NFL game summary for 10/22/1972:
The Steelers sacked New England's QBs seven times and ran their string up to nine quarters in which the defense hadn't given up a TD. Their four victories in their first six games marked the best Steeler start since 1957. Roy Gerela's four FGs tied the club record and John Fuqua's 17 carries netted him 111 yards rushing.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 106.0 (20) | 187.8 (5) | 293.8 (14) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 208.4 (26) | 152.8 (14) | 361.2 (24) | 5 | |
 | OFFENSE | 149.4 (12) | 126.8 (23) | 276.2 (19) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 115.0 (6) | 157.4 (17) | 272.4 (14) | 18 |
Line: Steelers by 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots (2-4-0) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2-0) | 10 | 7 | 13 | 3 | 33 |
( 0- 3) PIT Roy Gerela 19 yard field goal ( 0-10) PIT Jack Ham 32 yard interception return (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-17) PIT Ron Shanklin 30 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-20) PIT Roy Gerela 22 yard field goal ( 3-20) NE Charlie Gogolak 16 yard field goal ( 3-27) PIT Steve Davis 28 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 3-30) PIT Roy Gerela 35 yard field goal ( 3-33) PIT Roy Gerela 33 yard field goal
NE PIT
First Downs: 17 19
Rushes-yards: 24-127 40-243
Yards/rush: 5.3 6.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-32-225-3 9-14-196-0
Sacked-yards: 7-76 2-13
Net pass yards: 149 183
Net yards/pass: 3.8 11.4
Total net yards: 276 426
Total plays: 63 (38% run) 56 (71% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 7.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-1
Turnovers: 4 1
Penalties-yards: 6-101 6-38
Attendance: 46,081
Passing:
NE: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 27 for 165 yards (2 int); Brian Dowling, 4 of 4 for 60 yards; Carl Garrett, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 7 of 11 for 173 yards and 1 TD; Terry Hanratty, 2 of 3 for 23 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 19 for 97 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 7 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 14 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 9 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 17 for 111 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 27 yards; Steve Davis, 6 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Warren Bankston, 4 for 21 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 15 yards
Receiving:
NE: Carl Garrett, 5 for 92 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 45 yards; Josh Ashton, 3 for 33 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 32 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 12 yards; Tom Reynolds, 1 for 6 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Ron Shanklin, 5 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Frank Lewis, 1 for 52 yards; Al Young, 1 for 14 yards; John McMakin, 1 for 10 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: George Hoey, 2 for 51 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 43 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 37 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 14 yards PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John Rowser, 1 for 0 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 182 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 2 for 99 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1 PIT: Roy Gerela, 4/5
NE: Jim Plunkett, 12 of 27 for 165 yards (2 int); Brian Dowling, 4 of 4 for 60 yards; Carl Garrett, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 7 of 11 for 173 yards and 1 TD; Terry Hanratty, 2 of 3 for 23 yards
Rushing:
NE: Carl Garrett, 19 for 97 yards; Bob Gladieux, 3 for 7 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 14 yards; Josh Ashton, 1 for 9 yards PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 17 for 111 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 27 yards; Steve Davis, 6 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Warren Bankston, 4 for 21 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 15 yards
Receiving:
NE: Carl Garrett, 5 for 92 yards; Bob Windsor, 3 for 45 yards; Josh Ashton, 3 for 33 yards; Randy Vataha, 2 for 32 yards; Reggie Rucker, 1 for 12 yards; Tom Reynolds, 1 for 6 yards; Bob Gladieux, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Ron Shanklin, 5 for 111 yards and 1 TD; Frank Lewis, 1 for 52 yards; Al Young, 1 for 14 yards; John McMakin, 1 for 10 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
NE: George Hoey, 2 for 51 yards; Carl Garrett, 2 for 43 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 37 yards; Jack Maitland, 1 for 14 yards PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 24 yards
Punt returns:
NE: Carl Garrett, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 9 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John Rowser, 1 for 0 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
NE: Pat Studstill, 5 for 182 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 2 for 99 yards
Field Goals:
NE: Charlie Gogolak, 1/1 PIT: Roy Gerela, 4/5