NFL game summary for 12/30/1978:
The Steelers moved into the AFC championship game for the fourth time in the last five seasons by eliminating the defending champion Broncos. Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed 16 of 29 passes for a personal postseason career-high 272 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers broke open the 19-10 game with two touchdowns 14 seconds apart in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver John Stallworth, who set an NFL divisional playoff record with a career-high 10 catches for 156 yards, caught a 45-yard touchdown pass with 3:49 elapsed in the final period. Denver's Rick Upchurch fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Pittsburgh linebacker Dennis Winston recovered at the Broncos' 29 yard line. After an incomplete pass and a penalty, Bradshaw connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on the goal line for a 38-yard score and a 33-10 lead.
Running back Franco Harris gained 105 yards on 24 carries, his fifth 100-yard postseason game (an NFL record), and his two first-half touchdown runs (1 and 18 yards) raised his career total to 12, the most by any player in NFL postseason history. Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense, which permitted an NFL low 195 points during the regular season, held its opponent to under 100 yards rushing for the sixth straight game. The Steelers sacked Denver starting quarterback Craig Morton and backup Norris Weese, who relieved Morton in the second quarter, six times overall and shut out the Broncos with 97 total yards in the final 30 minutes.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 153.2 (8) | 148.6 (17) | 301.8 (14) | 34 |
| DEFENSE | 123.7 (6) | 154.4 (14) | 278.1 (6) | 44 | |
 | OFFENSE | 143.6 (14) | 168.7 (12) | 312.2 (8) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 110.9 (2) | 149.6 (12) | 260.5 (3) | 48 |
Line: Steelers by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (10-7-0) | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers (15-2-0) | 6 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 33 |
( 3- 0) DEN Jim Turner 37 yard field goal
( 3- 6) PIT Franco Harris 1 yard rush (kick failed)
( 3-13) PIT Franco Harris 18 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
( 3-16) PIT Roy Gerela 24 yard field goal
(10-16) DEN Dave Preston 3 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
(10-19) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
(10-26) PIT John Stallworth 45 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
(10-33) PIT Lynn Swann 38 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)
DEN PIT
First Downs: 15 24
Rushes-yards: 27-87 40-153
Yards/rush: 3.2 3.8
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-22-168-0 16-29-272-1
Sacked-yards: 6-37 0-0
Net pass yards: 131 272
Net yards/pass: 4.7 9.4
Total net yards: 218 425
Total plays: 55 (49% run) 69 (57% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 6.2
Fumbles-lost: 2-2 4-1
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 8-104 11-88
Attendance: 48,921
Passing:
DEN: Norris Weese, 8 of 16 for 118 yards; Craig Morton, 3 of 5 for 34 yards; Bucky Dilts, 1 of 1 for 16 yards PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 16 of 29 for 272 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 6 for 12 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 6 for 6 yards; Rob Lytle, 5 for 6 yards; Norris Weese, 4 for 43 yards; Dave Preston, 4 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 3 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 24 for 105 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 8 for 26 yards; Rick Moser, 2 for 6 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 4 yards; Sidney Thornton, 2 for 4 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 4 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Jack Dolbin, 4 for 77 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 33 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 19 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 16 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 24 yards; Rob Lytle, 1 for -1 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 10 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Randy Grossman, 4 for 64 yards; Lynn Swann, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 47 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 18 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 5 yards; Chris Pane, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 57 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 2 for 30 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 7 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bob Swenson, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 204 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 72 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2
DEN: Norris Weese, 8 of 16 for 118 yards; Craig Morton, 3 of 5 for 34 yards; Bucky Dilts, 1 of 1 for 16 yards PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 16 of 29 for 272 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
DEN: Jon Keyworth, 6 for 12 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 6 for 6 yards; Rob Lytle, 5 for 6 yards; Norris Weese, 4 for 43 yards; Dave Preston, 4 for 14 yards and 1 TD; Otis Armstrong, 1 for 3 yards; Larry Canada, 1 for 3 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 24 for 105 yards and 2 TDs; Rocky Bleier, 8 for 26 yards; Rick Moser, 2 for 6 yards; Terry Bradshaw, 2 for 4 yards; Sidney Thornton, 2 for 4 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 4 yards; Jim Smith, 1 for 4 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Jack Dolbin, 4 for 77 yards; Haven Moses, 2 for 33 yards; Dave Preston, 2 for 19 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 2 for 16 yards; Riley Odoms, 1 for 24 yards; Rob Lytle, 1 for -1 yards PIT: John Stallworth, 10 for 156 yards and 1 TD; Randy Grossman, 4 for 64 yards; Lynn Swann, 2 for 52 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 3 for 47 yards; Lonnie Perrin, 1 for 18 yards; Jon Keyworth, 1 for 5 yards; Chris Pane, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 57 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for 8 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Rick Upchurch, 2 for 30 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 7 yards; Jack Deloplaine, 1 for 21 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bob Swenson, 1 for 4 yards
Punting:
DEN: Bucky Dilts, 6 for 204 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 2 for 72 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2