NFL game summary for 10/01/1978:
The 5-0 Steelers, off to the best start in the club's history, defeated the Jets behind the passing of Terry Bradshaw. He threw for one touchdown in each of the first three quarters and Sidney Thornton scored on a one-yard run to account for the Steelers' points. Lynn Swann remained the AFC's leading receiver with seven receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 161.0 (7) | 209.2 (3) | 370.2 (3) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 86.5 (1) | 135.8 (9) | 222.2 (3) | 8 | |
 | OFFENSE | 137.2 (15) | 178.0 (9) | 315.2 (12) | 9 |
| DEFENSE | 166.0 (21) | 185.0 (26) | 351.0 (25) | 6 |
Line: Steelers by 12½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0-0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| New York Jets (2-3-0) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
( 7- 0) PIT Lynn Swann 10 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
( 7- 7) NYJ Bruce Harper 11 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
(14- 7) PIT John Stallworth 14 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(14-10) NYJ Pat Leahy 47 yard field goal
(21-10) PIT Lynn Swann 26 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(28-10) PIT Sidney Thornton 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(28-17) NYJ Kevin Long 2 yard rush (Pat Leahy kick)
PIT NYJ
First Downs: 20 18
Rushes-yards: 39-138 36-155
Yards/rush: 3.5 4.3
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-26-189-1 9-23-192-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 5-50
Net pass yards: 189 142
Net yards/pass: 7.3 5.1
Total net yards: 327 297
Total plays: 65 (60% run) 64 (56% run)
Yards/play: 5.0 4.6
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 0-0
Turnovers: 2 1
Penalties-yards: 2-7 4-17
Attendance: 52,058
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 17 of 25 for 189 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Franco Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Matt Robinson, 9 of 22 for 192 yards (1 int); Scott Dierking, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 20 for 67 yards; Sidney Thornton, 8 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 6 for 22 yards; Rick Moser, 3 for 14 yards; Alvin Maxson, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 10 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Scott Dierking, 9 for 46 yards; Clark Gaines, 7 for 12 yards; Bruce Harper, 5 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Matt Robinson, 4 for 33 yards; Wesley Walker, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 7 for 100 yards and 2 TDs; John Stallworth, 4 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 14 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 7 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 4 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Scott Dierking, 3 for 27 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 93 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 49 yards; Kevin Long, 1 for 13 yards; Clark Gaines, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 3 for 73 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 62 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Randy Reutershan, 4 for 48 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Donnie Shell, 1 for 20 yards NYJ: Ed Taylor, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 86 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 4 for 167 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 17 of 25 for 189 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Franco Harris, 0 of 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Matt Robinson, 9 of 22 for 192 yards (1 int); Scott Dierking, 0 of 1 for 0 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 20 for 67 yards; Sidney Thornton, 8 for 29 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 6 for 22 yards; Rick Moser, 3 for 14 yards; Alvin Maxson, 1 for 6 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 0 yards NYJ: Kevin Long, 10 for 41 yards and 1 TD; Scott Dierking, 9 for 46 yards; Clark Gaines, 7 for 12 yards; Bruce Harper, 5 for 26 yards and 1 TD; Matt Robinson, 4 for 33 yards; Wesley Walker, 1 for -3 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 7 for 100 yards and 2 TDs; John Stallworth, 4 for 43 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 18 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 14 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 7 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 4 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 1 for 2 yards NYJ: Scott Dierking, 3 for 27 yards; Wesley Walker, 2 for 93 yards; Derrick Gaffney, 2 for 49 yards; Kevin Long, 1 for 13 yards; Clark Gaines, 1 for 10 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 3 for 73 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 3 for 62 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Randy Reutershan, 4 for 48 yards NYJ: Bruce Harper, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Donnie Shell, 1 for 20 yards NYJ: Ed Taylor, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 86 yards NYJ: Chuck Ramsey, 4 for 167 yards
Field Goals:
NYJ: Pat Leahy, 1/1