1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Season
Season Summary: The 1978 Steelers were the complete package... powerful, fast, deep, and balanced. Terry Bradshaw delivered the best season of his career, throwing 28 TDs and earning both NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP honors.
With the NFL's new passing rules in place, Pittsburgh's offense erupted. Swann led the league in receptions for much of the year. Stallworth was just as dangerous, and together they were unstoppable. Franco remained a force on the ground behind a dominant line, and the offense could strike quickly and from anywhere.
On defense, the Steel Curtain was suffocating. #1 in points allowed, #2 in takeaways, and utterly unyielding against the run. The new "Mel Blount Rule," specifically designed by the NFL to neutralize Blount's physicality, had no effect. He and the defense were as dominant as ever.
The Steelers finished 14-2, and by the postseason, they were absolutely peaking. In the 4th quarter against Denver, Bradshaw launched 2 TD bombs in 44 seconds to blow the game open. In the AFC Championship, the Steelers erupted for 17 points in 48 seconds to bury Houston. And late in Super Bowl XIII, they stunned Dallas with 2 TDs in a span of just 19 seconds to secure an unprecedented third Super Bowl title.
With 10 Pro Bowlers, 10 Hall of Famers, and a 17-2 final record, the '78 Steelers weren't just the best team of their dynasty... they may have been the greatest team ever assembled.