If they'd, won, SB 16, he would be, but, the Bengals chose the, worst, half of the season to have the, worst, half of the season, and, lost, despite, outgaining the 49ers.
@@taven46 A major pro football website did an in-depth article on Kenny Anderson a few years ago. They too agreed that Kenny Anderson should be in the HOF. He was ruthlessly efficient.
A 65% completion percentage in ‘74 is even more astounding, considering that this was before the so-called “Mel Blount Rules,” that now prevent DBs from practically mugging receivers.
65% was astrounding. This was before the "West Coast Offense," introduced by the Chargers. In Pittsburgh, it was called "Air Corell," for Dan Corell, the Head Coach. I Was at the AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh v. SD. Dan Fouts threw so much that the Steelers, the fans, including me, was thinking, "What the hell is going on here?" Nobody had seen it much. Needless to say, SD blew us out of 3 Rivers that day.
@@jaygreider4753 Bill Walsh was Ken's OC that year. Bill left and Ken tanked a few years. You could argue Ken was the 3rd best reg seaon QB of the 70s (behind Stabler and Griese).
@@jimstevenson424 Behind Griese? I would strongly disagree with that. Ken Anderson wasn't behind Griese in anything. He was 10 times the QB that Griese was. Without at least a Top 3 rushing attack AND a Top 3 scoring defense Bob Griese won as many playoff games as Ryan Leaf. Zippo. Ken Anderson never had that kind of support for even 1 season. And Anderson STILL put up better numbers than Griese.
What an outstanding video. You set up the context perfectly. Love the storytelling...and the idea that the Steelers were angry at how easy the game was shows just how intense and focused on creating a dynasty they were.
I honestly can't even blame the Bengals. Nothing to play for and already with so many players hurt, I'd have probably had the same mindset. Just get through the game and come back next year. Hard to be motivated under those circumstances.
I so agree George. Cut me and I bleed Black and Gold. Have been a Steeler fan since pre-Bradshaw. I have seen the "best of times" and the "worst of times" with the Steelers. But we all knew, with "The Emporer," as coach, and his drafts that Pittsburgh was definitely building a dynasty.
@@jaygreider4753 The 1974 NFL Draft was outstanding for the Steelers. They took: Lynn Swann 1st Round Jack Lambert 2nd Round John Stallworth 4th Round Mike Webster 5th Round Mel Blount Undrafted, signed with the Steelers All 5 are in the Hall of Fame.
The AFC North is the Steelers and the Browns x3. • The Ravens are the old Browns. • The Bengals are just Paul Brown going full "Bender from Futurama" in season 1: "I will make my own team with hookers and beer". • And of course we have the fake expansion Browns who just took the name of the old Ravens and tried to lay claim to their history. "Nah, bro. We are the real Browns." No, you are the Browns Tribute band. The real Browns moved to Baltimore. They had the Browns ownership, draft picks, players, front office with Ozzie Newsome as GM. They just changed their name like when Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship baby.
@@yusefinc1096 LOL, that's funny. Before the Bengals went to the tiger striped helmet they really looked similar. But I am surprised that the NFL didn't tell Paul Brown, "Um, get a different scheme."
Fun fact: In the '70s, only the Browns had more turnovers than the Steelers. They made up for it by leading all teams that decade in takeaways, though. If you wanted to see lots of turnovers, a Pittsburgh game in the '70s was perfect for you.
You’re not wrong🤣 no way terry bradshaw would have stayed in the league in today’s nfl. His stats were pretty bad... only 2 more touchdowns than picks doesn’t hold up anymore
@@louismasar6147 well stats today are heavily inflated by many things, so i wouldn't judge johnny unitas only having 37 more touchdowns than interceptions in an era where you threw more interceptions than touchdowns
1. Considering how easy and meaningless this game was I’m surprised the Steelers called the pass to Guard Gerry Mullins. The Steelers showed that play to the rest of the league when they didn’t have to. 2. Take a drink at 2:45!
Noll probably just wanted to put that play on film to make the playoff opponents account for it, and never planned to use it in a playoff game. My old high school coach used to do that.
In his book, Paul Brown mentioned that he could not get Wayne Clark comfortable with throwing the football in that season finale game. Brown knew that his team was not going to be competitive in that game and was just trying to survive with minimal damage. If Greg Cook had not left training camp in the first couple of days and had stuck with it, he would have been the backup QB that season and not Wayne Clark, but that's a different story.
You need to do a video on the 1986 Cowboys/Redskins game, the best half of Joe Gibbs career. 34-0 at halftime over a DAL team that had clobbered them earlier that year
Idea for a future video: Sammie Smith fumbles inside the one-yard line in consecutive weeks in 1991 (vs. Houston and at Kansas City). Also had a fumble inside the 10-yard line at Chicago later that season.
I was at this game, first time my dad took me to a steelers game. The fans couldn't believe the weak effort offered by the Bungles. They even booed Paul Brown
The other QB for the Bengals, is the reason Bill Walsh created the Westcoast offense! When Cook got hurt, his replacement Virgil Carter didn't has as strong of an arm. So, Walsh designed the screen passes and shorter timing routes, that played to the strengths of Carter and then Ken Anderson. Walsh had success as the Bengals OC. But, then that asshole Paul Brown, named Bill Johnson HC after Brown retired, then badmouthed Walsh when his name came up for a HC job in the NFL. Walsh almost got hired by the Packers, who went with Bart Starr.
To be fair, the Packers, were, so, bad, after, Vince Lombardi, nobody could have helped them, and, there, likely, was, some traditionalism involved, here.
Remember back then pass interference was different. DB allowed more contact See a highlight film on PIT Mel Blount 1978 was when changed rules to favor more offense
shows how good this team was, all they wanted was some competition, to treat each game with respect and win or lose be confident that you left everything out on the field, in some of the steelers losses during their great run in the 70's, you could still say that they left it all out there and tried everything they could to win and appreciated the other teams ability to also make plays and compete like professionals(shoot you could make a really valid argument that the 76 team was easily the best steelers team and that team got beat in the afc championship(no bleier or harris) but in 9 consecutive games that team gave up a total of 25 points(5 shutouts, 2 games with 3 points and another with 6(both field goals), 2 total td's both in same game where their was a blown coverage one on and a guy tripped on the other(that was 13 of the points right there)...big difference in today's game every time at the end of the season when teams have nothing to play for the biggest talk is about "resting/not playing key players"....shoot even when teams are undefeated and "have nothing to play for" they rest their starters....i would have liked just one time for one of those great steelers teams to have been undefeated and get a chance to break that dolphins record, because as evident by a game like this, they definitely would have done what the 2007 patriots did and that is play everybody each week and take your chances, that's what great organizations/people "who respect each game of football as professionals do"
The easiest game in Steelers history is week 15 1976 vs. Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh was favored by 20+ points. The game was over during pre-game warmups. Former Steeler QB Terry Hanratty got the start for Tampa. Coach John McKay said of Hanratty: "I don't know if I'm doing him a favor or a disservice". Both Steeler QBs, Mike Kruzcek and Terry Bradshaw had over 100 passer ratings and 2 td passes a piece. The Steelers players declined to comment on the Buccaneers play; some Steelers players could remember Noll's first year, and losing 13 straight after an opening day win. Those select few described the game as a "Strange, almost surreal experience" Despite not scoring for the last quarter and a half of the game, the Steelers won 42-0. Tampa had under 100 yards of offense. In the lockeroom after the game; John McKay said; "What we needed, was Knute Rockne, and he was not here."
@@matthewdaley746 76 Championship game was much like this game here, I think Jack Deloplaine started at FB and old man Frenchy Fuqua at RB for Pittsburgh. Also the year Bradshaw got necked by Turkey Jones. Kinda like when Mel Blount piledrove Cliff Branch into the dirt with one arm like he was a toy. Regardless, Nobody was beating Oakland in 76. Interesting. You mention 76 and 77. What happened in 78 and 79 I wonder? Oh yeah, the league tried to change the rules to stop the Steeler D and instead accidentally unleashed the Steeler Passing Attack. Bradshaw was doing a lot of "exposing" then.
@@kimblandino In 1978, Terry Bradshaw had his, best, season, in 1979, the Steelers pulled out a lot of lucky, wins, they, were, the same team, in 1980, minus the luck, and, they flatlined.
If this same scenario happened today, fans would've been screaming for the league to punish the Bengals for tanking and calling for the coach to be fired. Just ask Doug Peterson.
He was Paul Brown. He could get away with it. And besides, what was he supposed to do? He had nothing. I understand the Steelers being upset, but there was nothing Brown could do that would have made the Bengals competitive with a team as great as those Steelers were. With Ken Anderson, he had a fighting chance. Without him, and without his best RB too, no way.
No way. Jack Ham is a football hall of famer with a good work ethic and very professional which played a major role of the Steelers dynasty. Without Jack Ham the Steelers would not have won 4 Superbowls in 6 years as the competition was very fierce back then. The Steelers having Jack Ham was the difference in the Steelers favor.
The AFL always played a 14-game schedule and they had six "exhibition" games for their 10 year history. The NFL started playing 14 games in 1961 and they played 6 pre-season games. When the regular season went to 16 games, the pre-season was cut to 4 games. Now with the 17 game schedule, there are 3 pre-season games. So for 60 years, teams have had 20 games scheduled, possibly 21 if you got the Hall of Fame Game.
The bengals have spent many seasons since 74 where they had nothing to play for unfortunately. I love my home team but it sucks when they suck as bad as they have over the years.
@@matthewdaley746 Funny how it was “The Big Red Machine” that the Pirates swept for the Pennant on the way to defeating Baltimore in the World Series. Or was it a dismantled replica with Pete Rose in Philadelphia. Going to the Baltimore Orioles, it seems like the Pirates have their number as the 1971 Pittsburgh Team with Roberto Clemente(God Rest His Soul) and Steve Blass also beat those Birds. You’re right, the Orioles were unpredictable.
@@Jiltedin2007 I blame the owners, when they, lost, to the Dodgers, for, the division, they panicked, dumping, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and, worst, of all, Sparky Anderson.
@@matthewdaley746 That’s right! Right after Sparky Anderson was fired by the Reds after the 1978 Season, he then went to Detroit in 1979 and publicly predicted that the Tigers would win the World Series in 1984. Who would’ve knew then that Sparky would be dead on in his prediction?
@@Jiltedin2007 Yeah, and, Pete Rose would, later, win, the, 1980, World Series, with, the Phillies, their new manager, was, John McNamara, yes, THAT, John McNamara.
The Steelers needed to have a chip on their shoulders going into the playoffs and using the excuse that they were upset the Bengals game was too easy was it. Off the record I bet they were glad it was a cakewalk.
You should do a story about the retirements of jack Ham, Lynn Sawnn, Joe Greene, and a couple others that took place around the same time frame in the early 1980's. Starting from the beginning of 1980.... then carrying over to '81 and early 1982. A lot of Steelers retired. I recall Jack Ham saying something like "The game became too much of a business at that point...." Something changed in the locker room or the league that caused a lot of premature retirements. Swann for example (although there was an injury issue)... retired after his 9th year. There's also one other story relating to the Steelers from around '79 or '80... but I'd really like to see how well you investigate before I drop that one on ya. It involves a Semi-Pro player attempting to walk-on the team and try out... only get a broken leg in the process. The story seems to have vanished from the internet... and something that happened a few years ago was the reason the story "vanished". I won't say anymore right now... but wondering if you are up to looking into something really odd that happened so long ago.
Lynn Swann could make, more, money broadcasting, that's the same reason Ken Dryden retired, early, drafting Dan Marino would have saved them, but, they passed, sad.
The difference was that neither of those teams gave up like the 74 Bengals. The Bengals ran out the clock when they were behind. There's no disgrace in getting blown out if you keep competing.
I can see both sides of it. The Steelers were mad because the Bengals didn't even try, but Paul Brown probably felt like he didn't have anything left he could put up a fight with. He was down his best running back and his great quarterback, and his backup sucked.
I wonder what Ham & the Steelers thought of their 1976 matchup with the winless Bucs? I believe one of my favorite NFL quotes came from that game, but I can't remember (or find, either) who said it: "I don't think they would've scored if we'd played till Wednesday." (Steelers 42 Bucs 0)
September 12th, 1999 The very first regular season game of the "all-new" Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh 43, Cleveland 0 The sports commentators the following day (on Monday) were basically saying "Let's just ignore the stats that the Steelers put up yesterday because THAT DOESN'T COUNT!!!!" www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199909120cle.htm
I don't know. At this exact particular stage of the Steelers Franchise History everyone else thought that the Dolphins, Raiders, and Cowboys were better than the Steelers. It could be that on that day even the Steelers themselves were unaware of how good they really were.
Speaking of completely meaningless 1970s season finales, I'd like for there to be a video on the Cowboys-Raiders finale in '74 which was obviously set up to be the last game for TV ratings purposes, and by the time the game actually came about the Cowboys were out of the playoffs for the only time in an 18-year span so it was a dud.
On that Saturday afternoon, I actually was holding out some hope of a miracle that the Bears would beat the Redskins, and somehow create a pathway for Dallas to reach the playoffs. Two problems with my theory, the Skins won 42-0 (I was still praying for lightning in the second half) and even if the Bears had Payton one year early and Butkus one year longer, even a Bears victory wouldn't have given Dallas a chance. No one said the logic of a nine year old Cowboys fanatic has to make sense!
I ran into Ken Anderson one time in 1984....well, actually he kind of ran into me. I grew up, lived, and worked in downtown Cincinnati at the time. It was just before Christmas so there was a good number of people walking the streets around lunch time. As I was walking back to our building I noticed a man up ahead with his head down walking directly toward me. I stopped and stepped to the right to avoid him, but he stepped to his left and we met at the shoulder, partially spinning both of us around. He looked up and was so apologetic all I could say was I'm sorry Mr. Anderson, at least it wasn't your throwing arm. He chuckled, shook my hand, and went on his way.
@@englandbengal, if my remark sounded disrespectful I surely didn't mean it to be. As I stated, Ken Anderson was very apologetic when we made contact. My remark was just a little light humor. He understood I was joking. He laughed and smiled as he shook me hand. Ken Anderson is a class act all the way. He's still thought of very highly here in the Tri-State area. As far as I know, he still lives in the area. IMO, Ken Anderson should be in the NFL Hall of Fame. He should have been inducted his first year of eligibility. He's the best quarterback the Bengals have ever had (and they've had a few really good ones). Ken Anderson is probably my all-time favorite Bengal (he, or his go to receiver Isaac Curtis, top my list).
He needs to post more relevant games that have more meaning. This game did not matter to both teams because Steelers were already in playoffs and Bengals still have not won a Super Bowl in their franchise history.
I mean, not every game that has an interesting story surrounding it is going to be a winner-take-all fight to the death; if you only want analysis of big games that everyone already knows about, I'm sure that there are plenty of other channels that do that. This channel seems to be about more obscure moments that time forgot, which tend not to happen in big moments lol.
Who cares if the Pittsburgh Steelers players are angry!? If I'm an NFL player... playing for the Bengals in a meaningless game... I'm not going to risk having a career-ending injury over a game that doesn't matter. And I wouldn't care who was mad over that.
Was this really the easiest Steeler win? 32-3 over Houston in 1975. 42-6 over Cleveland in 1975. 45-0 over Kansas City in 1976. 42-0 win over Cleveland in 1999. How about another era...2007, the Monday Night blowout of the Ravens....Mel Blount calling the Ravens "sorry"...James Harrison singlehandedly destroying the Ravens.. Maybe that's Matthew Daley's team. No wonder he's here whining like a preschooler in a Wal Mart checkout line screaming for candy.
The only one whining here is you, not, that I blame you, your namesake team just, lost, to the Islanders, again, and, stubbornly refuses to rebuild, enjoy the Cups, they'll really have to last.
@@penguinsfan251 Where, was, the lie, the Penguins threw away their draft capital, and, they're paying, for, it, you'd, better, hope the Islanders, win, the, Cup.
I remember that game well. The disgusting part was the Bengals running nearly all running plays in the second half. They didn't even try to come from behind, helping the Steelers run out the clock. It was obvious that Paul Brown just gave up. The game was a stain on his coaching legacy.
How can you not give the score of this game?......... Just had to look it up myself. Steelers won 27-3. That's nothing. The way you were describing the game, I thought they won 73-0.
