1980 Steelers 17 at Chargers 26

***mcmillenandwife*** · 05-16-2017, 01:02 PM

1980 Steelers 17 at Chargers 26

For the first time since 1971, the Steelers enter a regular season finale playing only for pride. The Chargers, on the other hand, are fighting for their playoff lives. Win, you're in; lose, you're out. With everything on the line for San Diego, Kellen Winslow is absolutely devastating (10 catches, 171 yds). I realized watching this game that I'm unsure of what the motion rules were in those days because San Diego constantly has two men in motion at the same time with Winslow switching sides with whatever receiver is opposite him in the slot in an effort to confuse the Steelers' coverages. It's like a Chinese fire drill. The tactic works so well that Pittsburgh soon moves Mel Blount over to cover Winslow exclusively in an effort to slow down the Hall of Fame TE. It doesn't work, and Winslow continues to victimize the Steelers for catch after devastating catch. With Stallworth and Smith out and Swann facing constant double and even triple coverage, Theo Bell (5 rec, 127 yds) has a career night. A special thanks to Russell "SteelBuck 6" for generously providing us with this classic game.

05-16-2017, 08:10 PM

Damn it. Matt Bahr was horrible! He already cost us three or four games with his lousy kicking -- if Bahr had make his kicks, we would have been in the playoffs no question -- and then he goes out here and misses a chip shot, ruining a really nice 5 minute drive and the chance for Pittsburgh to get up and early and quiet the crowd.

***mcmillenandwife*** · 05-16-2017, 10:09 PM

(05-16-2017, 08:10 PM)Guest Wrote: Damn it. Matt Bahr was horrible! He already cost us three or four games with his lousy kicking -- if Bahr had make his kicks, we would have been in the playoffs no question -- and then he goes out here and misses a chip shot, ruining a really nice 5 minute drive and the chance for Pittsburgh to get up and early and quiet the crowd.

Yeah, he was brutal. Had some good moments in '79 that really helped us (OT vs. New England and Cleveland), but after that, he was terrible.

Unfortunately, David Trout was even worse and almost single-handedly cost us a playoff spot in '81. Worst kicking I've ever seen.

05-16-2017, 11:59 PM

This is the first time I've seen this game since I watched it as a kid in '80. Looking back, it was a lot better game than I remembered. The Steelers had their opportunities (a couple of dropped interceptions by Shell could have stopped SD drives, the missed Bahr FG, and the failure to convert on 4th down). But it's depressing watching Muncie run all over the place, especially around the left side -- a younger Dwight White would have put a stop to that. But I think it all goes back to what Frank Gifford pointed out -- the four lost games by a combined margin of less than 10 points. The Steelers could just as easily come into this game 13-2 instead of 9-6, and could have had the best record in the league. That would have made this game a huge one, and even if Pittsburgh had lost they still would have finished 13-3, enough to have home field advantage in the playoffs.

05-17-2017, 09:32 AM

(05-16-2017, 10:09 PM)mcmillenandwife Wrote:
(05-16-2017, 08:10 PM)Guest Wrote: Damn it. Matt Bahr was horrible! He already cost us three or four games with his lousy kicking -- if Bahr had make his kicks, we would have been in the playoffs no question -- and then he goes out here and misses a chip shot, ruining a really nice 5 minute drive and the chance for Pittsburgh to get up and early and quiet the crowd.

Yeah, he was brutal. Had some good moments in '79 that really helped us (OT vs. New England and Cleveland), but after that, he was terrible.

Unfortunately, David Trout was even worse and almost single-handedly cost us a playoff spot in '81. Worst kicking I've ever seen.

Agreed

05-18-2017, 12:42 AM

Thank you for posting this classic MNF stuff! I love your new site! I visited it about ten years ago because I collected games on tape as well.....a huge Oiler fan, so I of course didn't care for the Steelers! Now I've got boxes of old vhs tapes just sitting there haha....anyway, just wanted to say I love your site!

***mcmillenandwife*** · 05-18-2017, 09:23 AM

(05-18-2017, 12:42 AM)Guest Wrote: Thank you for posting this classic MNF stuff! I love your new site! I visited it about ten years ago because I collected games on tape as well.....a huge Oiler fan, so I of course didn't care for the Steelers! Now I've got boxes of old vhs tapes just sitting there haha....anyway, just wanted to say I love your site!

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it.

Even though I'm a Steelers fan through and through, the Oilers were my second-favorite team in the '70s and Earl Campbell remains my favorite running back of all time. If this place survives long enough for me to do it, the first classic games that will be here will be Oilers from the '70s, starting with '79 Houston at Dallas.

06-04-2017, 12:12 AM

Big improvement in this game from the 79 game here!

***Luther*** · 02-24-2018, 10:00 PM

I am a Steeler fan! But I have to admit. Since the Steelers were out of the playoffs. I did not want the Raiders to win the AFC west or the Super Bowl! I did cheer for the Chargers in this game! The Raiders earned the Super Bowl title winning in Cleveland and San Diego! The Steelers played with a lot of Heart in this game! But were short of a 10 win season!

***mcmillenandwife*** · 02-25-2018, 04:51 AM

(02-24-2018, 10:00 PM)Luther Wrote: I am a Steeler fan! But I have to admit. Since the Steelers were out of the playoffs. I did not want the Raiders to win the AFC west or the Super Bowl! I did cheer for the Chargers in this game! The Raiders earned the Super Bowl title winning in Cleveland and San Diego! The Steelers played with a lot of Heart in this game! But were short of a 10 win season!

It all makes sense now... the Raiders won the Super Bowl as punishment for you rooting against the Steelers, Luther. Alien

***Luther*** · 02-25-2018, 11:48 AM

(02-25-2018, 04:51 AM)mcmillenandwife Wrote:
(02-24-2018, 10:00 PM)Luther Wrote: I am a Steeler fan! But I have to admit. Since the Steelers were out of the playoffs. I did not want the Raiders to win the AFC west or the Super Bowl! I did cheer for the Chargers in this game! The Raiders earned the Super Bowl title winning in Cleveland and San Diego! The Steelers played with a lot of Heart in this game! But were short of a 10 win season!

It all makes sense now... the Raiders won the Super Bowl as punishment for you rooting against the Steelers, Luther.

I accept my punishment mcmillenandwife!!!

***NFL2000*** · 10-23-2018, 08:30 AM

The 1980 Steelers didn't get back to the big game for a reason other than injuries -- now it was about age and attrition. They finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1971, as the team's braintrust uncharacteristically failed to restock the team with equivalent talent to the likes of Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Lynn Swann, and Joe Greene. It was the end of a dynasty.