16. 1991 HOUSTON OILERS at 16. 1973 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
16. 1973 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Record: 10-4
Pythag: 11-3
Off: 4th
Def: 8th
2nd AFC Central
lost Div Rnd Raiders 33-14
HC Chuck Noll DC Bud Carson
Jack Fleming/Myron Cope
Three Rivers Stadium: 60 degrees
Offense
QB Terry Bradshaw 25
RB Preston Pearson 28
RB Franco Harris 23
WR Frank Lewis 26
WR Ron Shanklin 25
TE John McMakin 23
LT Jon Kolb 26
LG Sam Davis 29
C Ray Mansfield 32
RG Bruce Van Dyke 29
RT Glen Ray Hines 30
Defense
LDE LC Greenwood (27)
LDT Joe Greene (27) All Pro
RDT Ernie Holmes (25)
RDE Dwight White (24)
LLB Jack Ham (25)
MLB Henry Davis (31)
RLB Andy Russell (32)
LCB John Bowser (29)
RCB Mel Blount (25)
SS Mike Wagner (24)
FS Glen Edwards (26)
K Roy Gerela (25)
P Bobby Walden (35)
KR Steve Davis (25)
PR Glen Edwards (26)
4 Steelers groups have moved forward; it'll be a challenge for this 16th seed in the region to win the play in game and then knock off the top seeded Perfect Dolphins to be the 5th. The '73 Steelers were 4th in offense. 25 year old Terry Bradshaw had 13 scores and 15 picks in 9 starts. 10 TDs for 15 year old Ron Shanklin. On defense, Mean Joe Greene is a 27 year old first team All Pro. The starting secondary had 24 picks, 24 year old Mike Wagner leading the way with 8.
16. 1991 HOUSTON OILERS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 4th
Def: 6th
1st AFC Central
d. Jets WC 17-10
lost Div Rnd Broncos 26-24
HC Jack Pardee OC Kevin Gilbride DC Jim Eddy
Offense
QB Warren Moon 35
RB Allen Pinkett 27
WR Curtis Duncan 26
WR Ernest Givens 27
WR Drew Hill 35
WR Haywood Jeffires 27 All Pro
LT Don Maggs 30
LG Mike Munchak 31 All Pro
C Bruce Matthews 30
LG Doug Dawson 30
RT David Williams 25
Defense
LDE William Fuller 29
LDT Ray Childress 29
RDT Doug Smith 31
RDE Sean Jones 29
LLB Lamar Lathon 24
MLB Al Smith 27
RLB Johnny Meads 30
LCB Cris Dishman 26 All Pro
RCB Richard Johnson 28
SS Bubba McDowell 25
FS Bo Orlando 25
K Al Del Greco 29
P Greg Montgomery 27
KR/PR Pat Coleman 24
The '93 Oilers won the region 11 play in game and then gave the top seeds a helluva game; the Run & Shoot just is a tough matchup and we might see that here. 4th in offense, Warren Moon is 35, 25 scores and 21 picks. 10 TDs for 27 year old Allen Pinkett. How about 3000+ yds for the WR trio of 27 year old Ernest Givens, 35 year old Drew Hill, and the All Pro, 27 year old Haywood Jeffires, who caught a hundred balls. 25 combined sacks for 29 year old William Fuller and 29 year old Sean Jones. Cris Dishman is a 26 year old All Pro with 6 picks.
The '72 Dolphins sit on South Beach with their perfect record, waiting the winners. Let's head to Three Rivers for the kick.
1st Qtr
Good Pat Coleman return to open this, Oilers will start at the 41.
One first down - Lorenzo White runs for 15 yards. The drive dies there - great Montgomery punt, Oilers down it at the Steeler 2.
1/10 Franco Harris stopped at the line.
2/10 - The snap is fumbled -- Bradshaw is able to cover it in the end zone -- but William Fuller is atop him -- That's a Safety - and 3 minutes into the game it is 2-0 Oilers.
Another good Coleman return - Oilers are at the Steeler 33.
1/10 - 5 more for White.
2/5 - Jack Ham Picks off Warren Moon - the Steelers turn Houston over and take over at their own 36.
3 and out. Steelers punt, Oilers start at the 22.
One first down and it's a big play - Lorenzo White busts a 47 yard run, big start for White - but that's all for Houston, Al Del Greco hits a long FG and it is 5-0 Oilers.
Steelers start at the 18.
1/10 - 3 for Franco
2/7 - Bradshaw's first completion, 3 yard checkdown to Franco.
3/4 - Bradshaw - over the middle to Preston Pearson, he's got 10 yards.