The Steelers whine about everything, if you play hard against them they whnie about disrepect. If you dont, they whine its too easy and they needed to prepare.
Bradshaw the most over rated QB in the history of the game. Pitt fans always get mad but what makes a pro level QB is brains and accuracy. Bradshaw has neither. On top of that he is a Whiny mamas boy who always felt as though he was being picked on. The rest of the Steeler team had arguably the best players in most positions. If not the best player one of the top five in each position. Very few time Bradshaw hit the receiver in stride other than Stallworth and that was more due to Bradshaw throwing the ball as far as he could and Stallworth was fast enough to time it and get there in stride.
He had enough brains to call the plays for the offense when no other quarterback in the league was doing it. I grew up a fan of these '70s Steelers teams and you're just wrong about Bradshaw as a player.
@@joeterzio7175 most QBs called their own plays in the 70s. Staubach was likely the only one not doing it and the Cowboys would’ve been better off if he had. Even Swann said Bradshaw was inaccurate.
@@Boomhower89 No, that's simply not true. Bradshaw was the only quarterback calling his team's plays through the 1970s and into the 1980s. And from about the mid-1970s on, he was about mid-pack i completion percentage, which was more than offset by his high yards per completion and per attempt, which were always near the top of the league. Just take the loss on this one and move on. You don't win four Super Bowls with an idiot QB calling the team's plays.
@@joeterzio7175 we will just call it a difference of opinion. But as for QBs calling their own plays most did it in the 70s. The only ones I can’t think of not calling their own is Staubach and probably Paul Brown. Then in the 80s the majority started calling plays in from the sideline. Bradshaw was big and strong though. He wasn’t easy to sack but other than that and a strong arm other than that he was extremely lucky. Playing behind one of the two best O lines in the league the best FB a great blocking hb and decent runner, the best receiving Corp then on defense the best defense all around. Other than argue name another QB in the 70 s who didn’t call their own plays?
Ham so overrated just like the rest of the team just because novice fans emphasize super bowls more than the career package. Should be a HOF for SBs and the one i would attend, the regular season career HOF
any OTHER channel that thinks they're unearthing nuggets of lore like THIS channel is just spiking the ball into the ground on every single play
Legend! 🤣
Steelers fan here and I agree. It’s a travesty that Kenny Anderson is not in the Hall of Fame.
If they'd, won, SB 16, he would be, but, the Bengals chose the, worst, half of the season to have the, worst, half of the season, and, lost, despite, outgaining the 49ers.
Agreed! He was maddeningly hard to stop in those days. Gave this Steelers fan the willies.
@@taven46 A major pro football website did an in-depth article on Kenny Anderson a few years ago. They too agreed that Kenny Anderson should be in the HOF. He was ruthlessly efficient.
Same thing here. So should Ken Riley and Isaac Curtis.
For years he had the completion record. Guy should be in.
A 65% completion percentage in ‘74 is even more astounding, considering that this was before the so-called “Mel Blount Rules,” that now prevent DBs from practically mugging receivers.
I read an article about 15 years ago that claimed it was the best QB season in history, using a WAR-like metric comparison of all QBs.
Because of that is completely unfair to compare records of nowadays QB's with the ones before those rules.
65% was astrounding. This was before the "West Coast Offense," introduced by the Chargers. In Pittsburgh, it was called "Air Corell," for Dan Corell, the Head Coach.
I Was at the AFC Championship game in Pittsburgh v. SD. Dan Fouts threw so much that the Steelers, the fans, including me, was thinking, "What the hell is going on here?" Nobody had seen it much. Needless to say, SD blew us out of 3 Rivers that day.
@@jaygreider4753 Bill Walsh was Ken's OC that year. Bill left and Ken tanked a few years. You could argue Ken was the 3rd best reg seaon QB of the 70s (behind Stabler and Griese).
@@jimstevenson424 Behind Griese? I would strongly disagree with that. Ken Anderson wasn't behind Griese in anything. He was 10 times the QB that Griese was. Without at least a Top 3 rushing attack AND a Top 3 scoring defense Bob Griese won as many playoff games as Ryan Leaf. Zippo. Ken Anderson never had that kind of support for even 1 season. And Anderson STILL put up better numbers than Griese.
What an outstanding video. You set up the context perfectly. Love the storytelling...and the idea that the Steelers were angry at how easy the game was shows just how intense and focused on creating a dynasty they were.
I honestly can't even blame the Bengals. Nothing to play for and already with so many players hurt, I'd have probably had the same mindset. Just get through the game and come back next year. Hard to be motivated under those circumstances.
I so agree George. Cut me and I bleed Black and Gold. Have been a Steeler fan since pre-Bradshaw. I have seen the "best of times" and the "worst of times" with the Steelers. But we all knew, with "The Emporer," as coach, and his drafts that Pittsburgh was definitely building a dynasty.
@@jaygreider4753 The 1974 NFL Draft was outstanding for the Steelers.
They took:
Lynn Swann 1st Round
Jack Lambert 2nd Round
John Stallworth 4th Round
Mike Webster 5th Round
Mel Blount Undrafted, signed with the Steelers
All 5 are in the Hall of Fame.
Love how the Bengals uniforms at this time are basically indistinguishable from the Browns'
The AFC North is the Steelers and the Browns x3.
• The Ravens are the old Browns.
• The Bengals are just Paul Brown going full "Bender from Futurama" in season 1: "I will make my own team with hookers and beer".
• And of course we have the fake expansion Browns who just took the name of the old Ravens and tried to lay claim to their history.
"Nah, bro. We are the real Browns."
