It's a major blemish on the NFL for allowing the Oilers name, colors and logo to disappear after so many exciting games throughout their history. Bud Adams guilty as well.
I agree 100%. I loved the Oilers. When they moved to Tennessee they became the Tennessee Oilers then the now Tennessee Titans who have kept some of the baby blue. So I was a Tennessee Titan fan until Houston was awarded a franchise which I was ecstatic about! Been a Texan fan since their inception to the NFL but my passion is not even close to where it was when the Houston Oilers where playing. What a shame.
@@martincamenzuli5572 The Texans don't have the same appeal that the Oilers had. They had the best logo and uniforms in the NFL and neither the Texans nor Titans come close.
I grew up in Pittsburgh, Mount Lebanon. 65 / 85. These games take me back to a time in the 70’s that just give me a good feeling. I really can’t explain it. You had to be there and experience it.
Man, you aren't kidding. I've loved the Steelers since I was 13 when I saw them play for the first time at my grandparents' apartment in Florida. It was a playoff loss to Oakland in '76 the day after Christmas. I was routing for them because I liked their colors. A fan ever since. EVERY single time I watch highlights of the 70's Steelers, or a whole game from back then, I feel "good" like you said. I remember watching live the 15-9 flea flicker Bradshaw to Cunningham game in '78, and a later Steelers-Browns game that year that Pittsburgh won by 20 pts. Saw live the two crushing losses to the Oilers (MNF) and Rams on a Sunday night. Greatest Super Bowls ever: X, XIII, XXV, and XLII.
I live in Canada. I hear you! Many times I spent Sunday afternoons in the late 1970s trying to adjust my TV antenna to watch the Steelers on NBC affiliate in Erie, PA. Yes, those were the days.
The Oilers vs Steelers rivalry was short but extremely physical and both teams respected each other and you could tell by how clean the game was. Great defense by both teams, but the biggest difference between the two was1. The Steelers experience. 2. The Oilers not able to muster a running game. 3. Pittsburgh had Bradshaw, Harris, Swann, Cunningham, Grossman, Stallworth, Blier, and maybe the best O line collectively in the NFL. The Oilers were a notch below offensively and when they absolutely had to make a play, they did. I often wondered if the Oilers had the Steelers at the Dome in the playoffs, would they had been able to take them down. My thought would be no. Campbell would have to have had a monster game, and even then, it probably wouldn’t be enough. But that doesn’t diminish the intensity of this first class rivalry, and it was no shame losing to the team that won the Super Bowl both years they met in the Championship Game. I felt a little robbed when the Oilers fell off the cliff after the ‘80 season. The rivalry took a major hit and wasn’t the same until Warren Moon came to town.
The oilers were also solid in 1975, 78, 79. They were missing a consistent passing game. The Steelers always stated when they played those Houston teams, they would just focus on stopping the run. Although if Campbell doesn’t get hurt, this might have different because he was hot. I think he was averaging like 7 yards a carry before his ribs got bruised.
The Oilers may have been frustrated by never having been able to break down the door of beating the Steelers of the 70's, much as the Browns and Bengles were but those teams sure didn't back down and always played extremely physical games against Pittsburgh. Sadly for my Steelers, by the time I was old enough to really enjoy football in 80', all these brutal games had taken their toll. No rings in the 80's.
You SAID A MOUTHFUL THERE !!! Greenwood played 14 years and was EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS JOE GREENE but he could just NEVER get out from under his shadow !!
I was and still am a HUGE Oilers fan to this day and I loved all the AFC rivalries. Football in the 70's was in my opinion the best era that I can remember. I'm so very grateful that these games still survive after all this time
ironbeatyfly Thanks for posting these games also.I have been a steelers fan since mid seventies and I collect every afc central games from seventies I can find. I have three copies of this game. I totally agree about the seventies and wish the oilers were back. Loved it when Pitt went to play at Astrodome. Thanks again.
This was one of NBC’s best doubleheader days ever. In the late slot they had this game and they also had a POTENTIAL(as it was advertised at the time) Super Bowl Matchup between New England and Dallas who were each leading their respective divisions at the time. There was 3rd game in the late slot that was pretty much a playoff eliminator between the Browns and Seahawks. The feature game in the early time slot(2PM ET which was somewhat common in those days) was Washington/Miami who each had winning records at the time.
