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.

Steelers running back Franco Harris was the leading rusher of the game with 82 rushing yards, and also caught a pass for 26 yards.

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

Among the partners in the collective are Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and NHL star Mario Lemieux.

It also marked the final game in the 13 year career of Detroit native and 10 year Steelers running back, Jerome Bettis.

It was Cope who popularized " The Bus " as a nickname for former Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, " Jack Splat " for Jack Lambert, and he gave Kordell Stewart the nickname " Slash.

" Ward and Steelers teammate Jerome " The Bus " Bettis appeared in a victory parade at the Magic Kingdom theme park on February 6 along with Emmitt Smith.

In a 2009 preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, his jersey misspelled his last name as it said Bettis, as most would consider thinking about former Steelers halfback Jerome Bettis.

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis, sidelined for much of the regular season, was scheduled to make his return in the first playoff ever at their new home, Heinz Field, but was sidelined with an undisclosed ailment at the last minute.

Jerome Bettis's 1-yard touchdown run then put the Steelers up 14-7 early in the second quarter.

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis rushed for the other touchdown.

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

" The Rams thought so highly of Phillips that on the same day of the draft, they traded his predecessor, Jerome Bettis, to the Pittsburgh Steelers.