No, you are the Browns Tribute band. The real Browns moved to Baltimore. They had the Browns ownership, draft picks, players, front office with Ozzie Newsome as GM. They just changed their name like when Jefferson Airplane became Jefferson Starship baby.
He did it on purpose because he felt the Cleveland Browns had screwed him.
I am surprised the NFL allowed two teams to look so similar.
@@dallasbrubaker6054 Art Modell did confront Paul Brown about stealing the colors and Paul basically said who stole who’s colors 😂
@@yusefinc1096 LOL, that's funny.
Before the Bengals went to the tiger striped helmet they really looked similar.
But I am surprised that the NFL didn't tell Paul Brown, "Um, get a different scheme."
Brown took all the old Browns uniforms he owned. THat's all the were: Browns unis with "Bengals" in stickers on the helmet.
I grew up in Pittsburgh during the 60’s and the 70’s and remember this game. Thanks for covering this one.
I think the most amazing stat was Bradshaw throwing zero picks.
Fun fact: In the '70s, only the Browns had more turnovers than the Steelers. They made up for it by leading all teams that decade in takeaways, though. If you wanted to see lots of turnovers, a Pittsburgh game in the '70s was perfect for you.
😂😂😂😂😂
You’re not wrong🤣 no way terry bradshaw would have stayed in the league in today’s nfl. His stats were pretty bad... only 2 more touchdowns than picks doesn’t hold up anymore
@@louismasar6147 well stats today are heavily inflated by many things, so i wouldn't judge johnny unitas only having 37 more touchdowns than interceptions in an era where you threw more interceptions than touchdowns
You could ask Bradshaw how he felt but his brains are so scrambled
1. Considering how easy and meaningless this game was I’m surprised the Steelers called the pass to Guard Gerry Mullins. The Steelers showed that play to the rest of the league when they didn’t have to.
2. Take a drink at 2:45!
Worse than spike the ball on every single play. 🤣
Noll probably just wanted to put that play on film to make the playoff opponents account for it, and never planned to use it in a playoff game. My old high school coach used to do that.
They had used a tackle eligible play to Mullins before and often he was the 3rd TE in their 3 TE formations in the early-mid '70s
Been a Steeler fan since before Bradshaw. This is when the NFL had class - especially the Steelers. Ham was such a good man.
In his book, Paul Brown mentioned that he could not get Wayne Clark comfortable with throwing the football in that season finale game. Brown knew that his team was not going to be competitive in that game and was just trying to survive with minimal damage. If Greg Cook had not left training camp in the first couple of days and had stuck with it, he would have been the backup QB that season and not Wayne Clark, but that's a different story.
Been absolutely loving your channel!
You need to do a video on the 1986 Cowboys/Redskins game, the best half of Joe Gibbs career. 34-0 at halftime over a DAL team that had clobbered them earlier that year
YYYEEESSS! I was a 10 year old 5th Grader watching 👀 with glee 😁
Been totally binging your videos and signed up for patreon, great stuff man
Idea for a future video: Sammie Smith fumbles inside the one-yard line in consecutive weeks in 1991 (vs. Houston and at Kansas City). Also had a fumble inside the 10-yard line at Chicago later that season.
Man I love these throw back vintage stories!
Interesting video. Thank you for preparing and sharing.
My family, including myself, attended this game.
I was at this game, first time my dad took me to a steelers game. The fans couldn't believe the weak effort offered by the Bungles. They even booed Paul Brown
Man Ken Anderson was an old man by the time he played my team in sb 16. I didn’t realize that of course in 74 I was only 2 years old.
Jack Ham is a top 5 hitter of all-time
That's Penn State for ya
The Steel Curtain couldn't help being one of the best defenses in NFL history.
The other QB for the Bengals, is the reason Bill Walsh created the Westcoast offense! When Cook got hurt, his replacement Virgil Carter didn't has as strong of an arm. So, Walsh designed the screen passes and shorter timing routes, that played to the strengths of Carter and then Ken Anderson. Walsh had success as the Bengals OC. But, then that asshole Paul Brown, named Bill Johnson HC after Brown retired, then badmouthed Walsh when his name came up for a HC job in the NFL. Walsh almost got hired by the Packers, who went with Bart Starr.
To be fair, the Packers, were, so, bad, after, Vince Lombardi, nobody could have helped them, and, there, likely, was, some traditionalism involved, here.
2:50 He's just going out of his way to work that into every video now 🤣 Never stop, Official JaguarGator9! (Whispers.) Never stop...
Ham was a serious badass.
Yeah, and, he, wasn't, a total dirtbag, like, Jack Lambert, still, the best, LB, of the 1970s, was, Ted Hendricks.
You made a video about Kent Anderson and SBIX. I was expecting you to link them in the upper right corner
Another unofficial Official Jaguar Gator 9 historian, eh?
@@CTubeMan yep
Remember back then pass interference was different. DB allowed more contact See a highlight film on PIT Mel Blount 1978 was when changed rules to favor more offense
shows how good this team was, all they wanted was some competition, to treat each game with respect and win or lose be confident that you left everything out on the field, in some of the steelers losses during their great run in the 70's, you could still say that they left it all out there and tried everything they could to win and appreciated the other teams ability to also make plays and compete like professionals(shoot you could make a really valid argument that the 76 team was easily the best steelers team and that team got beat in the afc championship(no bleier or harris) but in 9 consecutive games that team gave up a total of 25 points(5 shutouts, 2 games with 3 points and another with 6(both field goals), 2 total td's both in same game where their was a blown coverage one on and a guy tripped on the other(that was 13 of the points right there)...big difference in today's game every time at the end of the season when teams have nothing to play for the biggest talk is about "resting/not playing key players"....shoot even when teams are undefeated and "have nothing to play for" they rest their starters....i would have liked just one time for one of those great steelers teams to have been undefeated and get a chance to break that dolphins record, because as evident by a game like this, they definitely would have done what the 2007 patriots did and that is play everybody each week and take your chances, that's what great organizations/people "who respect each game of football as professionals do"
The easiest game in Steelers history is week 15 1976 vs. Tampa Bay.