1/10 - 4 yards for Pearson.
2/6 - Preston Pearson for 12 yards - Pearson gets to midfield.
1/10 - Frenchy Fuqua stopped.
2/10 - Incomplete
3/10 - Bradshaw looks for Shanklin -- Picked Off by Cris Dishman -- Dishman snatches the ball away from Shanklin, Oilers start at the 28.
1/10 - Moon finds Haywood Jeffires, 11 yards to the 39.
1/10 - Lorenzo White just exploding today -- 52 yards -- 52 huge yards all the way to the Steeler 9 yard line as the qtr ends.
2nd Qtr: Oilers 5 Steelers 0
The Oiler defense standing up so far, forcing a turnover and creating a safety, on offense its all Lorenzo White, the Oilers have a first and goal at the 9.
1/goal - Allen Pinkett stopped at the line
2/goal - Pinkett again, he gets 3
3/goal - Moon - Moon fires to the end zone -- Drew Hill -- TOUCHDOWN OILERS - 6 yard Moon TD strike and Houston's now up 12-0.
Steelers at the 32.
1/10 - Franco gets a yard.
2/9 - A dozen yards for Franco.
1/10 - 2 for Fuqua
2/8 - Franco gets 8 and the Steelers cross midfield. A holding call backs Pittsburgh 10 yards and the drive ends.
Steelers kick - Oilers are at the 23 with less than 10 to go - Moon is just destroyed by Joe Grene on first down, it's a 15 yard personal foul, Moon is aided to the sideline, Cody Carlson comes on - and the Oilers don't get another yard.
Wonder if that's a big play here - down 12-0, Steelers have nothing at all going in their direction, Joe Greene picks up a personal foul but the trade is Moon is out of the game.
Steelers start at the 30 -- another 3 and out. Just nothing for Pittsburgh.
Halfway through the qtr, Oilers at the 36 --- Carlson still on the field -
1/10 - Gary Brown gets 10 yards --
But that's all - and when Greene sacks Carlson the drive ends...Carlson needs some assistance from the field-- Steelers start at the 8.
2 first downs - Franco 37 yard run the big play and Bradshaw to Shanklin for 9 gets the second.
But the drive ends - and after the punt, it's a touchback, Oilers starting under 2 minutes left in the half at the 20 with a 12-0 lead. Warren Moon comes back out onto field - he missed a series after getting knocked out by Joe Greene -- Greene then knocked out the backup Carlson and Moon comes back on.
1/10 - Moon - Moon Looking up Top -- Moon Looking up Top --- Picked off By Mel Blount! Blount -- Blount -- Blount with the great return -- Blount is forced out of bounds at the 10 yard line! Huge play - Oilers up 12, less than 2 to go in the half and Mel Blount intercepts Warre Moon - the Steeler crowd has something to cheer for -- you could see the thought from Jack Pardee and Kevin Gilbride - the Steelers will be expecting the run, lets take a shot -- but Mel Blount intercepts the pass and now with about 90 seconds left the Steelers are in business, first and goal at the 10.
1/goal - Bradshaw.....End Zone....Shanklin...TOUCHDOWN STEELERS -- Terry Bradshaw 10 yard TD pass to Ron Shanklin -- and the Steelers slice the deficit to 12-7.
1:21 left in the half.
Oilers at the 22. Moon coming back on.
1/10 - Pinkett gets 4.
2/6 - Moon to Ernest Givens, 9 yards, he's out of bounds.
1/10 - Moon to Hill, short 4 yard gain, Oilers use their first timeout at 40 seconds left.
2/6 - Give to Pinkett...Pinkett's through the line, Pinkett's got a first down, it's a 14 yard pickup across midfield and the Oilers use their second timeout at 29 seconds.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Moon - downfield to Haywood Jeffires, it's a 20 yard pickup, the Oilers use their final timeout at 10 seconds left at the Steeler 27. Gutty drive for Moon who clearly is less than 100%.
1/10 - Moon -- end zone --- Drew Hi ---- Knocked Away by Mike Wagner, just 1 second left - Al Del Greco comes on - 44 yard FG attempt....
Snap. Kick. And it's no good. Del Greco misses the FG and we go to the locker room.
3rd Qtr: Oilers 12 Steelers 7
2 picks for both teams, Houston adds a safety - we'll see if either offense can establish itself in the second half or if big plays on defense will tell the story.
Davis muffs the kick, Steelers pinned deep at their own 5.
1/10 - Franco loses 3, Al Smith in the backfield.
