The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints have an almost even record when they face each other next Sunday in France. Overall, the Saints edge the series 9-8.
The Steelers have played two regular season games overseas and are 1-1. They lost 43-27 to the Vikings in London in 2013 and last season defeated the same team 24-21 in Dublin. The Saints have played three times in London with a 2-1 record.
The sixties were not particularly swinging years for the Steelers. They did reach a peak in 1962 when Buddy Parker and Bobby Layne took them to the giddy heights of second in the NFL East Division behind the New York Giants.
The 1967 season under Coach Bill Austin saw them finish an abysmal 4-9-1. Not quite as bad as 1965’s 2-12 which saw Art Rooney sign Austin as he attempted to improve the team.
New Orleans joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1967. As with all new teams entering the NFL, it took a few years before they could compete. The Steelers edged them 14-10 in the Saints first season and expected to repeat that victory in 1968 as the contest would be played in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers began the season losing their first five games before the visit of the Saints, who had won two games.
Coach Austin changed his quarterback at half time during the week three game against the Colts, hoping to put some life into his team. Five-year veteran Dick Shiner, acquired from Cleveland in a trade during the off season, replaced Kent Nix. The change made little difference as the team continued its losing run, but Austin stuck with him.
When Shiner faced the Saints, he would be up against one of the top defenses in the NFL which had only allowed opponents’ quarterbacks just a 42% completion rate.
The Steelers were relying on running back Dick Hoak to lead the offense. In the previous week’s loss, Hoak had rushed for 115 yards on 12 carries. Rookie Rocky Bleier added 35 yards from 4 carries making an impression after he came on for an injured Hoak.
The (0-5) Steelers vs the (2-3) Saints; October 20, 1968
The Steelers, who have proven they can’t finish on the top of the NFL, are having more success in their bid to finish on the bottom.
With O.J. Simpson the prize for finishing last, Coach Austin’s crew gave every appearance they’re making a determined effort to land the Southern California star. There were times though, as they lost to the Saints 12-16, that the Steelers were in danger of winning.
On a fake field goal in the first quarter, a 27-yard pass from Dick Hoak to Jerry Hillenbrand, took them to the Saints’ six-yard line. The Steelers were in position to score, but fullback Earl Gros saved the day, fumbling on first down as he attempted to skirt the end.
The peril was even more imminent in the fourth quarter, three minutes before the end. The Steelers actually reached the New Orleans four, first and goal, as visions of Simpson sailed away, like gas filled balloons in a hurricane.
This was the real test. How are you going to lose the game now? Hoak, who has averaged 10 yards a carry for the last two games, would certainly take it across.
Oh, you can’t fool these Steelers though. They had the answer.
They put Hoak in dry dock, wrapping him up in a cocoon of inactivity and used him as a decoy. Last week they tried field goals. This time they gave the ball to Gros.
On first down, Gros gained nothing. On second down, he almost made it down to the two. Third down, Gros got the ball again… stopped at the line of scrimmage.
Now it was the big play. Fourth and two. The Saints are all fired up… Hoak takes off to the left, Kent Nix fades to pass. But the Saints have everybody covered.
So far, so good. Suddenly, Nix starts to run, fleeing frantically to his right, away from Hoak’s side of the field. Hoak is alone in the end zone, cleverly hidden away as Nix is thrown out of bounds
The crisis passes. The Steelers are still winless at 0-6, setting up the game of the year next week against the also winless Eagles.
The Pittsburgh Steelers 12 vs the New Orleans Saints 16
The above game report is from the Pittsburgh Press. I thought it so symbolic of the Same Old Steelers that it was worth posting.
Dick Hoak had 166 yards rushing with 1 touchdown; Earl Gros 45 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Rocky Bleier just one carry for one yard.
Dan Rooney was asked if they would draft Simpson if the opportunity occurred. He was emphatic. “We certainly will and we’ll sign him.”
The next game against Philadelphia saw both offenses decide to remain in their respective locker rooms. The Steelers edged a 6-3 victory to break their losing streak. Booth Lusteg kicked field goals from 34 and 15 yards, the latter with 20 seconds remaining after the Eagles failed three times on a fourth and one.
The following week, the Steelers won their only other game of 1968, 41-21 against the Falcons. At the end of the season, Atlanta and Philadelphia tied the Steelers 2-12 record, but it would be Buffalo Bills who had the winning lottery ticket. Their 1-12-1 record enabled them to use the number one draft pick on Simpson in the combined AFL/NFL draft. The rest is NFL history.