Pittsburgh was favored by 20+ points.
The game was over during pre-game warmups.
Former Steeler QB Terry Hanratty got the start for Tampa.
Coach John McKay said of Hanratty: "I don't know if I'm doing him a favor or a disservice".
Both Steeler QBs, Mike Kruzcek and Terry Bradshaw had over 100 passer ratings and 2 td passes a piece.
The Steelers players declined to comment on the Buccaneers play; some Steelers players could remember Noll's first year, and losing 13 straight after an opening day win.
Those select few described the game as a "Strange, almost surreal experience"
Despite not scoring for the last quarter and a half of the game, the Steelers won 42-0.
Tampa had under 100 yards of offense.
In the lockeroom after the game; John McKay said; "What we needed, was Knute Rockne, and he was not here."
That only made it sweeter when the Raiders exposed Terry Bradshaw in, the, Playoffs, and, when the Broncos did, so, again, the following year.
@@matthewdaley746
76 Championship game was much like this game here, I think Jack Deloplaine started at FB and old man Frenchy Fuqua at RB for Pittsburgh.
Also the year Bradshaw got necked by Turkey Jones. Kinda like when Mel Blount piledrove Cliff Branch into the dirt with one arm like he was a toy.
Regardless, Nobody was beating Oakland in 76.
Interesting. You mention 76 and 77.
What happened in 78 and 79 I wonder?
Oh yeah, the league tried to change the rules to stop the Steeler D and instead accidentally unleashed the Steeler Passing Attack.
Bradshaw was doing a lot of "exposing" then.
@@kimblandino In 1978, Terry Bradshaw had his, best, season, in 1979, the Steelers pulled out a lot of lucky, wins, they, were, the same team, in 1980, minus the luck, and, they flatlined.
Oh, it was after this game in particular when McKay made the Knute Rockne quote?! Interesting bit of trivia; didn't know that!
@@SteelerFanInRI John McKay, was, the, second-best, college football coach of his era, but, his time in Tampa Bay, has really hurt him, historically.
If this same scenario happened today, fans would've been screaming for the league to punish the Bengals for tanking and calling for the coach to be fired. Just ask Doug Peterson.
Yeah that was bullshit
He was Paul Brown. He could get away with it. And besides, what was he supposed to do? He had nothing.
I understand the Steelers being upset, but there was nothing Brown could do that would have made the Bengals competitive with a team as great as those Steelers were. With Ken Anderson, he had a fighting chance. Without him, and without his best RB too, no way.
@ 5:39 Chip Myers (#25) knocks the ref's arm out of his way. LOL
No way. Jack Ham is a football hall of famer with a good work ethic and very professional which played a major role of the Steelers dynasty. Without Jack Ham the Steelers would not have won 4 Superbowls in 6 years as the competition was very fierce back then. The Steelers having Jack Ham was the difference in the Steelers favor.
Between Anderson, Lemar Parrish, Isaac Curtis, and Ken Riley those Bengals teams had a few borderline HOF players, but Anderson was by far worthy
In the “good old days” when teams played six “exhibition” games.
The AFL always played a 14-game schedule and they had six "exhibition" games for their 10 year history. The NFL started playing 14 games in 1961 and they played 6 pre-season games. When the regular season went to 16 games, the pre-season was cut to 4 games. Now with the 17 game schedule, there are 3 pre-season games. So for 60 years, teams have had 20 games scheduled, possibly 21 if you got the Hall of Fame Game.
@@tygrkhat4087 There was a time in the pre-expansion era when they played 7 pre-season games and only 12 regular season games, which is absurd.
The bengals have spent many seasons since 74 where they had nothing to play for unfortunately. I love my home team but it sucks when they suck as bad as they have over the years.
Later that night, the Pittsburgh Pirates was one loss away from losing the World Series, which was played later that night at Three Rivers Stadium.
The Orioles blew, 2-0, and, 3-1, leads, to the Pirates, yet, they would, beat, The, Big Red Machine, they, were, surely, a confusing team.
@@matthewdaley746
Funny how it was “The Big Red Machine” that the Pirates swept for the Pennant on the way to defeating Baltimore in the World Series. Or was it a dismantled replica with Pete Rose in Philadelphia.
Going to the Baltimore Orioles, it seems like the Pirates have their number as the 1971 Pittsburgh Team with Roberto Clemente(God Rest His Soul) and Steve Blass also beat those Birds. You’re right, the Orioles were unpredictable.
@@Jiltedin2007 I blame the owners, when they, lost, to the Dodgers, for, the division, they panicked, dumping, Pete Rose, Tony Perez, and, worst, of all, Sparky Anderson.
@@matthewdaley746
That’s right! Right after Sparky Anderson was fired by the Reds after the 1978 Season, he then went to Detroit in 1979 and publicly predicted that the Tigers would win the World Series in 1984. Who would’ve knew then that Sparky would be dead on in his prediction?
@@Jiltedin2007 Yeah, and, Pete Rose would, later, win, the, 1980, World Series, with, the Phillies, their new manager, was, John McNamara, yes, THAT, John McNamara.
