NFL game summary for 12/09/1978:
Pittsburgh, the AFC Central Division champion, built a 21-7 halftime advantage behind the running of Franco Harris and Terry Bradshaw's accurate passing. Harris scored on touchdown runs of three and two yards and Bradshaw (11 of 18 for 240 yards and three touchdowns) hit John Stallworth with a 31-yard scoring pass. The Colts cut the lead to 21-13 early in the third period when Derrel Luce returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown. Larry Anderson ran the ensuing kickoff 57 yards to set up Bradshaw's second scoring pass, a 12-yarder to Randy Grossman.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 129.9 (21) | 141.9 (20) | 271.9 (23) | 40 |
| DEFENSE | 191.3 (27) | 186.7 (26) | 378.0 (28) | 33 | |
 | OFFENSE | 145.9 (11) | 165.8 (11) | 311.6 (7) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 115.3 (4) | 151.8 (11) | 267.1 (5) | 41 |
Line: Steelers by 10½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts (5-10-0) | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (13-2-0) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
( 0- 7) PIT John Stallworth 31 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-14) PIT Franco Harris 3 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 0-21) PIT Franco Harris 2 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick) ( 7-21) BAL Roger Carr 5 yard pass from Bill Troup (Toni Linhart kick) (13-21) BAL Derrel Luce 44 yard fumble return (kick failed) (13-28) PIT Randy Grossman 12 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) (13-35) PIT Jim Smith 29 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
BAL PIT
First Downs: 12 20
Rushes-yards: 27-86 48-139
Yards/rush: 3.2 2.9
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 8-19-62-2 12-21-247-2
Sacked-yards: 2-19 2-13
Net pass yards: 43 234
Net yards/pass: 2.0 10.2
Total net yards: 129 373
Total plays: 48 (56% run) 71 (67% run)
Yards/play: 2.7 5.3
Fumbles-lost: 5-3 1-1
Turnovers: 5 3
Penalties-yards: 6-50 6-35
Attendance: 41,957
Passing:
BAL: Bill Troup, 8 of 18 for 62 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kirkland, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 11 of 18 for 240 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Mike Kruczek, 1 of 3 for 7 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 48 yards; Don Hardeman, 8 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 52 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 48 yards; Rick Moser, 8 for 15 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 6 for 9 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Don Hardeman, 3 for 19 yards; Reese McCall, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 5 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 87 yards; Jim Smith, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Theo Bell, 2 for 20 yards; Randy Grossman, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 32 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Don McCauley, 3 for 58 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 71 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 81 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 19 yards PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 6 for 224 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 4 for 131 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Bill Troup, 8 of 18 for 62 yards and 1 TD (1 int); Mike Kirkland, 0 of 1 for 0 yards (1 int) PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 11 of 18 for 240 yards and 3 TDs (2 int); Mike Kruczek, 1 of 3 for 7 yards
Rushing:
BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 48 yards; Don Hardeman, 8 for 33 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 5 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 52 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 48 yards; Rick Moser, 8 for 15 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 6 for 9 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 3 for 15 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
BAL: Don Hardeman, 3 for 19 yards; Reese McCall, 1 for 17 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 16 yards; Joe Washington, 1 for 5 yards; Roger Carr, 1 for 5 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 87 yards; Jim Smith, 2 for 36 yards and 1 TD; Theo Bell, 2 for 20 yards; Randy Grossman, 2 for 17 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 1 for 32 yards; John Stallworth, 1 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 24 yards
Kick returns:
BAL: Don McCauley, 3 for 58 yards; Joe Washington, 2 for 71 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 81 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 19 yards
Punt returns:
BAL: Joe Washington, 1 for 17 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
BAL: Norm Thompson, 1 for 31 yards; Lloyd Mumphord, 1 for 19 yards PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards; Ron Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
BAL: David Lee, 6 for 224 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 4 for 131 yards
Field Goals: