1980: Steelers Make Big Plays to Overcome Rams and Win Super Bowl XIV

It looked to be a mismatch in Super Bowl XIV on January 20, 1980 as the Pittsburgh Steelers prepared to defend their NFL title against the Los Angeles Rams. Head Coach Chuck Noll’s Steelers had won the AFC Central with a 12-4 record and blew past the Dolphins and Oilers to reach the Super Bowl for the second straight year and fourth time in six seasons. QB Terry Bradshaw (pictured at right), running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, and wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, and the line anchored by All-Pro C Mike Webster were familiar cogs on offense and the defense still contained DE L.C. Greenwood, DT “Mean Joe” Greene, MLB Jack Lambert, OLB Jack Ham, CB Mel Blount, and SS Donnie Shell. This was a well-seasoned club that slumped briefly during the regular season but was getting the job done when the games counted most and was strongly favored to retain its title.

Meanwhile the Rams, coached by Ray Malavasi, had topped the NFC West at just 9-7 and then defeated the Cowboys and upstart Buccaneers on the road to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time. To be sure, LA was no stranger to the postseason, having topped the division in each of the previous six seasons under Chuck Knox and then Malavasi, who was at the helm for the second year. The Rams had even reached the NFC Championship game four times, as recently as 1978, and had lost in each instance. Now, following their worst regular season showing since 1972, they had finally broken through in the playoffs. Injuries had played a big role in ’79, most notably when QB Pat Haden went down with a broken finger. But unproven backup QB Vince Ferragamo proved capable in relief and, relying on the sound running game and a very tough defense, the Rams won their last four games of the regular season and were at their best in the playoffs.

There was a huge crowd of 103,985 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California for the Super Bowl. Los Angeles went nowhere in the game’s first series and punted. The Steelers then drove 55 yards on their initial possession, with Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier carrying the ball on eight of the ten plays and Harris gaining 32 yards after catching a swing pass from Bradshaw. However, a pass into the end zone intended for Lynn Swann was broken up by CB Pat Thomas and the series ended with Matt Bahr kicking a 41-yard field goal for the early lead.

Following a short kickoff, the Rams had good starting field position at their 41 and made the most of it, going 59 yards in eight plays. A short completion by Vince Ferragamo to HB Wendell Tyler was followed by seven runs, including one by Tyler that covered 39 yards to the Pittsburgh 14, and the last was for a touchdown from a yard out by FB Cullen Bryant.

Pittsburgh came right back as CB Larry Anderson returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards. The Steelers took nine plays to score, with Harris running for a one-yard TD and, with the successful extra point, it was 10-7 two minutes into the second quarter. Along the way, Bradshaw completed passes of 12 yards to Swann and to TE Bennie Cunningham for 13.

LA put together another scoring possession, driving 67 yards and tying the game with a 31-yard Frank Corral field goal. The series was helped along by a pass interference penalty on Donnie Shell that picked up 20 yards.

The scoring subsided as the teams traded punts until SS Dave Elmendorf intercepted a Bradshaw pass to give the Rams the ball at the Pittsburgh 39. They were only able to advance 12 yards in eight plays, with Ferragamo sacked twice, including one by DE John Banaszak for a 14-yard loss on a third-and-10 play, but Corral kicked another field goal, this time from 45 yards with 14 seconds left before halftime. LA was on top by 13-10 at the intermission. The first half had been remarkably even on both sides, with the one turnover accounting for the difference in the score.

The Steelers got off to a fast start in the third quarter. Anderson returned the kickoff 37 yards and five plays later Bradshaw connected with a double-covered Swann who made a leaping grab for a 47-yard touchdown. However, Los Angeles responded in kind. It took just four plays as Ferragamo threw to WR Billy Waddy for a 50-yard gain to the Pittsburgh 24 and, on the next play, Ferragamo handed off to RB Lawrence McCutcheon who, sweeping to the right, held up and tossed an option pass to WR Ron Smith that resulted in a TD. Corral shanked the extra point attempt but the Rams were back in front by 19-17.

Near the end of the period, CB Rod Perry intercepted a Bradshaw pass deep in his own territory to snuff out a promising Pittsburgh drive. After advancing to its 23, Los Angeles had to punt it back. Three plays later, and early in the fourth quarter, the Steelers struck back as a heavily-pressured Bradshaw passed to John Stallworth, the ball barely making it over Perry’s outstretched hand, for an electrifying 73-yard touchdown (pictured at left).

