The New York Giants, defending champions of the NFL
Eastern Conference, were 1-1 as they met the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had the
same record, on September 30, 1962. In their second year under Head Coach Allie
Sherman, the Giants were an outstanding passing team, with a rejuvenated QB
Y.A. Tittle (pictured at right), in his 15th pro season but second in New York, throwing
to split end Del Shofner and Frank Gifford, once a star halfback but, following
a year missed due to injury, back as a flanker. The ground game was led by
31-year-old FB Alex Webster, operating behind a good veteran line. The defense
was also experienced and a tough and cohesive unit.
Pittsburgh, coached by Buddy Parker for a sixth season,
still had QB Bobby Layne, who was a worn but savvy veteran. The offense also
featured FB John Henry Johnson and split end Buddy Dial while the defensive
line was anchored by DT Ernie Stautner. However, Pittsburgh’s normally good
corps of linebackers was depleted by injury and Parker started only two against
the Giants, George Tarasovic and Tom Bettis, until Ken Kirk joined them midway
through the second quarter while Gene “Big Daddy” Lipscomb, normally a
defensive tackle, lined up at middle guard.
There were 40,916 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon
at Pitt Stadium. Pittsburgh had first possession and drove 84 yards in 12
plays, the highlight of which was a 36-yard carry by John Henry Johnson. HB Joe
Womack ran for the last seven yards and a touchdown. Lou Michaels added the
extra point and the Steelers held the early 7-0 advantage.
The Giants responded with a good drive of their own, but
it stalled in Pittsburgh territory and Don Chandler kicked a 23-yard field
goal. CB Brady Keys returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards with a sensational
run to give the Steelers good field position at the New York 40. A two-yard
loss on an end-around was followed by a 15-yard penalty against the Giants for
defensive holding. Bobby Layne (pictured at left) finished the series off with a throw to flanker
Red Mack in the corner of the end zone for a 28-yard TD. Michaels again
converted and the home team was up by a 14-3 lead at the end of a quarter of
play.
Early in the second quarter, safety Jim Patton
intercepted a Layne pass and returned it ten yards to the Pittsburgh 38. The
Giants advanced to the two, but after being backed up five yards by a penalty,
Y.A. Tittle threw to HB Paul Dudley for an 11-yard touchdown. Chandler added
the PAT and Pittsburgh’s lead was narrowed to 14-10.
Once again Keys made an outstanding kickoff return for
the Steelers, running it back 57 yards this time to the New York 39. They moved
inside the ten but they lost sizable yardage to a holding penalty and sack, and
settled for a 41-yard Michaels field goal.
In the final two minutes of the half, the Giants came up
with a big play when Tittle connected with Alex Webster (pictured at right) on a screen pass, and
he went the distance for a 58-yard touchdown. Chandler’s extra point tied the
score at 17-17.
The Steelers fought back in what proved to be a wild close
to the first half. End Harlon Hill dropped a pass at the New York two and
Michaels attempted a 53-yard field goal that was blocked, but HB Dick Hoak
recovered for Pittsburgh and ran to the New York 17. With the clock down to
seven seconds, the Steelers again lined up for an apparent kick, but instead
tried a fake. The resulting pass by holder and backup QB Ed Brown was
intercepted in the end zone by safety Allan Webb and the score remained tied at
halftime.
Early in the third quarter, Keys intercepted a Tittle
pass at his own 43 and the Steelers took advantage as Michaels capped the
ensuing series with a 33-yard field goal. The home team was back in front by
20-17.
New York responded with a scoring drive of its own.
Tittle passed the Giants down the field and threw to a well-covered Frank
Gifford, who pulled the pass away from safety Clendon Thomas for a 27-yard TD.
Chandler’s conversion put the visitors in front for the first time by a score
of 21-20. The Steelers threatened again late in the period, but a Michaels
field goal try from 42 yards was short.
In the early seconds of the fourth quarter, Tittle threw
to split end Del Shofner for a 16-yard touchdown. The Steelers fought back, helped by penalties on New York
for roughing the passer and pass interference, and Johnson leaped the last yard
for a TD. Michaels was good on the extra point to put Pittsburgh four points
behind.
As the time wound down in the game, and with the home
crowd cheering wildly, the Steelers again drove into scoring position. But
after reaching the New York 16, a Layne pass into the end zone that was
intended for Buddy Dial was instead intercepted by CB Erich Barnes to seal the
31-27 win for the Giants.
New York accumulated the most total yards (427 to 317)
although the Steelers held the edge in first downs (23 to 19). Pittsburgh did a
good job defensively against New York’s running game, at least until the fourth
quarter, holding the Giants to 95 yards on 27 attempts while gaining 175 yards
themselves. However, the Steelers also turned the ball over three times,
including the climactic interception in the fourth quarter, to one suffered by
New York. The Giants also recorded three sacks while Pittsburgh had none.
Y.A. Tittle completed 17 of 29 passes for 332 yards and
four touchdowns while giving up one interception. Alex Webster led the Giants
with 77 rushing yards on nine carries and also in pass receiving with 5 catches
for 101 yards and a TD. Frank Gifford gained 99 yards on four receptions that
included a score.
For the Steelers, Bobby Layne was successful on 12 of 23
throws for 166 yards and a TD as well as two interceptions. John Henry Johnson
rushed for 113 yards on 20 attempts that included a touchdown. TE Preston
Carpenter had 5 receptions for 44 yards while Buddy Dial accumulated 70 yards
on his four catches. Brady Keys (pictured below) averaged 36.8 yards on five kickoff returns that
included two of 55 and 57 yards.
Two weeks later, the teams met again at Yankee Stadium
and Pittsburgh prevailed, but it was the only loss for the Giants the rest of
the way. New York posted a 12-2 record to again top the Eastern Conference,
although the Giants still came up short against Green Bay in the NFL title
game. The Steelers were a mediocre 3-4 at the season’s halfway point before
catching fire and winning six of their last seven games to place second in the
conference at 9-5. They appeared in the Playoff Bowl, the postseason exhibition
game for second place teams during that era, and lost to Detroit.
Y.A. Tittle received MVP honors from United Press
International as well as consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition
as he passed for 3224 yards and a league-record 33 touchdown passes (Houston’s
George Blanda passed for 36 in the AFL in 1961, a mark that Tittle would match
in ’63). Alex Webster rushed for 743 yards on 207 carries (3.6 avg.) and caught
47 passes for another 477 yards (10.1 avg.), for 1220 yards from scrimmage and
a total of nine TDs.
In his last season, Bobby Layne threw for 1686 yards and
nine touchdowns and left the NFL as the career leader in several major passing
categories. John Henry Johnson enjoyed a big year in his ninth season, rushing
for 1141 yards and gaining selection to the Pro Bowl.
