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1982 Steelers 24 at Patriots 20 Preseason
Played at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, this preseason opener between the Steelers and Patriots surprisingly generates one of the largest crowds in NFL history (93,249). The crowd is so large that it actually represents the largest the Patriots had ever played before at that time. A huge thank you to Jay Korber for generously providing us with this game!
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1982 Steelers 37 vs Colts 15 Preseason
The Steelers look to be in mid-season form as they simply overwhelm the Colts, especially Bradshaw who throws for 260 yards while playing only the first half, including 2 TDs to Stallworth and what should've been a third to Jim Smith if not for a drop. The Steelers appear able to do whatever they want offensively, with RB Greg Hawthorne in particular having a remarkable receiving day. Game features 3 missed PATs by 2 of the NFL's worst kickers (Dave Trout and Mike Wood).
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1982 Steelers 27 vs Eagles 24 Preseason
Terry Bradshaw shines, completing 25 of 45 for 389 yds and 3 TDs as he leads the Steelers on a furious comeback to overcome a 24-7 fourth quarter deficit. Bradshaw goes 6-for-6 on Pittsburgh's final 98-yd game-winning drive, capped by a perfectly thrown "touch" pass to Bennie Cunningham with 2 minutes remaining. The win gives the Steelers a perfect 4-0 preseason record.
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1982 Steelers 36 at Cowboys 28 MNF
The Landry-era Cowboys experience a rare loss in a home opener thanks to 3 Terry Bradshaw TD passes and an opportunistic Pittsburgh defense.
Things get off to a rocky start for Pittsburgh when they fumble away the opening kickoff after a good return. But Dallas fails to capitalize after driving to the Pittsburgh 15 when a botched, stumbling handoff from White to Dorsett is recovered by Pittsburgh.
From there, Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw (17 of 28, 246 yds, 3 TD, 0 Int), Franco Harris (24 carries, 103 yds) and John Stallworth (7 rec, 137 yds, 1 TD) all shine as the venerable Steelers outsmart, outplay and outlast the powerful Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
The teams trade TDs in the first half and Dallas clings to a 14-13 lead at the break with the difference being a missed Pittsburgh PAT. With Tony Dorsett completely neutralized by Pittsburgh's new 3-4 defensive scheme (11 carries, 30 yards), Pittsburgh puts the game on Danny White's shoulders.
White responds with 347 yds and 4 TDs but is also victimized for a pair of interceptions (Jack Ham, Rick Woods) and a blocked punt in the 3rd quarter, allowing the Steelers to explode for 20 unanswered points en route to an insurmountable 33-14 lead, rendering a late Dallas comeback effort irrelevant.
A bright start to a season that was probably the most enjoyable of the '80s for me, in spite of being strike-shortened and ending in the first round of the playoffs. Thanks to Russell "SteelBuck 6" Emch for generously providing this sweet video upgrade!
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1982 Steelers 26 vs Bengals 20 OT
Franco Harris rushes for only 6 yds on 3 carries but catches a career-high 11 passes for 88 yds in a thriller. QBs Bradshaw & Anderson both do great Montana impressions, dinking & dunking their way up & down the field all afternoon for over 600 yds passing with shockingly little running involved (just 26 yds rushing for Pittsburgh and 69 yds for Cinci).
But while Bradshaw throws 3 TD strikes and no INTs, Anderson is picked off 3 times (2 by Donnie Shell) including one in the end zone after Cinci had driven to the Steeler 3 yard line. Chris Collinsworth has a huge day (9 catches, 144 yds), but Jack Ham's consistent harassment of Anderson, a blocked chip-shot FG on the final play of regulation by Tom Beasley and Dwayne Woodruff's INT & subsequent return to the Bengal 2 early in overtime are game-savers for the Steelers.
On first and goal from the 2 in overtime, after a lengthy conference with Coach Chuck Noll during a timeout, Bradshaw surprisingly calls a pass play and hits Stallworth for a 2-yd TD to win it.
After this game, unfortunately, the NFL players went on strike. Video features some nice pregame & halftime footage.
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1982 Steelers 24 at Oilers 10
Both teams show signs of rust coming back from the 57-day NFL Players strike in a sloppy game with a preseason feel. Gifford Nielsen flounders around for most of the game and throws 3 INTs (2 by Donnie Shell), but somehow plays the sluggish Steelers to a 10-10 3rd quarter tie.
Hoping for a spark, the newly acquired Archie Manning comes off the bench in the 3rd quarter and is promptly stripped of the ball by Jack Ham and Lambert recover at the Houston 17. Bradshaw immediately capitalizes, hitting Cunningham in the middle of the end zone on the next play for a 17-10 lead.
Following an Oiler punt, Bradshaw sticks the dagger in Houston with his 3rd TD pass of the game, a perfect 32-yard strike to Jim Smith to secure a 24-10 victory. A shout out to Brad Geffers for the upgrade!
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1982 Steelers 35 vs Chiefs 14
Slight upgrade. Bradshaw, Stallworth and Lambert shine in an absolute butt-kicking. Bradshaw comes into the game with a sore shoulder and it's rumored that Terry's elbow problems started in training camp in '82, but there's absolutely no evidence of any arm issues in this game.
After a tipped pass is picked off early, Bradshaw is nearly flawless (15 of 20, 231 yds), striking deep repeatedly and exploding for 3 TDs in the first half, including a spectacular 74-yd TD strike to Stallworth (4 rec., 107 yds, 2 TD) in which Terry rifles the ball 50 yards downfield with a mere flick of his wrist, hitting Stallworth perfectly in stride.
Bradshaw strikes deep again just before the half, uncorking a 51-yarder down the middle to Jim Smith to set up a 1-yd plunge by Harris that gives the Steelers a 28-7 halftime lead.
