1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Last updated

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Steelers50seasons.jpg
Steelers 50th Anniversary Logo
Owner Art Rooney
General manager Dick Haley
Head coach Chuck Noll
Home stadium Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record6–3
Division place4th AFC (Would have been 2nd in the AFC Central)
PlayoffsLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Chargers) 28–31
All-Pros Jack Lambert (1st team)
Donnie Shell (1st team)
Pro Bowlers OT Larry Brown
LB Jack Lambert
S Donnie Shell
WR John Stallworth
C Mike Webster
Team MVP Dwayne Woodruff
Bradshaw setting up a play against the Chiefs during week 13. 1983 Steelers Police - 04 Terry Bradshaw (crop).jpg
Bradshaw setting up a play against the Chiefs during week 13.

The 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 50th in the National Football League. The Steelers returned to the playoffs after missing the playoffs for two years. This was also the Steelers 50th Anniversary season. Although the season was shortened as a result of the 1982 strike, the Steelers finished with a strong 6–3 record, good enough for fourth in the AFC as a whole. Although division standings were thrown out as a result of the strike, the Steelers unofficially finished second in the AFC Central, one game behind the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.

Contents

The 1982 season is best remembered as the final seasons for Hall of Famers Lynn Swann and Jack Ham and the "unofficial" final season of fellow Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, who would miss much of the 1983 season due to injuries before retiring. On the flip side, it would also be the first year of placekicker Gary Anderson and the first year of the team using a 3–4 defense, a style still used by the team as of 2019.

The Steelers would lose in the first round of the playoffs to the San Diego Chargers, in what would be the last home playoff game for the Steelers for the next ten years.

Personnel

Staff

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers staff

Front office

  • Chairman of the board – Arthur J. Rooney
  • President – Daniel M. Rooney
  • Vice president – John R. McGinley
  • Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.
  • Controller – Dennis P. Thimons
  • Assistant controller – Dan Ferens
  • Traveling secretary – James A. Boston
  • Public relations director – Ed Kiely
  • Publicity director – Joe Gordon
  • Assistant publicity director – John Evenson
  • Director of ticket sales – Geraldine Glenn
  • Director of player personnel – Dick Haley
  • Assistant director of player personnel – William Nunn, Jr.
  • Pro talent scout – Tom Modrak
  • Talent scout – West Coast – Bob Schmitz
  • College talent scout – Joe Krupa

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning coach – Jon Kolb
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. David S. Huber
  • Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates
  • Physician, orthopedic – Dr. Paul Steele
  • Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph C. Maroon
  • Dentist – Dr. George P. Boucek
  • Ophthalmologist – Dr. Phillip Buzzelli
  • Trainer – Ralph Berlin
  • Assistant trainer – Gary Stragar
  • Equipment manager – Anthony Parisi
  • Field manager – Rodgers Freyvogel
  • Film director – Bob McCartney
  • Photographers – Harry Homa, Bill Amatucci

[1]

Roster

1982 Pittsburgh Steelers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Reserve


[2] [3] [4]

Rookies in italics
49 active, 9 reserve

Offseason

The 1982 offseason was the start of a slow transition period for the team, as the defensive line was hit with key retirements in "Mean Joe" Greene and L. C. Greenwood. Partially due to the team losing two key players and partially due to the need to go up against a more wide-open NFL, head coach Chuck Noll switched from the traditional 4–3 defensive alignment (four lineman & three linebackers) to the 3–4 (three lineman & four linebackers). The Steelers would more than make a good transition to the 3–4, as many teams have since tried to copy the Steelers success with the 3–4 alignment, especially since 2001, when the Steelers were the only team in the NFL with the alignment but led the league in defense.

1982 did see the Steelers sign a rookie placekicker from Syracuse named Gary Anderson, claiming him off waivers from Buffalo just before the start of the season. Anderson would stay in Pittsburgh for the next 13 season and play an additional 10 with four other teams to become the Steelers' all-time leading scorer. He retired after the 2004 season as the NFL's all-time leading scorer, a record since surpassed by Morten Andersen.

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
1 August 14vs. New England Patriots W 24–201–0 Neyland Stadium (Knoxville, Tennessee)
2August 21at New York Giants W 13–102–0 Giants Stadium
3August 28 Baltimore Colts W 37–153–0 Three Rivers Stadium
4September 4 Philadelphia Eagles W 27–244–0Three Rivers Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

