1985 Pittsburgh Steelers

1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach	Chuck Noll
Home Field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	7–9
Place	2nd in AFC Central
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	PK Gary Anderson WR Louis Lipps LB Mike Merriweather C Mike Webster
Team MVP	Louis Lipps
Team ROY	Harry Newsome
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
1984	1986

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Location	Result	Record
1	Sunday September 8	Indianapolis Colts	Three Rivers Stadium	W 45–3	1–0
2	Monday September 16	Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	L 17–7	1–1
3	Sunday September 22	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	W 20–0	2–1
4	Monday September 30	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	L 37–24	2–2
5	Sunday October 6	Miami Dolphins	Miami Orange Bowl	L 24–20	2–3
6	Sunday October 13	Dallas Cowboys	Texas Stadium	L 27–13	2–4
7	Sunday October 20	St. Louis Cardinals	Three Rivers Stadium	W 23–10	3–4
8	Sunday October 27	Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	L 26–21	3–5
9	Sunday November 3	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	W 10–9	4–5
10	Sunday November 10	Kansas City Chiefs	Arrowhead Stadium	W 36–28	5–5
11	Sunday November 17	Houston Oilers	Astrodome	W 30–7	6–5
12	Sunday November 24	Washington Redskins	Three Rivers Stadium	L 30–23	6–6
13	Sunday December 1	Denver Broncos	Three Rivers Stadium	L 31–23	6–7
14	Sunday December 8	San Diego Chargers	Jack Murphy Stadium	L 54–44	6–8
15	Sunday December 15	Buffalo Bills	Three Rivers Stadium	W 30–24	7–8
16	Saturday December 21	New York Giants	Giants Stadium	L 28–10	7–9

Game Summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 8, 1985): vs. Indianapolis Colts

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Colts	3	0	0	0		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	7	17	7	14		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 55,279
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jay Randolph (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Lipps 7 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Indianapolis – FG Allegre 39
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 11 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 11 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 16 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Week 2 (Monday September 16, 1985): at Cleveland Browns

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	0	0	0	7		{{{RTotal}}}
Browns	0	7	3	7		{{{HTotal}}}

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 79,042
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

• Cleveland – Banks 7 pass from Danielson (Bahr kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 18
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Byner 21 run (Bahr kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 22, 1985): vs. Houston Oilers

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Oilers	0	0	0	0		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	14	3	3	0		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,752
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Lipps 25 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 5 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38

Week 4 (Monday September 30, 1985): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Bengals	0	14	7	16		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	0	10	14	0		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 59,541
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Lipps 15 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – Brooks 14 run (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – Holman 26 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
• Cincinnati – Brown 8 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 17 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 4 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – Holman 4 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 32
• Cincinnati – Brooks 32 run (pass failed)

Week 5 (Sunday October 6, 1985): at Miami Dolphins

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	0	17	0	3		{{{RTotal}}}
Dolphins	7	7	3	7		{{{HTotal}}}

at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 72,820
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Miami – Nathan 1 run (Reveiz kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48
• Miami – Johnson 2 pass from Marino (Reveiz kick)
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 1 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Miami – FG Reveiz 35
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
• Miami – Hampton 2 run (Reveiz kick)

Week 6 (Sunday October 13, 1985): at Dallas Cowboys

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	0	3	0	10		{{{RTotal}}}
Cowboys	0	10	10	7		{{{HTotal}}}

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 62,932
• Referee: Tom Dooley
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 48
• Dallas – Dorsett 56 pass from D. White (Septien kick)
• Dallas – FG Septien 38
• Dallas – FG Septien 39
• Dallas – Lockhart 19 interception return (Septien kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Dallas – Dorsett 35 run (Septien kick)

Week 7 (Sunday October 20, 1985): vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Cardinals	3	0	0	7		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	14	3	6	0		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,478
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (CBS) Tom Brookshier (play by play), Dick Vermiel (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• St. Louis – FG O'Donoghue 19
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 45 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 14 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 33
• St. Louis – Mitchell 5 pass from Lomax (O'Donoghue kick)

Week 8 (Sunday October 27, 1985): at Cincinnati Bengals

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	0	7	0	14		{{{RTotal}}}
Bengals	3	14	9	0		{{{HTotal}}}

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 55,241
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – FG Breech 37
• Cincinnati – Holman 11 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – Jackson 57 interception return (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 49 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 39
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 40
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 32
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 62 punt return (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 9 (Sunday November 3, 1985): vs. Cleveland Browns

