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1977 Steelers 27 vs 49ers 0 MNF
Footage ends midway through 3rd quarter. Franco and a totally dominant Steeler defense combine to crush San Francisco as Harris alone outgains the entire 49er offense. The Steel Curtain yields only 101 total yds of offense (82 rushing, 19 passing) while Franco, who scores a pair of TDs, rushes for 100 yds and adds 9 more yds receiving.
Jim Plunkett is utterly obliterated, completing only 3 of 13 passes for 30 yds, all of which are erased by Steeler sacks for minus 30 yds. Franco, who repeatedly gains big chunks of yardage on outside pitches from Bradshaw, gives Pittsburgh all the points they need in the 2nd quarter when he breaks a pair of arm tackles and powers 14 yds for a score. Roy Gerela adds a pair of the longest kicks I've ever seen him make; a 50-yarder that gives the Steelers a 10-0 halftime lead and a 47-yarder that makes it 13-0 in the 3rd.
Footage ends midway through 3rd quarter after the Niners' only scoring opportunity ends in botched snap on a FG attempt. Lots of MNF pregame with Howard Cosell, Don Meridith and Al Michaels, but missing numerous 3-and-out possessions by the Niners.
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1977 Steelers 28 at Browns 14
A real grind-it-out game from start to finish featuring HARD running by Franco and Rocky. Swann also shines, snagging 7 catches (including 2 of Bradshaw's 3 TD tosses) and displays remarkable speed on a great 30-yd punt return to set up Pittsburgh's opening score (Swannie's first TD catch of the day). The punt return is also notable because footage of Swann on special teams is fairly rare.
A tipped Bradshaw pass results in an INT that puts Cleveland ahead 14-7 in the 2nd quarter. But on the ensuing drive, another tipped Bradshaw pass, this one on a bomb to Frank Lewis, bounces off rookie CB Oliver Davis before Lewis reels it in and trots into the end zone to tie the game on a 65-yd TD. Early in the 3rd, a muffed punt by Cleveland in their own red zone leads to Lynn Swann TD catch and the Steelers never look back.
This game is also quite interesting because along with great play from names like Ham & Blount come outstanding performances from lesser known players like Loren Toews, Jim Allen, and Reggie Harrison. Perhaps most striking is how HARD Pittsburgh's reserves (who see considerable action late in the contest) play when they're given the opportunity. Some edited huddles, but very watchable.
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1977 Steelers 20 vs Bengals 14 MNF
Partial recording. Footage includes pregame (Terry Bradshaw explaining why he will play only a week after breaking his left wrist) and 1st quarter into early 2nd quarter, including Rocky Bleier's first TD. Footage then cuts to the dramatic final minute of the game for Cinci's furious comeback attempt. Features at least 6 MASSIVE hits by Jack Lambert and excellent performances by Greenwood and Ham. A big-time thanks to Steve Burkhart for contributing this game! Note: This game is a blend of two different recordings, which leads me to believe a full version exists. If you have a more complete copy of this game, please let us know!
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1977 Steelers 35 vs Browns 31
An all-out aerial assault amidst huge snowflakes. :) Anyone who doubts that Lynn Swann & John Stallworth belong in the Hall of Fame needs to watch this amazing game.
The Browns score 1st on a Cockroft FG, but the Steelers explode for 28 unanswered points before the half. Swann & Stallworth are amazing, putting on a textbook display of how to make every kind of conceivable catch. Swann saves an 18-yarder by sliding on his knees at the sideline, and shortly thereafter hauls in a picture-perfect 39-yd TD bomb. Stallworth then breaks numerous tackles to turn a short pass into a 40-yd gain, followed by Swann's leaping 24-yd grab between two defenders at the 2 to set up a Bleier score. Stallworth then hauls in a beautiful 39-yd rainbow of a bomb for another TD, and Swann follows up with a diving, sliding, shoestring grab for a 25-yd gain to set up another score for a 28-3 halftime lead.
The snow starts flying in the second half and a Franco fumble sets up a Browns TD, but Stallworth puts the nail in Cleveland's coffin a few plays later with a 10-yd TD grab. Bradshaw finishes 13 of 21 for 283 yds and 3 TDs with both Swann & Stallworth going over 100 yds, and Franco still manages to ramble for 99 yards and a TD amidst the aerial fireworks.
Trailing 35-10, the Browns fight gallantly behind reserve QB Dave Mays (Sipe is knocked out of the game with a season-ending shoulder injury), narrowing the final score to 35-31, but the outcome is never really in question.
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1977 Steelers 28 vs Cowboys 13
The 8-1 Cowboys capitalize on a Franco Harris fumble to take an early 6-0 lead, but Franco redeems himself immediately, making a great cutback & then turning on the afterburners for a 61 yard TD burst on the very next play!
Harris goes on to dominate the game, grinding out 179 yards on 29 carries as the Steelers run almost exclusively (Bradshaw is playing with a cast on his broken left wrist but still manages to throw a pair of TDs) and physically punish Dallas' Doomsday defense.
The Steel Curtain is all over Staubach, especially in the 2nd half, sacking him several times & forcing a pair of interceptions, including a pick returned to the Dallas 2 yard line to seal the game 28-13.
Video has complete halftime show (including a piece on Sadat's historic visit to Israel) and all commercials. Final 9 seconds of game missing (no biggee).
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1977 Steelers 10 at Bengals 17
Second half only of game played on a frozen field in bitterly cold zero-degree weather (wind chill was 17 below zero). Video begins in the 3rd quarter with Steelers pinned in the shadow of their own goal post clinging to a 10-7 lead. Following a Steeler punt, Anderson hits Billy Brooks for a 57-yard bomb, but the Steelers stiffen and hold Cinci to a FG.
On the ensuing kickoff, Jim Smith (filling in for an injured Lynn Swann) coughs up the ball and the Bengals recover. Ken Anderson immediately hits Pat McInally for a shocking 43-yard TD bomb, Cinci's second score in 15 seconds. Pittsburgh fights 'til the end but runs out of time and downs. A special thanks to Paul Evereklian for providing us with this video!
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1977 AFC Playoffs Steelers 21 at Broncos 34
This is a game the Steelers probably should've won, but Tom Jackson has fantastic game (2 Int and a fumble recovery as well as some incredible hits) for the "Orange Crush".
Also, this game is a perfect illustration of why you should never, EVER continue to hold Joe Greene after he warns you to stop (watch what happens to Denver guard Paul Howard at the 59:10 mark). OUCH!!! A few plays later, Joe gets wronged again in his view and takes a similar shot at Mike Montler (1:04:18). The Steelers get penalized 15 yards, but on the very next play, Denver coughs up the ball and guess who recovers? Joe Greene! The moral of the story: Do not -- I repeat -- do NOT hold Joe Greene, people! LOL. Game is joined in progress and missing some action in 3rd quarter.
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Classic Games Menu
= Hall of Fame Inductee
