NFL game summary for 12/19/1976:
The Steelers scored the most points in their postseason playoff history as quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw three touchdown passes, matching a personal high for a 40-14 win. Bradshaw hit wide receiver Frank Lewis with a 76-yard scoring bomb on the game's third play, then connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on 29- and 11-yard touchdown passes. Running back Franco Harris rushed for 132 yards while Bradshaw completed 14 of 18 attempts for 264 yards to help power Pittsburgh to the most points against Baltimore in 1976. The Colts scored on a 17-yard Bert Jones to Roger Carr pass to close the gap to 9-7 late in the first quarter, but the Steelers moved into their third straight AFC championship game against the Raiders with 24 consecutive points. The Steelers lost both starting running backs, Harris (third quarter rib injury) and Rocky Bleier (first quarter toe injury).
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OFFENSE | 212.2 (1) | 119.0 (22) | 331.2 (9) | 31 | |
DEFENSE | 104.1 (1) | 133.3 (6) | 237.4 (1) | 46 | |
OFFENSE | 164.5 (7) | 209.5 (1) | 374.0 (1) | 28 | |
DEFENSE | 131.7 (7) | 167.4 (22) | 299.1 (15) | 36 |
Line: n/a
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-4-0) | 9 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 40 |
Baltimore Colts (11-4-0) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
( 6- 0) PIT Frank Lewis 76 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed)
( 9- 0) PIT Roy Gerela 45 yard field goal
( 9- 7) BAL Roger Carr 17 yard pass from Bert Jones (Toni Linhart kick)
(16- 7) PIT Reggie Harrison 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(23- 7) PIT Lynn Swann 29 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(26- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 25 yard field goal
(33- 7) PIT Lynn Swann 11 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(33-14) BAL Roosevelt Leaks 1 yard rush (Toni Linhart kick)
(40-14) PIT Reggie Harrison 10 yard rush (Ray Mansfield kick)
PIT BAL First Downs: 29 16 Rushes-yards: 40-225 23-71 Yards/rush: 5.6 3.1 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 19-24-308-0 11-25-144-2 Sacked-yards: 1-1 5-45 Net pass yards: 307 99 Net yards/pass: 12.3 3.3 Total net yards: 532 170 Total plays: 65 (61% run) 53 (43% run) Yards/play: 8.2 3.2 Fumbles-lost: 2-2 0-0 Turnovers: 2 2 Penalties-yards: 12-88 7-59 Attendance: 60,020
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 14 of 18 for 264 yards and 3 TDs; Mike Kruczek, 5 of 6 for 44 yards BAL: Bert Jones, 11 of 25 for 144 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 18 for 132 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 11 for 54 yards; Reggie Harrison, 10 for 40 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 1 for -1 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 16 for 55 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 4 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 2 for 3 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 5 for 77 yards and 2 TDs; Reggie Harrison, 4 for 37 yards; Franco Harris, 3 for 24 yards; Frank Lewis, 2 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 2 for 34 yards; Theo Bell, 2 for 25 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 8 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 42 yards; Raymond Chester, 3 for 42 yards; Roger Carr, 2 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 25 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 1 for 60 yards; Ernest Pough, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Ron Lee, 4 for 39 yards; Howard Stevens, 3 for 66 yards; Bruce Laird, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 12 yards BAL: Howard Stevens, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 26 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 1 for 33 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 162 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 14 of 18 for 264 yards and 3 TDs; Mike Kruczek, 5 of 6 for 44 yards BAL: Bert Jones, 11 of 25 for 144 yards and 1 TD (2 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 18 for 132 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 11 for 54 yards; Reggie Harrison, 10 for 40 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 1 for -1 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 16 for 55 yards; Roosevelt Leaks, 4 for 12 yards and 1 TD; Bert Jones, 2 for 3 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 1 yard
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 5 for 77 yards and 2 TDs; Reggie Harrison, 4 for 37 yards; Franco Harris, 3 for 24 yards; Frank Lewis, 2 for 103 yards and 1 TD; Frenchy Fuqua, 2 for 34 yards; Theo Bell, 2 for 25 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 8 yards BAL: Lydell Mitchell, 5 for 42 yards; Raymond Chester, 3 for 42 yards; Roger Carr, 2 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 25 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 1 for 60 yards; Ernest Pough, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Ron Lee, 4 for 39 yards; Howard Stevens, 3 for 66 yards; Bruce Laird, 1 for 5 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 12 yards BAL: Howard Stevens, 1 for 11 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 26 yards; Mike Wagner, 1 for 12 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 1 for 33 yards BAL: David Lee, 4 for 162 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2