NFL game summary for 12/18/1977:
Sidney Thornton scored a touchdown and Roy Gerela kicked a 27-yard field goal to lead the Steelers to a 10-9 win. Pittsburgh clinched the AFC Central title earlier in the day when Cincinnati lost its season finale. Gerela's game-winning field goal came with 1:14 remaining in the third period and was set up by a J. T. Thomas interception at the San Diego 34. Terry Bradshaw, who suffered a neck injury, completed 8 of 17 passes for 139 yards before leaving the game in the third period. Franco Harris was limited to 15 yards rushing but finished the season with 1,162.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 166.8 (6) | 168.8 (7) | 335.7 (4) | 47 |
| DEFENSE | 127.3 (8) | 143.2 (13) | 270.5 (9) | 40 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.2 (18) | 164.4 (9) | 294.6 (15) | 27 |
| DEFENSE | 141.4 (16) | 117.9 (6) | 259.3 (6) | 29 |
Line: Chargers by 2½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5-0) | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| San Diego Chargers (7-7-0) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
( 0- 6) SD Clarence Williams 2 yard rush (kick failed)
( 0- 9) SD Rolf Benirschke 38 yard field goal
( 7- 9) PIT Sidney Thornton 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(10- 9) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
PIT SD First Downs: 13 14 Rushes-yards: 40-89 30-68 Yards/rush: 2.2 2.3 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-25-192-1 12-22-157-3 Sacked-yards: 0-0 6-50 Net pass yards: 192 107 Net yards/pass: 7.7 3.8 Total net yards: 281 175 Total plays: 65 (61% run) 58 (51% run) Yards/play: 4.3 3.0 Fumbles-lost: 2-1 4-1 Turnovers: 2 4 Penalties-yards: 6-57 1-15 Attendance: 50,727
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 17 for 139 yards (1 int); Neil Graff, 4 of 8 for 53 yards SD: Dan Fouts, 12 of 22 for 157 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 16 for 51 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 9 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Neil Graff, 2 for 0 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 0 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for -8 yards SD: Don Woods, 13 for 28 yards; Rickey Young, 8 for 14 yards; Joe Washington, 3 for 10 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 7 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Artie Owens, 1 for 3 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 5 for 70 yards; John Stallworth, 3 for 72 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 3 for 45 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 5 yards SD: Rickey Young, 4 for 25 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 53 yards; Pat Curran, 3 for 29 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 41 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 1 for 19 yards SD: Clarence Williams, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jim Smith, 3 for 0 yards SD: Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Donnie Shell, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 6 yards; J.T. Thomas, 1 for -2 yards SD: Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Rick Engles, 5 for 169 yards SD: Jeff West, 5 for 173 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/2 SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 8 of 17 for 139 yards (1 int); Neil Graff, 4 of 8 for 53 yards SD: Dan Fouts, 12 of 22 for 157 yards (3 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 16 for 51 yards; Franco Harris, 11 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 9 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Neil Graff, 2 for 0 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 0 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for -8 yards SD: Don Woods, 13 for 28 yards; Rickey Young, 8 for 14 yards; Joe Washington, 3 for 10 yards; Dan Fouts, 2 for 7 yards; Clarence Williams, 2 for 4 yards and 1 TD; Artie Owens, 1 for 3 yards; Bo Matthews, 1 for 2 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 5 for 70 yards; John Stallworth, 3 for 72 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 3 for 45 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 5 yards SD: Rickey Young, 4 for 25 yards; Charlie Joiner, 3 for 53 yards; Pat Curran, 3 for 29 yards; Bob Klein, 1 for 41 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Alvin Maxson, 1 for 19 yards SD: Clarence Williams, 1 for 16 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Jim Smith, 3 for 0 yards SD: Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Donnie Shell, 1 for 8 yards; Mel Blount, 1 for 6 yards; J.T. Thomas, 1 for -2 yards SD: Mike Williams, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Rick Engles, 5 for 169 yards SD: Jeff West, 5 for 173 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 1/2 SD: Rolf Benirschke, 1/1