I Steelers at Cardinals 1963 Game that Haunts Me 24 to 23

[LeonardRachiele]

The underdog Steelers lost a heart breaker in 1963 to the St. Louis Cardinals on the 5th week of the season. It broke the Steelers’ momentum as they sought the Eastern Conference Title. Entering the game, the Cardinals were 3-1, a half a game better than the 2-1-1 Steelers. That loss for St Louis, 23 to 10, was at Pittsburgh two weeks earlier. The Steelers exploded with two touchdowns and a field goal in the last 6 minutes. That win for Pittsburgh was costly. They lost their best players on both sides of the football. John Henry Johnson and Clendon Thomas were injured and did not play in the next two weeks.

At Cleveland the next week, QB Frank Ryan and RB Jim Brown really torched the defense putting up big numbers. In spite of the bad defense, the Steelers lost this game on two identical plays when they had the football. In the second and third quarter, the ball was fourth and goal at the Cleveland one. They settled for field goals and lost the game. Browns 35 Steelers 23. With John Henry Johnson’s leaping ability, the Steelers would have had 8 more points. The Cardinals looked in week 5 looked too tough for the Steelers. Once again they lost the game 24 to 23 missing Thomas and Johnson. The secondary couldn’t cover the receivers and in the second half our boys could not sustain any drives. The situation was this:

Midway in the second quarter, the game was tied at three, and the Cardinals were on a drive but with the ball on the Pittsburgh 10. A mishandled pitchback from QB Charley Johnson to John David Crow flew away. George Tarasovic recovered the ball at our 17. Immediately, QB Ed Brown threw an 83 yard touchdown pass to Red Mack. Steelers 10 Cardinals 3. After the Steelers kicked a field goal, LB Myron Pottios intercepted a pass in Cardinals' territory at the 8 yard line. Ed Brown, plowed for a one yard touchdown. At the half, Pittsburgh lead 20 to 3. I was certain the Steelers would win with visions of an NFL Championship dancing in my head. What followed was my biggest disappointment in the pre-1970 era TBC

[Brian wolf]

A tough loss for the Steelers but Charley Johnson was a good QB for the Cardinals. He deserved a chance to play in a championship game but the team couldnt get by the Giants or Browns. The Steelers had their chance in the last game against the Giants but Ed Brown had a bad game.