My Favorite Games from Each Decade: Thoughts?

[mcmillenandwife]

The list below represents my "Top Fifteen" (-ish) favorite Steelers games from each decade.

You can click on any game to watch it. 

So... did I get it right? What did I miss? What are your favorites?

The Super Seventies:
16. 1978 Steelers 13 at Oilers 3
15. 1978 Steelers 34 at Browns 14
14. 1975 AFCC Steelers 16 vs Raiders 10
13. 1978 Steelers 15 vs Browns 9 OT
12. 1978 Steelers 35 vs Colts 13
11. 1979 Steelers 14 vs Cowboys 3
10. Super Bowl XIV Steelers 31 vs Rams 19
9.  1978 Playoffs Steelers 33 vs Broncos 10
8.  1974 AFCC Steelers 24 at Raiders 13
7.  1979 Steelers 51 at Browns 35
6.  1979 AFCC Steelers 27 vs Oilers 13
5.  1976 Playoffs Steelers 40 at Colts 14
4.  1978 AFCC Steelers 34 vs Oilers 5
3.  Super Bowl X Steelers 21 vs Cowboys 17
2.  1979 Steelers 33 vs Browns 30 OT
1.  Super Bowl XIII Steelers 35 vs Cowboys 31

The Big Eighties:
13. 1988 Steelers 37 at Oilers 34 SNF
12. 1985 Steelers 10 vs Browns 9
11. 1984 Steelers 13 at Raiders 7
10. 1984 Steelers 20 at 49ers 17
9.  1981 Steelers 24 vs Rams 0
8.  1984 Playoffs Steelers 24 at Broncos 17
7.  1981 Steelers 27 vs Patriots 21 OT
6.  1980 Steelers 20 at Colts 17
5.  1982 Steelers 26 vs Bengals 20 OT
5.  1983 Steelers 34 at Jets 7
4.  1980 Steelers 31 vs Oilers 17
3.  1982 Steelers 36 at Cowboys 28 MNF
2.  1980 Steelers 16 vs Browns 13
1.  1989 Wildcard Steelers 26 at Oilers 23 OT

The Blitzburgh Nineties:
15. 1997 Steelers 24 at Patriots 21 OT
14. 1996 Steelers 42 vs Rams 6
13. 1997 Steelers 23 vs Jaguars 17 OT
12. 1995 Steelers 37 at Bears 34 OT
11. 1993 Steelers 23 vs Bills 0 MNF
10. 1992 Steelers 21 vs Oilers 20
9.  1994 Steelers 23 vs Bills 10 MNF
8.  1990 Steelers 35 vs Browns 0
7.  1994 Steelers 14 vs Eagles 3
6.  1993 Steelers 37 vs Saints 14
5.  1994 Steelers 17 vs Browns 7
4.  1995 Steelers 49 at Bengals 31
3.  1995 AFCC Steelers 20 vs Colts 16
2.  1992 Steelers 29 at Oilers 24
1.  1994 Playoffs Steelers 29 vs Browns 9

The Super 2000's:
16. 2009 Steelers 27 vs Vikings 17
15. 2008 Steelers 13 at Ravens 9
14. 2005 AFCC Steelers 34 at Broncos 17
13. 2001 Playoffs Steelers 27 vs Ravens 10
12. 2005 Steelers 24 at Chargers 22
11. 2008 Steelers 26 at Jaguars 21 SNF
10. 2004 Steelers 24 at Cowboys 20
9.  2005 Steelers 21 vs Bears 9
8.  2004 Steelers 34 vs Patriots 20
7.  2008 Steelers 20 vs Cowboys 13
6.  2002 Wildcard Steelers 36 vs Browns 33
5.  2008 AFCC Steelers 23 vs Ravens 14
4.  2005 Wildcard Steelers 31 at Bengals 17
3.  2004 Steelers 34 vs Browns 23
2.  2005 Playoffs Steelers 21 at Colts 18
1.  SB XLIII Steelers 27 vs Cardinals 23

[Rollers]

one of my favorites of all time was the beatdown on the Colts in 78.

