NFL game summary for 10/17/1977:
Rocky Bleier scored two touchdowns and the Steelers picked off three of John Reaves' passes to lift the Steelers into a first place tie with Cleveland and Houston in the AFC Central Division. Ken Anderson (knee) left the game in the second quarter and was replaced by Reaves, who was intercepted by Glen Edwards, Donnie Shell and Mel Blount. The Bengals scored with less than two minutes remaining when Reggie Williams recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. The Bengals threatened to score again but time expired with the ball at the Steelers' 32 yard line.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 138.5 (12) | 166.8 (6) | 305.2 (12) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 124.8 (9) | 170.0 (22) | 294.8 (18) | 10 | |
 | OFFENSE | 180.8 (5) | 176.0 (4) | 356.8 (2) | 17 |
| DEFENSE | 100.0 (2) | 95.0 (3) | 195.0 (1) | 10 |
Line: Steelers by 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals (2-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2-0) | 0 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
( 0- 7) PIT Rocky Bleier 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
( 0-13) PIT Rocky Bleier 2 yard rush (kick failed)
( 7-13) CIN Glenn Bujnoch 4 yard rush (Chris Bahr kick)
( 7-20) PIT Sidney Thornton 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(14-20) CIN Reggie Williams 0 yard fumble return (Chris Bahr kick)
CIN PIT
First Downs: 20 18
Rushes-yards: 35-103 50-166
Yards/rush: 2.9 3.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 14-36-227-4 6-9-117-0
Sacked-yards: 3-19 3-30
Net pass yards: 208 87
Net yards/pass: 5.3 7.2
Total net yards: 311 253
Total plays: 74 (47% run) 62 (80% run)
Yards/play: 4.2 4.1
Fumbles-lost: 4-1 6-3
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 8-93 9-64
Attendance: 47,950
Passing:
CIN: John Reaves, 8 of 25 for 142 yards (3 int); Ken Anderson, 7 of 11 for 85 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 6 of 9 for 117 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Lenvil Elliott, 13 for 44 yards; Boobie Clark, 13 for 36 yards; Tony Davis, 2 for 9 yards; Pete Johnson, 2 for 1 yard; John Reaves, 2 for 0 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 9 yards; Glenn Bujnoch, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Marvin Cobb, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 16 for 73 yards; Rocky Bleier, 12 for 29 yards and 2 TDs; Sidney Thornton, 10 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Laverne Smith, 5 for 8 yards; Reggie Harrison, 3 for 16 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for -3 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 8 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Isaac Curtis, 5 for 88 yards; Billy Brooks, 3 for 57 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 3 for 12 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 28 yards; Bob Trumpy, 1 for 23 yards; Rick Walker, 1 for 13 yards; Boobie Clark, 1 for 6 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 3 for 43 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 49 yards; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 25 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 4 for 88 yards PIT: Ernest Pough, 1 for 9 yards; Laverne Smith, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 2 for 22 yards PIT: Jim Smith, 2 for 6 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 41 yards; Jack Ham, 1 for 9 yards; Donnie Shell, 1 for 6 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 5 for 217 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1
CIN: John Reaves, 8 of 25 for 142 yards (3 int); Ken Anderson, 7 of 11 for 85 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 6 of 9 for 117 yards
Rushing:
CIN: Lenvil Elliott, 13 for 44 yards; Boobie Clark, 13 for 36 yards; Tony Davis, 2 for 9 yards; Pete Johnson, 2 for 1 yard; John Reaves, 2 for 0 yards; Ken Anderson, 1 for 9 yards; Glenn Bujnoch, 1 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Marvin Cobb, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 16 for 73 yards; Rocky Bleier, 12 for 29 yards and 2 TDs; Sidney Thornton, 10 for 35 yards and 1 TD; Laverne Smith, 5 for 8 yards; Reggie Harrison, 3 for 16 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for -3 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 8 yards
Receiving:
CIN: Isaac Curtis, 5 for 88 yards; Billy Brooks, 3 for 57 yards; Lenvil Elliott, 3 for 12 yards; Tony Davis, 1 for 28 yards; Bob Trumpy, 1 for 23 yards; Rick Walker, 1 for 13 yards; Boobie Clark, 1 for 6 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 3 for 43 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 49 yards; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 25 yards
Kick returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 4 for 88 yards PIT: Ernest Pough, 1 for 9 yards; Laverne Smith, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
CIN: Willie Shelby, 2 for 22 yards PIT: Jim Smith, 2 for 6 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for -1 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Glen Edwards, 1 for 41 yards; Jack Ham, 1 for 9 yards; Donnie Shell, 1 for 6 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
CIN: Pat McInally, 5 for 217 yards PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 197 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1