While the Steelers have remained in Pittsburgh since they entered the NFL in 1933, the Raiders have seen a change of scenery several times. From Oakland, when the AFL merger saw them become part of the NFL, to Los Angeles to Oakland and now Las Vegas.
The rivalry between these two teams was at its most intense in the seventies when they met five consecutive seasons in the playoffs. That is still an NFL record. The Steelers won three of those games while adding four Lombardis to the Raiders one in that glorious decade.
The Steelers are 2-1 against the Raiders since their 2020 move to Las Vegas, including a 23-18 win there last year.
After Chuck Noll became the Steelers head coach in 1969, the team improved every season after a disastrous 1-13 in his first year. In 1973, the Steelers continued to improve. When they defeated the Chargers in week four, it set two franchise milestones. It was the first time the team had won their first four games, and it was their tenth consecutive home win.
Terry Bradshaw was injured in the week seven win over the Bengals. Terry Hanratty became the starter until he left the field the following week in a win against the Redskins. Hanratty was replaced by 22-year-old Joe Gilliam, but he would return to lead the Steelers in the week nine Raiders contest.
The Steelers took an 7-1 record to Oakland. Coach John Madden was still smarting from the Immaculate Reception game from the previous year. Madden tried to play down the defeat. “Of course, we remember what happened in the playoffs, but this isn’t a vendetta or revenge thing. There’s no room for that in football. It was disappointing and still is. This is a chance to erase some of the disappointment.”
The (7-1) Steelers at the (5-2-1) Raiders; November 11, 1973
In wet conditions on a muddy field, both teams struggled to move the ball while it made kicking field goals a lottery. In a game dominated by both defenses, Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler was the first to have an influence until Dwight White’s sack brought his drive to a halt. George Blanda’s 39-yard field goal attempt went wide left.
At the beginning of the second quarter, Blanda field goal attempt from 42 yards, again went left. Oakland was forced to change their quarterback after a hit on Stabler by Joe Greene, but his replacement Daryle Lamonica fared no better. After White recorded his second sack, the Raiders were forced to punt.
The Steelers were given good field position when Greene deflected a pass into the hands of White for his first NFL interception. Roy Gerela’s 37-yard field goal attempt naturally went wide left.
After Oakland recovered the ball on a failed Steelers punt, they began their series on their own 49. White’s second steal of the game presented the Steelers with a great opportunity they seized. Terry Hanratty finished the drive of 36 yards with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ron Shanklin. Gerela succeeded with the point after attempt to give the Steelers a 7-point lead.
With 37 seconds remaining in the half, Lamonica moved the ball to set up Blanda to successfully hit a 40-yard field goal.
The Raiders began the second half moving the chains, but Blanda’s 44-yard field goal attempt fell short before Mike Wagner picked it up and returned it 27 yards. The Steelers didn’t make the most of this opportunity, but Bobby Walden’s punt of 56 yards put the Raiders in trouble on their own 2-yard line.
After Charlie Smith fumbled and Wagner recovered, the Steelers took over on their opponent’s 6. The short field saw a 1-yard touchdown run by Franco Harris increase Pittsburgh’s lead to 14-3.
Oakland attempted to fight back, but as the third quarter came to a close, Mel Blount’s interception in the end zone brought it to an abrupt end.
In the final period, Lamonica knelt to hold for an Oakland field goal attempt. When the ball sailed over Lamonica’s head his hasty retreat saw him recover the ball, but the possession changed over to the Steelers on downs. Gerela added to Pittsburgh’s lead with a 17-yard field goal.
A Glen Edwards’ interception stifled the next Raiders’ drive before Lamonica led them on a drive of 80 yards in four plays. Their series finished with his 27-yard touchdown pass to Fred Biletnikoff. The Raiders conversion failed after a bad snap, and they faced an 8-point deficit.
Another chance for the Steelers to add to the scoring failed when Gerela’s field goal attempt from 41 yards was blocked.
The Raiders made one last desperate attempt to avenge the Immaculate Reception, but the Steelers defense would stifle their aerial assault. The final insult for the local fans was the drenching they received from the rain falling heavily as they left the Coliseum.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 17 at the Oakland Raiders 9
“The defense wanted it badly,” offered Coach Noll. “I can’t say how proud I am of our football team. It was a great team effort.”
The Steelers lost their next three games which would see the Bengals go top of the AFC Central where they would finish. The Steelers won their final two games which meant they entered the playoffs as a wildcard. They traveled to Oakland where they were humbled 33-14. After the playoff loss, Coach Noll admitted, “They beat the hell out of us.”
Andy Russell blamed the playoff defeat on the team’s lack of confidence. “At one point this season, we felt we could beat any team, and we played with the recklessness you need to win. But it wasn’t there against the Raiders.”
Looking ahead, Russell believed the Steelers would go all the way and win the Super Bowl in 1974. A forecast that would prove spot on.