WeekOriginal
week
DateOpponentResultRecordVenue
11September 13at Dallas Cowboys W 36–281–0 Texas Stadium
22September 19 Cincinnati Bengals W 26–20 (OT)2–0 Three Rivers Stadium
3September 26 New York Giants Canceled2–0Three Rivers Stadium
4October 3at Denver Broncos Mile High Stadium
5October 11 Philadelphia Eagles Three Rivers Stadium
6October 17at Washington Redskins RFK Stadium
7October 24 Cleveland Browns PostponedThree Rivers Stadium
8October 31at Cincinnati Bengals Canceled Riverfront Stadium
9November 7 Houston Oilers Three Rivers Stadium
10November 14 New York Jets Three Rivers Stadium
311November 21at Houston Oilers W 24–103–0 Astrodome
412November 28at Seattle Seahawks L 0–163–1 Kingdome
513December 5 Kansas City Chiefs W 35–144–1Three Rivers Stadium
614December 12at Buffalo Bills L 0–134–2 Rich Stadium
715December 19at Cleveland Browns L 9–104–3 Cleveland Municipal Stadium
816December 26 New England Patriots W 37–145–3Three Rivers Stadium
917January 2 Cleveland Browns W 37–216–3Three Rivers Stadium
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 at Cowboys

Week One: Pittsburgh Steelers (0–0) at Dallas Cowboys (0–0)
Quarter1234Total
Steelers6717636
Cowboys7701428

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

Game information

Week 2: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Quarter1234OTTotal
Bengals03710020
Steelers7373626

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,973
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie
Game information

Week 3: vs. New York Giants

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 4: at Denver Broncos

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 5: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 6: at Washington Redskins

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns

Postponed due to player's strike.

Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 9: vs. Houston Oilers

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 10: vs. New York Jets

Cancelled due to player's strike.

Week 11: at Houston Oilers

Quarter1234Total
Steelers377724
Oilers037010

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 12: at Seattle Seahawks

Quarter1234Total
Steelers00000
Seahawks367016

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 35
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 48
  • Seattle – FG N. Johnson 29
  • Seattle – Johns 11 pass from Zorn (N. Johnson kick)

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Quarter1234Total
Chiefs070714
Steelers14140735

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 14: at Buffalo Bills

Quarter1234Total
Steelers00000
Bills0103013

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 20 °F (−7 °C), wind chill 8 °F (−13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 58,391
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui & John Brodie
Game information
  • Buffalo – Leaks 1 run (Herrera kick)
  • Buffalo – FG Herrera 34
  • Buffalo – FG Herrera 19

Week 15: at Cleveland Browns

Quarter1234Total
Steelers07029
Browns307010

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information
  • Cleveland – FG Bahr 44
  • Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Bradshaw (Anderson kick)
  • Cleveland – Davis 1 run (Bahr kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Safety, Cox ran out of end zone

Week 16: vs. New England Patriots

Quarter1234Total
Patriots007714
Steelers101001737

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 1:00 pm EST
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 50,515
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Bob Costas & Bob Trumpy
Game information

Week 17: vs. Cleveland Browns

Quarter1234Total
Browns0701421
Steelers7671737

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Standings

AFC Central
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Cincinnati Bengals (3)720.7783–16–2232177W2
Pittsburgh Steelers (4)630.6673–15–3204146W2
Cleveland Browns (8)450.4442–24–3140182L1
Houston Oilers 180.1110–41–5136245L7
#TeamWLTPCTPFPASTK
Seeded postseason qualifiers
1 Los Angeles Raiders 810.889260200W5
2 [a] Miami Dolphins 720.778198131W3
3 [a] Cincinnati Bengals 720.778232177W2
4 [b] [c] Pittsburgh Steelers 630.667204146W2
5 [b] [c] San Diego Chargers 630.667288221L1
6 [c] New York Jets 630.667245166L1
7 New England Patriots 540.556143157W1
8 [d] Cleveland Browns 450.444140182L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
9 [d] Buffalo Bills 450.444150154L3
10 [d] Seattle Seahawks 450.444127147W1
11 Kansas City Chiefs 360.333176184W1
12 Denver Broncos 270.222148226L3
13 Houston Oilers 180.111136245L7
14 Baltimore Colts 081.056113236L2
Tiebreakers
  1. 1 2 Miami finished ahead of Cincinnati based on better conference record (6–1 to Cincinnati’s 6–2).
  2. 1 2 Pittsburgh finished ahead of San Diego based on better record against common opponents (3–1 to Chargers' 2–1). Conference tiebreak was initially used to eliminate New York Jets.
  3. 1 2 3 Pittsburgh and San Diego finished ahead of New York Jets based on conference record (Pittsburgh and San Diego 5–3 against Jets’ 2–3)
  4. 1 2 3 Cleveland finished ahead of Buffalo and Buffalo ahead of Seattle based on conference record (4–3 to Buffalo’s 3–3 to Seattle’s 3–5).

Postseason

Game summary

First Round/Wild Card: vs. San Diego Chargers

The Pittsburgh Steelers wildcard match-up against the San Diego Chargers at Three Rivers Stadium on January 9, 1983, would go down in history as one of the greatest post season games of Bradshaw’s Hall of Fame career, as well as one of the most bitter defeats in franchise history.

