NFL game summary for 10/24/1971:
John Fuqua's 30-yard TD with 3:07 left to play highlighted a last-period comeback by the Steelers which enabled them to draw within a game of the top in the AFC Central race. Houston, which had intercepted only four passes in the first five games, equaled that figure against the Steelers with safety Ken Houston accounting for three.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 60.0 (25) | 178.2 (7) | 238.2 (22) | 22 |
| DEFENSE | 143.2 (17) | 169.2 (16) | 312.4 (17) | 11 | |
 | OFFENSE | 121.8 (12) | 171.4 (9) | 293.2 (14) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 87.2 (4) | 216.6 (25) | 303.8 (16) | 14 |
Line: Steelers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (0-5-1) | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3-0) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 23 |
( 7- 0) HOU Joe Dawkins 1 yard rush (Mark Moseley kick)
( 7- 3) PIT Roy Gerela 28 yard field goal
(10- 3) HOU Mark Moseley 24 yard field goal
(10- 6) PIT Roy Gerela 22 yard field goal
(16- 6) HOU Joe Dawkins 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(16- 9) PIT Roy Gerela 12 yard field goal
(16-16) PIT Terry Bradshaw 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(16-23) PIT Frenchy Fuqua 30 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
HOU PIT
First Downs: 19 26
Rushes-yards: 26-92 37-165
Yards/rush: 3.5 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-34-191-1 21-33-279-4
Sacked-yards: 1-11 2-25
Net pass yards: 180 254
Net yards/pass: 5.1 7.3
Total net yards: 272 419
Total plays: 61 (42% run) 72 (51% run)
Yards/play: 4.5 5.8
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-1
Turnovers: 2 5
Penalties-yards: 9-84 9-113
Attendance: 45,872
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 34 for 191 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 21 of 32 for 279 yards (3 int); Terry Hanratty, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Joe Dawkins, 16 for 49 yards and 2 TDs; Dan Pastorini, 4 for 33 yards; Mike Richardson, 3 for -1 yards; Leroy Sledge, 2 for 7 yards; Woody Campbell, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 16 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 13 for 26 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 8 for 26 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 74 yards; Jim Beirne, 4 for 65 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 16 yards; Woody Campbell, 2 for 11 yards; Mike Richardson, 2 for 9 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 12 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Ron Shanklin, 6 for 84 yards; Dave Smith, 6 for 74 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 30 yards; Bob Adams, 3 for 44 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 41 yards; Jon Staggers, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 50 yards; Zeke Moore, 1 for 28 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 26 yards PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jon Staggers, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Ken Houston, 3 for 28 yards; John Charles, 1 for 2 yards PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 227 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 2 for 96 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 1/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 17 of 34 for 191 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 21 of 32 for 279 yards (3 int); Terry Hanratty, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Joe Dawkins, 16 for 49 yards and 2 TDs; Dan Pastorini, 4 for 33 yards; Mike Richardson, 3 for -1 yards; Leroy Sledge, 2 for 7 yards; Woody Campbell, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 16 for 113 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 13 for 26 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 8 for 26 yards and 1 TD
Receiving:
HOU: Charlie Joiner, 5 for 74 yards; Jim Beirne, 4 for 65 yards; Alvin Reed, 2 for 16 yards; Woody Campbell, 2 for 11 yards; Mike Richardson, 2 for 9 yards; Joe Dawkins, 1 for 12 yards; Ken Burrough, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Ron Shanklin, 6 for 84 yards; Dave Smith, 6 for 74 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 30 yards; Bob Adams, 3 for 44 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 41 yards; Jon Staggers, 1 for 6 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Linzy Cole, 2 for 50 yards; Zeke Moore, 1 for 28 yards; Mike Richardson, 1 for 26 yards PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jon Staggers, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Ken Houston, 3 for 28 yards; John Charles, 1 for 2 yards PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 27 yards
Punting:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 for 227 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 2 for 96 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Mark Moseley, 1/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3