All NFL game summaries for 01/06/1980:
The Steelers advanced to their fourth Super Bowl appearance since 1974 by eliminating the Oilers 27-13 in the AFC title game. It was the second consecutive year that Pittsburgh had defeated Houston at Three Rivers Stadium in the AFC finale. The Steelers were stunned early when Houston strong safety Vernon Perry intercepted his fifth pass in two playoff games and returned it for a 75-yard touchdown (a championship game record) with just 2:30 elapsed in the contest. Pittsburgh fell behind 10-3 in the second quarter, but quarterback Terry Bradshaw capped drives of 67 and 49 yards with touchdown passes to Bennie Cunningham (16 yards) and John Stallworth (20 yards), respectively. The Oilers narrowed the margin to 17-13 three seconds into the final quarter on Toni Fritsch's 23-yard field goal, but the Steelers scored 10 points in the final 10 minutes to ensure their second straight Super Bowl berth. Pittsburgh's Franco Harris rushed for 85 yards on 21 carries to increase his NFL postseason record to 1,442 yards. Bradshaw's touchdown passes brought his postseason total to 26, the most in NFL history.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OFFENSE | 160.7 (4) | 141.0 (25) | 301.7 (22) | 32 | |
DEFENSE | 139.1 (17) | 172.8 (14) | 311.9 (13) | 50 | |
OFFENSE | 162.7 (2) | 228.4 (2) | 391.1 (1) | 52 | |
DEFENSE | 106.8 (4) | 160.1 (10) | 266.9 (2) | 42 |
Line: Steelers by 9½
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston Oilers (13-6-0) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4-0) | 3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
( 7- 0) HOU Vernon Perry 75 yard interception return (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7- 3) PIT Matt Bahr 21 yard field goal
(10- 3) HOU Toni Fritsch 21 yard field goal
(10-10) PIT Bennie Cunningham 16 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)
(10-17) PIT John Stallworth 20 yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick)
(13-17) HOU Toni Fritsch 23 yard field goal
(13-20) PIT Matt Bahr 39 yard field goal
(13-27) PIT Rocky Bleier 4 yard rush (Matt Bahr kick)
HOU PIT First Downs: 11 22 Rushes-yards: 22-24 36-161 Yards/rush: 1.1 4.5 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 20-29-203-1 18-30-197-1 Sacked-yards: 1-9 3-22 Net pass yards: 194 175 Net yards/pass: 6.5 5.3 Total net yards: 218 336 Total plays: 52 (42% run) 69 (52% run) Yards/play: 4.2 4.9 Fumbles-lost: 4-2 1-1 Turnovers: 3 2 Penalties-yards: 2-10 5-34 Attendance: 50,475
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 19 of 28 for 203 yards (1 int); Gifford Nielsen, 1 of 1 for 9 yards PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 18 of 30 for 219 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 17 for 15 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 9 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 21 for 85 yards; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 25 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Tim Wilson, 7 for 60 yards; Rob Carpenter, 5 for 23 yards; Mike Renfro, 3 for 52 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 46 yards; Guido Merkens, 1 for 12 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 11 yards; Mike Barber, 1 for 8 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 6 for 50 yards; Lynn Swann, 4 for 64 yards; John Stallworth, 3 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 3 for 39 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 14 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 4 for 47 yards; Carter Hartwig, 1 for 13 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 4 for 82 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 3 for 8 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Vernon Perry, 1 for 75 yards and 1 TD PIT: Dwayne Woodruff, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 120 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 3 for 153 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 2/2 PIT: Matt Bahr, 2/3
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 19 of 28 for 203 yards (1 int); Gifford Nielsen, 1 of 1 for 9 yards PIT: Terry Bradshaw, 18 of 30 for 219 yards and 2 TDs (1 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 17 for 15 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 9 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 0 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 21 for 85 yards; Rocky Bleier, 13 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Terry Bradshaw, 1 for 25 yards; Sidney Thornton, 1 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Tim Wilson, 7 for 60 yards; Rob Carpenter, 5 for 23 yards; Mike Renfro, 3 for 52 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 46 yards; Guido Merkens, 1 for 12 yards; Earl Campbell, 1 for 11 yards; Mike Barber, 1 for 8 yards PIT: Franco Harris, 6 for 50 yards; Lynn Swann, 4 for 64 yards; John Stallworth, 3 for 52 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 3 for 39 yards; Bennie Cunningham, 2 for 14 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 4 for 47 yards; Carter Hartwig, 1 for 13 yards; Rob Carpenter, 1 for 4 yards PIT: Larry Anderson, 4 for 82 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 3 for 8 yards PIT: Theo Bell, 3 for 8 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Vernon Perry, 1 for 75 yards and 1 TD PIT: Dwayne Woodruff, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 4 for 120 yards PIT: Craig Colquitt, 3 for 153 yards
