The Pittsburgh Steelers own an overall 15-14 record over the Miami Dolphins. In Pittsburgh the Steelers lead 9-4. The teams have been playing each other since the AFL/NFL merger with the Dolphins winning the first three contests. That run of victories for Miami includes their unbeaten season of 1972.
While the Steelers fortunes improved as the seventies progressed, the Dolphins began to wane.
When the two teams met in 1976, they were both 5-4. The Steelers had lost four of their first five games. They recovered from that bad start and were on a four-game winning streak having not given up a touchdown for seventeen quarters. The Dolphins were on a three-game winning streak, so an interesting clash was expected. The teams had won the previous four Super Bowls between them.
Along with Cleveland, Pittsburgh was in second place in the AFC Central behind Cincinnati. The Steelers needed a win to increase their chance of making the playoffs. Coach Noll was realistic about the task his team faced, “We just have to keep going and hope for the best.”
Having suffered early season injury challenges, Miami was now third in the AFC East behind Baltimore and New England. With help from their division rivals, they could also still make a wildcard spot if they won their remaining games.
Terry Bradshaw suffered neck and back injuries in week 5 against the Browns. After missing three games, he returned to lead the Steelers against the Dolphins.
The (5-4) Steelers vs the (5-4) Dolphins; November 14, 1976
The game began quietly as the defenses dominated. The only incident of interest to Steelers fans was another injury to Terry Bradshaw on the Steelers second possession. He sprained his right wrist and was replaced by Mike Kruczek. The backup quarterback then handled the offense like a veteran.
In the second quarter he led his team on a series of 55 yards to the Miami 30. On a third and one, Franco Harris with Miami’s Randy Crowder hanging on his leg, ran 21 yards for the opening score.
The third quarter saw Miami kick a field goal from 45 yards. In the final period, Miami moved the ball from their one-yard line to midfield. On third and seven, Ernie Holmes smashed through their offensive line to sack Bob Griese for a seven-yard loss to end the drive.
In the final quarter, Kruczek, who previously had been passing sparingly, launched one of 64 yards which Frank Lewis pulled in. Lewis carried the ball to Miami’s one sealing the Dolphins fate. Reggie Harrison carried it over for a 1-yard touchdown run and the win.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 14 vs the Miami Dolphins 3
Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier each rushed for 110 yards to become only the third tandem to post consecutive back-to-back 100-yard games together in the NFL. Cleveland’s Jim Brown and Bobby Mitchell did it twice and Los Angeles’ Lawrence McCutcheon and John Cappelletti achieved the milestone earlier in the season.
Bleier would finish the season with 1,036 yards achieving for the only time in his pro-career a 1000-yard season.
Mike Kruczek guided the team to three more victories before Bradshaw returned as the starter in the season finale against Houston.
From a 1-4 start, the Steelers had shown their resolve to finish the season 10-4 after winning nine straight games. Their fourth division title saw them go into the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season following four decades of being in the NFL wilderness.
The Steelers would roll over the Baltimore Colts 40-14 in the divisional game but fall 7-24 to Oakland in the Conference game. The absence of their tandem running backs through injury contributing to their demise.
