It is said that the rivalry was fueled in the 1970s due to the stark contrast of the teams: the Cowboys, being more of a " flashy " team with Roger Staubach's aerial attack and the " flex " Doomsday Defense ; while the Steelers were more of a " blue-collar " team with a strong running game and the 1970s-esque Steel Curtain defense, a contrast that still exists today.

The Steelers main offensive weapon however was running the ball.

While the Steelers defeated the Buffalo Bills, 32-14, in the first round, the favored Dolphins lost to the Oakland Raiders, 28-26, giving up Raiders running back Clarence Davis ' 8-yard touchdown reception with 26 seconds remaining in the game with a play now known as the Sea of Hands.

The Steelers then executed 7 consecutive running plays, taking the game clock all the way down to 38 seconds remaining before turning the ball over on downs.

The Steelers finished the regular season with a league best 12 – 2 record, dominating opponents with their " Steel Curtain " defense and powerful running game.

As Hoopes stepped up to make the kick, Steelers running back Reggie Harrison broke through the line and blocked the punt.

Then Steelers running back Mike Collier returned the free kick 25 yards to the Cowboys 45-yard line.

After Gerry Mullins recovered Dallas ' onside kick attempt, the Steelers then tried to run out the clock on the next drive with four straight running plays, but the Cowboys defense stopped them on fourth down at their 39-yard line, giving Dallas one more chance to win.

Oakland went on to defeat the previous season's Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, which was missing starting running back tandem of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier, 24 – 7.

In the Steelers ' rushing game, running back Franco Harris was the team's leading rusher for the 7th consecutive season, recording 1, 082 yards and 8 touchdowns, while also catching 22 passes for another 144 yards.

After defensive lineman John Banaszak recovered the loose ball on the Pittsburgh 47-yard line, the Steelers attempted 2 running plays with running back Franco Harris carrying the ball, but only gained 1 yard.

On their final drive, The Steelers advanced to the San Diego 3-yard line on their ensuing drive, but Chargers linebacker Dennis Gibson sealed the victory on fourth down by deflecting quarterback Neil O ' Donnell's pass intended for running back Barry Foster to turn the ball back over to San Diego.

On their next drive, the Steelers had second down and 2 on their own 47-yard line, but turned the ball over on downs after running back Bam Morris was tackled for no gain on 3 consecutive running plays: a draw play to the left, a run to the left, and one to the middle.

The Steelers had outgained the Cowboys in total yards, 310-254 ( 201-61 in the second half ) had 25 first downs compared to the Cowboys 15, and limited Dallas ' powerful running attack to just 56 yards.

In time, Mitchell would be joined by black stars like receiver Charley Taylor, running back Larry Brown, defensive back Brig Owens, and guard John Nisby from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

* Isaac Redman ( born 1984 ), running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

* Carlos King, a running back for N. C. State who was drafted as a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1998.

* Dick Hoak, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back ( 1969 – 70 ) and running backs coach ( 1972 – 2006 ), born in Jeannette

The answer is actually former New York Jets running back Matt Snell and former Pittsburg Steelers defensive tackle Ernie Stautner, who appeared together in a Miller Lite commercial.

* Merril Hoge — ESPN commentator and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis shoved Sapp, and this was followed by a heated argument between the two teams.

The Chargers made it back to the playoffs, but after beating the Steelers in the first round, they lost to the Dolphins 34 – 13 in a rematch of their playoff game from the previous season.

And in 1974, the Steelers picked linebacker Jack Lambert, center Mike Webster and wide receivers Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and defensive back Donnie Shell as a free agent.

The Steelers ' " Steel Curtain " defense dominated the league, ranking third in fewest yards allowed ( 4, 019 ) and sending 8 of their 11 starters to the Pro Bowl: defensive linemen Joe Greene and L. C. Greenwood ; future Hall of Fame linebackers Jack Ham and Jack Lambert ; Andy Russell, the team's third starting linebacker ; future Hall of Fame defensive back Mel Blount ; and safeties Glen Edwards and Mike Wagner.

