I guess I should change the name of this thread to “Lombardi’s Pack vs ’70s Steelers and other great teams from that decade”, lol.
OK, let's further play upon that theme, but it might not be entirely fair to match the 78 and 79 Steelers against Lombardi's Packers due to the 'five-yard bump rule' (aka the' Mel Blount rule') implemented for the 78 season. What rules do Lombardi's Packers play under- pre or post 78?
That is why I feel it is best to match either the 74 or 75 Steelers teams against the best Lombardi Packers team due to both playing in the same era. First, I might discount the 67 team - at least compared to the 66 juggernaut - due to regressing on defense (the 67 team surrendered 78 points over its final 3 games). I like to favorably compare the 67 Packers to the 79 Steelers and 95 Cowboys as a veteran until that won on guile and experience that was otherwise at then end of the road as far as being a dynasty are concerned. Second, and I am referencing my post from earlier today, it could be said that the 75 Steelers are superior to the 74 equivalent.
So here we go: 66 Packers vs. 75 Steelers
Steelers on Offense:
Despite the offensive accolades going to the 78 and 79 teams, and rightly so, it could be said that in 75, Terry Bradshaw (88.0 QB rating), Franco Harris (1246 yards rushing & a 4.8 Y/A) and Lynn Swann (49 receptions & 11 TDs) had career years. As already pointed out, John Stallworth did not begin to come into his own until 1977. That is a lot of firepower, but it could also be said that the 66 Packers would be by far the best defense the Steelers of the 70's faced. That Packers defense was wicked good and deep when factoring Hall of Famers Ray Nitschke, Herb Adderley,Willie Davis, Willie Wood, Henry Jordan and Dave Robinson (for those keeping count- that is more Hall of Famers than the vaunted Steel Curtain- 6 to 4).
Advantage: Packers
Packers on Offense
This is where things get dicey- at least as far as the Packers are concerned in that in 66 they potentially lacked the team speed to adequately challenge the Steelers. Jim Taylor, for instance, was on the downside of his career (705 yards and only 3.5 Y/A), while with the possible exception of Carroll Dale, lacked the type of deep threat to stretch the field along similar lines as Cliff Branch (Raiders), Isaac Curtis (Bengals) and Ken Burrough (Oilers), all of whom the Steelers faced multiple times each year. Defensively, the Steel Curtain could potentially shut the 66 Packers down (at least on the ground), but do not downplay an all time great season (at least when factoring the era) from Bart Starr, whom completed 62.2% of his passes and threw only 3 interceptions (in compiling a 105.0 QR). Still, put Mel Blount on Dale and the Packers might challenge to move the ball downfield.
Advantage: Steelers
So how does this play out?
I imagine a hard hitting defensive struggle in which either offense struggles to gain any type of momentum. Length of the field drives might potentially be the rare exception and not the norm. Rather, it could boil down to a battle over field position and turnovers- more specifically who generates the turnovers and where they happen. That Packers team was not in the habit of turning the ball over, but imagine a strip sack of Starr deep in Packers territory (recovered by LC Greenwood) and the Steelers would be in business for either a game changing touchdown or chip shot field goal (actually, I take that back in that nothing is 'chip shot' where Steelers kicker Roy Gerela is concerned).
As noted in my previous post, the 75 Steelers where prone to turnovers (at least in the playoffs that year) and this is the hinge where the game might turn. Imagine the Steelers are facing third and 1 at its own 20 yard line and Franco Harris fumbles on an off tackle trap play, which Nitschke falls on. On its subsequent offensive play, Starr on play action finds Boyd Dowlerat the back of the end zone.
The point being that the Steelers are going to have to beat the Packers- those Lombardi Packers teams are not going to beat themselves. Hence, if the Steelers played sloppily like they did in the 75 post season and lose the turnover battle, I can see them easily losing 13 to 17. On the other hand, if the 75 Steelers take care of the ball and play smart on special teams,I can see them winning the field position battle, and as the game goes on, wearing down the Packers and culminating with a hard fought 13 to 7 victory.
