1978 Steelers 7 vs Bengals 6
A classic "trap" game. Sometimes you have to win ugly, and this one is about as ugly as a win can get. Despite an absolutely miserable 4 INT performance by Terry Bradshaw (who was the NFL's top-rated passer coming into the game), the 10-2 Steelers do just enough to eek out a win over the hapless 1-11 Bengals.
Thankfully, the Steel Curtain does their job to perfection, forcing 5 turnovers with Mel Blount intercepting two passes and fumble recoveries by Mean Joe and Jack Ham. The Steelers appear to be denied a game-icing TD in the 4th quarter after Dennis Winston scoops up a fumbled punt and smoothly glides into the end zone, but the officials blow the ball dead. A vicious blindside sack/fumble by Mike Wagner to knock Ken Anderson out of the game with less than a minute to play finally ends Cinci's hopes. Definitely not a thriller, but an important division win nonetheless.
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1978 Steelers vs Bengals (Nov 19, 1978)