The Steelers needed to have a chip on their shoulders going into the playoffs and using the excuse that they were upset the Bengals game was too easy was it. Off the record I bet they were glad it was a cakewalk.
You should do a story about the retirements of jack Ham, Lynn Sawnn, Joe Greene, and a couple others that took place around the same time frame in the early 1980's.
Starting from the beginning of 1980.... then carrying over to '81 and early 1982. A lot of Steelers retired. I recall Jack Ham saying something like "The game became too much of a business at that point...."
Something changed in the locker room or the league that caused a lot of premature retirements. Swann for example (although there was an injury issue)... retired after his 9th year.
There's also one other story relating to the Steelers from around '79 or '80... but I'd really like to see how well you investigate before I drop that one on ya.
It involves a Semi-Pro player attempting to walk-on the team and try out... only get a broken leg in the process.
The story seems to have vanished from the internet... and something that happened a few years ago was the reason the story "vanished".
I won't say anymore right now... but wondering if you are up to looking into something really odd that happened so long ago.
Lynn Swann could make, more, money broadcasting, that's the same reason Ken Dryden retired, early, drafting Dan Marino would have saved them, but, they passed, sad.
A good team that just couldn’t stay healthy. Makes me wanna cry thinking about the niners this year. Worst kind of “super bowl hangover”
Only the Steelers could be upset about decimating a team with no reason to try.
NFL - Sunday afternoon in 1974, Sunday afternoon in 2022
CBS | FOX
NBC | ESPN | Amazon Prime Video
Crazy how before 1990 the 4 p.m. ET games were the last for the day
I kind of get it. But they crushed KC, 45-0, and Tampa 42-0 in the 76 season. Seemed like those were even easier.
The difference was that neither of those teams gave up like the 74 Bengals. The Bengals ran out the clock when they were behind. There's no disgrace in getting blown out if you keep competing.
This rivalry used to be fun, before the 90s
I can see both sides of it. The Steelers were mad because the Bengals didn't even try, but Paul Brown probably felt like he didn't have anything left he could put up a fight with. He was down his best running back and his great quarterback, and his backup sucked.
It's been noted before how the Bengals simply laid down for this game because they had nothing to play for
The '74 Steelers (along with '75, '78 and '79) were dominant teams. Four SB trophies bear that out.
So what was the final score of this game?
Steelers 27 to 3
I was asking the same thing. Nice video, but don’t understand why the score was never mentioned.
I wonder what Ham & the Steelers thought of their 1976 matchup with the winless Bucs? I believe one of my favorite NFL quotes came from that game, but I can't remember (or find, either) who said it: "I don't think they would've scored if we'd played till Wednesday." (Steelers 42 Bucs 0)
September 12th, 1999
The very first regular season game of the "all-new" Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh 43, Cleveland 0
The sports commentators the following day (on Monday) were basically saying
"Let's just ignore the stats that the Steelers put up yesterday because THAT DOESN'T COUNT!!!!"
www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199909120cle.htm
I don't know. At this exact particular stage of the Steelers Franchise History everyone else thought that the Dolphins, Raiders, and Cowboys were better than the Steelers. It could be that on that day even the Steelers themselves were unaware of how good they really were.
cover the Darryl stringly story
Read Stingley's book, "Happy To Be Alive" from 1983. I highly recommend it.
If the injury bug never hit Bengals, could we possibly have had a classic in the play between them? And would the Bengals have won the Super Bowl?
Do a video on the David Shula tenure for the Bengals
Speaking of completely meaningless 1970s season finales, I'd like for there to be a video on the Cowboys-Raiders finale in '74 which was obviously set up to be the last game for TV ratings purposes, and by the time the game actually came about the Cowboys were out of the playoffs for the only time in an 18-year span so it was a dud.
But at least it had the thrill of Old George tossing a TD pass! And Biletnikoff was unstoppable.
On that Saturday afternoon, I actually was holding out some hope of a miracle that the Bears would beat the Redskins, and somehow create a pathway for Dallas to reach the playoffs. Two problems with my theory, the Skins won 42-0 (I was still praying for lightning in the second half) and even if the Bears had Payton one year early and Butkus one year longer, even a Bears victory wouldn't have given Dallas a chance. No one said the logic of a nine year old Cowboys fanatic has to make sense!
THE DOG s POUND was%%%%%$!!!!!!!
9:16 Divisional Round
Kenny Anderson's nickname was ' Candlelight' because one blow and he was out.
I ran into Ken Anderson one time in 1984....well, actually he kind of ran into me.
I grew up, lived, and worked in downtown Cincinnati at the time.
It was just before Christmas so there was a good number of people walking the streets around lunch time.
As I was walking back to our building I noticed a man up ahead with his head down walking directly toward me. I stopped and stepped to the right to avoid him, but he stepped to his left and we met at the shoulder, partially spinning both of us around.
He looked up and was so apologetic all I could say was I'm sorry Mr. Anderson, at least it wasn't your throwing arm.
He chuckled, shook my hand, and went on his way.
That’s disrespectful, to a great player, who lasted 16 years in the League.
@@englandbengal, if my remark sounded disrespectful I surely didn't mean it to be.
As I stated, Ken Anderson was very apologetic when we made contact. My remark was just a little light humor. He understood I was joking. He laughed and smiled as he shook me hand.
Ken Anderson is a class act all the way. He's still thought of very highly here in the Tri-State area. As far as I know, he still lives in the area.
IMO, Ken Anderson should be in the NFL Hall of Fame. He should have been inducted his first year of eligibility.
He's the best quarterback the Bengals have ever had (and they've had a few really good ones).
