1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season
| 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Chuck Noll |
| Home field | Three Rivers Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10-4 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoff |
| Pro Bowlers | 6
|
| AP All-Pros | 3
|
| Team MVP | Ronnie Shanklin |
Offseason
NFL Draft
Preseason
Schedule
Game summaries
Regular season
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 16, 1973): Detroit Lions
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 48,913
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 11 3-0
- Pittsburgh - Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)10-0
- Detroit - Jessie 84 pass from Landry (Mann kick)10-7
- Detroit - FG Mann 40 10-10
- Pittsburgh - McMakin 24 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)17-10
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 6 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)24-10
Week 2 (Sunday September 23, 1973): Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Steelers | 10 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 33 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 49,396
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 12 3-0
- Cleveland - FG Cockroft 43 3-3
- Pittsburgh - Fuqua 4 run (Gerela kick)10-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 40 13-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 26 16-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 44 19-3
- Pittsburgh - Lewis 8 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)26-3
- Cleveland - FG Cockroft 28 26-6
- Pittsburgh - Lewis 53 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)33-6
Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 1973): Houston Oilers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 13 | 17 | 36 |
| Oilers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at the Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 39,331
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 20 3-0
- Houston - Alston 7 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick)7-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 47 7-6
- Pittsburgh - Bradshaw 1 run (kick failed)12-7
- Pittsburgh - Russell 45 interception return (Gerela kick)19-7
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 26 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)26-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 26 29-7
- Pittsburgh - Edwards 86 interception return (Gerela kick)36-7
Week 4 (Sunday October 7, 1973): San Diego Chargers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| Steelers | 17 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 38 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 48,795
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
Johnny Unitas playing for San Diego is knocked out of the game after completing only 3 of 15 passes for 24 yards and 3 interceptions.
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 12 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)7-0
- Pittsburgh - Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)14-0
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 38 17-0
- Pittsburgh - Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick) 24-0
- Pittsburgh - Wagner recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gerela kick)31-0
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 37 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)38-0
- San Diego - LeVias 13 pass from Fouts (Wersching kick)38-7
- San Diego - Jones 3 run (Wersching kick)38-14
- San Diego - Holmes 1 run (Wersching kick)38-21
Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 1973): Cincinnati Bengals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Bengals | 6 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 19 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 55,819
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 20 3-0
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 19 6-0
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 20 9-0
- Cincinnati - Clark 3 run (Muhlmann kick)16-0
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 41 19-0
- Pittsburgh - P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick)19-7
Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 1973): New York Jets
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jets | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Steelers | 0 | 9 | 3 | 14 | 26 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 48,682
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
Scoring Drives:
- New York Jets - Riggins 1 run (Howfield kick)7-0
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 27 7-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 29 7-6
- New York Jets - Caster 28 pass from Demory (Howfield kick) 14-6
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 36 14-9
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 13 14-12
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 16 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)19-14
- Pittsburgh - Harris 2 run (Gerela kick)26-14
Week 7 (Sunday October 28, 1973): Cincinnati Bengals
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 45,761
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 15 3-0
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 17 3-3
- Cincinnati - FG Muhlmann 41 6-3
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 51 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)10-6
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 18 13-6
- Pittsburgh - Fuqua 1 run (Gerela kick)20-6
- Cincinnati - E. Johnson 16 pass from Anderson (Muhlmann kick) 20-13
Week 8 (Monday November 5, 1973): Washington Redskins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 49,220
- Referee:
- TV announcers: ABC Howard Cosell, Frank Gifford, Don Meredith
Game summary
Joe Gilliam (Jefferson Street) makes his Monday night debut.
