Playoffs The Steelers would face an old opponent, the Raiders, in the 1974 AFC Championship Game. The rivalry became stronger with each passing year. The Steelers triumphed in Pittsburgh in 1972, and the Raiders returned the favor in Oakland in 1973. The Steelers, on the other hand, were prepared for everything the Raiders might throw at them. They hired Chuck Noll as their new coach, and he brought a more modern offense to Pittsburgh. The Raiders also got younger and faster, so it was clear that this would not be easy.
Both teams were undefeated going into the game, but the Steelers had home field advantage. It was also worth noting that the winner would advance to Super Bowl IX. These factors combined to make this championship game extremely important to both teams.
The players on both sides loved playing this game. It meant so much to them, and they wanted to send a message to the NFL that they were still here - and ready to play ball. This game promised to be great football, and it didn't disappoint. There were a number of key plays in this game, but there's one that stands out above all others. With just over two minutes left to play and the score tied at 10, Oakland quarterback Jack Tatum threw a short pass toward the end zone. He was intercepted by Mike Mitchell at the 1-yard line, and Mitchell ran 73 yards for a touchdown to give the Steelers a thrilling 17-10 victory.
The Steelers, on the other hand, would dominate Buffalo and limit O.J. Simpson to 49 yards rushing (it was O.J.'s last playoff appearance). The Steelers would face an old opponent, the Raiders, in the 1974 AFC Championship Game. The rivalry became stronger with each passing year. The Steelers triumphed in Pittsburgh in 1972, and the Raiders returned the favor in Oakland in 1973.
The 1974 season was the 42nd in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They improved to a 10-3-1 record, culminating in a Super Bowl victory.
The Steelers, on the other hand, would dominate Buffalo and limit O.J. Simpson to 49 yards rushing (it was O.J.'s last playoff appearance). The Steelers would face an old opponent, the Raiders, in the 1974 AFC Championship Game. The rivalry became stronger with each passing year. The Steelers triumphed in Pittsburgh in 1972, and the Raiders returned the favor in Oakland in 1973.
The Raiders-Steelers rivalry is an American Football Conference rivalry between the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC). On December 23, 1972, the Steelers won their first playoff game against the Raiders thanks to Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception. The Raiders have not returned to the playoffs since.
After several years of struggling competitiveness, the two teams met on January 9, 2010 at Heinz Field in a cold weather game that saw both teams combine for only seven points until the end of the third quarter. The Steelers defeated the Raiders 34-31 in what has been called one of the greatest games in NFL history.
In 2011, the two teams again faced off in one of the most memorable games ever with a trip to Super Bowl 48 on the line. The Raiders came out victorious 24-7 ending their latest series sweep.
Pittsburgh's last win over Oakland was in 1975 when the two teams met in Oakland during the inaugural season of the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers went on to lose that game 19-9 to the Miami Dolphins.
Oakland's last win over Pittsburgh was in 1999 when they beat the defending champion Broncos 45-21 during their second year in Oakland. Since then, the Raiders are 0-3 against the Steelers.
Their only victory came in 1973 during the team's first season in Oakland.
The 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers were the club's second championship team. For the first time in the Steelers' 40-year existence, they began the season as defending champions. The squad won Super Bowl X over the Dallas Cowboys, 21-17, thanks to a dominant defense and a speedy offense. The Steelers' roster included nine players who had been with the team as recently as 1974, when it lost the NFL Championship game to Minnesota. Wide receivers John Henry Johnson and Greg Landrum and center Mike Webster were the only holdovers from that team which fell to Dallas.
They were joined by legendary quarterback Terry Bradshaw, who took over for injured veteran Joe Gilliam. Bradshaw went on to have a stellar 14-year career with the franchise, winning two more Super Bowls (XIV and XV). He was named the league's MVP after leading the Steelers to their third title.
Running back Franco Harris also returned for his fifth season with the team. A first-team all-pro selection each year he played, Harris finished his Hall of Fame career with 901 yards rushing and 804 yards receiving. His 22 total touchdowns are still tied for fourth most in NFL history.
Other notable players on this squad include wideouts Lynn Swann and Dwight Clark, offensive linemen Andy Russell and Mel Blount, and defensive ends Ernie Holmes and Charles Bennett.
The 1972 season was the Pittsburgh Steelers' 40th in the National Football League. In 1972, the squad went 11-3 and won the AFC Central Division for the first time. They defeated Oakland in the divisional round of the playoffs before losing to Miami in the AFC Championship Game.
In that season, the Steelers had four players selected for the Hall of Fame: Joe Greene, Mike Webster, Jack Ham, and Terry Bradshaw. The team also had three players chosen as starters on its All-Decade Team: Greene, Ham, and Bradshaw.
Here are their records by season: 1971 - 9-4-0; 1970 - 8-5-1; 1969 - 7-6-1; 1968 - 6-8-0; 1967 - 4-10-1; 1966 - 5-7-1; 1965 - 4-9-1; 1964 - 3-10-1; 1963 - 2-11-1; 1962 - 1-12-1; 1961 - 0-15-1; 1960 - 0-16-1.
Pittsburgh finished second in the AFL East behind Baltimore. The Ravens were undefeated (14-0) in the regular season. However, the two teams met only once during the season, with Baltimore winning 21-7.
The 1970s Steelers were largely regarded as the decade's best squad. Thanks to Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Noll and a bunch of Hall of Fame players, they won four Super Bowls. But the enchantment faded in the 1980s, and the Steelers struggled for years simply to make the playoffs. They did so twice more under Bill Cowher (1998-2007), but never again after that.
Noll stepped down after the 1978 season, and was replaced by former Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio. The 70s Steelers are still considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history, and their record of 114-48-6 is good for third all time. They won three straight Super Bowl titles from 1970 to 1972, and also won the championship in 1969 when it was known as "Super Bowl XIV."
Del Rio was fired after the 1979 season, and was replaced by assistant coach Dan Henning. Henning stayed with the team for only one season before being replaced by Mike Tomlin. Tomlin previously served as Noll's defensive coordinator for two seasons following Del Rio's departure.
Noll retired after the 1983 season, and was succeeded by his longtime assistant, Tomlin. He had been serving as both the offensive coordinator and interim head coach during Noll's stint on the sidelines due to an injury to Joe Gilliam.
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