The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams were both
1-0 as they faced off on October 2, 1955 at the Memorial Coliseum. The Rams
were coming off a 6-5-1 record in ’54 that was only good for fourth place in
the highly competitive Western Conference. They had a new head coach in Sid
Gillman, most recently at the University of Cincinnati, but they had plenty of
experience on both sides of the ball. QB Norm Van Brocklin was an outstanding
passer and still had ends Tom Fears and Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch to throw to
as well as the fleet Bob Boyd. Fullbacks Dan Towler and Tank Younger were
formidable inside runners and were joined by rookie HB Ron Waller. The defense
contained stalwarts in DE Andy Robustelli, DHB Will Sherman, and LB Les
Richter (pictured above), who also handled the placekicking.
The Steelers were coached by Walt Kiesling and had also
finished fourth in the Eastern Conference the previous year, but with a 5-7
record. QB Jim Finks could throw the ball effectively and the defense contained
solid players such as DT Ernie Stautner and DHB Jack Butler.
There were 45,816 fans in attendance at the cavernous
stadium on a sunny day in southern California. In the first quarter, the Rams
had a first down at the Pittsburgh 29 but a long pass by Norm Van Brocklin was
intercepted by safety Richie McCabe, who made a leaping grab at the two and
returned it 25 yards.
The Steelers made three first downs on their ensuing
series but it ended with Art Michalik attempting a 31-yard field goal that was
shanked far to the left. LA responded by going 80 yards in 11 plays in a series
that extended into the early second quarter. Dan Towler plowed into the end
zone from a yard out for a touchdown and Les Richter followed up with the extra
point.
Following a fumble by the Steelers in their territory,
the Rams were unable to cash in when Richter’s 28-yard field goal try hit the
right upright and bounced back. Three plays later, Richter compensated for the
missed field goal as he intercepted a Finks pass and returned it to the
Pittsburgh seven. The Steelers held, nearly intercepting a pass, and while the
restless crowd booed the decision to settle for a field goal, Richter was
successful this time from 12 yards out. The Rams were up by 10-0 with just
under three minutes remaining in the half.
The Steelers moved the ball well on their next
possession, accumulating three quick first downs to reach the LA 31. HB Lynn
Chandnois gained nine yards on a draw play, but a pass by Finks to a wide-open HB
Ray Mathews in the end zone was incomplete when the receiver had to adjust and
stepped out of bounds as he made the catch. FB Fran Rogel ran on the next play
but was short of a first down. Following offsetting penalties, Finks sneaked to
the 21 for a first down as the clock reached the two-minute mark. Two pass
plays, one for an apparent score, were wiped out by penalties. The Steelers
ended up having to attempt a field goal and Michalik missed from 41 yards.
The Rams ran on first down and then Van Brocklin threw to
Bob Boyd at the Pittsburgh 40 - he proceeded to race to the end zone for a 74-yard
touchdown as time ran out. Richter added another extra point and the Rams, in
stunning fashion, took a 17-0 lead into halftime.
Pittsburgh drove to a score using 11 plays in the first
five minutes of the third quarter, with Finks (pictured at left) passing to good effect. The
series ended with Chandnois running around end for the last eight yards.
Michalik converted to make it a 17-7 tally.
The Rams had to punt on their next possession and a bad
snap to Van Brocklin caused him to not be able to get the kick away. DE Bill
McPeak pulled him down at the LA 11. From there, the Steelers scored in four
plays, with Finks plowing over on a quarterback sneak from the one. Michalik’s
extra point attempt was unsuccessful when it hit the upright, and the score
remained 17-13.
Bill Wade spelled Van Brocklin at quarterback on the next
LA series and, fading back deep while trying to pass, fumbled and LB John Reger
recovered for the Steelers at the Los Angeles 12. Chandnois ran for eight yards
and, two plays later, Mathews ran two yards for a first down as the third
quarter ended. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Steelers scored on a
two-yard carry by Chandnois. Once again the extra point try failed but
Pittsburgh was in front by a score of 19-17.
Van Brocklin was back behind center for the Rams when
they got the ball back and they drove 66 yards in eight plays. “The Dutchman”
threw to end Tom Fears for a 17-yard touchdown and Richter added the extra
point as LA went back on top by 24-19.
The lead didn’t last as, on their next possession, Rams
HB Corky Taylor fumbled at midfield and McCabe recovered and raced 50 yards for
a TD. Michalik added the extra point this time and the score now stood at 26-24
in favor of the visitors.
The Rams went three-and-out on their next series and were
forced to punt, but the Steelers had a short possession as well and kicked it
back. Starting at the LA 30, Van Brocklin passed to Waller and, while it
appeared that he fumbled when hit and the Steelers recovered, the play was
ruled a completed pass and a dead ball at that point. Van Brocklin then went
deep for Boyd, who gained 27 yards and more as a crucial 15-yard penalty on the
Steelers was tacked on with two seconds left on the clock. Richter kicked a 32-yard
field goal as the game ended to put the Rams over the top by a score of 27-26.
Los Angeles outgained the Steelers (346 yards to 258) and
had more first downs (20 to 16). Both teams turned the ball over three times,
but key penalties on the Steelers, who were flagged eight times, had an effect
on the outcome – too much, according to their coach. A furious Walt Kiesling
had to be restrained by his assistants after the game as he rushed toward the
officials.
“That was the worst jobbing I have ever seen in my 30
years in pro football,” said the angry Kiesling regarding the officiating. “It
was a disgrace to permit that first down pass from Van Brocklin to Waller to be
ruled complete. Waller was in the grasp of an opponent and upright and fumbled.
We got it. They said it was a fast whistle.”
Norm Van Brocklin completed 18 of 27 passes for 208 yards
and two touchdowns as well as one interception. Bob Boyd (pictured at right), with the one long
scoring reception, had three catches for 114 yards.
For the Steelers, Jim Finks was successful on 12 of 22
passes for 113 yards with no TDs and two intercepted. Lynn Chandnois rushed for
78 yards and Fran Rogel was right behind with 73.
The Rams went on to top the Western Conference with an
8-3-1 record and returned to the NFL Championship game for the first time since
1951. They lost to the Browns. Pittsburgh recovered to win its next three games
before the bottom fell out. The Steelers finished up at the bottom of the
Eastern Conference with a 4-8 tally.
