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.

Led by quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the Steel Curtain defense, the Steelers advanced to their first Super Bowl after posting a 10-3-1 record season record and playoff victories over the Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders.

But the Steelers ' main strength during the season was their staunch " Steel Curtain " defense, which led the league with the fewest total yards allowed ( 3, 074 ) and the fewest passing yards allowed ( 1, 466 ).

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

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.

But once again the Steelers failed to score as the Dallas defense kept Pittsburgh out of the end zone and Gerela missed his second field goal, a 33-yard attempt.

The Cowboys defense again managed to prevent a touchdown, but Gerela kicked an 18-yard field goal to increase the Steelers lead to 15 – 10.

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.

Many accused the Raiders defense of being overly aggressive, especially Atkinson, who inflicted a severe concussion on Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lynn Swann in the previous season's AFC Championship Game.

But they lost the ball on a fumbled handoff while attempting to fool the Steelers defense with a reverse-pass play.

The Steelers " Steel Curtain " defense finished the regular season as the top rated defense in the AFC, limiting opponents to only 4, 621 offensive yards.

Meanwhile, the defense redeemed themselves for giving up 38 points against the Oilers by holding the Steelers to only a field goal.

The Steelers defense limited Buffalo's Jim Kelly to just 135 passing yards and 1 touchdown, while intercepting him 3 times.

On the Steelers ' first possession, the Dallas defense forced a three-and-out and subsequent punt, which Cowboy cornerback Deion Sanders returned 11 yards to the 25-yard line.

However, the Steelers defense stopped Smith for no gain on the next play, and then tackled him for a 3-yard loss on third down.

* The Pittsburgh Steelers have been playing the song " Renegade " at Heinz Field whenever the Steelers Steel Curtain defense comes onto the field.

The Steelers, however, reversed four decades of futility and went on to become a dominant force in the NFL for the subsequent decade, winning four Super Bowls with such stars as Bradshaw, Harris, John Stallworth, and Lynn Swann and the Steel Curtain defense led by Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, " Mean Joe " Greene, Mel Blount, and Dwight White.

Woodson also played an important role in Dom Capers ' defense in playoff victories against the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears and started against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2011 Super Bowl.

He recorded a team-high 8 tackles vs. Pittsburgh while helping a run defense hold the Steelers to 55 rushing yards.

In January 2010, Randle El was named in the Bleacher Report's Pittsburgh Steelers All-Decade team for defense and special teams, as a punt returner.

Also, the Packer defense went from the NFL's 10th best in 1973 to # 6 in fewest total yards allowed trailing teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Washington Redskins, and the Dallas Cowboys, while also being in the NFL top 5 in fewest points allowed with 206.

But Greene and the Steelers defense carried the Steelers to nine straight wins and the playoffs.

But once again, the Steelers stopped them from scoring when Greene forced and recovered a fumble from Foreman.

On the opening kickoff, the Cowboys ran a reverse where rookie linebacker Thomas " Hollywood " Henderson took a handoff from Preston Pearson and returned the ball a Super Bowl record 48 yards before kicker Roy Gerela forced him out of bounds at the Steelers 44-yard line.

The Steelers forced a punt and regained possession of the ball on their own 30-yard line with 4: 25 left in the final period, giving them a chance to either increase their lead or run out the clock to win the game.

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.

He suffered a severe concussion that forced him to spend two days in a hospital, but surprised many by returning to play for Super Bowl X. Swann recorded four catches for a Super Bowl record 161 yards and a touchdown in the game, assisting the Steelers to a 21 – 17 win and becoming the first wide receiver to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.

Several clubs were either forced to merge ( e. g. St. George Dragons and Illawarra Steelers became St George Illawarra Dragons ), or folded.

He played in 170 consecutive games, the second most in Steelers history, until severe hamstring injuries forced him to sit out nine games in 1999 and seven more games in 2000.

After Palmer released the pass, Steelers defensive tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen dove at Palmer's left leg, violently wrenching Palmer's knee, and he was forced to leave the game.

New England was forced to punt on the opening drive of the third quarter, and Antwaan Randle El returned the ball 9 yards to the Steelers 44-yard line.

Denver forced three interceptions and a fumble from Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart.

The Bills forced 4 turnovers and 7 sacks as they held the Steelers to just a field goal.

Five minutes into the second quarter, Indianapolis managed to get a good drive going, advancing the ball 96 yards to the Steelers 2-yard line and taking 9: 39 off the clock, but were forced to settle for a field goal from Mike Vanderjagt, cutting their deficit to 14-3.

The Steelers were forced to punt on their ensuing drive, but only after taking over 7 minutes off the clock, leaving just 6: 03 left in the game by the time Indianapolis got the ball back.

The Steelers were forced to punt on their ensuing drive.

However, the Steelers were forced to advance the ball towards another score instead of taking a quarterback kneel because the Colts still had three timeouts remaining.

For the first time since 1984, The Steelers did not host the AFC Championship game, but it hardly mattered as they forced four turnovers and went into halftime with a 24 – 3 lead en route to advancing to their sixth Super Bowl appearance in team history.

But after a Steelers punt, defensive end Brett Keisel forced a fumble on fourth down from Plummer and his teammate Travis Kirschke recovered it at the Broncos 17-yard line.

Faced with third down at the Pittsburgh 12-yard line, Stabler was forced to throw an incomplete pass, and the Raiders had to settle for a field goal to cut the Steelers ' lead, 17-13.

The injury forced Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into action.

In a December victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Johnson totaled 11 tackles and forced another fumble.

On the December 31 game against the Steelers, Johnson recorded six tackles and a pass deflection, and also forced a Willie Parker fumble on the one yard-line to stop the Steelers ' score in the fourth quarter.

Against the Steelers in the divisional playoff round, he recorded six tackles ( 5 solo ), a career-high three sacks, and a forced fumble that was recovered and returned for a touchdown by fellow DE Cory Redding.