Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

In lieu/honor of tonight’s game...

Plenty to mention! I’ll just mention my first - 1980, Week #13. 7-5 Steelers hosting 6-6 Phins. Stevie Wonder’s “Master Jammin’” playing as game would seque into commercials. Steelers win convincng enough, are now 8-5, only for the wind to all-but be knocked out of sails the following Thurs in the Astrodome. Oilers win, 6-0.

I also remember next meeting between the two in Week #2 following year, on a Thurs night in Miami (Swann out). Phins winning convincingly; they now are 2-0, ’Burgh now...0-2!

The 1989 game was crazy. The Dolphins were 7-4 going into that game, and the Steelers were 5-6. The Dolphins started out going up 14-0, but the Steelers went on to score 34 unanswered points in a driving rainstorm. A memorable chapter in one of the wildest seasons in Steeler history.

1973, another MNF game. Dolphins jump out to a 30-3 halftime lead, with Dick Anderson having two pick-sixes among his four picks on the night. Bradshaw, who came off the bench after missing the previous four games because of injury, and the Steelers nearly pull off a miracle second-half comeback before losing 30-26.

Week 14 of 2013 was a memorable one for me. Dolphins came to play Pittsburgh in the snow and took the lead with about a minute left in the game. Steelers had only two seconds left in the game when they began lateraling the ball and Antonio Brown almost took to the house but barely stepped out at the 13 yard line. Miami won 34-28.

The 1989 game was good although I only saw the highlights. I also liked the 2007 game that ended with a score of 3-0.

The 3-0 MNF game and the '73 MNF game

Won't argue the '73 or '89 games. I'd add the 1984 AFC championship game disaster, as well.

My choice is the 1972 AFC championship game. Miami searching for perfection: the Steeler dynasty about to blossom. A number of Steelers sick with the flu. A balmy high of about 70 degrees. The NFL ordering the Steelers to not cheerlead from their scoreboard. Bradshaw injured going in for the first touchdown. The Larry Seiple punt that wasn't disaster. Bob Griese relieves Earl Morral. The TD pass to Paul Warfield. Bradshaw returns and throws a touchdown pass only to throw back-to-back interceptions late in the game. Perhaps the most memorable season in Steeler history ends one game short. The Dolphins swim to immortality two weeks later.

It was Dec 31 1972, a black day in Pittsburgh history. The Steelers lose, Penn State (there are many PSU fans in the Pittsburgh area) gets shutout in the Sugar Bowl and by far the worst, the death of the great Roberto Clemente in an airplane crash. It was a sad day indeed!

I like the 1979 playoff game for John Stallworth's 17-yard TD catch, one of my all-time favorite plays, captured masterfully by NFL Films.

Wouldn't call it a memorable/standout game between the two, but their '88 finale at Three Rivers has some notables. It would be Mike Webster's final game as a Steeler. A sad reminder that two teams/head coaches, once powerhouses, were now respective division cellar-dwellers. Landry's Cowboys played at Noll's Steelers in the '88 opener, sadly were both on the cover of SI ('Under Fire') shortly after for notorious reasons. Shula was also mentioned in the cover story.

The first-ever game between the two teams in 1971 looked like it was a good one. The Fins rallied from a 21-3 deficit behind two Griese-to-Warfield bombs to edge the Steelers 24-21.