[aqua -park]

Nice list however, your dark eighties are missing some big games, including an epic win that haunts a certain bay area team to this day!
I would add the 1981 shut out against the Rams. It was the 3rd win in a row for the Steelers and they make the playoffs in '81 if Bradshaw doesn't get hurt the following week.
I would add the 1989 rain game in Miami. The Steelers fall behind to Marino 14-0, the rain pours down and drowns the Dolphins. If the Steelers lost that game, no playoffs in '89.
I would add 3 big victories in 1984 to your list. Scoring over 50 points against the Chargers and knocking Fouts out of the game was a HUGE win. Beating the defending Super Bowl Champion Raiders in LA in the last game of the season was also HUGE! It put the Steelers in the playoffs and kept Sam Wyche and Bengals home.
Your biggest omission is the victory against the 49er's in San Francisco. It was their only loss of the season. If the 49er's had won, they would have been 16-0 and 49er fans would be ten times as unbearable as they already are!
I was glad to see your addition of the 1980 victory against the Colts. I live in Baltimore and I went to that game with my dad, mom and younger brother. I was 14 at the time. I remember Bradshaw's TD pass to Smith and Donnie Shell's game saving interception. I remember being very happy as I left Memorial Stadium, as opposed to the rest of my family who were rather dejected. They thought that the Colts with a healthy Bert Jones were going to win. Sadly, this is also the game that Stallworth got hurt and soon after the Steelers would lose two games to a bad Bengals team.
Also, Mark Malone's 5 TD game opening day in 1985 against the Colts was a good game. Malone and the Steelers did win some big games in 1984. The 49er's game being the biggest.
I really like your lists, brought back many happy memories! Thanks.

Mike

[mcmillenandwife]

one of my favorites of all time was the beatdown on the Colts in 78.

Love everything about that game, rollers. Freakish game for Bradshaw, plus I'm a sucker for bad weather games. Making it even better is the version with Fleming and Cope. Broadcast gold.

[mcmillenandwife]

Nice list however, your dark eighties are missing some big games, including an epic win that haunts a certain bay area team to this day!
   I would add the 1981 shut out against the Rams.  It was the 3rd win in a row for the Steelers and they make the playoffs in '81 if Bradshaw doesn't get hurt the following week.
    I would add the 1989 rain game in Miami.  The Steelers fall behind to Marino 14-0, the rain pours down and drowns the Dolphins.  If the Steelers lost that game, no playoffs in '89.
     I would add 3 big victories in 1984 to your list.  Scoring over 50 points against the Chargers and knocking Fouts out of the game was a HUGE win.  Beating the defending Super Bowl Champion Raiders in LA in the last game of the season was also HUGE!  It put the Steelers in the playoffs and kept Sam Wyche and Bengals home.
    Your biggest omission is the victory against the 49er's in San Francisco.  It was their only loss of the season.  If the 49er's had won, they would have been 16-0 and 49er fans would be ten times as unbearable as they already are!
    I was glad to see your addition of the 1980 victory against the Colts.  I live in Baltimore and I went to that game with my dad, mom and younger brother.  I was 14 at the time.  I remember Bradshaw's TD pass to Smith and Donnie Shell's game saving interception.  I remember being very happy as I left Memorial Stadium, as opposed to the rest of my family who were rather dejected.  They thought that the Colts with a healthy Bert Jones were going to win.  Sadly, this is also the game that Stallworth got hurt and soon after the Steelers would lose two games to a bad Bengals team.
    Also, Mark Malone's 5 TD game opening day in 1985 against the Colts was a good game.  Malone and the Steelers did win some big games in 1984.  The 49er's game being the biggest.
    I really like your lists, brought back many happy memories!   Thanks.

Mike

Dude, lucky you for a) actually getting to see the actual Dynasty in action, b) getting to witness one of the most entertaining games of 1980, and c) getting to see a Bradshaw/Jones matchup that was actually a competitive game. I've been fortunate to attend a lot of Steelers games, but my first wasn't until 1995, so I never got to experience the players of the glory days in person. 

That '81 Rams game definitely belongs on this list. Love that game. Lambert plays like a man possessed. I also agree the '84 win over San Fran is a glaring omission. Love that game. Not sure how I missed it, but I'm going to add it. Lastly, the '84 win over the Raiders was indeed HUGE. 

The other 2 games you mention are worthy as far as being strong performances from the '80s. The Dolphins game probably deserves to be there simply by virtue of being a crazy weather game. And the '84 Chargers game was probably the best game of Mark Malone's career. I guess I left them off because I don't really enjoy watching them. 

There are some truly pivotal games that didn't make this list, starting with Super Bowls IX and XXL. If I was ranking the most important games in Steelers history, both would obviously be there. But I don't find either game particularly fun or compelling to re-watch. Case in point, Super Bowl XXL was on the site for 2 years before I discovered the file was damaged (most of the 4th quarter was missing). 

Anyway, great feedback, Mike. Definitely going to add '81 vs the Rams, '84 San Fran and '84 at the Raiders, and I'll watch the other two and see if my opinion changes.

