The hapless NFL franchise finally broke through. Here’s how they did it.
Chuck Noll (photo, SI)
The Steelers stood 6-2-1 after nine weeks of the 1974 season. Coach Chuck Noll couldn’t decide on a starting quarterback, and he alternated John Gilliam, Terry Bradshaw, and Terry Hanratty. Finally, Noll settled on Bradshaw in Week Ten, and Pittsburgh finished the regular season 10–3–1. Then, the Steelers handled the Bills, 32–14, in the divisional playoff, before disposing of the Raiders in the AFC Championship, 24–13.
Pittsburgh would now face the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX, which would be played on January 12, 1975, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
The Vikings finished the 1974 season at 10–4 and got to the big game by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, 30–14, in the playoff game, and the LA Rams, 14–10, in the NFC title game.
It would be a newcomer vs. a team that had participated in Super Bowl VIII, losing to the Dolphins. Lots of people thought this second try would bring the NFL crown to Minneapolis-St. Paul. Here’s how the first half turned out.
Fred Cox’s poor kickoff gave the Steelers reasonable field position, starting at their 36. But it was a quick three-and-out for the Pittsburgh offense. A good punt gave Minnesota the ball at their 18, and the Vikings’ first play from scrimmage was a 16-yard completion to John Gilliam. But the next three plays netted zero yards, and Minnesota punted. Rookie Lynn Swann returned the punt 17 yards, giving Pittsburgh the ball at their 42. A false start on the next play pushed the team back before Rocky Blier reeled off a long run to put the ball at the Vikings’ 46.
Franco Harris followed with a four-yard run. But a 15-yard clipping penalty put the ball back at the Steelers’ 44. A completion to tight end Frank Lewis gained 12 yards, but defensive tackle Alan Page sacked Terry Bradshaw on the next play. Minnesota almost blocked the punt, and the Vikings took possession at their 14.
After a clipping penalty, Minnesota went three-and-out and punted but had to punt again from the end zone. That gave Pittsburgh the ball at the Vikings’ 44. An incomplete pass and a short run were followed by a 15-yard reception by tight end Larry Brown. After two short runs and an incompletion, kicker Roy Gerela missed a 37-yard field goal. Minnesota took possession at their 20. Again the Vikings went three-and-out and punted. A poor punt followed, giving Pittsburgh the ball at their 48.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bobby Walden (39) drops the ball as kicker Roy Gerela (10) comes in to attempt a field goal during Super Bowl IX, Jan. 12, 1975, in New Orleans, against the Minnesota Vikings. (AP Photo/Ed Kolenovsky)
A four-yard run by Bleier and an offsides penalty on Minnesota gave Pittsburgh a 3rd-and-one. A run by Harris gained fourteen, and a bootleg run by Bradshaw followed, which gained another eleven. Two short runs and an incompletion brought up a fourth down. A 23-yard field goal attempt was foiled by a fumbled snap. The Steelers had been getting good field position on every possession but had yet to capitalize on it.
Minnesota took over at their 23. After a run went for no gain, a completion to Chuck Foreman gained 12 yards and a first down. But the next three plays netted zero yards, and Minnesota punted once again, but a tripping penalty on Pittsburgh put the ball at their 15. It was the first time in the game that the Steelers didn’t have an excellent field position.
Both teams played great defense, but that wasn’t the only thing that stymied the offenses this day. It had rained overnight–with temps in the 40s and no sun–and the artificial turf was still wet, making for a slippery field.
Harris ran for five yards, but an incompletion followed, setting up a 3rd-and-five. An offensive pass interference penalty nullified a 16-yard passing gain. Then Bleier ran for 8 yards but fumbled, giving Minnesota the ball at the Pittsburgh 24.
After three plays gained only two yards, kicker Fred Cox attempted a 39-yard field goal, which he missed.
The Steelers took possession at their 22 but gained only two yards with two runs. Bradshaw connected with rookie receiver John Stallworth for 22 yards, but (again) the offense stalled, and Pittsburgh punted.
That ordinarily inconspicuous play set up the first score of the game.
Safety! (photo, Houston Chronicle)
Minnesota again had a bad field position, starting at their seven-yard line. Foreman ran for three, and then disaster struck. A botched handoff resulted in a fumble. Tarkenton recovered the ball in the end zone. Safety, Steelers.
Pittsburgh got the ball again, this time at their 35, but three plays gained just one yard, and (as happened so many times in this game) the next play was a punt.
A 50 yarder gave the Vikings the ball at their 20 and Tarkenton decided to take it to the air. And he got a little help, too. A 15-yard pass interference call on cornerback Mel Blount put the ball at the 35. After gaining another first down, Foreman gained 17-yards on a pass completion.
Mixing running and passing, the Vikings were able to move the ball to the Pittsburgh 25. The Vikings’ offense had driven 55 yards in ten plays, their first successful drive of the game.
But on the very next play, Tarkenton threw long to Gilliam, who was hit by safety Glen Edwards just as the ball arrived. The ball went up in the air and landed in Mel Blount’s hands for an interception.
Pittsburgh avoided a scare, took over at their 10, and nearly made it to mid-field as the second quarter clock hit zero and the scoreboard showed a most unusual score ….
Photo courtesy The Comeback
