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 LB Henry Davis PK Roy Gerela DT Joe Greene RB Franco Harris LB Andy Russell DE Dwight White
AP All-Pros	3 Joe Greene (1st team) Roy Gerela (2nd team) Jack Ham (2nd team)
Team MVP	Ronnie Shanklin

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: Jim Tunney
• 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: Pat Haggerty
• 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: Dick Jorgensen
• 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: John McDonough
• 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: Norm Schachter
• 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: Tommy Bell
• 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: Bernie Ulman
• 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: Fred Silva
• 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: Jim Tunney
• 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: Bob Frederic
• 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: Tommy Bell
• 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