[Krunch]

Mine was the Super Bowl massacre of the Vikings. The Defense was so dominant that it seemed unfair. I forget the exact numbers but the Vikes were completely annihilated.

[mcmillenandwife]

Mine was the Super Bowl massacre of the  Vikings. The Defense was so dominant that it seemed unfair. I forget the exact numbers but the Vikes were completely annihilated.

Minnesota gained 17 yards rushing on 21 attempts in Super Bowl IX.    That's 0.8 yards per carry.    Minnesota's total offensive output was 119 yards, which remains the lowest in Super Bowl history. They would've been shut out if not for the blocked Bobby Walden punt for a TD. 

In the AFC Championship two weeks prior, Oakland -- with their Hall of Fame offensive line -- managed just 29 yards rushing on 21 carries. 

Dominant, indeed. 

[aqua -park]

Thanks for adding the '84 Raider's game to the list. Here is what makes watching the game even more enjoyable for Steelers fans. On the last day of the '84 season, if the Bengals win and Pittsburgh loses to the defending Super Bowl Champion Raiders on the road, the Bengals make the playoffs. The Bengals played at 1pm and totally destroyed the Bills, 52-21. Bengal coach Sam Wyche invited several Bengals to his home to watch the Steeler-Raiders game at 4pm. They are sure the Raiders will beat Pittsburgh and they will get into the playoffs. At the end of the game, the Raiders appear to be mounting a game winning comeback when newest Steeler HOF member Donnie Shell picks of Plunkett (his 2nd interception of the game) to seal the deal for Pittsburgh. This is all captured by an NFL Films crew at Sam Wyche's house. The look of despair on Wyche's face and the faces of his Bengals' players is priceless. You Tube has this- "The Road to the Super Bowl 84". The fun begins around the 13 minute mark.
The '84 Chargers-Steelers game is incredible because after losing to Fouts and the Chargers in 1979, 1980, and the '82 playoff tournament, it's great to see them finally beat him (when the Steelers beat the Chargers in '83, Fouts was injured and did not play.) The vicious, but CLEAN hit Merriweather puts on Fouts to knock him out of the game alone should put this on your list, not to mention John Stallworth's 3 TD catches.
Yes, I was lucky to see the '80 Steelers beat the Colts. I was also at the '83 game in Baltimore. My dad's company was a sponsor of the Colts and we got to sit behind Colt radio broadcaster Chuck Thompson while he did the play by play for Colt fans over the radio. My dad, a huge Colts fan, made it very clear to me that I could not wear any of my "Steelers' crap" and could not cheer for the Steelers at all because we would be in the Colt Radio broadcast booth and any noise that I made would be heard by Colt fans on the radio and we would be kicked out of the booth. It was hard to stay quiet because Cliff Stoudt actually had a good game (2 TD passes). At half-time, I went to use the men's room in the press area and while washing my hands, in walked the Chief- Art Rooney Sr. I wanted to ask him when was Bradshaw coming back, but didn't.
You know how they say history repeats? Well in June of 2009, my 13 year old kid put on his Big Ben jersey and traveled with me to Capitol Hill to attend the Senate confirmation hearing of Dan Rooney- future ambassador to Ireland. Before the hearing started, I was in the men's room washing my hands and in walks Dan Rooney. When we exited the men's room I introduced my kid to him and I took a picture of them together that I proudly display in my office. I remember Mr. Rooney pointing to my kid's #7 jersey and saying "He's pretty good".
Thanks for you lists , they have brought back some awesome childhood memories!

Mike

[mcmillenandwife]

...At half-time, I went to use the men's room in the press area and while washing my hands, in walked the Chief- Art Rooney Sr.  I wanted to ask him when was Bradshaw coming back, but didn't...
   
... Before the hearing started, I was in the men's room washing my hands and in walks Dan Rooney.  When we exited the men's room I introduced my kid to him and I took a picture of them together that I proudly display in my office.  I remember Mr. Rooney pointing to my kid's #7 jersey and saying "He's pretty good"...

Under normal circumstances, I might tell you to stop spending so much time hanging around the men's room... but it seems to be working for you. 

Thanks for adding the '84 Raider's game to the list.  Here is what makes watching the game even more enjoyable for Steelers fans.  On the last day of the '84 season, if the Bengals win and Pittsburgh loses to the defending Super Bowl Champion Raiders on the road, the Bengals make the playoffs.  The Bengals played at 1pm and totally destroyed the Bills, 52-21.  Bengal coach Sam Wyche invited several Bengals to his home to watch the Steeler-Raiders game at 4pm.  They are sure the Raiders will beat Pittsburgh and they will get into the playoffs.  At the end of the game, the Raiders appear to be mounting a game winning comeback when newest Steeler HOF member Donnie Shell picks of Plunkett (his 2nd interception of the game) to seal the deal for Pittsburgh.  This is all captured by an NFL Films crew at Sam Wyche's house.  The look of despair on Wyche's face and the faces of his Bengals' players is priceless.  You Tube has this- "The Road to the Super Bowl 84".  The fun begins around the 13 minute mark.

