NFL game summary for 12/17/1972:
Pittsburgh's defense denied a rival a TD for the seventh time, with the Steelers moving to an all-time team high of 11 victories and the AFC Central Division championship. It was the first title in the 40-year history of the Pittsburgh club. The Steelers picked off four passes, including one by linebacker Jack Ham who finished tied for AFC runner-up honors in that category with seven.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 185.0 (2) | 121.5 (22) | 306.5 (11) | 25 |
| DEFENSE | 127.6 (10) | 149.2 (11) | 276.8 (11) | 41 | |
 | OFFENSE | 149.2 (11) | 168.3 (10) | 317.5 (7) | 41 |
| DEFENSE | 119.8 (6) | 159.8 (18) | 279.6 (12) | 33 |
Line: Steelers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3-0) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| San Diego Chargers (4-9-1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
( 0- 2) SD Safety, Terry Bradshaw tackled in end zone by Dave Costa
( 7- 2) PIT Franco Harris 2 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(14- 2) PIT Frenchy Fuqua 2 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(17- 2) PIT Roy Gerela 26 yard field goal
(24- 2) PIT Ron Shanklin 17 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
PIT SD
First Downs: 15 12
Rushes-yards: 39-115 30-56
Yards/rush: 2.9 1.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-24-152-1 11-26-122-4
Sacked-yards: 2-21 1-6
Net pass yards: 131 116
Net yards/pass: 5.0 4.3
Total net yards: 246 172
Total plays: 65 (60% run) 57 (52% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 3.0
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 4-3
Turnovers: 1 7
Penalties-yards: 8-79 6-60
Attendance: 52,873
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 12 of 23 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Terry Hanratty, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SD: John Hadl, 11 of 26 for 122 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 17 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 15 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 15 yards; Steve Davis, 2 for 0 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 14 for 5 yards; Cid Edwards, 13 for 52 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 4 yards; Wayne Clark, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 50 yards; Al Young, 3 for 42 yards; Ron Shanklin, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John McMakin, 2 for 12 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 13 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 3 yards SD: Cid Edwards, 3 for 42 yards; Chuck Dicus, 2 for 18 yards; Gary Garrison, 2 for 11 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Carter, 1 for 14 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 10 yards; John Mackey, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 1 for 20 yards SD: Jesse Taylor, 3 for 53 yards; Reggie Berry, 1 for 21 yards; John Sykes, 1 for 20 yards; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 13 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Lenny Dunlap, 2 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 34 yards; Ralph Anderson, 1 for 26 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 12 yards; Jack Ham, 1 for 5 yards SD: Tim Rossovich, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 208 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 219 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/4
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 12 of 23 for 152 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Terry Hanratty, 0 of 1 for 0 yards SD: John Hadl, 11 of 26 for 122 yards (4 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 17 for 51 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 15 for 34 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Preston Pearson, 2 for 15 yards; Steve Davis, 2 for 0 yards SD: Mike Garrett, 14 for 5 yards; Cid Edwards, 13 for 52 yards; John Hadl, 2 for 4 yards; Wayne Clark, 1 for -5 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 50 yards; Al Young, 3 for 42 yards; Ron Shanklin, 2 for 32 yards and 1 TD; John McMakin, 2 for 12 yards; Frank Lewis, 1 for 13 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 3 yards SD: Cid Edwards, 3 for 42 yards; Chuck Dicus, 2 for 18 yards; Gary Garrison, 2 for 11 yards; Pettis Norman, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Carter, 1 for 14 yards; Mike Garrett, 1 for 10 yards; John Mackey, 1 for 3 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 1 for 20 yards SD: Jesse Taylor, 3 for 53 yards; Reggie Berry, 1 for 21 yards; John Sykes, 1 for 20 yards; Lenny Dunlap, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 13 yards; Preston Pearson, 1 for 3 yards SD: Lenny Dunlap, 2 for 17 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mel Blount, 1 for 34 yards; Ralph Anderson, 1 for 26 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 12 yards; Jack Ham, 1 for 5 yards SD: Tim Rossovich, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 208 yards SD: Dennis Partee, 5 for 219 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/4