The Pittsburgh Steelers record overall against the Detroit Lions is 18-17 with two tied games. In Detroit, the Steelers don’t fare so well and slump to 6-13. The Steelers began playing the Lions in Pittsburgh’s second season in the NFL, 1934. The first four contests were played in Detroit and Pittsburgh lost them all.
The Lions are of a particular interest to me as they began life in the NFL as the Portsmouth Spartans. As I was born in Portsmouth, England, you can understand my fascination with them. The original Spartans stadium still exists and is currently home to the Notre Dame High School team.
During one of #SteelerNationUK’s adventures to Pittsburgh, we drove to Portsmouth to visit the historic stadium. We were pulled over by a State trooper just outside Portsmouth. Realising we were English he let us off with just a warning to watch our speed.
When I told him we were there to visit the stadium he suggested we went down to the river to see the “mirrors”. Strange we thought? Mirrors? What he actually said, with a heavy accent, was “murals.” There are some stunning ones on the floodwall depicting the history of the town including this one of the Spartans playing the Packers.
In 1989, the Steelers had missed playoff football four years running. The Super Seventies were not quite distant, but they were a fading memory.
The Steelers chose well in the draft. In the first round they picked running back Tim Worley and guard Tom Ricketts. The defense was bolstered with the addition of Carnell Lake (DB), Jerrol Williams (LB), D.J. Johnson (DB) and Jerry Olsavsky (LB).
Bubby Brister was the starting quarterback, but he had led the team to a dismal 5-11 record the year before. A 1-6 start that season ensured there would be no post regular season football for the team.
The signs for a successful 1989 didn’t look good. The Steelers began the season facing six of their seven games against teams that had made the playoffs the previous year. The first two opening losses against division rivals Cleveland (51-0) and Cincinnati (41-10) appeared to seal the Steelers fate.
“Some fans think the season’s over, bring on the Penguins,” was the headline in the Pittsburgh Press. One reader suggested, “I think Chuck Noll told us what he wanted us to do with our Sunday afternoons when he was conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. He’d rather we spend our Sunday afternoons at Heinz Hall listening to the symphony than watching the Steelers.”
Another reader suggested the team were trying to lose every game to earn the top pick in the following year’s draft.
After they beat the Vikings 27-14 in week 3, Brister credited his offensive line. Despite suffering four sacks, Brister acknowledged, “The offensive line gave me time and when I have time, I can find my receivers and get the ball to them.”
Gary Anderson kicked himself into the Steelers record book with his 234th PAT that saw him hit the 732nd point of his career. Tim Worley scored his first touchdown for the team.
With a game against the Lions next, it presented the perfect opportunity for the team to continue their recovery. The Lions had not made the playoffs for five seasons. The Lions had the third pick in the draft and used it wisely on running back Barry Sanders.
The (1-2) Steelers at the (0-3) Lions; October 1, 1989
The Lions made the early running with quarterback Rodney Peete. Aided by two penalties for 38 yards on Delton Hall, Rodney Peete led his team on a drive of 56 yards with eight plays. Their field goal from 37 yards was the only highlight from the first quarter.
After Bubby Brister found Merril Hoge with a completion of just 2 yards, Pittsburgh’s second possession fizzled out. That short completion began a sequence that would place Brister in the Steelers’ record books.
With the Lions pressing again in the second quarter, Peete moved his team to the Steelers one. The drive was cut short of the goal line when Barry Sanders fumbled after hits by Hardy Nickerson and Tim Johnson. Carnell Lake recovered the loose ball and Brister began to find his receivers starting from the two.
Brister moved the chains into Detroit territory. Avoiding a hit, he moved to his left and spotted Louis Lipps. Brister threw across his body and threaded a pass to a double-teamed Lipps 60 yards away.
Lipps hauled in the pass before surviving a replay decision that confirmed he got both feet inbounds for the 48-yard touchdown. Gary Anderson kicked the PAT to give the Steelers a 7-3 lead.
Another Lions fumble recovered by Hall set the Steelers up for Anderson to add a 20-yard field goal. The Steelers went into the locker room at the half with a 10-3 advantage.
The Lions woes continued in the third quarter. Peete badly overthrew Walter Stanley and watched as the ball was intercepted by Larry Griffin. The Steelers went 40 yards in eight plays as Brister continued his success in finding his receivers. Rodney Carter finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
On the first play of the final period, Brister threw an incomplete pass to Louis Lipps. That errant pass broke a sequence of 15 straight completions by Brister which set a Steelers record. On the Steelers next possession Ray Wallace scored on a 2-yard touchdown run that completed the scoring for a Steelers victory.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 23 at the Detroit Lions 3
Bubby Brister’s record of 15 consecutive passes completed has since been passed by Ben Roehtlisberger. He threw 15 straight against Miami (2007) and Denver (2018) and totalled 16 over two games, Dallas (15) and Cleveland (1) in 2016.
“They put the pressure on, and Bubby didn’t let it bother him,” said touchdown scorer Rodney Carter. “He hung in there and did a great job of finding receivers.”
Brister would enjoy one more season as the Steelers starter before Neil O’Donnell gradually took over the role in 1991.
“It’s starting to come together,” offered Coach Noll after the Lions win. The Steelers would finish 9-7 after their dreadful start. Pittsburgh would and join Cleveland and Houston in the playoffs from the AFC Central division. The Browns at 9-6-won the division title.
After the Steelers edged 26-23 passed the Oilers in the wildcard game, they lost 24-23 in Denver. The Broncos would beat the Browns 37-21 in the AFC Championship game and lose 55-10 to the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV.
