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stillers4me
06-24-2010, 11:38 AM
ESPN.com: AFC North http://espn.go.com/i/print/espn.gif
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Best Steelers Team Ever: 1975

By James Walker
ESPN.com

Notable players: QB Terry Bradshaw, LB Jack Lambert, RB Franco Harris, DB Mel Blount, LB Jack Ham, WR Lynn Swann, DT Joe Greene, WR John Stallworth.

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0616/nfl_a_franco_300.jpgFranco Harris posted career-high numbers during the 1975 season.Analysis: The '75 Steelers were the first Pittsburgh team to win back-to-back Super Bowls. It was also the best team from the famed Pittsburgh dynasty of the '70s, which included a bevy of Hall of Famers.

Led by the Bradshaw -- aka the "Blonde Bomber" -- Pittsburgh was able to win through the air and on the ground in an era when most teams were one-dimensional offensively and thrived on ground-and-pound football.

Pittsburgh's famed "Steel Curtain" defense was one of the best of all time and held seven opponents to single-digit scoring during the '75 season. In three playoff games, including the Super Bowl, offenses averaged only 12.3 points per game.

The '78 and '79 Pittsburgh title teams were also tremendous. But the '75 group had several key advantages.

For starters, every key member in '75 was in, or approaching, his prime. Hall of Famers Bradshaw (27), Blount (27), Ham (27), Lambert (23), Harris (25), Swann (23) and Stallworth (23) came into their own during this first run of back-to-back titles. By the time the second run of championships came at the end of the decade, this core group was four years older and some were approaching the end of their storied careers.


AFC North: Best teams ever


• 2000 Baltimore Ravens (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13896/)
• 1988 Cincinnati Bengals (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14112)
• 1964 Cleveland Browns (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/14131)
• 1975 Pittsburgh Steelers (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13870) • Poll: Best AFC North teams ever (http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/polls?pCat=46&sCat=1332)


Further displaying their dominance, the '75 Steelers won by an astounding average of 15.1 points per game in the regular season, which led the NFL. It was also the highest margin of victory for any of Pittsburgh's championship teams. The '78 team won by an average of 10.1 points per game, while the '79 team won by 9.6 points per game.

Most impressive win: The Steelers' 21-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X was the team's crowning achievement. The Steelers won the turnover battle 3-0 to pull out a historic and close game. It completed the first of Pittsburgh's two back-to-back championships in the decade.

Research Room: The Steelers allowed 17 touchdowns in 14 regular-season games in '75. In contrast, Pittsburgh scored 46 touchdowns, including two fumble returns for scores and one kickoff return.


Franchise-best series schedule

June 22: NFC East (http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/tag/_/name/nfce-best-teams-2010)
June 23: AFC North (http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/tag/_/name/afcn-best-teams-2010)
June 24: NFC West (http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/tag/_/name/best-teams-ever-2010)
June 25: AFC West
June 28: NFC South
June 29: AFC South
June 30: AFC East
July 1: NFC North


Big Franco: Harris is best known for the "Immaculate Reception" in '72 during a playoff win over the Oakland Raiders. But his best season rushing the football came three years later.

Harris recorded a career-high 1,246 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns during Pittsburgh's title run in '75. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry and also caught 28 passes out of the backfield. The nine-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer had eight 1,000-yard seasons.

Honorable mentions (in order):

1978: A dominant group that won 14 games in the regular season and a Super Bowl. They scored at least 33 points in all three playoff victories.

1979: The last championship team of the Steelers dynasty of the '70s. This group was No. 1 in total offense and No. 2 in total defense.

1974: This team started the run of four championships in the '70s. But it wasn't until a year later that the core group of Hall Famers all blossomed and came into their own.


http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/13870/best-steelers-team-ever-1975

Hindes204
06-24-2010, 12:03 PM
What about 76....we didn't win, but that was the best IMO.

9 straight games, 28 points allowed. That's unbelievable!!!

venom
06-24-2010, 12:13 PM
That defense was sick in 1976 . If they would have won that year's Super Bowl , that team could have been the best ever.

steelerdude15
06-24-2010, 12:13 PM
Hmm... pretty good evidence to support the writers story. Now, had he compared other stats from the other years than that's a little different. It would be better for us to compare to. I still say the 76 Steelers.

BlastFurnace
06-24-2010, 12:17 PM
The players have said themselves that the 1976 team was their best team.

I have always thought the 1978 team was their best.

steeldevil
06-24-2010, 12:31 PM
I agree that all 4 of the super bowl teams from the 70's are better than the 2 from this past decade.

Indo
06-24-2010, 01:36 PM
The '76 Defense has been voted the Best Defense Ever.

BlastFurnace
06-24-2010, 02:05 PM
I agree that all 4 of the super bowl teams from the 70's are better than the 2 from this past decade.

I feel that way too.

I think the difference for me was that in the 70's, I felt like they were the best team in the league when they won. Back then, it seemed like the best teams got though the playoffs and competed in the Super Bowl.

In 2008, I did feel we were the best team in the league. In 2005, no way.

In either case, I'll take all 6 though.

Stlrs4Life
06-24-2010, 09:38 PM
What about 76....we didn't win, but that was the best IMO.

9 straight games, 28 points allowed. That's unbelievable!!!


Exactly. Lambert says after the game, "Give me a 6 pack, and let's go play them again."

Galax Steeler
06-25-2010, 03:52 AM
The '76 Defense has been voted the Best Defense Ever.

Yea that one should be a no brainer 76 really rocked.

kielbasasteeler
06-25-2010, 09:29 AM
76 was the best team.

not always the best teams win their super bowls, like the tenessee titans best team was their 08 team it wasnt legendary but it was their best Lol

But I guess only the best teams of their franchises have to be super bowl winning worthy