Pittsburgh steelers 1963-The Second of Two Great Wins

[LeonardRachiele]

he Week Nine the Steelers at 4-3-1 at Pitt Stadium played the 8-1 Cleveland Browns. In the first meeting at Cleveland the Browns won 35 to 23. John Henry Johnson and Clendon Thomas were injured the previous week and did not play. In both the second and third quarter, Steelers had to settle for eight yard field goals on fourth and goal from the Browns' one. We all felt that had Johnson played Pittsburgh would have had touchdowns. With Clendon Thomas absent, Frank Ryan torched the Steelers secondary and Jimmy Brown gained 150 yards. Today things would be different.

The score was a poor indicator of how the Steelers dominated. Look at the figures.

Ed Brown completed 13 of 27 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. Frank Ryan was 11 for 25 for only 93 yards and one touchdown.

For pass catching Buddy Dial caught five passes for 114 yards. Gary Ballman caught an 11 pass from Ed Brown in the fourth quarter which put the Steelers in front 9 to 7. Gary Collins caught three passes for 25 yards and a touchdown.

John Henry Johnson carried 27 times 131 yards. After gaining 94 yards in the first half Jimmy Brown got only five in the second half. Linebacker Bob Schmitz in the third quarter tackled Brown in the End Zone for a safety. Pittsburgh got 187 yards rushing versus 134 yards for the Browns. With the safety, the Steelers narrowed the score now 7 to 2.

The game was close because Steeler placekicker Lou Micheals missed five field goals three in the first half and two in the second. In addition, the Cleveland Browns stopped the Steelers from one yard line after a long drive in the first quarter. With the Steelers ahead 9 to 7, Ed Brown from the Browns 45 overthrew a wide open Buddy Dial, which would have iced the game. Micheals missed his fifth FG attempt but the Steelers held on downs.