2/13 - Full blitz - Bradshaw just able to throw an incompletion
3/7 - Bradshaw -- Bradshaw in trouble -- Bradshaw in trouble -- Bradshaw is Sacked by Sean Jones - That is Another Safety! Houston's second safety on the day comes on the third play of the half, Jones brings down Bradshaw and it's 14-7 the hard way.
Oilers start at the Steeler 45.
1/10 - Moon -- Moon Is Picked Off By Mike Wagner! Wagner with the third Steeler interception of the day - Pittsburgh will take over at their own 35, trailing by 7.
3 and out. Oilers immediately get the ball back at the 25.
3 and out. Steelers get it back at the 36.
3 and out. Oilers now at the 33.
1/10 - Moon to Duncan, 13 yards to the 46.
1/10 - Moon to Hill, 9 yards and Houston crosses midfield.
2/1 - Pinkett is...not able to pick it up
3/1 - Moon tries a sneak....and he is stopped dead at the line. 4th down now and a yard from the Steeler 46.
4/1 - Moon - Moon under pressure -- Moon -- it's tipped at the line by Greene -- and Greene Has the Interception! Mean Joe Greene with the Interception - That's 4 Pittsburgh interceptions on the day - the Steelers take possession at their own 46.
2 incompletions and the quarter ends
4th Qtr: Oilers 14 Steelers 7
Poker but with big defensive plays, 2 safeties for the Oilers, 4 picks for the Steelers. Steelers with a 3rd and 10 at the 46.
3/10 - Bradshaw -- Steelers pick up the blitz and Bradshaw hits Frank Lewis -- that's a big pickup to the Oiler 31, big first down for Pittsburgh.
1/10 - Franco for 5
2/5 - Bradshaw - to Preston Pearson in space -- Pearson has a step -- And Preston Pearson's Got a Step -- Preston Pearson's got open field and he goes.....Into the End Zone...TOUCHDOWN STEELERS - Bradshaw has picked up 2 safeties, but he comes back and throws a 26 yard catch and run to Pearson and with 13:30 left we are tied at 14.
Oilers at the 22.
One first down, Pinkett 13 yard run. But the drive ends, with 11:43 left it's Pittsburgh who gains possession at the 25.
One first down - Bradshaw 19 yards to Fuqua, but the drive ends, Houston regains at the 19, little more than 8 minutes to go -- game tied at 14.
1/10 - Pinkett goes for 19 yards, Oilers at the 38.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - 10 yards for White..White to the 48.
But that's the end of the drive - and with 5:11 to play the Steelers regain possession at their own 13.
All tied - Steeler ball - 5 minutes to go.
1/10 - Fuqua is stacked up.
2/10 - 3 yards for Pearson
3/7 - Bradshaw -- pressure, Bradshaw sidelin -- Picked off by Dishman! Cris Dishman with his 2nd INT of the day -- Huge, Huge, Huge, the Oilers will take the ball with less than 4 minutes to play at the Steeler 18 yard line!
Oilers can't move the ball.
Al Del Greco comes on for the 32 yard FG to give Houston the lead.....
Snap. Kick......
GOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Al Del Greco 32 yard FG, we are just ahead of the 2 minute warning and Houston is up 17-14.
Steelers at the 15. They need the FG to force OT,
1/10 - Bradshaw...forced to run...Bradshaw with the 6 yard gain and it's the 2 min warning.
2/4 - Bradshaw --- Downfield --- Shanklin -- big gain, 28 yards, Steelers at the 49, Steelers use their first timeout. Big, big play.
1/10 - Pearson gets 1, clock running.
2/9 - Bradshaw is sacked - hurled to the turf by William Fuller, Steelers call time, third and 16.
3/16 - Incomplete
This is it. Steelers at their own 43. Little more than a minute left.
4/16 - Bradshaw -- Pearson, Pearson's got some room - Pearson is Going to be....Stoppped Just Short of the First Down! Bubba McDowell Stops Pearson just shy of the first down -- and that will be the end - The Oilers will be able to run out the clock and this game has ended.
Final: Oilers 17 Steelers 14
70s style football here, full on smash mouth football, safeties, picks - Cris Dishman's 2nd pick the big play leading to the game winning FG.
Moon: 12 for 25 122 yds 1 TD 4 INT
Bradshaw: 10 for 26 149 yds 2 TD/2 INT
White: 11 carries, 142 yds
Harris: 16 carries, 72 yds
Hill: 6 catches, 52 yds, TD
Shanklin: 3 catches, 51 yds TD
Dishman, 2 INT
Fuller: 2 sacks, safety
Greene: 2 sacks, INT
Player of the Game: Cris Dishman
