VI, the Dolphins were beaten 24-3 by the Cowboys. Griese had his revenge at the expense of Washington and Minnesota in Super Bowls VII and VIII.

Going into the post season games, Ken Stabler of Oakland is the quarterback with the growing reputation. Some people think Stabler, who throws left-handed, is the best QB in pro football. His success or failure in post season play will put a more definitive mark on Stabler’s qualities.

The Minnesota Vikings’ Fran Tarketon and the Washington Redskins Bill Kilmer have been to the Super Bowl before as losers. The Steelers, Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams will start quarterbacks not nationally recognised as quality quarterbacks. It could be with good reason. None has been an outstanding quarterback for any period of time.

There are two schools of thought on how much luck is needed to reach the Super Bowl. Some football people insist the winners in the playoffs and the conference championship games make their own luck. Others contend luck – a good bounce after a punt or a blocked pass that falls into the hands of a receiver – goes a long way toward deciding the outcome of a big game.

In 1974 for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dwight White (picture left) reflected on the Steelers’ playoff appearances for the previous two seasons. He recalled the optimism of 1972 and the confidence of the team the following year. “But this season is very different,” White observed. “Sure, we are confident and optimistic, but we’re also smart. Maybe I should say mature.”

“Whatever it is, there’s a very different feeling for the playoffs this year, and I think it is a very positive sign.”
Recalling the previous years, White said, “In 1972, we surprised a lot of people. Nobody took us very seriously, maybe not even ourselves. We won on enthusiasm and instinct, not skill and finesse. To be honest, I don’t think any of us knew how good we were.

Last year, we were confident, but we had gone through a strange season. Stranger than this one for sure. We had a lot of highs and a lot of lows and never really found an even footing. Then, by the time we got to the playoffs, we were drained emotionally and the injury situation was terrible. We were too messed up to take advantage of that confidence.” The Steelers lost 34-14 to Oakland in the first round.

“This year,” added White, “we’re more mature and a whole lot smarter. We can understand the theory the coaches preach as well as execute it. We don’t have to rely on instinct as much. We know exactly what we want to do and how to do it.”

White believed the reason the Steelers defense had been the stingiest in the AFC this season was due to the scarcity of their mistakes. “We’re never going to play a perfect game, but we’re always striving to be perfect,” he said. “One of the big differences in our defense this year is that we’ve come to grips with the fact that the fewer mistakes you make in the non-pressure situations, the fewer you will make when the pressure is on.”

The Steelers had Franco Harris wearing #32, but the Buffalo Bills had O.J. Simpson wearing the same number. In their first round playoff game against the Bills, the two premier running backs of the league will be facing each other and one of them could decide which team will advance.

Simpson’s 1,125 yards finished the regular season as the NFL’s number one rusher while Harris lagged behind in 9th place with his 1006 yards. Coach Noll predicted, “We imagine they’ll give him the ball a lot. The key is gang tackling and surrounding him with a lot of people. You can’t get lulled and think it isn’t his day. He can be lousy the whole game and then break one for 90 yards. He has unique abilities.

“Having a good season this year meant a lot to me,” Harris told the Post-Gazette. A lot of people were down on me after last year. People were down on me when I came to the Steelers from Penn State. It always seems like I have a lot to prove to people. I think that goes back to when I played at Penn State. A lot of people doubted my ability then.”

Enthusing over his 1000-yard season, Harris said, “In the huddle just before the play in which I got my 1000th yard, the look on the linemen’s faces told me I was going to get it right then and there. If not that play, the next.

That was a tremendous thrill, knowing they could share in my accomplishments. After all, the linemen open the holes. Without the holes, no back can do anything. Our line this year has been outstanding. They’ve gotten better and better, too.”

He began the game leading the Steelers on a 12 play drive that fizzled out with a dropped pass on the Bills’ goal line. Pittsburgh had to settle for three points from Roy Gerela’s 21-yard field goal.

Later in the first quarter, a poor punt from Bobby Walden set the Bills up for a 56-yard drive they finished with six plays and a 22-yard touchdown pass to Paul Seymour. Buffalo took their 7-3 lead into the second quarter and then the Steelers exploded.

Bradshaw ignited his offense. On a third-and-seven and with all the receivers covered, Bradshaw scrambled eight yards for a first down. Four plays later he skirted right end for 12 yards on a second and 10. When the next play broke down, Bradshaw found Rocky Bleier with a 27-yard touchdown pass. Coach Noll later joked, “Maybe we’ll put that play in. Sometimes even mistakes work well.” Gerela’s point after attempt was blocked, which meant the Steelers took a 9-7 lead.

