NFL game summary for 12/16/1978:
Terry Bradshaw's two touchdown passes and a goal line stand by the defense on the final play of the game helped Pittsburgh to its fifth straight win. The Steelers built a 21-0 halftime lead on Bradshaw's scoring passes of 25 yards to John Stallworth and 10 yards to Jim Smith, plus a one-yard touchdown run by Franco Harris. Norris Weese directed Denver's comeback in the second half, throwing two touchdown passes. Pittsburgh's Jack Lambert and Joe Greene combined to stop Denver's Lonnie Perrin on the game's final play to preserve the victory.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 145.4 (14) | 170.3 (11) | 315.7 (7) | 37 |
| DEFENSE | 113.3 (2) | 144.5 (8) | 257.9 (2) | 46 | |
 | OFFENSE | 158.5 (4) | 143.5 (18) | 301.9 (14) | 32 |
| DEFENSE | 124.2 (6) | 155.1 (13) | 279.3 (7) | 42 |
Line: Broncos by 1½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (14-2-0) | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Denver Broncos (10-6-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 17 |
( 7- 0) PIT Franco Harris 1 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
(14- 0) PIT John Stallworth 25 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(21- 0) PIT Jim Smith 10 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(21- 7) DEN Haven Moses 25 yard pass from Norris Weese (Jim Turner kick)
(21-10) DEN Jim Turner 45 yard field goal
(21-17) DEN Riley Odoms 30 yard pass from Norris Weese (Jim Turner kick)
PIT DEN
First Downs: 14 19
Rushes-yards: 38-116 26-74
Yards/rush: 3.1 2.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-19-160-2 15-26-274-1
Sacked-yards: 2-16 6-48
Net pass yards: 144 226
Net yards/pass: 6.9 7.1
Total net yards: 260 300
Total plays: 59 (64% run) 58 (44% run)
Yards/play: 4.4 5.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 2-1
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 6-82 10-72
Attendance: 74,104
Passing:
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 10 of 14 for 131 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Kruczek, 3 of 5 for 29 yards (2 int) DEN: Norris Weese, 12 of 17 for 228 yards and 2 TDs; Craig Morton, 3 of 9 for 46 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 12 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Rick Moser, 10 for 34 yards; Rocky Bleier, 6 for 11 yards; Sidney Thornton, 5 for 32 yards; Mike Kruczek, 3 for 12 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 2 for 6 yards DEN: Jon Keyworth, 7 for 14 yards; Dave Preston, 5 for 36 yards; Rob Lytle, 5 for 2 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 3 for 9 yards; Norris Weese, 2 for 7 yards; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 6 yards; Larry Canada, 2 for 0 yards
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 4 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Jim Smith, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 9 yards; Randy Grossman, 1 for 21 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 7 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Moser, 1 for -1 yards DEN: Haven Moses, 5 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 4 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Dave Preston, 3 for 40 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 16 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 10 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 48 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 1 for 32 yards; Chris Pane, 1 for 29 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 26 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 5 for 21 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 2 for -11 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Louis Wright, 1 for 2 yards; Tom Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 6 for 278 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 254 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1
PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 10 of 14 for 131 yards and 2 TDs; Mike Kruczek, 3 of 5 for 29 yards (2 int) DEN: Norris Weese, 12 of 17 for 228 yards and 2 TDs; Craig Morton, 3 of 9 for 46 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 12 for 21 yards and 1 TD; Rick Moser, 10 for 34 yards; Rocky Bleier, 6 for 11 yards; Sidney Thornton, 5 for 32 yards; Mike Kruczek, 3 for 12 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 2 for 6 yards DEN: Jon Keyworth, 7 for 14 yards; Dave Preston, 5 for 36 yards; Rob Lytle, 5 for 2 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 3 for 9 yards; Norris Weese, 2 for 7 yards; Otis Armstrong, 2 for 6 yards; Larry Canada, 2 for 0 yards
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 4 for 79 yards and 1 TD; Jim Smith, 2 for 31 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 2 for 9 yards; Randy Grossman, 1 for 21 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 9 yards; Franco Harris, 1 for 7 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 5 yards; Rick Moser, 1 for -1 yards DEN: Haven Moses, 5 for 116 yards and 1 TD; Riley Odoms, 4 for 83 yards and 1 TD; Dave Preston, 3 for 40 yards; Jack Dolbin, 1 for 16 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 10 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 9 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 48 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 1 for 32 yards; Chris Pane, 1 for 29 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 26 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 11 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Theo Bell, 5 for 21 yards DEN: Dave Preston, 2 for -11 yards; Charlie West, 1 for 3 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Tony Dungy, 1 for 0 yards DEN: Louis Wright, 1 for 2 yards; Tom Jackson, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 6 for 278 yards DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 254 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 0/1 DEN: Jim Turner, 1/1