After the teams traded punts, the Rams again drove into Steelers territory but Jack Lambert intercepted a Ferragamo pass at the Pittsburgh 14 to snuff out the threat. The Steelers drove 70 yards for another score. Bradshaw again went long for Stallworth, who gained 45 yards to the LA 22. Four plays later, and with the help of a pass interference penalty on Thomas, Harris scored a second TD from a yard out.

The last gasp by the Rams ended when they had to give up the ball on downs at the Pittsburgh 37. The Steelers were once again league champions by a score of 31-19.

Pittsburgh led in total yards (393 to 301) and first downs (19 to 16), although the Rams defense performed remarkably well against the vaunted ground attack of the Steelers, which compiled just 84 yards on 37 running plays. The Steelers sacked Ferragamo four times, while the Rams pressured but failed to sack Bradshaw. Pittsburgh turned the ball over three times, all on interceptions (neither team fumbled during the game), to one by the Rams.

Terry Bradshaw, the contest’s MVP, completed 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns as well as the three interceptions. Lynn Swann caught 5 of those throws for 79 yards and a TD while John Stallworth, thanks to the two big plays in the fourth quarter, gained 121 yards on his three receptions that included a score. Franco Harris had two short touchdown carries but gained only 46 yards on 20 attempts while Rocky Bleier contributed 25 yards on 10 carries. Also of note, Larry Anderson (pictured below) gained 162 yards on five kickoff returns, a Super Bowl record at the time.

For the Rams, Vince Ferragamo was successful on 15 of 25 throws for 212 yards with no TDs and had one picked off while Lawrence McCutcheon had the one option scoring pass. Wendell Tyler, who took such a beating during the game that he had to leave periodically due to bouts of nausea, topped the running game with 60 yards on 17 carries and was one of three LA receivers with three catches. His gained 20 yards while Billy Waddy totaled 75 yards on his three receptions and Cullen Bryant picked up 21 to go along with his 30 yards on 6 running attempts that included a touchdown.

With the fourth NFL Championship in six years, the Steelers were at the pinnacle of their success during the Chuck Noll era. The club slipped from its perch in 1980, dropping to 9-7 and missing the playoffs. While the decline would not be precipitous – Pittsburgh returned to the postseason in 1983 and did not post a losing record until 1985 - the players who were keys to the four titles began to age and depart and their successors were not as talented. The Steelers did not appear in another Super Bowl until the 1995 season.

The Rams, who moved from the Memorial Coliseum to Anaheim Stadium in 1980, failed to win the NFC West but still made it into the playoffs again as a Wild Card entry with an improved 11-5 tally. They were eliminated in the opening round of the postseason, however, and fell under .500 in ’81. They would not participate in another NFC title game until 1985 or reach the Super Bowl until 1999, when the franchise was in St. Louis. 

1979: Rams Beat Vikings on Fake FG in Overtime

The Los Angeles Rams had won the NFC West title for six straight years heading into the 1979 season, but the streak appeared to be in jeopardy. In their second year under Head Coach Ray Malavasi, there was still plenty of talent, but injuries had tested the club’s depth. In particular, QB Pat Haden had gone out with a broken finger ten weeks through the schedule, and inexperienced backup Vince Ferragamo had taken over. While he proved to be a good passer, the ground game that featured HB Wendell Tyler and FB Cullen Bryant was the key to resurgence, along with the rugged defense (when healthy).

On December 2 the Rams, having won two straight games and thus sporting a 7-6 record, hosted the Minnesota Vikings at the Memorial Coliseum. As the Rams had in the NFC West, Minnesota largely dominated the NFC Central under Head Coach Bud Grant, but was also experiencing difficulty in ’79. Many of the veterans who had contributed heavily to the club’s success over the years were either over-the-hill or gone, most notably QB Fran Tarkenton, who retired after 1978, his 18th season (and 13th, over two stints, in Minnesota). Tarkenton’s successor, 24-year-old Tommy Kramer, was performing capably but the running game was weak and the defense not nearly as strong as it had been during the team’s best years. However, the special teams had blocked 13 kicks during the season (punts, field goals, and extra point attempts), which would factor into the game’s outcome.

