1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head coach	Chuck Noll
Owner	Art Rooney
Home field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	11–3
Division place	1st AFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 13–7 Lost AFC Championship (Dolphins) 21–17
Pro Bowlers	6 LB Henry Davis PK Roy Gerela DT Joe Greene RB Franco Harris LB Andy Russell DE Dwight White
AP All-Pros	4 Joe Greene (1st team) Roy Gerela (2nd team) Franco Harris (2nd team) Andy Russell (2nd team)
Team MVP	Franco Harris
← 1971 Steelers seasons 1973 →

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 7 0 21 28 • Steelers 14 3 10 7 34 Date: Sunday, September 17 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh Game start: 1:00 p.m. local Game attendance: 51,141 Game weather: 72 F, wind 13 mph Referee: Pat Haggerty References: [1]

Scoring summary 1 PIT Henry Davis 5-yard blocked punt return (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 7–0 1 PIT Terry Bradshaw 20-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 14–0 2 PIT Roy Gerela 48-yard field goal PIT 17–0 2 OAK Raymond Chester 26-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick) PIT 17–7 3 PIT Roy Gerela 8-yard field goal PIT 20–7 3 PIT Terry Bradshaw 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 27–7 4 OAK Mike Siani 24-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) PIT 27–14 4 PIT Ron Shanklin 57-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 34–14 4 OAK Don Highsmith 1-yard run (George Blanda kick) PIT 34–21 4 OAK Mike Siani 70-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick) PIT 34–28

Scoring summary
1		PIT	Henry Davis 5-yard blocked punt return (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 7–0
1		PIT	Terry Bradshaw 20-yard run (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 14–0
2		PIT	Roy Gerela 48-yard field goal	PIT 17–0
2		OAK	Raymond Chester 26-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)	PIT 17–7
3		PIT	Roy Gerela 8-yard field goal	PIT 20–7
3		PIT	Terry Bradshaw 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 27–7
4		OAK	Mike Siani 24-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)	PIT 27–14
4		PIT	Ron Shanklin 57-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 34–14
4		OAK	Don Highsmith 1-yard run (George Blanda kick)	PIT 34–21
4		OAK	Mike Siani 70-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick)	PIT 34–28

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 10 0 0 10 • Bengals 3 0 6 6 15 Date: Sunday, September 24 Location: Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati Game start: 1:00 p.m. local Game attendance: 54,292 Game weather: 69 F, wind 9 mph Referee: Dick Jorgensen References: [2]

Scoring summary 1 CIN Horst Muhlmann 41-yard field goal CIN 3–0 2 PIT Terry Bradshaw 12-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 7–3 2 PIT Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal PIT 10–3 3 CIN Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal PIT 10–6 3 CIN Horst Muhlmann 20-yard field goal PIT 10–9 4 CIN Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal CIN 12–10 4 CIN Horst Muhlmann 34-yard field goal CIN 15–10

Scoring summary
1		CIN	Horst Muhlmann 41-yard field goal	CIN 3–0
2		PIT	Terry Bradshaw 12-yard run (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 7–3
2		PIT	Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal	PIT 10–3
3		CIN	Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal	PIT 10–6
3		CIN	Horst Muhlmann 20-yard field goal	PIT 10–9
4		CIN	Horst Muhlmann 32-yard field goal	CIN 12–10
4		CIN	Horst Muhlmann 34-yard field goal	CIN 15–10

1 2 3 4 Total • Steelers 3 12 0 10 25 Cardinals 0 6 6 7 19 Date: Sunday, October 1 Location: Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri Game start: 1:00 p.m. local Game attendance: 49,140 Game weather: 58 F, wind 10 mph Referee: Fred Wyant References: [3]

Scoring summary 1 PIT Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal PIT 3–0 2 PIT Roy Gerela 20-yard field goal PIT 6–0 2 STL Jim Bakken 19-yard field goal PIT 6–3 2 PIT Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 13–3 2 PIT Safety, Donny Anderson tackled by Ralph Anderson in end zone PIT 15–3 2 STL Jim Bakken 44-yard field goal PIT 15–6 3 STL Donny Anderson 8-yard run (kick failed) PIT 15–12 3 PIT Roy Gerela 15-yard field goal PIT 18–12 4 STL Norm Thompson 8-yard blocked punt return (Jim Bakken kick) STL 19–18 4 PIT Frank Lewis 38-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 25–19

