1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 45th in the National Football League. After what was considered the franchise's greatest season ever in 1976, the 1977 Pittsburgh Steelers failed to improve on their 10-4 record from 1976 and finished with a 9-5 record; however, they appeared in the playoffs for their 6th straight season and won the AFC Central again. They had a hard time for most of the season as their record hovered around .500. Even the Steel Curtain seemed to have a little wear and tear allowing 243 points on the season, more than 100 more than the previous season. The sloppy plays would catch up with them in the Divisional Playoffs when they were knocked off by the Broncos 34–21 in Denver.

The 1977 season is remembered as one of the most turbulent in franchise history, as numerous players were involved with off-the-field issues. Defensive tackle Ernie Holmes was arrested for cocaine possession, and despite being found not guilty, lawsuits followed. Head coach Chuck Noll was also subject to a defamation lawsuit, as Oakland Raiders safety George Atkinson sued Noll and the Steelers for a disparaging comment in which Noll called Atkinson part of the "criminal element" in football. Though Atkinson lost the lawsuit, Noll was forced to bring Steelers cornerback Mel Blount into the suit, which upset Blount as he was one of many Steelers players engaged in a contract holdout, with others including linebacker Jack Lambert and safety Glen Edwards. Disputes between these players and Steelers owner Art Rooney were often publicized, and the overall drama played a significant part in the regression of the Steel Curtain defense. This was also the first season that the Steelers wore black face masks on their helmets.

Roster
The Pittsburgh Steelers began the 1977 season looking to improve upon their 10–4 record in 1976; when they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders.

While the Steelers once again won the AFC Central crown, they finished with one fewer win; going 9–5 and losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Denver.

Week 1 (Monday September 19, 1977): vs. San Francisco 49ers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 69 F, wind 9 mph
 * Game attendance: 48,046
 * Referee: Bernie Ulman
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Don Meredith & Howard Cosell (color commentators)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – Harris 14 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 49
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 47
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 7 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 15 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 25, 1977): vs. Oakland Raiders
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 67 F, wind 9 mph
 * Game attendance: 50,398
 * Referee: Pat Haggerty
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Oakland – FG Mann 21
 * Oakland – FG Mann 40
 * Oakland – FG Mann 41
 * Oakland – van Eeghen 8 run (Mann kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Cunningham 43 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 4 (Sunday October 9, 1977): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas


 * Game time: 2:00 pm EDT
 * Game attendance: 49,226
 * Referee: Dick Jorgensen
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Jack Buck (play by play), Jimmy Johnson (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Houston – Burrough 44 pass from Coleman (Fritsch kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27
 * Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Houston – FG Fritsch 27
 * Houston – Johnson 51 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
 * Houston – Stemrick 5 fumble recovery return (Fritsch kick)
 * Houston – FG Fritsch 18

Week 5 (Monday October 17, 1977): vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 39 F, wind 18 mph
 * Game attendance: 47,950
 * Referee: Ben Dreith
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play) and Don Meredith (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – Bleier 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (kick failed)
 * Cincinnati – Bujnoch 4 run (Bahr kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Cincinnati – Williams recovered blocked punt in end zone (Bahr kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 23, 1977): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
 * Game weather: 50 F, wind 12 mph
 * Game attendance: 48,517
 * Referee: Bernie Ulman
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Stu Nahan (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Houston – Barber 5 pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 49 pass from Bradshaw (kick failed)
 * Houston – FG Fritsch 46
 * Pittsburgh – Cunningham 2 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 30, 1977): at Baltimore Colts
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 53 F, wind 8 mph
 * Game attendance: 60,225
 * Referee: Red Cashion
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Len Dawson (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Baltimore – FG Linhart 24
 * Baltimore – Leaks 26 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
 * Baltimore – Mitchell 13 pass from Jones (Linhart kick)
 * Baltimore – Lee 25 run (Linhart kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Swann 32 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Baltimore – Jones 6 run (Linhart kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 11 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 3 run (Gerela kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 6, 1977): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 52 F, wind 7 mph
 * Game attendance: 74,967
 * Referee: Fred Wyant
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Denver – Lytle 1 run (Turner kick)
 * Denver – Upchurch 87 punt return (Turner kick)
 * Denver – Moses 20 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 4 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 13, 1977): vs. Cleveland Browns
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 30 F, wind 13 mph
 * Game attendance: 47,055
 * Referee: Pat Haggerty
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Cleveland – FG Cockroft 44
 * Pittsburgh – Swann 39 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Bleier 2 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 38 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 16 run (Gerela kick)
 * Cleveland – Miller 5 run (Cockroft kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Cleveland – Poole 5 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
 * Cleveland – Poole 13 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)
 * Cleveland – Poole 3 pass from Mays (Cockroft kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 20, 1977): vs. Dallas Cowboys
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 48 F, wind 9 mph
 * Game attendance: 49,761
 * Referee: Bob Frederic
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Pat Summerall (play by play), Tom Brookshier (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Dallas – Dorsett 13 run (kick blocked)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 61 run (Gerela kick)
 * Dallas – Saldi 23 pass from Staubach (Herrera kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Swann 9 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stallworth 28 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 2 run (Gerela kick)

Week 12 (Sunday December 4, 1977): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 33 F, wind 7 mph
 * Game attendance: 45,429
 * Referee: Cal Lepore
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Sam Nover (play by play), Mike Haffner (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 5 run (Gerela kick)
 * Seattle – FG Leypoldt 20
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 22
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 28
 * Seattle – McCullum 65 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 43
 * Pittsburgh – Swann 22 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 3 run (Gerela kick)
 * Seattle – Largent 30 pass from Zorn (Leypoldt kick)

Week 13 (Saturday December 10, 1977): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati


 * Game time: 1:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 0 F, wind 12 mph
 * Game attendance: 36,133
 * Referee: Jim Tunney
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Curt Gowdy (play by play), John Brodie (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Cincinnati – Parrish 47 interception return (Bahr kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 5 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 32
 * Cincinnati – FG Bahr 24
 * Cincinnati – McInally 43 pass from Anderson (Bahr kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 18, 1977): at San Diego Chargers
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 63 F, wind 12 mph
 * Game attendance: 50,727
 * Referee: Ben Dreith
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Andy Russell (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * San Diego – C. Williams 2 run (kick failed)
 * San Diego – FG Benirschke 38
 * Pittsburgh – Thornton 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Gerela 27

AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday December 24, 1977): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado


 * Game time: 4:00 pm EST
 * Game weather: 44 F, wind 17 mph
 * Game attendance: 75,059
 * Referee: Gene Barth
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Simpson (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)
 * Denver – Lytle 7 run (Turner kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Bradshaw 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Denver – Armstrong 10 run (Turner kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Harris 1 run (Gerela kick)
 * Denver – Odoms 30 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Brown 1 pass from Bradshaw (Gerela kick)
 * Denver – FG Turner 44
 * Denver – FG Turner 25
 * Denver – Dolbin 34 pass from Morton (Turner kick)