There were 56,700 fans at the Coliseum, and they saw the Vikings dominate the first half, although the score was 14-14 at halftime as the Rams took advantage of a blocked punt, muffed punt, and interception. In the first quarter, LB Joe Harris, a former Viking, returned the blocked punt 31 yards to put LA in front at 7-0. Later in the period, Kramer passed to WR Terry LeCount for a 36-yard TD to tie the score.

The Vikings went ahead on a second Kramer scoring pass, this time to WR Sammy White from six yards out. But Cullen Bryant’s two-yard touchdown run and the ensuing extra point resulted in the tied score after a half of play. It was fortunate for LA, for Ferragamo had been ineffective, completing just 4 of 10 passes for 22 yards with one interception.

With the LA offense playing poorly in the first half, Coach Malavasi chose to change quarterbacks for the second half. Ex-Viking QB Bob Lee, who had been signed by the Rams the previous month, came into the game. The move paid dividends when he completed a pass to WR Preston Dennard for a 41-yard touchdown and 21-14 lead. However, in the fourth quarter the Vikings struck once more as Kramer connected with WR Ahmad Rashad for a 22-yard TD and, with Rick Danmeier’s extra point, the score was again tied at 21-21 at the end of regulation.

Minnesota appeared to be driving for the win in overtime, but DB Eddie Brown intercepted a Kramer pass at his own 15 yard line and returned it 25 yards (it was Brown’s second pickoff of the game). Lee completed a throw to Bryant that gained 20 yards, and the Rams got 15 more added when DE Mark Mullaney was penalized for roughing the passer. Tyler ran for 17 yards to the Minnesota eight and then Bryant’s short three-yard carry set the Rams up for a field goal attempt on third down.

Frank Corral was lined up for an apparent 22-yard kick, but Jack Youngblood, the star defensive end who played blocking back in kicking situations and called the signals, was mindful of Minnesota’s success at blocking kicks and audibled for a fake. FS Nolan Cromwell (pictured at top), the holder, took the snap and ran around left end for a five-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 27-21 win at 6:53 into the overtime period.

The Vikings outgained LA (409 yards to 300) and had far more first downs (26 to 14). However, they had four costly turnovers, to three by LA, and Kramer was sacked five times. The Rams were hurt by 9 penalties, totaling 90 yards, to 7 flags thrown on Minnesota.

In relief of Ferragamo, Bob Lee completed 7 of 14 passes for 161 yards with a TD and an interception. WR Ron Smith caught three passes for 99 yards while Wendell Tyler added 17 yards on three receptions to go along with his 36 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Cullen Bryant paced the club with 44 yards on 14 carries that included a TD. Highlighting the difficulties encountered by the offense, Ken Clark punted 10 times over the course of the contest (40.4 avg.).

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer went to the air 42 times and completed 21 for 297 yards and three touchdowns, as well as three that were picked off. Ahmad Rashad caught 6 of those passes for 102 yards and a TD. HB Rickey Young gained 70 yards on 16 carries and FB Ted Brown had 18 rushing attempts for 52 yards and caught 5 passes for 56 more. 16-year veteran FS Paul Krause accounted for both of the team’s interceptions, thus breaking a tie with Emlen Tunnell at 79 and giving him the NFL career record of 81.

“The plan was to run if they were set for a kick,” said Jack Youngblood of the climactic fake field goal. “Obviously, they were playing for a kick.”

“All we had to do was get three points,” said Ray Malavasi (pictured below). “If Cromwell puts it in, we win. We still had another shot if it failed. It was a play we worked on during the week.”


The Rams split their last two games to end up first in the NFC West once more, although with a rather ordinary 9-7 record. However, they won the NFC Championship, something that had eluded the team during its prior years of success over the decade (they lost four conference title games during the ‘70s), beating the Cowboys and upstart Buccaneers to advance in the playoffs. They lost a hard-fought Super Bowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minnesota ended up at 7-9 to place third in the NFC Central, the team’s first losing record since Bud Grant’s initial year as head coach in 1967.

Despite the rough outing against the Vikings, Vince Ferragamo went 4-1 as the starting quarterback in the regular season and 2-1 in the playoffs, looking impressive in doing so. It was enough to ignite a quarterback controversy that was settled in the 1981 season-opening game when Pat Haden suffered another hand injury and Ferragamo put together a career year.

1980: Rams Defeat Buccaneers 9-0 for NFC Championship

The NFC Championship game on January 6, 1980 at Tampa Stadium featured two teams that had overcome differing forms of frustration to get there.

