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.

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.

In total, the Steelers limited the Vikings to Super Bowl record lows of nine first downs, 119 total offensive yards, 17 rushing yards, and no offensive scores ( Minnesota's only score came on a blocked punt, and they did not even score on the extra point attempt ).

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.

As seen on the towel, production was limited to 35, 000 towels, representing 35 years of service to the Steelers.

Currently the New England Patriots with Tom Brady, and more recently, Atlanta Falcons with Matt Ryan and the Pittsburgh Steelers with Ben Roethlisberger employ their own limited variations of this approach.

* Jim Elliott-former NFL Punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Referee Fred Swearingen approached Steelers sideline official Jim Boston and asked to be taken to a telephone.

Prior to the Stallions ' sixth game of the season, former Pittsburgh Steeelers wide receiver Jim Smith ( 6 years, 73 games with the Steelers ) was signed by Dotsch to add some punch to a listless receiving corps.

Among Rein's top players at NC State were Outland Trophy winner Jim Ritcher, a center for the Wolfpack who later started at guard on four Super Bowl teams with the Buffalo Bills, and linebacker Bill Cowher, who later coached the Pittsburgh Steelers for 15 seasons and won Super Bowl XL.

To replace Ditka and Kuharich, Benson settled on Randy Mueller, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, as general manager, and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Jim Haslett as head coach.

) The Cowboys ' first game saw them take a 14-0 lead over the Steelers, with Jim Doran catching a pass from Eddie LeBaron for the first score, but Dallas went on to lose 35 – 28.

Greenwood ( Steelers ), and quarterback Craig Morton ( Giants ) all were able to get courts to nullify their contracts with WFL teams, while former NFL veterans like George Sauer, Charley Harraway, Leroy Kelly, and Don Maynard all limped off into retirement.

Reich would help the Bills defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round with a score of 23-7 before once again giving the team back to Kelly, who led them into Super Bowl XXVII, where they fell to the Dallas Cowboys 52-17.

An amazing performance from Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb, one of the most inexperienced quarterbacks ever to play in a postseason game, was overshadowed by journeyman quarterback Tommy Maddox, who led the Steelers to 29 second half points to overcome a 17-point deficit.

The Jaguars ' identity, in terms of colors, as of 2009 is exclusively teal and black, with gold only being used in the logo ; just as the Steelers identity is gold and black, with red and blue only being used in the logo.

With 1: 17 left in the half, Tarkenton threw a pass to receiver John Gilliam at the 5-yard line, but Steelers safety Glen Edwards hit him just as he caught the ball.

The Steelers gained just one yard with their next two plays, but on third down Bradshaw's 4-yard touchdown pass to Brown gave the Steelers a 16-6 lead with only 3: 31 remaining.

Greene responded by saying the Steelers didn't need to say they were the best, they would just go out on the field and " get the job done.

Pittsburgh sent eight men on an all-out blitz, but Staubach got the pass away just before he was hit by Steelers ' safety Mike Wagner.

Then with just 26 seconds left, Bradshaw completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to fullback Rocky Bleier, giving the Steelers a 21 – 14 lead at halftime.

New England gained a total of 346 yards in the game, while limiting Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak to just 110 passing yards, with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions.

By the age of ten, Gretzky had scored 378 goals and 139 assists in just one season with the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers.

At approximately 5: 19 local time on December 19, 2011, Candlestick Park experienced an unexpected power outage just before a Monday Night Football game between the 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The rematch would be just as good, with the Cowboys being a Jackie Smith catch away from beating the Steelers in the rematch.

The best NFL Films shot of the play, from ground level, which is probably the most-often seen clip ( along with audio of an excited Jack Fleming, the Steelers ' radio announcer at the time ) is a tight shot from the end zone of Harris snaring the ball, with his feet and the ground just out of frame below.

Before the merger, the Steelers had long been one of the NFL's worst teams, only posting eight winning seasons, and just one playoff appearance, since their first year of existence in 1933.

This occurred on December 19, 1976, just minutes after the conclusion of an NFL playoff game with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Staley played just one snap in the Steelers ' 2006 season-opening win against the Dolphins.

During their nine-game winning streak, the Steelers defense recorded five shutouts, another modern record, and gave up a total of just 28 points ( roughly 3 points per game ).

On the third play of the game, Holcomb completed an 83-yard pass to Kevin Johnson at the Steelers 1-yard line, setting up William Green's 1-yard touchdown run and giving the Browns a 7-0 lead after just 1: 16 had elapsed in the game.

Light began the 2005 season just as he did the previous three, starting at left tackle before a broken leg suffered against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 kept him inactive for the next 11 games and eventually led to his placement on injured reserve on December 22.

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

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.

Miami future hall of fame running back Larry Csonka was held to just 20 rushing yards on 10 carries in the final game of his career, while Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns.

However, just as running back Arian Foster had returned from a hamstring injury, Johnson suffered one of his own in week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers released Ernster and re-signed Berger on November 24 after Ernster turned in three below average performances, averaging just 31. 3 yards a punt.