Field Goals:
HOU: Toni Fritsch, 2/2 PIT: Matt Bahr, 2/3
The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFC Western Division representative in the Super Bowl by shutting out Tampa Bay 9-0 behind a stingy defense that allowed the Buccaneers only 177 total yards. Frank Corral's field goals of 19, 21 and 23 yards accounted for the Rams' scoring in the first game in the history of the NFC championship (and before 1970, the NFL championship game) in which no touchdowns were scored. The Rams' 68-yard, 13-play drive produced Corral's first field goal with 14:58 remaining in the second period. Los Angeles increased its lead on Corral's 21-yarder with 47 seconds to play in the first half. His final field goal of 23 yards came with 8:09 left in the game. Cullen Bryant's 106 yards on 18 carries and Wendell Tyler's 86 yards on 28 rushes paced the Rams' 217-yard ground attack. Quarterback Vince Ferragamo completed 12 of 23 passes for 163 yards. In the first quarter, Los Angeles' defense held the Buccaneers to 13 yards. Tampa Bay did not get a first down until 7:55 remained in the second period.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OFFENSE | 153.8 (7) | 167.1 (17) | 320.8 (13) | 49 | |
DEFENSE | 124.8 (10) | 159.8 (9) | 284.6 (7) | 41 | |
OFFENSE | 147.2 (8) | 167.1 (18) | 314.3 (14) | 40 | |
DEFENSE | 115.4 (7) | 132.5 (1) | 247.9 (1) | 35 |
Line: Rams by 3½
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Rams (11-7-0) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-7-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
( 3- 0) LA Frank Corral 19 yard field goal
( 6- 0) LA Frank Corral 21 yard field goal
( 9- 0) LA Frank Corral 23 yard field goal
LA TB First Downs: 23 7 Rushes-yards: 53-216 26-92 Yards/rush: 4.1 3.5 Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 12-23-163-0 5-27-96-1 Sacked-yards: 1-10 1-11 Net pass yards: 153 85 Net yards/pass: 6.4 3.0 Total net yards: 369 177 Total plays: 77 (68% run) 54 (48% run) Yards/play: 4.8 3.3 Fumbles-lost: 1-1 1-0 Turnovers: 1 1 Penalties-yards: 3-20 4-45 Attendance: 72,033
Passing:
LA: Vince Ferragamo, 12 of 23 for 163 yards TB: Doug Williams, 2 of 13 for 12 yards (1 int); Mike Rae, 2 of 13 for 42 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 of 1 for 42 yards
Rushing:
LA: Wendell Tyler, 28 for 86 yards; Cullen Bryant, 18 for 106 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 6 for 26 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for -2 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 20 for 59 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 2 for 5 yards; Johnny Davis, 2 for 4 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Rae, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 4 for 39 yards; Preston Dennard, 3 for 56 yards; Charle Young, 3 for 39 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 15 yards; Wendell Tyler, 1 for 14 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 2 for 42 yards; Ricky Bell, 2 for 12 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 42 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Eddie Hill, 1 for 27 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 106 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Eddie Brown, 6 for 67 yards TB: Beasley Reece, 2 for 14 yards; Cecil Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
LA: Ken Clark, 5 for 186 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 297 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 3/4
LA: Vince Ferragamo, 12 of 23 for 163 yards TB: Doug Williams, 2 of 13 for 12 yards (1 int); Mike Rae, 2 of 13 for 42 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 1 of 1 for 42 yards
Rushing:
LA: Wendell Tyler, 28 for 86 yards; Cullen Bryant, 18 for 106 yards; Lawrence McCutcheon, 6 for 26 yards; Vince Ferragamo, 1 for -2 yards TB: Ricky Bell, 20 for 59 yards; Jerry Eckwood, 2 for 5 yards; Johnny Davis, 2 for 4 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 24 yards; Mike Rae, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
LA: Cullen Bryant, 4 for 39 yards; Preston Dennard, 3 for 56 yards; Charle Young, 3 for 39 yards; Terry Nelson, 1 for 15 yards; Wendell Tyler, 1 for 14 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 2 for 42 yards; Ricky Bell, 2 for 12 yards; Larry Mucker, 1 for 42 yards
Kick returns:
LA: Eddie Hill, 1 for 27 yards TB: Isaac Hagins, 4 for 106 yards
Punt returns:
LA: Eddie Brown, 6 for 67 yards TB: Beasley Reece, 2 for 14 yards; Cecil Johnson, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
LA: Jim Youngblood, 1 for 10 yards
Punting:
LA: Ken Clark, 5 for 186 yards TB: Tom Blanchard, 8 for 297 yards
Field Goals:
LA: Frank Corral, 3/4