Love this story. Here's the link to that YouTube video in Wyche's living room at the 13:27 mark: 

> Donnie Shell Crushes Sam Wyche's Dreams 

FWIW, I couldn't STAND Sam Wyche when he was coach of the Bengals. Nothing against him personally, but... every time  I saw him, I wanted to punch him in the throat.  I've always hated the Bengals to begin with, and his rah-rah yet holier-than-thou routine just drove me nuts. God rest his soul. 

The '84 Chargers-Steelers game is incredible because after losing to Fouts and the Chargers in 1979, 1980, and the '82 playoff tournament, it's great to see them finally beat him (when the Steelers beat the Chargers in '83, Fouts was injured and did not play.)  The vicious, but CLEAN hit Merriweather puts on Fouts to knock him out of the game alone should put this on your list, not to mention John Stallworth's 3 TD catches.

We did spank Fouts 23-0 in '76, although that was pre-Coryell. 

I always liked Mike Merriweather, and he had an INSANELY good year in '84, and he was arguably our best defensive player while he was here. It's a shame how things ultimately went down with him with the holdout and trade to Minnesota. 

I'll watch that '84 Chargers game today so I can give it consideration. 

Yes, I was lucky to see the '80 Steelers beat the Colts.  I was also at the '83 game in Baltimore.  My dad's company was a sponsor of the Colts and we got to sit behind Colt radio broadcaster Chuck Thompson while he did the play by play for Colt fans over the radio.  My dad, a huge Colts fan, made it very clear to me that I could not wear any of my "Steelers' crap" and could not cheer for the Steelers at all because we would be in the Colt Radio broadcast booth and any noise that I made would be heard by Colt fans on the radio and we would be kicked out of the booth.  It was hard to stay quiet because Cliff Stoudt actually had a good game (2 TD passes).  At half-time, I went to use the men's room in the press area and while washing my hands, in walked the Chief- Art Rooney Sr.  I wanted to ask him when was Bradshaw coming back, but didn't.

That's a great story, man. Your poor dad, being a Colts fan yet being cool enough to tolerate you being a Steelers fan.    Love it.

[mcmillenandwife]

Watching the '84 Steelers vs Chargers game now. Second quarter just started, Malone to rookie Louis Lipps for a TD to take a 10-0 lead.

Great catch... but Lipps gets the award for the worst spike of 1984. 

[aqua -park]

Warning- you are going to need a calculator to keep up with all of the Steelers' points!

Mike

[dbsfgyd1]

Tim,

Gotta tell you, having access to these game is helping me keep my sanity while being locked down. Again, I can’t say thanks enough.

[mcmillenandwife]

Tim,

Gotta tell you, having access to these game is helping me keep my sanity while being locked down. Again, I can’t say thanks enough.

Dude... glad to hear it. You're very welcome. 

It's the same for me. I've been watching online games on my TV recently, which is what prompted me to solve the "no full screen" problem. My wife has been reading a book, and there's been a game playing on my TV almost non-stop today. I'm not always watching, obviously... it largely serves as background noise. But I frequently stop what I'm doing and pay attention for a big drive or rewind for a big play.

Just today, I've watched the '78 game at Houston, the '78 game at Cleveland, and right now, the '79 game vs. Dallas is on. 

It's helping me, too. 

[dbsfgyd1]

BTW, have you noticed at the years progress, the color analysts become more and more obnoxious?

I honestly think, besides instant replay, the two biggest detriments to today’s game is the blather and hype from these “experts”, and the omnipresence of officials.

Well let me add one more, player self expression has gone way over the top. For instance, when a linebacker tackles a running back 9 yards downfield, then acts like he just hit the power ball for $300 million... Maybe it’s just the boomer in me, but I just wish they acted like they’ve done it before.

Oh well, hopefully this offseason they can finally determine what pass interference and offensive holding is....

[Rollers]

I know you told me this once before Tim but I'd really like to see that game against Miami I think when they played in a monsoon like condition at three rivers. The turf was just awful. One punt actually stuck in the mud nose down when it hit the field. I think the Steelers won by a field goal? THAT was just old time football! LOL Ok 2007 game at Pitt.