Scoring summary
1		PIT	Roy Gerela 17-yard field goal	PIT 3–0
2		PIT	Roy Gerela 20-yard field goal	PIT 6–0
2		STL	Jim Bakken 19-yard field goal	PIT 6–3
2		PIT	Terry Bradshaw 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 13–3
2		PIT	Safety, Donny Anderson tackled by Ralph Anderson in end zone	PIT 15–3
2		STL	Jim Bakken 44-yard field goal	PIT 15–6
3		STL	Donny Anderson 8-yard run (kick failed)	PIT 15–12
3		PIT	Roy Gerela 15-yard field goal	PIT 18–12
4		STL	Norm Thompson 8-yard blocked punt return (Jim Bakken kick)	STL 19–18
4		PIT	Frank Lewis 38-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 25–19

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 6 7 0 0 13 • Cowboys 3 7 7 0 17 Date: Sunday, October 8 Location: Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game start: 1:00 p.m. local Game attendance: 65,682 Game weather: 68 F, wind 8 mph Referee: Ben Dreith References: [4]

Scoring summary 1 PIT Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal PIT 3–0 1 DAL Toni Fritsch 40-yard field goal Tied 3–3 1 PIT Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal PIT 6–3 2 PIT Mel Blount 35-yard fumble return (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 13–3 2 DAL Calvin Hill 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick) PIT 13–10 3 DAL Ron Sellers 55-yard pass from Calvin Hill (Toni Fritsch kick) DAL 17–13

Scoring summary
1		PIT	Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal	PIT 3–0
1		DAL	Toni Fritsch 40-yard field goal	Tied 3–3
1		PIT	Roy Gerela 39-yard field goal	PIT 6–3
2		PIT	Mel Blount 35-yard fumble return (Roy Gerela kick)	PIT 13–3
2		DAL	Calvin Hill 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick)	PIT 13–10
3		DAL	Ron Sellers 55-yard pass from Calvin Hill (Toni Fritsch kick)	DAL 17–13

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 7 0 0 0 7 • Steelers 0 10 7 7 24 Date: Sunday, October 15 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh Game start: 4:00 p.m. local Game attendance: 42,929 Game weather: 47 F, wind 14 mph Referee: Bernie Ulman References:[5]

Scoring summary 1 HOU Ward Walsh recovered blocked punt in end zone (Skip Butler kick) HOU 7–0 2 PIT Roy Gerela 28-yard field goal HOU 7–3 2 PIT Franco Harris 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 10–7 3 PIT Frank Lewis 11-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 17–7 4 PIT Terry Bradshaw 8-yard run (Roy Gerela kick) PIT 24–7

The 1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 40th in the National Football League.

The team posted a record of 11–3 in 1972, and won their first-ever AFC Central Division title. It was the team's third-ever postseason appearance, its first postseason appearance in ten seasons (the Playoff Bowl for third place in the league), and only its second playoff game since 1947. This season is famous for the Immaculate Reception, where the Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs 13-7 on a last second touchdown by Franco Harris.

The rebuilding of the franchise that began in 1969 with the hiring of Chuck Noll finally came to fruition in his fourth year. After winning only one game in his first year in 1969 the team that showed steady improvement broke through in 1972 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1947. The division title was the first in team history, as was the appearance in the AFC Championship game which they lost to the undefeated Miami Dolphins 21-17. It was the first of 8 straight playoff appearances for the Steelers that led to 4 Super Bowl Championships.

The Steelers were able to start off against the Raiders at home scoring 17 unanswered points (2TDs/PATs and a FG) and eventually ended up defeating the team by 6 for a 34–28 victory and a 1–0 start.

Scoring Drives:

Scoring Drives:

Scoring Drives:

Franco Harris breaks Jim Brown's record for consecutive 100 yd games.

Scoring Drives:

Scoring Drives:

Steelers clinch their 1st playoff berth.

The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their first AFC Central Division title (the day before the game Frank Sinatra is inducted into Franco's Italian Army).

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Wikipedia