1946 - 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers Games

Steel Curtain Season Summary: In 1969, the Steelers were a 1-13 joke with literally decades of futility behind them. But new head coach Chuck Noll had a plan. He wasn't interested in patching together a fixer-upper; he came to bulldoze the joint and pour a new foundation.

He drafted Joe Greene first, then kept building. Terry Bradshaw. Mel Blount. Jack Ham. Franco Harris. In 1974, he added Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, Mike Webster and Donnie Shell in what was undeniably the greatest draft of all time. All of these men are enshrined in Canton. Read More...

It exploded into life in 1972 with Franco's Immaculate Reception, the greatest play in NFL history. That play ignited an unmatched run of dominance, culminating in back-to-back Super Bowl wins... TWICE. The Steel Curtain defense crushed and demoralized opponents. The offense was a meat-grinder that soared when it mattered most. Together, they became the greatest dynasty the NFL has ever seen.

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I find the above stats incredibly interesting. During their 8-year playoff run, the Steeler offense ranked in the top 5 for points scored just as often as the defense ranked in the top 5 for fewest points allowed: 6 times each.

At first glance, this might suggest the offense was underrated in the early years of the Steel Curtain. But a closer look tells a different story. In nearly every season, the offense ranked higher in points scored than in yardage, a clear sign that the defense was setting them up with short fields and scoring opportunities.

Once the defense finally gave way to age and became average, the dynasty immediately ended.