Detroit at Pittsburgh 1973-Odd Throw

[LeonardRachiele]

Herman Edwards fumble return for a touchdown at New York in 1978 changed the way coaches make last minute calls.  Now a few backs huddle near the quarterback or one even 20 yards down in case of a fumble.   It was not always that way; at least with the 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was the first week of the 1973 season when the two subject teams met.   The Steelers, leading 17 to 10, had just held the Lions on downs at the Detroit 18.  There was less than two minutes left.   After running back John Fuqua gained nine yards on first down, Detroit used its last time out.  All Terry Bradshaw had to do was kneel twice with a minute and 20 seconds on the clock.  That's what I expected.  On second and one,  Terry Bradshaw threw a nine yard touchdown pass to Ronnie Shanklin.  The Steelers won 24 to 10.

I suspect Chuck Noll was thinking about total points scored as a possible tiebreaker at playoff time.   There is logic to this call.  But suppose:

{1} that Shanklin dropped the ball. This would have forced Pittsburgh to try a field goal, or,

{2} that Lem Barney, who covered Ronnie,  had intercepted and returned the ball.  That would have cost Pittsburgh a win.

As it was, the Steelers were successful and had the insurance at the end of the season. Had the play backfired,  the Pittsburgh Steelers would have looked inept.