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PITTSBURGH — In the 31-year history of Three Rivers Stadium,
the Steelers hosted seven AFC Championship games and won an impressive five
conference championships on their home field.
While all seven were outstanding in their own right, the epic contest-and the
one selected by Steelers fans as the greatest game in Three Rivers Stadium
history as part of the Last Season at Three Rivers Celebration-was the 16-10
1975 AFC Championship Game victory against archrivals Oakland Raiders, played
Jan. 4, 1976.
The greatest play in Three Rivers Stadium was also the greatest play in NFL
history-the Immaculate Reception-Franco Harris' improbable catch off a
ricocheted pass from Terry Bradshaw to John "Frenchy" Fuqua.
1975 AFC Championship
Pittsburgh 16, Oakland 10
Known as the "Ice Bowl," the game was played in extremely adverse weather
conditions. Wind, snow flurries and 16-degree temperatures made the contest a
brutally hard-hitting defensive struggle. Second-year middle linebacker Jack
Lambert recovered three fumbles, including two in the fourth quarter that led to
the Steelers' two touchdowns - a 25-yard run by Franco Harris and a 20-yard TD
reception by John Stallworth. With the 16-10 win, the Steelers advanced to Super
Bowl X, where they won their second consecutive NFL title.
The game was not decided until the final play, and the Steelers overcame
eight turnovers, including a lost on-side kick, which gave the Raiders a final
opportunity to win.
The Raiders defense set the tone early in the game and intercepted two passes
in the first quarter. But, the Steelers' defense was unyielding, and the best
the Raiders could produce from them was a missed 38-yard field-goal attempt.
The Steelers took advantage of the initial Raider turnover, the first of Mike
Wagner's two interceptions and a 20-yard return, to get on the board with a
field goal.
In the third quarter, the Steelers missed two field goal attempts in the
third quarter, 44- and 48-yard tries, and the Raiders committed three turnovers
to the Steelers' one.
Harris completed a 70-yard drive when he found the middle jammed and swung
around his left side for 25 yards and the game's first TD on the second play of
the final quarter.
Raiders' quarterback Ken Stabler responded with a 60-yard, six-pass drive to
reduce the Steelers' lead to three again. Another Oakland fumble, which Jack
Lambert grabbed for his third recovery of the game on the Oakland 25-yard line,
set up the Steelers' final score.
While the Steelers were running out the clock, Harris fumbled and the Raiders
quickly moved into position for a 41-yard field goal. The Steelers committed
their third fumble in the last five minutes of the game on the ensuing onside
kickoff but time ran out on the Raiders.
The
'Immaculate Reception'
No play in the history of the NFL changed the fortunes of a franchise more
than a desperation pass play from Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw to John
"Frenchy" Fuqua in an AFC Divisional Playoff game versus the Oakland Raiders
Dec. 23, 1972.
In fact, the play, which bounced into the out-stretched hands of rookie
running back Franco Harris who ran 42 yards for the game-winning touchdown, was
not only voted the greatest play in Three Rivers Stadium, but as the greatest
play in NFL history.
To set the scene: With the Steelers holding a precarious 6-0 lead in a
defensive struggle and about five minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders
manufactured an impressive scoring drive, marching 80 yards on 12 plays to claim
a 7-6 lead. A scrambling Stabler, who nearly was caught in the backfield, raced
untouched for a 30-yard TD with 1:13 left in the game for what appeared to be a
game-winning score.
But, the Steelers rallied miraculously. Faced with a fourth-and-10 and down
to their final play at their own 40-yard line, the Steelers produced what later
became known as the "Immaculate Reception." Bradshaw threw a long pass downfield
toward the Steelers' John "Frenchy" Fuqua. The ball ricocheted backward and
Harris made an incredible shoe-top catch for the historical score.
The dispute on the game-winning play centered on whether the flight of the
ball was altered by the contact of Oakland's Jack Tatum or the Steelers' John
Fuqua.
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GAME NOTES: The honorary game captains for today's Last Season Celebration
are four of the Steelers Hall of Fame players: cornerback Mel Blount (1970-83),
linebacker Jack Ham (1971-82), running back Franco Harris (1972-83) and
linebacker Jack Lambert (1974-84)…Fans attending the game will receive a
commemorative trading card of a Great Moment in Three Rivers Stadium and a
matching pin, sponsored by Giant Eagle…At each seat, there will be a souvenir
seat cushion, provided by Home Depot, with the Last Season at Three Rivers
Stadium logo printed on it…Country music artist and Grammy Award-winner Hank
Williams Jr. will perform the national anthem and a specially adapted version of
"Are You Ready For Some Football?" that he sings to open Monday Night Football
games…The Baldwin High School Marching Band, the first high school band at Three
Rivers Stadium for a Steelers game, will perform during pregame activities.