Ken Anderson is probably my all-time favorite Bengal (he, or his go to receiver Isaac Curtis, top my list).
@@DPMConnacht it was not in response to you. Lol!
47 Years Ago
That's nuts. I still remember going to my uncle's house watching Joe Ferguson and Terry Bradshaw like it was last year.
NFL needs to bring back the striped football.
You play with the cards your dealt is how the old saying goes.
Whenever the steelers and bengals or browns play drama it could be
Worse than Pittsburgh’s 42-0 home win over expansion Tampa Bay in 1976?
So Anderson was out with a lot of other players and playing a meaningless game. Let's go out and get more players hurt.
He needs to post more relevant games that have more meaning. This game did not matter to both teams because Steelers were already in playoffs and Bengals still have not won a Super Bowl in their franchise history.
I mean, not every game that has an interesting story surrounding it is going to be a winner-take-all fight to the death; if you only want analysis of big games that everyone already knows about, I'm sure that there are plenty of other channels that do that. This channel seems to be about more obscure moments that time forgot, which tend not to happen in big moments lol.
8:10 Brutal
Who cares if the Pittsburgh Steelers players are angry!? If I'm an NFL player... playing for the Bengals in a meaningless game... I'm not going to risk having a career-ending injury over a game that doesn't matter. And I wouldn't care who was mad over that.
Cover the Eli Herring story
Sadly this is now called week 17 in the National Entertainment League.
Easiest game? What about the browns first game back?
Was this really the easiest Steeler win?
32-3 over Houston in 1975.
42-6 over Cleveland in 1975.
45-0 over Kansas City in 1976.
42-0 win over Cleveland in 1999.
How about another era...2007, the Monday Night blowout of the Ravens....Mel Blount calling the Ravens "sorry"...James Harrison singlehandedly destroying the Ravens..
Maybe that's Matthew Daley's team. No wonder he's here whining like a preschooler in a Wal Mart checkout line screaming for candy.
The only one whining here is you, not, that I blame you, your namesake team just, lost, to the Islanders, again, and, stubbornly refuses to rebuild, enjoy the Cups, they'll really have to last.
@@matthewdaley746 I'm not whining. You are. Have the nursing home attendant change your Depends. You are as much fun as a root canal.
@@matthewdaley746 So, Matty, whose your team? Do tell. Any simp can hide behind a keyboard and be a kurwa head. God knows you are doing that now.
@@penguinsfan251 Where, was, the lie, the Penguins threw away their draft capital, and, they're paying, for, it, you'd, better, hope the Islanders, win, the, Cup.
@@penguinsfan251 I don't live in one, but, you seem to know an awful lot about that, glad you're truly that open.
Ken Anderson.
I remember that game well. The disgusting part was the Bengals running nearly all running plays in the second half. They didn't even try to come from behind, helping the Steelers run out the clock. It was obvious that Paul Brown just gave up. The game was a stain on his coaching legacy.
How can you not give the score of this game?......... Just had to look it up myself. Steelers won 27-3. That's nothing. The way you were describing the game, I thought they won 73-0.
The Steelers whine about everything, if you play hard against them they whnie about disrepect. If you dont, they whine its too easy and they needed to prepare.
Never look a gift hoarse in the mouth as another old saying goes.
why even play your starters in a meaningless game?
5:39 if you're here looking for a video about the title of the video
The easiest game in Steelers history was Super Bowl 40 with the fixed referees. All Pittsburgh had to do was show up to the game
Hahaha bitter!!
@@chriso8593 Not bitter at all. I don't like either team. You must not have watched the game
Slander
Bradshaw the most over rated QB in the history of the game. Pitt fans always get mad but what makes a pro level QB is brains and accuracy. Bradshaw has neither. On top of that he is a Whiny mamas boy who always felt as though he was being picked on. The rest of the Steeler team had arguably the best players in most positions. If not the best player one of the top five in each position. Very few time Bradshaw hit the receiver in stride other than Stallworth and that was more due to Bradshaw throwing the ball as far as he could and Stallworth was fast enough to time it and get there in stride.
He had enough brains to call the plays for the offense when no other quarterback in the league was doing it. I grew up a fan of these '70s Steelers teams and you're just wrong about Bradshaw as a player.
@@joeterzio7175 most QBs called their own plays in the 70s. Staubach was likely the only one not doing it and the Cowboys would’ve been better off if he had. Even Swann said Bradshaw was inaccurate.
@@Boomhower89 No, that's simply not true. Bradshaw was the only quarterback calling his team's plays through the 1970s and into the 1980s. And from about the mid-1970s on, he was about mid-pack i completion percentage, which was more than offset by his high yards per completion and per attempt, which were always near the top of the league. Just take the loss on this one and move on. You don't win four Super Bowls with an idiot QB calling the team's plays.
@@joeterzio7175 we will just call it a difference of opinion. But as for QBs calling their own plays most did it in the 70s. The only ones I can’t think of not calling their own is Staubach and probably Paul Brown. Then in the 80s the majority started calling plays in from the sideline. Bradshaw was big and strong though. He wasn’t easy to sack but other than that and a strong arm other than that he was extremely lucky. Playing behind one of the two best O lines in the league the best FB a great blocking hb and decent runner, the best receiving Corp then on defense the best defense all around. Other than argue name another QB in the 70 s who didn’t call their own plays?
@@Boomhower89 Tarkenton did not call his own plays.
Ham so overrated just like the rest of the team just because novice fans emphasize super bowls more than the career package. Should be a HOF for SBs and the one i would attend, the regular season career HOF
Steelers were never that good. Take those towels and wipe your butts!!!
terrible video