1951 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1951 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach John Michelosen
Home field Forbes Field
Results
Record4–7–1
Division place4th NFL American
Playoff finishdid not qualify

The 1951 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 19th in the National Football League.

National Football League Professional American football league

The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league consisting of 32 teams, divided equally between the National Football Conference (NFC) and the American Football Conference (AFC). The NFL is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America, and the highest professional level of American football in the world. The NFL's 17-week regular season runs from early September to late December, with each team playing 16 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, six teams from each conference advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament culminating in the Super Bowl, which is usually held in the first Sunday in February, and is played between the champions of the NFC and AFC.

Contents

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentTime (ET)Result
1October 1, 1951 New York Giants T 13–13
2October 7, 1951at Green Bay Packers L 33–35
3October 14, 1951 San Francisco 49ers L 24–28
4October 21, 1951at Cleveland Browns L 0–17
5October 28, 1951at Chicago Cardinals W 28–14
6November 4, 1951 Philadelphia Eagles L 13–34
7November 11, 1951 Green Bay Packers W 28–7
8November 18, 1951 Washington Redskins L 7–22
9November 25, 1951at Philadelphia Eagles W 17–13
10December 2, 1951at New York Giants L 0–14
11December 9, 1951 Cleveland Browns L 0–28
12December 16, 1951at Washington Redskins W 20–10

Game summaries

Week 1 (Monday October 1, 1951): New York Giants

1234Total
Giants373013
Steelers373013

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 27,984
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 31
  • New York Giants – FG Poole 11
  • New York Giants – Scott 56 pass from Tidwell (Poole kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Geri 1 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 26
  • New York Giants – FG Poole 21
Joe Geri American football player

Joe Geri was an American Football quarterback-running back who played four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals from 1949 to 1952 in the National Football League. He was a two time Pro Bowler in 1950 and 1951. He is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

Week 2 (Sunday October 7, 1951): Green Bay Packers

1234Total
Steelers02310033
Packers2170735

at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 8,324
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Green Bay – Grimes 18 run (Cone kick)
  • Green Bay – Mann 40 pass from Rote (Cone kick)
  • Green Bay – Pelfrey 20 pass from Thomason (Cone kick)
  • Green Bay – Rote 1 run (Cone kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Chandnois 33 pass from Ortmann (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Chandnois 2 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Safety, Cloud tackled by Mehelich in end zone
  • Pittsburgh – Finks 25 interception (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 26
  • Green Bay – Mann 16 pass from Rote (Cone kick)
Lynn Chandnois American player of American football

Lynn Chandnois was an American football player who earned All-American honors for the Michigan State Spartans in 1949, won the NFL Player of the Year award for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1952, and played twice in the Pro Bowl.

Fran Rogel Player of American and Canadian football

Francis Stephen Rogel was an American football fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.

Jim Finks American and Canadian football player and coach, sports executive

James Edward Finks was an American football and Canadian football player, coach, and executive.

Week 3 (Sunday October 14, 1951): San Francisco 49ers

1234Total
49ers7021028
Steelers01001424

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 27,307
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

'Scoring drives:

  • San Francisco – Cason 65 interception (Soltau kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Nickel 77 pass from Geri (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 16
  • San Francisco – Monachino 7 run (Soltau kick)
  • San Francisco – Perry 4 pass from Albert (Soltau kick)
  • San Francisco – Schabarum 8 run (Soltau kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Chandnois 8 pass from Mathews (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Nickel 22 pass from Mathews (Geri kick)
Elbie Nickel professional American football tight end in the National Football League

Elbert Everett "Elbie" Nickel was a professional American football tight end in the National Football League. He played eleven seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1947–1957).

Ray Mathews American football player

Raymond Dyral Mathews was an American football halfback and end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for Clemson University.

Week 4 (Sunday October 21, 1951): Cleveland Browns

1234Total
Steelers00000
Browns0107017

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 32,409
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Cleveland – Gillom 38 fumble run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – FG Groza 25
  • Cleveland – Lahr 27 interception (Groza kick)

Week 5 (Sunday October 28, 1951): Chicago Cardinals

1234Total
Steelers0702128
Cardinals0014014

at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 14,773
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Jansante 46 pass from Geri (Geri kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Cross 1 run (Patton kick)
  • Chicago Cardinals – Cross 7 run (Patton kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Geri 49 pass from Chandnois (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Nickel 33 pass from Ortmann (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Butler 52 interception (Geri run)
Val Jansante Player of American football

Valerio Richard Jansante was a professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers.

Jack Butler (American football) American football player

John Bradshaw Butler was an American football cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). In 2012, he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Week 6 (Sunday November 4, 1951): Philadelphia Eagles

1234Total
Eagles01413734
Steelers373013

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 19,649
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 22
  • Pittsburgh – Shipkey 20 interception (Geri kick)
  • Philadelphia – Walston 26 pass from Burk (Waltson kick)
  • Philadelphia – Pihos 12 pass from Burk (Walston kick)
  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 40
  • Philadelphia – S. Van Buren 2 run (kick failed)
  • Philadelphia – Cowhig 25 fumble run (Walston kick)
  • Philadelphia – Sandifer 30 pass from Burk (Walston kick)
Jerry Shipkey American football player

Gerald Wade "Jerry" Shipkey was a football player. He played as a linebacker for six seasons in the NFL. He also played fullback, especially the first three years of his career.

Week 7 (Sunday November 11, 1951): Green Bay Packers

1234Total
Packers00077
Steelers1470728

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 20,080
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Chandnois 13 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Nuzum 3 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Geri 3 run (Geri kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Minarik 35 pass from Chandnois (Geri kick)
  • Green Bay – Mann 20 pass from Rote (Cone kick)

Week 8 (Sunday November 18, 1951): Washington Redskins

1234Total
Redskins0631322
Steelers07007

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,060
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Washington – Goode 2 run (kick blocked)
  • Pittsburgh – Mathews 68 punt return (Geri kick)
  • Washington – FG Dudley 30
  • Washington – FG Dudley 37
  • Washington – FG Dudley 37
  • Washington – Goode 10 run (Dudley kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 25, 1951): Philadelphia Eagles

1234Total
Steelers1070017
Eagles060713

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,537
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Geri 24
  • Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run (Geri kick)
  • Philadelphia – Pihos 16 pass from Burk (kick blocked)
  • Pittsburgh – Chandnois 37 pass from Ortmann (Geri kick)
  • Philadelphia – Parmer 15 run (Walston kick)

Week 10 (Sunday December 2, 1951): New York Giants

1234Total
Steelers00000
Giants070714

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 19,196
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • New York Giants – Landry 9 fumble run (Poole kick)
  • New York Giants – Schnellbacher 46 interception (Poole kick)

Week 11 (Sunday December 9, 1951): Cleveland Browns

1234Total
Browns0210728
Steelers00000

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 24,229
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

  • Cleveland – Carpenter 24 run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Motley 8 run (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Lavelli 7 pass from Graham (Groza kick)
  • Cleveland – Taseff 3 run (Groza kick)

Week 13 (Sunday December 16, 1951): Washington Redskins

1234Total
Steelers0002020
Redskins370010

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 18,969
  • Referee:
  • TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

Standings

NFL American Conference
WLTPCTCONFPFPASTK
Cleveland Browns 1110.9179–0331152W11
New York Giants 921.8187–2–1254161W4
Washington Redskins 570.4174–5183296L1
Pittsburgh Steelers 471.3643–5–1183235W1
Philadelphia Eagles 480.3333–6234264L2
Chicago Cardinals 390.2500–8210287W1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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References