At the time , NBC had Curt Gowdy and John Brodie as its # 1A team which called the Miami/ Washington game and Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen as its # 1B announcing team called the Patriots/ Cowboys game. On paper, you would have thought Curt and John would get the Patriots/Cowboys game due to the Cowboys at the time were the defending NFC champs but Dick and Merlin got it due to they were going to be the main # 1 team next season and Gowdy was on his way out at NBC. I didn;t understand why Sam Nover worked the Steelers/Oilers game instead of Len Dawson's regular partner Charlie Jones. That week was a huge game. My guess Charlie got the week off or maybe worked another assignment and Sam Nover was a local Pittsburgh sports anchor.
@@tommyparkerparkerMaybe Charlie Jones was on an Olympic sport assignment. He did a lot of those preparing for the 1980 Olympics which of course were not televised in the US due to the boycott.
Elvin Bethea #65 of the Houston Oilers Career Accomplishments Houston Oilers (1968-83) 8x Pro Bowl selection 5x All Pro selection Pro Football Hall of Fame selection
There weren't too many teams back then that could match the Steelers physically. Amazing without Campbell and turning the ball over 6 times, the Oiler defense kept Houston in it
Gerela sucked. Why they cut him the next year. Then again kickers weren’t as good as they are today. Guys like Gary Anderson and Morten Anderson set the precedent of today’s kickers. They make it look so easy and it really isn’t.
@@Bigchet1223 absolutely correct. Hard to believe Jan Stenerud's career 70% accuracy was the gold standard back then. Miss 3 out of your first ten now, and you're as disposable as a Bic razor.
I used to watch a lot of AFC Central games in the 1970's and 80's, and I always thought games in the Astrodome seemed like they were playing in a giant ash tray inside a carboard box with a light bulb on inside.
Hard hitting football game. Everyone knows about the Steelers vs raiders games in the 70s. Steelers vs oilers was also a great rivalry. Just not the same hatred as the raiders. Donnie shell knocks earl campbell out of the game. Earl was a very big man.
In 78' I was 21. Had no idea that one day these guys would wind up in Nashville. I'd rather have had an NFC team (still had that old NFL-AFL mind set at the time). Matter of fact I'm still p*ssed off about my Colts leaving Baltimore. These days I dig college more but keep up with the Pro's and the Titans.
As a Steelers fan for over 50 years, The way the NFL treated Houston and there fans was a DISGRACE. 1 of the BEST Rivalries in the NFL. It was NEVER a “Gimme” for either Team. I might be old now but I was so Happy to have lived in such a GREAT time. No Cancel culture, Everyone got along, we were not perfect but much better then Today…
Until this replay, I never realized Bradshaw took a step with his right foot when the ball is snapped. How how missed it when I watched the Steelers in the '70s, I don't know.
You've watched a lot of football since then, Carl. Today, watching one drop back passer is like the other. It's like they came out of a cookie cutter. Back then, everyone had some uniqueness to their game. The one thing that stood out to me was the very deep drop back that Bradshaw was taking.
I thought this was the 6 to 0 game..don't know if it is on here..Will never forget that score got teased at school all day steelers got shutout,steelers got shutout
I love you Donnie. Knocking the snot outta Campbell! I'm a old school kinda fan. Donnie, Carnell, Rod, and ...(this is tough), Troy. Your all world star's, if I had to pick one back... it'd be Troy. Respect
I can’t believe this happened nearly 50 years ago, you kids watching this, gather you rosebuds while you may, because I assure you, you will blink and hit 50 before you know it.
Even a great coach like Noll can fall victim to out thinking themselves. First and goal from the three - take out Bleier and Harris for Thorton and Mozer...? Then kick a fg from the one with that defense (and Campbell injured)...? Not Chuck's best game.
Back when there was uniformity of uniforms from the shoes to the knees. Today, it's anybody's guess what an individual chooses to wear. Don't like it. Lastly, miss the sleeves with the cool-looking stripes. Today, they're all sawed off from the lineman to the fricking punter. C'mon, man!
The Steelers could play anyway you want. Grind it out slugfest they beat you 13-3. Track meet the win 35-31. You don't come out playing your best, 38-7. They are still the best team put together.
I agree Roy G was the weakest link on the Steeler teams every video I've seen him in he missed a fg or two...how he kept his job that long is beyond me !!!
