|
|
Post by NFL Historian on Oct 19, 2023 20:48:37 GMT 10
Saturday Dec 24, 1977 Start Time: 4:00pm |
|
|
|
Post by NFL Historian on Oct 19, 2023 20:49:25 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by NFL Historian on Oct 19, 2023 20:51:16 GMT 10
|
|
|
|
Post by NFL Historian on Oct 19, 2023 20:51:45 GMT 10
Between the Steelers' four-Super Bowl run between 1974-79, this was the only time they did not appear in an AFC title game. A pre-ESPN Tom Jackson had a lot to do with that. The Pro Bowl linebacker's fumble return set up a first-half TD, and he picked off two Terry Bradshaw passes to give the Broncos their first playoff win. Pittsburgh, however, outgained Denver and forged a 21-all tie in the fourth quarter. After two Bronco field goals, Jackson's second pick stopped a go-ahead Steeler march in a 34-21 victory. Denver's Orange Crush defense produced a Super Bowl berth. The Steel Curtain exacted revenge in the '78 playoffs, however.
|
|
|
|
Post by NFL Historian on Nov 5, 2023 21:29:26 GMT 10
Game information
In Denver's first postseason football contest, linebacker Tom Jackson's 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery set up 17 points, 10 of them in the 4th quarter, as the Broncos defeated the Steelers for the first playoff win in their 18-year history.
Denver scored first after Broncos receiver John Schultz blocked a punt from Rick Engles and recovered the ball on the Steelers 17-yard line to set up running back Rob Lytle's 7-yard rushing touchdown. Pittsburgh responded with a 56-yard drive, including a 19-yard reception by tight end Bennie Cunningham on 4th down and 1, to tie the score on quarterback Terry Bradshaw's 1-yard rushing touchdown.
In the second quarter, Broncos defensive tackle Lyle Alzado forced a fumble from Franco Harris, which linebacker Randy Gradishar recovered and returned 5 yards before fumbling himself. The second fumble was recovered by Tom Jackson, who returned it 25 yards to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. On the next play, running back Otis Armstrong ran the ball into the end zone to give the Broncos a 14–7 lead. However, Pittsburgh quickly struck back starting with Jim Smith's 28-yard kickoff return to the Steelers 34-yard line. Bradshaw then hit John Stallworth for a 21-yard completion and Harris ripped off a 20-yard burst before he finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14 with 1:41 left in the half.
In the third quarter, the Broncos drove 52 yards to the Pittsburgh 1-yard line, only to lose the ball when Jim Jensen was stuffed for no gain by Jack Lambert and Jim Allen on 4th down. But after a punt, they drove 43 yards to go up 21–14 on Craig Morton's 30-yard touchdown pass to tight end Riley Odoms.
Early in the 4th quarter, Pittsburgh managed to tie the game with a 48-yard catch by Stallworth setting up Bradshaw's 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Larry Brown. But this would be their last score as Denver soon took over the game. First, Jim Turner put the Broncos up 24–21 by kicking 44-yard field goal with 7:17 left on the clock. Then Jackson intercepted a pass from Bradshaw and returned it 32 yards to the Steelers 9-yard line, setting up Turner's 24-yard field goal to make the score 27–21. On Pittsburgh's ensuring drive, Jackson struck again, intercepting another pass and returning this one 17 yards to the Steelers 33. Rather than sitting on their one-score lead and trying to run out the clock with running plays, Denver took to the air, scoring the game clinching touchdown on Morton's 34-yard pass to Jack Dolbin with 1:44 left in the game.
Harris finished the game with 92 rushing yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards, and a touchdown. Morton only completed 11 of 23 passes, but he threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
This was the first postseason meeting between the Steelers and Broncos.
Wikipedia
|
|
ELITE PLAYERS