The Steelers offense got the ball back their own 6-yard line with 3: 47 left in the half.

Then on the first play of the Cowboys ' next drive, Steelers defensive back Mike Wagner intercepted a pass from Staubach and returned it 19 yards to the Dallas 7-yard line.

After play resumed, Gerela missed the extra point attempt, but the Steelers now had a 21 – 10 lead with 3: 02 left in the game, and the Cowboys needed two touchdowns to come back.

On their next drive, the Cowboys responded by advancing to the Steelers 39-yard line, but were pushed back to their own 39-yard line after quarterback Roger Staubach was sacked twice, and they were forced to punt.

But Pittsburgh defensive back Mel Blount intercepted a pass from Staubach and returned it 13 yards to the 29, with a personal foul on Dallas tight end Billy Joe Dupree adding another 15 yards and giving the Steelers the ball at their own 44-yard line ( note: The interception happened on exactly the same play that Drew Pearson scored on in the first quarter of Super Bowl X. Mike Wagner intercepted Staubach on exactly the same playcall in the 4th quarter of the same game .).

Running back Franco Harris was the Steelers leading rusher for the 8th consecutive season with 1, 186 yards and 11 touchdowns.

After that, Dallas ran out most of the clock with three quarterback kneels and an intentional delay of the game penalty before punting the ball back to the Steelers.

* Ike Taylor ( born 1980 ), a defensive back for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL

* Deshea Townsend – Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back

The Steelers then recovered a fumble on the second half kickoff, and scored on Fullback Franco Harris's 9-yard run.

Steelers Fullback Franco Harris, who ran for a Super Bowl record 158 yards ( more than the entire Minnesota offense ) and a touchdown, was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

* Franco Harris ( born 1950 ), former Pittsburgh Steelers football player.

* December 23-In the first Pittsburgh Steelers playoff game in 25 years ( and the franchises first playoff win ), rookie Franco Harris salvages and converts into a touchdown a final seconds Terry Bradshaw incomplete pass in what has been called the greatest play in NFL history -- The Immaculate Reception -- to beat the Oakland Raiders 13-7.

However, the Steelers have not issued # 32 since the retirement of Hall of Famer Franco Harris.

Steelers fullback Franco Harris, after initially blocking on the play, had run downfield in case Bradshaw needed another eligible receiver.

The Great Hall also features the actual lockers of several former Steelers, including Hall of Fame members Franco Harris, Joe Greene, and Bill Dudley.

While Bettis finished with 1, 542 more yards than Franco Harris on the NFL's all-time rushing list, Harris remains the Steelers all-time leading rusher because 3, 091 of those yards came while Bettis was with the Rams.

He was one of several Steelers players being honored as part of the celebration of their five Super Bowl victories ; Lynn Swann and Franco Harris were also present.

Steelers running back Franco Harris scored the winning touchdown on what became known as the Immaculate Reception.

Running back Franco Harris led the Steelers to the victory by scoring 3 touchdowns in the second quarter.

The Steelers defense forced 4 turnovers and held the Colts to 154 total yards of offense, while Pittsburgh's Franco Harris shreded Baltimore's defense with 153 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The turnover set up running back Franco Harris ' 25-yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead.

Steelers running back Franco Harris racked up 132 rushing yards on 18 carries, and caught 3 passes for 24 yards.

With Steelers running backs Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier out of the game with injuries, the Raiders easily shut down Pittsburgh's offense.

But in the second quarter, Jackson picked up a fumble by Steelers running back Franco Harris and returned it 35 yards to the Pittsburgh 10-yard line.

Steelers running back Franco Harris rushed for 85 yards and caught 6 passes for 50 yards.

He is also still currently ranked fourth on the all-time Steelers rushing list, behind only Franco Harris, Jerome Bettis, and Willie Parker.

Parker's experience as a backup in college has since drawn comparison to Hall of Famer Franco Harris, the Steelers all-time leading rusher and Super Bowl IX MVP, who served as a backup to Lydell Mitchell when he played at Penn State.