The hometown Buccaneers were the surprise story of the 1979 regular season. They joined the NFL as an expansion team in ’76 and proceeded to lose their first 26 games before winning the last two contests of the 1977 schedule. After going 5-11 in ’78, Tampa Bay leaped to the forefront in ’79, winning their first five games and ending up with a 10-6 record and the NFC Central title. Under patient (and highly quotable) Head Coach John McKay, the Bucs featured an outstanding defense that included NFL Defensive Player of the Year Lee Roy Selmon at defensive end. The offense relied on the running of FB Ricky Bell (1263 yards) to take the pressure off of QB Doug Williams, a second-year signal caller with great potential who completed just 41.8 percent of his passes but displayed an ability to make big plays.

The story for the visiting Los Angeles Rams was very different. From the point that Chuck Knox became the head coach in 1973, the team had won six consecutive NFC West titles and made it to the conference championship on four occasions. The problem was, they had lost all four of those games. Knox left the team following the ’77 season and George Allen, who had coached the team successfully from 1966-70, was hired to replace him. However, Allen failed to last the preseason and was in turn replaced by Ray Malavasi. The sense that the Rams were a talented team destined to underachieve took hold.


Los Angeles won a seventh straight division title in ’79, but with a 9-7 record – the worst since the pre-Knox year of 1972. Injuries took a toll, particularly when QB Pat Haden went down with a broken finger. The inexperienced Vince Ferragamo took over at quarterback for the last five games and the Rams won four of them to make it into the postseason once again. With Ferragamo throwing the long ball, HB Wendell Tyler (1109 yards) and FB Cullen Bryant (pictured) running the ball, and a tenacious defense, they were just good enough.

Neither team was expected to go far into the postseason but pulled upsets to make it to the conference championship game. Tampa Bay played very well in defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in their divisional playoff game, while the Rams upset the Cowboys in Dallas.

There were 72,033 hopeful fans at Tampa Stadium, but they were in for a very disappointing performance. The Rams completely shut down the Tampa Bay offense from the start, allowing just 13 yards in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the offense mounted a 68-yard drive to the Bucs one yard line, but after failing to crack the end zone, Frank Corral started off the second quarter with a 19-yard field goal.

Late in the second quarter the Rams again put together another scoring drive, going 58 yards deep into Tampa Bay territory. Once again they failed to score a touchdown and had to settle for another Corral field goal of 21 yards with 47 seconds left in the half.

Corral finished off the scoring with a 23-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that was set up by a 16-yard punt return by safety Eddie Brown. The Rams offense moved the ball effectively and accumulated 369 total yards, but couldn’t reach the end zone. Then again, they didn’t have to as Tampa Bay failed to mount any sort of effective offense. The closest they came was a pass from backup QB Mike Rae to TE Jimmie Giles in the end zone that was called back due to an illegal motion penalty.

Making it worse for the Bucs, they lost two of their key defensive starters, Selmon and DE Wally Chambers, to injury during the course of the game.

The Rams won by a final score of 9-0, which was the first time that a league or conference championship game had failed to include even a single touchdown. The running back tandem of Cullen Bryant (106 yards on 18 carries) and Wendell Tyler (28 rushes for 86 yards) was effective and allowed the Rams to control the ball; LA ran 77 plays to Tampa Bay’s 54.


Vince Ferragamo completed 12 of 23 passes for 163 yards, not tossing any TD passes but also not giving up any interceptions. His longest completion was 35 yards to WR Preston Dennard, who led the team with 56 receiving yards on his three catches. Bryant had the most receptions, with four, adding 36 yards to his tally from scrimmage. Perhaps the most inspiring performance was by DE Jack Youngblood (pictured at right), who played with a hairline fracture in his left leg.

Ricky Bell, who had run for 142 yards in the victory over the Eagles the previous week, gained just 59 yards on 20 carries this time. The passing game was a shambles, with both Doug Williams and Mike Rae combining for four completions in 26 attempts for 54 yards (both were two of 13, with Williams passing for 12 yards and Rae for 42). In fact, RB Jerry Eckwood tied Rae for the team lead in passing yards with 42 on his lone completion, an option pass to WR Larry Mucker.

Los Angeles went to its first Super Bowl and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, although the Rams gave the heavily favored returning champions a good battle. Tampa Bay returned to earth with a 5-10-1 record in 1980, and while they would win a division title in ’81 (and get blown out in the first round of the playoffs), the road to respectability for the franchise would be a long one.