Against the Seattle Seahawks, the Pittsburgh Steelers lead the series 11-10 overall and they dominate the contests played in Pittsburgh 8-3.
Seattle joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From 1,741 different names suggested by the fans, Seahawks was the one the owner went with.
Their blue, green and silver logo colors were from an Indian design of the osprey, a fish-eating hawk of the Northwest.
Seattle won two games in their first season. The following season when they travelled to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers in week 12, they had won three games.
For the Steelers, the 1976 season saw them lose the AFC Championship game to their bitter rivals in Oakland. The absence of both Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier contributing to the disappointing loss in their chase for a hat trick of Super Bowls.
The Steelers number one draft pick in 1977 was Robin Cole. It was the first time the team had used a first-round pick on a linebacker. The need was to replace Andy Russell who had retired. In round five they selected Cliff Stoudt and Steve Courson.
Eight of the Steelers first ten games were against opponents with a winning record in the previous season. After eight games, they were 4-4 and joint second in the AFC Central, a game behind the 5-3 Browns who they played in week 9. Their 35-31 victory saw Pittsburgh move into top spot joining Cleveland.
Winning their next two games against the Cowboys and the Jets saw them host a team that had given up 319 yards a game. Seattle’s quarterback Jim Zorn couldn’t do much about his defense, but he managed four touchdown passes against the Jets in their week 9 win.
Steelers were not complacent about facing a team that had only manged three wins. Those three wins for an expansion team in their second season equalled an NFL record. Steelers defense coordinator Bud Carson noted, “They’ve thrown nineteen touchdown passes. They give themselves a chance to win.”
Chuck Noll suggested, “They have weapons, and they have the idea that they want to score a lot of points.”
One Seattle player looking forward to the game was Dave Brown. Drafted by the Steelers with their 1975 number one pick, Brown was claimed by the Seahawks in the expansion draft. “It’ll be fun playing against guys who were teammates,” said Brown.
The (7-4) Steelers vs the (3-8) Seattle Seahawks; December 4, 1977
In a dull first quarter, the monotony was broken by Terry Bradshaw’s 5-yard touchdown run as the result of a broken play. Reggie Harrison was supposed to take the handoff, but was late off the ball, Bradshaw improvised to put the Steelers ahead.
As both defenses dominated, a kicking contest ensued in the second quarter. The Seahawks hit first. Their success with a 20-yard field goal attempt was followed by a brace from Roy Gerela of 22 and 28 yards. The Steelers took a 13-3 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the third period, Seattle sprang into life to take advantage of a listless Steelers team. Seattle’s quarterback Jim Zorn threw the perfect pass to Steve Largent that went for a 65-yard touchdown to reduce their deficit.
After a Franco Harris fumble gave Seattle the ball on Pittsburgh’s 19, the Steelers defense held the Seahawks to a John Leypoldt 27-yard field goal. Seattle had fought back to tie the game 13-13.
At the end of the third quarter, the Steelers finally showed up. Jack Ham stripped the ball from running back David Sims. Donnie Shell recovered the loose ball to set the Steelers up on their opponents 24.
They took their drive into the fourth quarter when the Seahawks held them to a 43-yard field goal attempt. Gerela’s kick hit the upright, but the ball bounced through to edge the Steelers three points ahead.
The Steelers forced a three and out on the Seahawks next possession and took over on their own 41. Five plays later, Bradshaw found Lynn Swann with a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Mel Blount returned an interception 37 yards which saw the Steelers next series begin on their 44. A huge pass interference penalty placed the ball on Seattle’s 12. Bradshaw finished the drive with a touchdown run of one yard giving the Steelers a comfortable 30-13 lead.
With 1:26 remaining in the game, Zorn threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Largent for a consolation score.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 30 vs the Seattle Seahawks 20
The previous week, Franco Harris became only the third player to gain 6,000 yards by his sixth season. His 103 yards against Seattle saw him gain his fifth1000-yard season in six years. It was also his twenty eighth 100-yard game.
The Seahawks would finish the season with five wins setting a record for expansion teams in their first two seasons.
Coach Noll confirmed, “Overall, I’d say we won. That’s the bottom line.” He then conceded they would have to play better against their next opponents in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, the team did not heed his words. They lost 10-17 before edging the Chargers in the season finale to finish 9-5 with their fifth division title.
The Steelers travelled to Denver for the divisional game where they lost 21-34. Three times the Broncos took the lead, but three times the Steelers fought back before victory eluded them in the final ten minutes. Denver took ten points from turnovers, and the Steelers hopes of another trip to the Super Bowl ended.