Meanwhile, Chiefs QB Steve Fuller is pummeled mercilessly as the Steelers sack him 8 times (3 by Jack Lambert) with jailbreak after jailbreak and Donnie Shell adds to his NFL-leading INT total. With a comfortable lead and few signs of life from Kansas City, Cliff Stoudt enters the game in relief of Bradshaw in the 3rd quarter.
Spliced from two versions of the game. Video includes halftime show with highlights from around the league. A huge thanks to Brad Geffers for the upgraded portion of the video!
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1982 Steelers 0 at Bills 13
Despite coming into the game as the league's top-rated passer and traditionally being a great bad-weather QB, Terry Bradshaw suffers through one of the worst performances his career (2 of 13, 3 yds, 0 TD, 2 Int, 4 sacks and a fumble) in a -20 degree Buffalo windchill.
Noll mercifully decides to sit Bradshaw after a bad INT early in the 3rd quarter, but Cliff Stoudt fares little better (2 of 10 for 29 yds, 1 Int, 1 sack) as the Steelers shockingly finish the game with -2 net passing yds. The score could've been much worse if not for a spirited performance by the defense, who thwarts Buffalo threats all afternoon despite repeatedly facing a short field. A big-time thanks to Brad Geffers for providing this game!
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1982 Steelers 9 at Browns 10
The turnover-plagued Steelers are their own worst enemy in a quagmire of mud at Cleveland Stadium, and no one struggles more than Terry Bradshaw -- traditionally a great QB in bad weather -- who is sacked 3 times and throws 4 INTs (3 by rookie Hanford Dixon).
Compounding Bradshaw's struggles are a host of drops by Steeler receivers, including Hall of Famers. Swann is held to no catches and Stallworth finishes with only 1 reception for 6 yds (albeit a TD).
Defensively, the Steelers are outstanding, sacking Paul McDonald 6 times and limiting Cleveland to 224 total yds with just 38 on the ground. But a shanked 16-yd punt by John Goodson from his own end zone gives Cleveland fantastic field position late in the 3rd. Donnie Shell slips on a pass play resulting in a 22-yd reception by Ozzie Newsome to the 1, and Cleveland caps the drive with a goal line plunge to take a 10-7 lead.
Pittsburgh threatens only once after that, getting to the Cleveland 39 with 1:17 left before Bradshaw throws his 3rd INT of the day on 4th & 4. Thanks to Brad Geffers for providing us with this game!
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1982 Steelers 37 vs Patriots 14
This is an absolute butt-kicking. Terry Bradshaw shakes off a two-game slump, hitting 17 of 27 for 282 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INT as Steelers utterly dominate the Pats, scoring on their first 4 possessions and effortlessly moving the ball up and down the field all afternoon. If not for a pair of ill-timed fumbles, the final score would've been much worse.
Swannie (3 rec, 40 yds) breaks the Steelers' all-time reception record early in the game as Bradshaw spreads the ball around to 8 different receivers, while Franco Harris does his part with 101 yds on 23 carries as the Steelers out-rush New England 212-48.
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1982 Steelers 37 vs Browns 21
Franco looks amazingly quick & agile, putting on an incredible show as he earns his 42nd career 100-yard game (120 yards on 23 carries), passing O.J. Simpson for 3rd all-time.
"The Jinx" is clearly working its voodoo in this one as back-up QB Paul McDonald throws an absolutely picture-perfect 40-yard TD bomb to a WIDE open receiver... who promptly drops it.
While early mistakes cost the Steelers points, Bradshaw, Swann and the Steel Curtain also shine as Pittsburgh pummels Cleveland, piling up over 500 yards of offense -- out-rushing Cleveland 261-52 -- and taking a 27-7 lead on a Bradshaw-to-Smith bomb on the first play of the 4th quarter.
But despite getting their butts kicked, Cleveland makes it interesting late in the game. Under the constant pressure of a fierce Steeler pass rush, McDonald & the Cleveland offense somehow sputter their way to two 4th quarter TDs, closing to 27-21 with 5 long minutes remaining. But facing 3rd and 11 from their own 19, Bradshaw hits Swannie (5 rec., 104 yds) for 57 yards up the middle (plus a 15-yard personal foul on the play) and Gary Anderson nails the icing FG. Following McDonald's 4th INT of the day, the Steelers easily grind out yet another TD and the "Three Rivers Jinx" continues for Cleveland.
Game has asound & tracking problems early in 1st quarter, but is otherwise fine.
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1982 AFC Playoffs Steelers 28 vs Chargers 31
Bradshaw vs. Fouts in a shootout that more than lives up to the hype.
San Diego fumbles the opening kickoff and Pittsburgh recovers for a TD and is up by 7 before either offense takes the field. Bradshaw is unbelievable for most of the afternoon, hitting 24 of his first 26 passes including 14 in a row at one point. Stallworth catches 8 for 116 yds and a TD and while Franco gains only 35 yards rushing, he leads all receivers with a career high 11 catches.
Meanwhile, Fouts is Fouts, matching Bradshaw's 325-yard passing effort with 333 yards of his own. San Diego's offense piles up yardage with Chuck Muncie rushing for 126 yards and both Wes Chandler and Kellen Winslow going over 100 yards receiving.
Even so, the Steelers seem to be on the road to victory with a 28-17 4th quarter lead until a late Bradshaw INT opens the door for a San Diego comeback. Equally damaging is a drop by Cunningham late in the game that ends a promising drive and a host of "almost INT's" that Steelers defenders fail to hang onto.
The key play of the game is a HUGE 4th quarter INT by Blount in the end zone that is nullified by a penalty away from the play on Jack Ham in the final game of his Hall of Fame career. Includes some excellent postgame analysis and player interviews from "The 5th Quarter."
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