NFL game summary for 12/15/1973:
Pittsburgh clinched a berth in the AFC playoffs with a 37-14 victory over San Francisco. John Brodie, making his final appearance, was forced to retire in the second quarter with a sore arm. Terry Bradshaw threw one touchdown pass before he was shaken up and left the game in the third quarter. Roy Gerela's three field goals helped him clinch the AFC scoring title with 123 points.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 151.6 (9) | 137.8 (16) | 289.4 (13) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 117.3 (4) | 120.0 (5) | 237.3 (4) | 49 | |
 | OFFENSE | 124.3 (21) | 182.2 (5) | 306.5 (7) | 33 |
| DEFENSE | 137.8 (9) | 171.5 (22) | 309.3 (20) | 32 |
Line: Steelers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4-0) | 7 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 37 |
| San Francisco 49ers (5-9-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 7- 0) PIT John Rowser 71 yard interception return (Roy Gerela kick) ( 7- 7) SF Windlan Hall 0 yard fumble return (Bruce Gossett kick) (14- 7) PIT Preston Pearson 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) (17- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal (20- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal (27- 7) PIT Frank Lewis 50 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) (30- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 35 yard field goal (37- 7) PIT Steve Davis 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) (37-14) SF Dave Atkins 3 yard rush (Bruce Gossett kick)
PIT SF
First Downs: 18 16
Rushes-yards: 41-172 28-127
Yards/rush: 4.2 4.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-24-168-0 13-33-131-5
Sacked-yards: 5-32 4-19
Net pass yards: 136 112
Net yards/pass: 4.7 3.0
Total net yards: 308 239
Total plays: 70 (58% run) 65 (43% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 3.7
Fumbles-lost: 1-0 3-1
Turnovers: 0 6
Penalties-yards: 7-79 6-52
Attendance: 52,252
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 16 for 135 yards and 1 TD; Joe Gilliam, 3 of 8 for 33 yards SF: John Brodie, 6 of 12 for 79 yards (2 int); Joe Reed, 6 of 12 for 49 yards (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 9 for 3 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 10 for 54 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 34 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 10 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 65 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 26 yards; Dave Atkins, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 28 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -3 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frank Lewis, 5 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 1 for 36 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 14 yards; Dave Davis, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Pearson, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 5 yards SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 42 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 28 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 21 yards; Ray Mansfield, 1 for 0 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 4 for 118 yards; Dave Atkins, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 4 for 25 yards; Dennis Meyer, 2 for 7 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 3 for 62 yards; Ralph McGill, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
PIT: John Rowser, 2 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Henry Davis, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 374 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 16 for 135 yards and 1 TD; Joe Gilliam, 3 of 8 for 33 yards SF: John Brodie, 6 of 12 for 79 yards (2 int); Joe Reed, 6 of 12 for 49 yards (2 int); Steve Spurrier, 1 of 9 for 3 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 64 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 10 for 54 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 10 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 4 for 34 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 10 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for 0 yards SF: Vic Washington, 15 for 65 yards; Ken Willard, 4 for 26 yards; Dave Atkins, 4 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Ted Kwalick, 2 for 28 yards; Joe Reed, 1 for 1 yard; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for -3 yards; Doug Cunningham, 1 for -9 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Frank Lewis, 5 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Preston Pearson, 1 for 36 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 1 for 14 yards; Dave Davis, 1 for 14 yards; Barry Pearson, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 6 yards; Steve Davis, 1 for 5 yards SF: Ted Kwalick, 4 for 43 yards; Ken Willard, 3 for 42 yards; Danny Abramowicz, 3 for 28 yards; Vic Washington, 2 for 14 yards; Gene Washington, 1 for 4 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Steve Davis, 1 for 21 yards; Ray Mansfield, 1 for 0 yards SF: Ralph McGill, 4 for 118 yards; Dave Atkins, 1 for 22 yards; Jimmy Thomas, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 4 for 25 yards; Dennis Meyer, 2 for 7 yards SF: Bruce Taylor, 3 for 62 yards; Ralph McGill, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
PIT: John Rowser, 2 for 84 yards and 1 TD; Henry Davis, 2 for 23 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 3 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 9 for 374 yards SF: Tom Wittum, 8 for 326 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 3/3