1963 Pittsburgh Steelers-1st id 2 Great Victories

[LeonardRachiele]

The New York Giants at Baltimore in week one came from behind 21 to 3 to defeat the Colts 37 to 28. Y.A Tittle suffered bruised ribs and could not play the next week. Ralph Guglielmi and Glenn Griffing were the quarterbacks in week two. Pittsburgh played to a 21 to 21 tie at Franklin Field. Lou Michaels kicked three field goals but missed two extra points. The Steelers should have won this game.

Today at Pitt Stadium, the Steelers treated their home town fans to a clinic. Especially on the defensive line the play was superb. They shut the Giants out in a fashion that we would not see until the Steel Curtain some 12 years later.

First Quarter-Their was no scoring even though the Steelers held ball for all but three plays and a punt. This time of possession would gradually wear the Giants out.

Second Quarter-The Steelers put on two drives. The Dick Hoak scored from one yard out and Lou Micheals booted an 11 yard field goal. Steelers 10 Giants 0

Third Quarter. Although scoreless, this frame was when the Steeler defense was really noticeable. The defense, especially on the line, was obliterating the Giants . Lineman John Baker virtually took over the defense in one of the best games of his career. Baker and company ignored fakes, traps, and really got into Quarterback Ralph Guglielmi’s face. Sacks, hurries, and tipped passes were recurring.

By the fourth quarter, the pressure simply became too much to handle and New York collapsed like a straw fence. A touchdown followed on the next play in each case listed.

–DB Glenn Glass intercepted a pass from Ralph Guglielmi and returned it 32 yards to the Giants’ nine. On the next play, Ed Brown threw a screen pass to Dick Hoak for a touchdown. Steelers 17 Giants 0

–Brady Keys turned in one of the best plays of the entire season. Fielding a punt at his 17, Keys glided through a great escort 82 yards to the one yard line. Pushed out of bounds, Brady slammed to ball into the ground; he wanted that touchdown. John Henry Johnson then went threw a huge hole. Steelers 24 Giants 0.

–The pass rush reared its head. John Baker tipped a pass and Lou Michaels caught the defection at the Giants’ 46 yard line. Behind perfect pass protection, Ed Brown passed 46 yards to Buddy Dial for a touchdown. Dial made safety Dick Lynch look very bad. Steelers 31 Giants 0.

Allie Sherman now pulled at dazed and groggy Ralph Guglielmi in favor of Glenn Griffing. He passed 67 yards to Frank Gifford, who always managed a great effort against the Steelers even on a day like this. After that big play, four passes into the End Zone failed and Pittsburgh had a shut out.

Guglielmi completed five of 15 passed for 89 yards, threw two interceptions, and was sacked seven times for 67 yards in losses. Griffing was only three for 11, threw two interceptions, and was sacked once for eight yards. New York rushed for only 59 yards all day.

For Pittsburgh Ed Brown, completed eight of 14 passes for 101 yards. John Henry Johnson carried 24 times for 123 yards. With a good defense, Brady Keys’ punt return, and JHJ ball carrying, Ed Brown had an easy time all day.

Adv