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Browns	0	6	0	3		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	0	0	7	3		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 51,976
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers: (NBC) Len Berman (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cleveland – FG Bahr 34
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 45
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 32 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 30
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25

Week 10 (Sunday November 10, 1985): at Kansas City Chiefs

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	10	17	3	6		{{{RTotal}}}
Chiefs	7	7	0	14		{{{HTotal}}}

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 46,126
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bob Griese (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Kansas City – Cherry 47 interception return (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 13 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Kansas City – Smith 45 pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 71 punt return (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 2 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27
• Kansas City – Smith 13 pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
• Kansas City – Hancock 13 pass from Kenney (Lowery kick)

Week 11 (Sunday November 17, 1985): at Houston Oilers

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	3	7	13	7		{{{RTotal}}}
Oilers	0	0	7	0		{{{HTotal}}}

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 45,977
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 52
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 2 run (Anderson kick)
• Houston – Rozier 15 run (Zendejas kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Pittsburgh – Woodley 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 5 run (Anderson kick)

Week 12 (Sunday November 24, 1985): vs. Washington Redskins

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Redskins	14	6	7	3		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	3	14	0	6		{{{HTotal}}}

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 4:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 59,293
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (CBS) Tim Ryan (play by play), Johnny Morris (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Washington – Rogers 1 run (Moseley kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
• Washington – Didier 18 pass from Schroeder (Moseley kick)
• Washington – FG Moseley 20
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 5 pass from Campbell (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 9 pass from Campbell (Anderson kick)
• Washington – FG Moseley 39
• Washington – Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
• Washington – FG Moseley 42
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27

Week 13 (Sunday December 1, 1985): vs. Denver Broncos

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Broncos	0	10	0	21		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	0	6	3	14		{{{HTotal}}}

{C

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 56,797
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
• Denver – Sampson 24 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
• Denver – FG Karlis 42
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 34
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
• Denver – Sewell 12 run (Karlis kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 31 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Merriweather 35 interception return (Anderson kick)
• Denver – Sewell 2 run (Karlis kick)
• Denver – Harden 42 interception return (Karlis kick)

Week 14 (Sunday December 8, 1985): at San Diego Chargers

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	7	13	14	10		{{{RTotal}}}
Chargers	21	13	7	13		{{{HTotal}}}

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

• Game time: 9:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 52,098
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Joe Namath & O.J. Simpson (color commentators)

Scoring Drives:

• San Diego – Spencer 12 run (Thomas kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 15 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• San Diego – Chandler 36 pass from Fouts (Thomas kick)
• San Diego – Holohan 20 pass from Fouts (Thomas kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 8 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
• San Diego – Chandler 75 pass from Fouts (Thomas kick)
• San Diego – McGee 3 run (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
• Pittsburgh – Woodley 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 25 pass from Woodley (Anderson kick)
• San Diego – McGee 7 run (Thomas kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 15 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
• San Diego – Anderson 2 run (kick failed)
• San Diego – Dale 47 interception return (Thomas kick)

Week 15 (Sunday December 15, 1985): vs. Buffalo Bills

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Bills	7	14	0	3		{{{RTotal}}}
Steelers	0	14	6	10		{{{HTotal}}}

{C

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 35,953
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (NBC) Phil Stone (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Buffalo – Bell 77 run (Norwood kick)
• Buffalo – Butler 33 pass from Mathison (Norwood kick)
• Buffalo – Wilson 61 fumble return (Norwood kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 13 pass from Campbell (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Pollard 4 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Buffalo – FG Norwood 24
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 2 run (Anderson kick)

Week 16 (Saturday December 21, 1985): at New York Giants

Team	1	2	3	4		Total
Steelers	0	3	7	0		{{{RTotal}}}
Giants	7	21	0	0		{{{HTotal}}}

{C

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 pm EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 66,785
• Referee: Jerry Markbreit
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• New York Giants – Morris 9 run (Schubert kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
• New York Giants – Morris 65 run (Schubert kick)
• New York Giants – Morris 1 run (Schubert kick)
• New York Giants – Johnson 23 pass from Simms (Schubert kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 34 pass from Campbell (Anderson kick)

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Cleveland Browns	8	8	0	.500	287	294	L-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	7	9	0	.438	379	355	L-1
Cincinnati Bengals	7	9	0	.438	441	437	L-2
Houston Oilers	5	11	0	.313	284	412	L-4