The game began with Chargers RB-James Brooks dropping the opening kickoff at the 3-yard line. Brooks frantically struggled to get control of the ball that was bouncing around on the cold turf as the Steelers special teams was quickly advancing towards him. Unfortunately, for Brooks and the Chargers the ball was recovered by Steelers LB-Gary Ruff in the end zone to give Pittsburgh a quick 7–0 lead after only 12-seconds into the contest. On the ensuing Steelers kickoff, Brooks dropped another return in almost the exact same manner as the first, except this time Brooks was able to recover his fumble after diving on top of the loose ball at the 2-yard line, like it was a live hand grenade.

From there, the Chargers began to turn their misfortunes around by mostly passing the ball for 77-yards on 12-plays and putting some points on the scoreboard after future Chargers Hall of Fame kicker Rolf Benirschke booted a 25-yard field goal to make it a manageable 7–3 game after a disastrous start for the Chargers. However, the Steelers immediately responded with a long touchdown drive of their own that ended with a 1-yard plunge by QB-Terry Bradshaw to give the Steelers their biggest lead of the game 14–3.

Now down by 11-points with 5-minutes left in the 1st-quarter, the Chargers finally handled the kick return without a major incident occurring, then drove the ball down the field resulting in James Brooks self-redeeming 18-yard rushing touchdown early in the 2nd-quarter to make it a 14–10 game, and once again pulling within just 4-points of the Steelers. Then, after a quick Steelers possession and a punt, the Chargers put together a long time consuming offensive drive that came to a disappointing end after CB-Mel Blount recovered a fumble by TE-Kellen Winslow at the Pittsburgh 7-yard line.

With the ball back, Bradshaw drove the Steelers offense to the Chargers 29-yard line, until he threw a long pass that sailed way over the head of a leaping WR-Lynn Swann. The Chargers SS-Bruce Laired intercepted Bradshaw's over thrown pass at the 3-yard line and returned it to their own 35, where San Diego's offense went back to work with 2-minutes left in the half. After Dan Fouts connected with WR-Wes Chandler for a 33-yard reception giving the Chargers a 1st-and-10 at the Steelers 23-yard line. Two plays later, Fouts connected with WR-Scott Fitzkee for a 10-yard TD pass that gave the Chargers a surprising 17–14 half-time lead.

Despite the shocking 1st-half turn of events, the 2nd-half belonged almost entirely to Bradshaw and the Steelers. At one point Bradshaw completed 15 passes in a row, threw 2-TD passes that put the Steelers back in the lead with a commanding 28–17 score early in the 4th-quarter after hitting WR-John Stallworth on a 3rd-and-9 for a 14-yard touchdown. Bradshaw finished his last playoff appearance with 28-completions in 39-attempts for 335-yards, 1-rushing and 2-passing TD's. But, Bradshaw also threw two interceptions, which shifted all the games momentum back to the Chargers who responded with a touchdown each time.

Just prior to Bradshaw throwing his 2nd interception, the Steelers were solidly holding on to a 28–17 lead with 11-minutes remaining in the game. However, when Pittsburgh faced a 3rd-and-8 at their own 20-yrd line, predictably Bradshaw dropped back to pass. Then, after escaping the Chargers aggressive pass rush by moving up into the pocket before scrambling outside to his right where there was no one within 10-yards of him in either direction, and he could've run forward for the 1st-down. However, instead of running for it, Bradshaw slung the ball wildly back across the field toward a well covered Lynn Swann. The pass was easily intercepted by Chargers CB-Jeff Allen and returned to the Steelers 29-yard line.

Despite Bradshaw's reckless 4th-quarter interception, Mel Blount appeared to have saved the Steelers season after intercepting Dan Fouts 19-yard pass attempt into the end zone. However, Blount's 2nd-defensive turnover of the game was nullified by a holding penalty against the defense. With new life, Fouts moved the Chargers offense down the field for their 1st-score in the 2nd-half that came on an 8-yard TD pass to Winslow with 8:50 left in the game, that once again cut the Steelers seemingly insurmountable 11-point lead to within 4-points.

Now feeling the pressure of holding on to a tenuous 28–24 lead, the Steelers needed a solid offensive possession and score to finally secure the win. While the Steelers were able to grind out a few time consuming 1st-downs to get close to midfield, John Goodson, an eighth-round draft pick who replaced veteran Craig Colquitt after he suffered a season-ending injury in the preseason, had to come on to punt. But instead of pinning the Chargers deep, Goodson (a barefoot punter) shanked one for only 20 yards to the Chargers 36-yard line.

With just under 4-minutes remaining and 64-yards away from the end zone, Fouts combined both the Chargers formidable passing attack with a balanced rushing attack (which featured RB-Chuck Muncie) to methodically move the ball down the field against the once legendary "Steel Curtain" defense that was now an aging and tired relic of their former glory. Then, with 1-minute left to play, Fouts threw a 12-yard screen-pass to Winslow for the winning touchdown, making the final score 31–28, and eliminating the Steelers from the tournament.

Quarter1234Total
Chargers31401431
Steelers1407728

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

References

  1. 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  2. 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  3. 1983 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide.
  4. "1982 Pittsburgh Steelers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.