These video highlights of Super Bowl XIV provides the backdrop of history that stood until February 5, 2017,,,,as the Pittsburg Steelers established themselves as the winningest team, winningest coach (Chuck Noll) and starting quarterback (Terry Bradshaw) with four (4) Super Bowl victories….that is until the New England Patriots, Coach Bill Belichik and starting quarterback Tom Brady set a new standard of five (5) Super Bowls victories some 38 years later….which makes this video history well worth watching.
Super Bowl XIV was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Pittsburgh Steelers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1979 season. The Steelers defeated the Rams by the score of 31–19, becoming the first team to win four Super Bowls. The game was played on January 20, 1980 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California….and was attended by a Super Bowl record 103,985 spectators. It was also the first time that the Super Bowl was played in the home market of one of the participants….cuz the Rams played at nearby Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the 1979 swason..
The Rams became the first team to reach the Super Bowl after posting nine wins or fewer during the regular season. Their 9–7 regular season record was followed by postseason wins over the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers….while the Steelers were the defending Super Bowl XIII champions….and finished the 1979 regular season with a 12–4 record….then posted playoff victories over the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Oilers.
Super Bowl XIV was a close game during the first three quarters….as the Rams led 13–10 at halftime….then early in the 2nd half, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on a 47-yard touchdown pass to take the lead…..but the Ramsregained the lead on a halfback option play with running back Lawrence McCutcheon’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith….but Pittsburgh controlled the fourth quarter by scoring 14 unanswered points with Bradshaw’s 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Stallworth….along with running back Franco Harris’ 1-yard touchdown run….and despite throwing three interceptions….Bradshaw was named Super Bowl MVP by completing 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns
The Steelers won the AFC Central with a 12–4 regular season record (including 8–0 at home)….advancing to their second consecutive Super Bowl and their fourth appearance in the last six seasons….as the Steelers appeared to be even better than what they were in their three previous Super Bowl victories….by leading the league with 6,258 yards in total offense….an average of 391 yards per game and just 31 yards short of an NFL record. The team also led the league in scoring with 412 points. Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw had another fine season as the leader of the Steelers offense in throwing for 3,724 yards and 26 touchdowns during the regular season….while throwing 25 interceptions. Wide receiver John Stallworth was his top target with 70 receptions for 1,183 yards and 8 touchdowns….while wide receiver Lynn Swann caught 41 passes for 808 yards….an average of 19.7 yards per catch. Steelers starting tight end Bennie Cunningham….who missed most of the previous season due to injuries….was also a big contributor with 36 receptions for 512 yards…..with RB Franco Harris as the Steelers’ leading rusher for the 8th consecutive season with 1,186 yards and 11 touchdowns….by recording his 7th consecutive season with more than 1,000 yards….tying an NFL record set by Jim Brown. Harris also had his best year as a receiver out of the backfield in recording career-highs of 36 receptions for 291 yards and another touchdown. Fullback Rocky Bleier also had another superb season….while providing Harris with excellent blocking and contributing 711 combined rushing and receiving yards…..and running back Sidney Thornton emerged as a big threat with 816 total yards and averaging 5 yards per carry. Pittsburgh also had a solid offensive line led by center Mike Webster. The Steelers’ offense did lead the NFL with a staggering 52 turnovers in the regular season….a trend that would continue in Super Bowl XIV.
The Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense finished the regular season as the top rated defense in the AFC in limiting opponents to only 4,621 offensive yards….as DL’s Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood terrorized opposing quarterbacks and rushers….while linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham excelled at run stopping and pass coverage….and combining for 8 interceptions. The Steelers also had a fine secondary which was led by defensive backs Mel Blount who recorded 3 interceptions….and Donnie Shell, who had 5.
Regarding the Los Angeles Rams…..team owner Carroll Rosenbloom drowned during an off-season accident….which resulted in a power struggle between his second wife, Georgia Frontiere, and his son, Steve Rosenbloom….as Frontiere eventually gained control of the team and fired her stepson. Prior to Carroll Rosenbloom’s death…. the Rams had already announced their intentions to leave the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and move to Anaheim Stadium in Orange County for the 1980 season.
During the 1979 season….the Rams barely outscored their opponents 323–309….and finished the regular season with a 9–7 record….the worst ever by a team to advance to the Super Bowl (that record was later tied by the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII and the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI). The Rams were plagued with injuries during the regular season….including the loss of their starting quarterback Pat Haden….and his replacement, Vince Ferragamo, completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw twice as many interceptions (10) as touchdowns (5)….but he still led the Rams to victory in 6 of their last 7 games.
The Rams gained 6,006 total yards of offense during the regular season, ranking second in the league. The team’s main offensive weapon was running back Wendell Tyler….who rushed for 1,109 yards and caught 32 passes for 308 yards while scoring 10 touchdowns. Tyler’s rushing yards came off just 218 rushing attempts….which gave him a league-leading 5.1 yards per carry average. Fullback Cullen Bryant provided Tyler with excellent blocking….while also gaining 846 total yards and scoring 5 touchdowns. Wide receiver Preston Dennard was the team’s main deep threat….catching 43 passes for 766 yards and 4 touchdowns. The offensive line was led by tackles Doug France, Jackie Slater and guard Dennis Harrah….who paved the Rams’ running attack to 4th in the NFC during the season despite injuries….while giving up only only 29 sacks….but the Rams’ main strength was their defense….which featured defensive end Jack Youngblood….who made the Pro Bowl for the 7th year in a row and was playing with a broken leg….who with lightning-quick Fred Dryer on the opposite end creating a formidable quarterback sack attack. Behind them, the Rams had two outstanding linebackers: Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds, and Jim Youngblood (no relation to Jack)….who had recorded 5 interceptions and returned 2 of them for touchdowns. The Rams also had a solid secondary which was led by free safety Nolan Cromwell….who also grabbed 5 interceptions. On November 4, 1979, the Rams’ defense established a still-current NFL record by holding the Seattle Seahawks’ offense to a total of minus 7 yards for the game….as the Seahawks finished the 1979 season 4th in the league in points scored.
