1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 59th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League (NFL).

The Steelers struggled early as Neil O'Donnell took over from Bubby Brister at quarterback. The Steelers ended the season winning their last two games, 17–10, over the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns at Three Rivers Stadium to finish with a 7–9 record. Following the season Chuck Noll announced his retirement, ending his 23-year career in which he won four Super Bowls while posting an overall record of 209–156–1.

Staff
Notable additions include Adrian Cooper, Neil O'Donnell and Ernie Mills.

Week 1 (Sunday September 1, 1991): vs. San Diego Chargers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 80 F (Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 55,848
 * Referee: Gerald Austin
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
 * San Diego – FG Carney 48
 * Pittsburgh – Calloway 33 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
 * San Diego – Lewis 11 pass from Bernstine (Carney kick)
 * San Diego – FG Carney 35
 * Pittsburgh – Stone 89 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * San Diego – Jefferson 5 pass from Friesz (Carney kick)

Week 2 (Sunday September 8, 1991): at Buffalo Bills
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 84 F (Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 79,545
 * Referee: Tom Dooley
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Buffalo – Lofton 53 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * Buffalo – FG Norwood 50
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
 * Buffalo – Beebe 34 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * Buffalo – Beebe 14 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Foster 56 run (Anderson kick)
 * Buffalo – Reed 14 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * PIttsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hinkle 57 interception return (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
 * Buffalo – Beebe 11 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * Buffalo – Beebe 4 pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)
 * Buffalo – Odomes 32 interception return (Norwood kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 15, 1991): vs. New England Patriots
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 86 F (Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 53,703
 * Referee: Johnny Grier
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
 * New England – FG Staurovsky 33
 * New England – FG Staurovsky 28
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 32
 * Pittsburgh – Green 32 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Mills recovered blocked punt in end zone (Anderson kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 22, 1991): at Philadelphia Eagles
at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 66 F (Mostly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 65,511
 * Referee: Bernie Kukar
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bill Parcells (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – Hoge 12 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Philadelphia – McMahon 1 run (Ruzek kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Green 8 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 27
 * Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 34
 * Philadelphia – Drummond 2 run (Ruzek kick)
 * Philadelphia – FG Ruzek 20

Week 6 (Sunday October 6, 1991): at Indianapolis Colts
at Hoosier Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana


 * Game time: 8:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: Dome
 * Game attendance: 55,383
 * Referee: Larry Nemmers
 * TV announcers: (TNT) Skip Caray (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Indianapolis – FG Biasucci 19
 * Pittsburgh – Green 21 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Foster 24 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Hoge 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 7 (Monday October 14, 1991): vs. New York Giants
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 59 F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 57,608
 * Referee: Red Cashion
 * TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)

Scoring drives:


 * New York Giants – Cross 12 pass from Hostetler (Bahr kick)
 * New York Giants – FG Bahr 45
 * New York Giants – FG Bahr 40
 * New York Giants – Meggett 30 run (Bahr kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39
 * Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Green 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * New York Giants – FG Bahr 44

Week 8 (Sunday October 20, 1991): vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
 * Game weather: 47 F (Partly Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 54,678
 * Referee: Gordon McCarter
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Mel Proctor (play by play), Joe Namath (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Seattle – FG Kasay 36
 * Seattle – Williams 1 run (Kasay kick)
 * Seattle – Chadwick 14 pass from Krieg (Kasay kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stone 57 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Seattle – FG Kasay 21
 * Seattle – Tice 1 pass from Krieg (Kasay kick)

Week 9 (Sunday October 27, 1991): at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio


 * Game time: 4:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 78,285
 * Referee: Bob McElwee
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Cleveland – FG Stover 34
 * Cleveland – Hoard 2 pass from Kosar (Stover kick)
 * Pittsburgh – O'Donnell 1 run (Anderson kick)
 * Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Stover kick)
 * Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 3, 1991): at Denver Broncos
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado


 * Game time: 8:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 16 F, wind 8 mph mph
 * Game attendance: 70,973
 * Referee: Dale Hamer
 * TV announcers: (ESPN) Mike Patrick (play by play), Joe Theismann (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
 * Pittsburgh – Green 23 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Denver – Lewis 1 run (Treadwell kick)
 * Denver – Elway 4 run (Treadwell kick)
 * Denver – FG Treadwell 28
 * Denver – FG Treadwell 21
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39

Week 11 (Sunday November 10, 1991): at Cincinnati Bengals
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 55,503
 * Referee: Jerry Markbreit
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Dan Hampton (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Cincinnati – FG Breech 29
 * Cincinnati – Woods 4 run (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44
 * Cincinnati – Holman 18 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 46
 * Pittsburgh – J. Williams 38 fumble return (Anderson kick)
 * Cincinnati – Woods 1 run (Breech kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Mills 35 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Cincinnati – FG Breech 47
 * Pittsburgh – Green 26 pass from O'Donnell

Week 12 (Sunday November 17, 1991): vs. Washington Redskins
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 47 F (Sunny)
 * Game attendance: 56,813
 * Referee: Tom White
 * TV announcers: (CBS) Dick Stockton (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Washington – Riggs 1 run (Lohmiller kick)
 * Washington – FG Lohmiller 36
 * Washington – Monk 11 pass from Rypien (Lohmiller kick)
 * Washington – FG Lohmiller 41
 * Washington – Riggs 1 run (Lohmiller kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Cooper 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – Stone 40 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Washington – Clark 49 pass from Rypien (Lohmiller kick)
 * Washington – Sanders 40 pass from Rutledge (Lohmiller kick)

Week 13 (Sunday November 24, 1991): vs. Houston Oilers
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: 34 F (Cloudy)
 * Game attendance: 45,795
 * Referee: Howard Roe
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
 * Houston – Givins 10 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
 * Pittsburgh – Stone 43 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
 * Pittsburgh – W. Williams 1 run (Anderson kick)
 * Houston – Jeffries 15 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24

Week 14 (Thursday November 28, 1991): at Dallas Cowboys
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas


 * Game time: 4:00 PM EST
 * Game weather:
 * Game attendance: 62,253
 * Referee: Red Cashion
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Bill Walsh (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Dallas – E. Smith 6 run (Willis kick)
 * Dallas – FG Willis 19
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
 * Dallas – FG Willis 43
 * Pittsburgh – W. Williams 3 run (Anderson kick)
 * Dallas – Irvin 66 pass from Beuerlein (Willis kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 8, 1991): at Houston Oilers
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas


 * Game time: 1:00 PM EST
 * Game weather: Dome
 * Game attendance: 59,225
 * Referee: Bob McElwee
 * TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)

Scoring drives:


 * Houston – Pinkett 7 run (Del Greco kick)
 * Houston – FG Del Greco 24
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 54
 * Houston – Jeffires 16 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
 * Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
 * Houston – Pinkett 11 run (Del Greco kick)
 * Houston – A. Smith 70 fumble return (Del Greco kick)

Week 17 vs Browns
Chuck Noll's final game as head coach