With Pittsburgh’s defense holding Buffalo, the Steelers were soon given another opportunity that they accepted. Lynn Swann and John Stallworth were their dual threat on the 66-yard drive. Franco Harris finished the series with his 1-yard touchdown run.

On the Bills’ next first down, Jim Braxton turned the ball over when the combined hits from Mike Wagner and Mel Blount forced a fumble that Jack Ham recovered. The 58-yard drive took just four plays that included a 19-yard completion from Bleier followed by a 35-yard completion from Swann. The series was finished by Harris again with his 4-yard touchdown run. Again, the point after was blocked, but the Steelers still led 22-7.

The Steelers defense continued to dominate their opponents while their offense added to the score. With sixteen seconds left of the half, Harris again marched in with a 1-yard touchdown that completed a 56-yard drive in five plays. The Steelers' lead increased to 29-7 with the team setting a new playoff record with four touchdowns in a quarter.

The Bills reduced the lead with a touchdown in the third period before Gerela’s 22-yard field goal completed the scoring in the fourth quarter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers 32 vs the Buffalo Bills 14
Three Rivers Stadium December 22nd 1974; 48,321

Rushing:
Harris 24-74, Bradshaw 5-48, Bleier 14-45, Davis 5-32, Swann 2-24. Gilliam 1-12

Receiving:
Swann 3-60, Bleier 3-54, Lewis 2-18, Brown 1-29, McMakin 1-22, Shanklin 1-15, Harris 1-5

Before the game, Art Rooney received a telegram that read, “Eat ‘em up. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and on to the Super Bowl. Love and kisses – Frank Albert Sinatra. The Post-Gazette revealed that Sinatra had become friendly with many of the Steelers when they practiced the previous December in Palm Springs in preparation for the Oakland playoff game.

After the game, the Post-Gazette described Bradshaw as, “often criticised for being rattled on the field, Bradshaw was the coolest guy in the stadium. He got Buffalo on the run and clicked off the plays so fast that the Bills seemed confused and unsure of themselves.”

Bradshaw commented, “The best game I ever had. If I’ve ever had a problem in the pros, it’s been that I’ve pushed too hard. Now I’m just trying to play down the whole thing. I try to flush everything out of my mind and not worry about things.

It used to be that things built up inside of me a lot. But things are different now. I slept thirteen hours last night.”

Lynn Swann said, “We’re just peaking now and I can’t think of a better time for it. I’m just glad they have faith enough in me so I can be part of it.”

O.J. Simpson was held to 49 yards on 13 carries. Andy Russell explained, “We had a good defense that took away the things that Buffalo likes to do. The key to it was jamming the middle and the stunts.”

“Football is a game-to-play proposition,” said coach Chuck Noll. “Beating Buffalo last week was great. It really was. But now we have to do it again in Oakland this week.

Terry Bradshaw played a superb game, called a great game. No question about it. But last week is over now and he has to do it again.”

When the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette asked Noll if Bradshaw’s outstanding performance in the defeat of the Bills signified his arrival as a first rate NFL quarterback, Noll retorted, “Once you figure you’ve arrived, you’re finished. Arrival is retirement.”

Born in Texas and out of North Texas State University, Joe Greene was coach Noll’s first ever draft pick. Now established as one of the league’s top defensive linemen, Greene still makes his home in a suburb of Dallas.

“But Sunday I felt like I really belonged in Pittsburgh,” Greene said reflecting on the playoff win over the Bills. “Why? Because for the first time the fans cheered for us as a team. Not for individuals, not against one player and for another, but for us as a team.

It was a whole new experience and I loved every minute of it. Loved it. Now I’m goin’ to be proud to be considered a Pittsburgher.

It was the day Terry Bradshaw proved to everybody that he had finally become a man and our offensive leader. Maybe him coming here as the heralded saviour of the franchise put unfair pressure on him. Maybe that and all the falls he’s taken have turned him into the man he’s suddenly become.

I can remember when I first came here and was the baby of the group. That was a tough year. After the preseason, I thought what the heck, this is going to be a piece of cake. Just like college. But my first regular season taught me how wrong I was. I think Terry experienced a lot of the same problems because his first preseason was so good. Too good.

I don’t want people to think of Joe Greene and the Steelers defense. I want to think that they’ll think of me only as representative of that group. We’re all in this together. Now I’m proud to include our offense. Baby, they’ve arrived.”

The Steelers 1974 regular season continued