Revisit Pit@Dal, 1972

[74_75_78_79_]

Would like to actually see this game or at least see the highlights that NFL Films would have broadcasted a week later. The 17-13 final in favor of the home team Cowboys would, of course, mark the only time in the decade that they would prevail over the Dynasty-to-be. It wouldn't be until '85 that Dallas would beat Pittsburgh again.

Though this Week #4 '72 matchup would be Bradshaw's only loss to Big D, it would still leave Staubach win-less against the 'Burgh for it was Craig Morton who played QB for Dallas that day. In addition, five years later despite the obvious result of SBXII, Morton was also able to do what Roger could not in that '77 campaign and that's...beat the Steelers. Mort, like Bob Lily, was also on-hand for Dallas' 1969 victory over Pittsburgh making the two of them, as Dallas players, unbeaten lifetime (2-0 apiece) against Noll's Steelers.

However - back to the '72 contest at hand - Craig (like Terry) didn't throw a TD pass. Dallas' lone TD pass that day, instead, would be a 55-yd Calvin Hill pass to Ron Sellers in the 3rd Q for what would be the final score of the game. Hill would also score a 1-yard rushing TD earlier on in the 2nd Q while Pittsburgh's lone TD of the day would be right before that one - a 35 yard Mel Blount fumble return for a TD, also in the 2nd, making it Steelers 13-3.

Did anyone in here see the game at the time and have any memories or interesting facts to add to it? Was there any 'foreshadowing' of sorts or sense that both these teams would go on to be the premiere teams of the decade (and perhaps beyond) that they would become? Looking at the stats, Dallas seemed to have outplayed the 'Burgh although they did turn the ball over 4 times to Pittsburgh's 2. Calvin Hill with over 100 rushing yards was clearly the game's MVP. The game's second leading rusher? Not Franco, nor another Steeler, but Walt Garrison. Perhaps it may be wrong to assume the Steelers would beat Washington in a hypothetical SBVII after all.

[Gary Najman]

Both teams combined to miss 5 field goals (2 by Roy Gerela, 3 by Toni Fritsch). Also, the lead rusher for the Steelers that day was future-Cowboy Preston Pearson.

[Bryan]

Was there any 'foreshadowing' of sorts

Terry Bradshaw fumbled after being sacked...Franco Harris picked up the ball and ran through the Cowboys defense for a 75-yard TD, only to have the play called back due to a penalty. I guess this foreshadowed the Immaculate Reception.