NFL game summary for 12/20/1981:
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.7 (5) | 205.0 (14) | 354.7 (8) | 39 |
| DEFENSE | 121.9 (12) | 229.9 (25) | 351.7 (22) | 44 | |
 | OFFENSE | 112.9 (23) | 162.8 (26) | 275.7 (27) | 42 |
| DEFENSE | 152.3 (25) | 210.9 (20) | 363.3 (25) | 29 |
Line: Even
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8-0) | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| Houston Oilers (7-9-0) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
( 3- 0) PIT David Trout 40 yard field goal
( 3- 7) HOU Dave Casper 15 yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 3-14) HOU Dave Casper 23 yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 6-14) PIT David Trout 37 yard field goal
(13-14) PIT Sidney Thornton 17 yard rush (David Trout kick)
(20-14) PIT Mark Malone 2 yard rush (David Trout kick)
(20-21) HOU Dave Casper 16 yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick)
PIT HOU
First Downs: 17 18
Rushes-yards: 36-126 19-41
Yards/rush: 3.5 2.2
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 13-30-172-1 24-37-377-2
Sacked-yards: 3-21 6-42
Net pass yards: 151 335
Net yards/pass: 4.6 7.8
Total net yards: 277 376
Total plays: 69 (52% run) 62 (30% run)
Yards/play: 4.0 6.1
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 2-0
Turnovers: 2 2
Penalties-yards: 7-65 7-81
Attendance: 41,056
Passing:
PIT: Mark Malone, 13 of 30 for 172 yards (1 int) HOU: Gifford Nielsen, 24 of 37 for 377 yards and 3 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 36 yards; Frank Pollard, 8 for 28 yards; Mark Malone, 6 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 4 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Russell Davis, 1 for 4 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 13 for 24 yards; Adger Armstrong, 3 for 13 yards; Gifford Nielsen, 3 for 4 yards
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 6 for 90 yards; Jim Smith, 3 for 50 yards; Franco Harris, 2 for 12 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 12 yards; Frank Pollard, 1 for 8 yards HOU: Dave Casper, 6 for 139 yards and 3 TDs; Mike Holston, 5 for 128 yards; Adger Armstrong, 5 for 30 yards; Earl Campbell, 4 for 18 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 48 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Rick Moser, 2 for 55 yards; Larry Anderson, 2 for 43 yards HOU: Carl Roaches, 2 for 77 yards; Willie Tullis, 2 for 43 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 34 yards HOU: Carl Roaches, 5 for 62 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Robin Cole, 1 for 29 yards; J.T. Thomas, 1 for 16 yards HOU: Carter Hartwig, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 6 for 286 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 7 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: David Trout, 2/2 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 0/1
PIT: Mark Malone, 13 of 30 for 172 yards (1 int) HOU: Gifford Nielsen, 24 of 37 for 377 yards and 3 TDs (2 int)
Rushing:
PIT: Franco Harris, 17 for 36 yards; Frank Pollard, 8 for 28 yards; Mark Malone, 6 for 19 yards and 1 TD; Sidney Thornton, 4 for 39 yards and 1 TD; Russell Davis, 1 for 4 yards HOU: Earl Campbell, 13 for 24 yards; Adger Armstrong, 3 for 13 yards; Gifford Nielsen, 3 for 4 yards
Receiving:
PIT: John Stallworth, 6 for 90 yards; Jim Smith, 3 for 50 yards; Franco Harris, 2 for 12 yards; Lynn Swann, 1 for 12 yards; Frank Pollard, 1 for 8 yards HOU: Dave Casper, 6 for 139 yards and 3 TDs; Mike Holston, 5 for 128 yards; Adger Armstrong, 5 for 30 yards; Earl Campbell, 4 for 18 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 48 yards; Ronnie Coleman, 1 for 14 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Rick Moser, 2 for 55 yards; Larry Anderson, 2 for 43 yards HOU: Carl Roaches, 2 for 77 yards; Willie Tullis, 2 for 43 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Larry Anderson, 2 for 34 yards HOU: Carl Roaches, 5 for 62 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Robin Cole, 1 for 29 yards; J.T. Thomas, 1 for 16 yards HOU: Carter Hartwig, 1 for 11 yards
Punting:
PIT: Craig Colquitt, 6 for 286 yards HOU: Cliff Parsley, 7 for 264 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: David Trout, 2/2 HOU: Toni Fritsch, 0/1