'Scoring Drives:
- Washington - FG Knight 30 3-0
- Pittsburgh - P. Pearson 7 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick) 7-3
- Washington - FG Knight 12 7-6
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 24 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)14-6
- Washington - FG Knight 16 14-9
- Pittsburgh - B. Pearson 46 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick) 21-9
- Washington - Brown 17 pass from Kilmer (Knight kick)21-16
Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 1973): Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 47,535
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 14 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)7-0
- Oakland - FG Blanda 40 7-3
- Pittsburgh - Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)14-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 17 17-3
- Oakland - Biletnikoff 27 pass from Lamonica (snap fumbled)17-9
Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 1973): Denver Broncos
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 3 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 23 |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 48,580
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Denver - FG Turner 32 3-0
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 15 3-3
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 13 6-3
- Denver - FG Turner 11 6-6
- Denver - Little 10 run (Turner kick)13-6
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 42 pass from Hanratty (Gerela kick)13-13
- Denver - FG Turner 46 16-13
- Denver - Odoms 2 pass from Johnson (Turner kick)23-13
Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 1973): Cleveland Browns
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Browns | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 67,773
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - Shanklin 9 pass from Gilliam (Gerela kick)7-0
- Cleveland - Phipps 1 run (Cockroft kick)7-7
- Cleveland - Pruitt 15 pass from Phipps (Cockroft kick)7-14
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 24 10-14
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 14 13-14
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 20 16-14
- Cleveland - Pruitt 19 run (Cockroft kick)21-16
Week 12 (Monday December 3, 1973): Miami Dolphins
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 26 |
| Dolphins | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
at the Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 68,901
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers: Howard Cosell,Don Meredith,Frank Gifford
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Miami - Anderson 27 interception return (Yepremian kick)7-0
- Miami - FG Yepremian 28 10-0
- Miami - FG Yepremian 46 13-0
- Miami - Mandich 2 pass from Griese (Yepremian kick)20-0
- Miami - Anderson 38 interception return (Yepremian kick)27-0
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 37 27-3
- Miami - FG Yepremian 14 30-3
- Pittsburgh - P. Pearson 5 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)30-10
- Pittsburgh - Harris 21 run (Gerela kick)30-17
- Pittsburgh - B. Pearson 17 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick) 30-24
- Pittsburgh - Safety, White tackled Griese in end zone 30-26
Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 1973): Houston Oilers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 3 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 33 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 38,004
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 49 3-0
- Houston - Alston 11 pass from Pastorini (Butler kick)7-3
- Pittsburgh - B. Pearson 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)10-7
- Pittsburgh - Steve Davis 3 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)17-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 31 20-7
- Pittsburgh - Ham recovered fumble in end zone (Gerela kick)27-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 20 30-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 42 33-7
Week 14 (Saturday December 15, 1973): San Francisco 49ers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 37 |
| 49ers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 52,252
- Referee:
- TV announcers:
Game summary
John Brodie's number was retired prior to game
'Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh - Rowser 71 interception return (Gerela kick)7-0
- San Francisco - Hall recovered blocked punt in end zone (Gossett kick)7-7
- Pittsburgh - P. Pearson 1 run (Gerela kick)14-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 27 17-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 27 20-7
- Pittsburgh - Lewis 50 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)27-7
- Pittsburgh - FG Gerela 35 30-7
- Pittsburgh - Steve Davis 1 run (Gerela kick)37-7
- San Francisco - Atkins 3 run (Gossett kick)37-14
Standings
| AFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 286 | 231 | W-6 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 347 | 210 | W-2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | 234 | 255 | L-2 |
| Houston Oilers | 1 | 13 | 0 | .071 | 199 | 447 | L-6 |
Postseason
Game summaries
Week 15 (Sunday December 23, 1973): Oakland Raiders
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Raiders | 7 | 3 | 13 | 10 | 33 |
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 50,094
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers:
Game summary
'Scoring Drives:
- Oakland - Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick)7-0
- Oakland - FG Blanda 25 10-0
- Pittsburgh - B. Pearson 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)10-7
- Oakland - FG Blanda 31 13-7
- Oakland - FG Blanda 22 16-7
- Oakland - Brown 54 interception return (Blanda kick)23-7
- Oakland - FG Blanda 10 26-7
- Pittsburgh - Lewis 26 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)26-14
- Oakland - Hubbard 1 run (Blanda kick)33-14