NFL game summary for 12/08/1974:
Franco Harris led the Steelers to the AFC Central Division championship with 136 yards on 29 carries while the Pittsburgh defense held the Patriots to 184 yards. The defeat eliminated New England from contention for a wild card berth in the playoffs. Pittsburgh had three more sacks for a league-leading total of 52, including a safety when L. C. Greenwood tackled Jim Plunkett in the end zone.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 171.8 (2) | 142.2 (18) | 314.0 (9) | 36 |
| DEFENSE | 113.2 (5) | 111.5 (3) | 224.8 (1) | 42 | |
 | OFFENSE | 161.8 (5) | 168.0 (9) | 329.8 (4) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 111.8 (4) | 178.2 (21) | 290.1 (14) | 32 |
Line: Steelers by 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3-1) | 0 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 21 |
| New England Patriots (7-6-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
( 0- 7) NE Mack Herron 17 yard pass from Jim Plunkett (John Smith kick)
( 3- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 40 yard field goal
( 9- 7) PIT Franco Harris 2 yard rush (kick failed)
(12- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
(12-10) NE John Smith 20 yard field goal
(19-10) PIT Lynn Swann 7 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(21-10) PIT Safety, Jim Plunkett tackled in end zone by L.C. Greenwood
(21-17) NE Mack Herron 5 yard rush (John Smith kick)
PIT NE
First Downs: 16 12
Rushes-yards: 46-184 32-79
Yards/rush: 4.0 2.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 10-18-86-1 8-18-127-1
Sacked-yards: 2-17 3-22
Net pass yards: 69 105
Net yards/pass: 3.5 5.0
Total net yards: 253 184
Total plays: 66 (69% run) 53 (60% run)
Yards/play: 3.8 3.5
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-2
Turnovers: 2 3
Penalties-yards: 7-44 5-25
Attendance: 52,107
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 10 of 16 for 86 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Joe Gilliam, 0 of 2 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 8 of 18 for 127 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 29 for 136 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 12 for 42 yards; Steve Davis, 3 for 4 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 6 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for -4 yards NE: Mack Herron, 19 for 55 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 11 for 18 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 4 yards; Joe Wilson, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Larry Brown, 4 for 28 yards; Frank Lewis, 3 for 39 yards; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 8 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 2 for 35 yards; Bob Adams, 2 for 23 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 11 yards; Reggie Harrison, 1 for 2 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 21 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 32 yards NE: Eddie Hinton, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 0 yards NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 6 for 207 yards NE: Dave Chapple, 5 for 179 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/3 NE: John Smith, 1/2
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 10 of 16 for 86 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Joe Gilliam, 0 of 2 for 0 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 8 of 18 for 127 yards and 1 TD (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 29 for 136 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 12 for 42 yards; Steve Davis, 3 for 4 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 6 yards; Joe Gilliam, 1 for -4 yards NE: Mack Herron, 19 for 55 yards and 1 TD; John Tarver, 11 for 18 yards; Jim Plunkett, 1 for 4 yards; Joe Wilson, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Larry Brown, 4 for 28 yards; Frank Lewis, 3 for 39 yards; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 8 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 7 yards and 1 TD; Franco Harris, 1 for 4 yards NE: Mack Herron, 3 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Randy Vataha, 2 for 35 yards; Bob Adams, 2 for 23 yards; John Tarver, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 11 yards; Reggie Harrison, 1 for 2 yards NE: Mack Herron, 1 for 21 yards; Andy Johnson, 1 for 17 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 2 for 32 yards NE: Eddie Hinton, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Jack Ham, 1 for 0 yards NE: Prentice McCray, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 6 for 207 yards NE: Dave Chapple, 5 for 179 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/3 NE: John Smith, 1/2