Ranking the Super Bowls, #24: Super Bowl XIV

(photo credit: reddit.com)

The Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers competed for the ultimate hardware on Jan. 20, 1980, when the two teams met at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA for Super Bowl XIV. The Pittsburgh Steelers were looking to continue their dynasty, while the Rams were looking for a close game, as they came in as underdogs. This Super Bowl was attended by 103,985 spectators, which to this day is still the record for largest attendance at a Super Bowl. 

This game was also the first Super Bowl to be played in the home market of one of the teams competing, as the Rams played in the nearby Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Steelers won the AFC Central that year, as they recorded a 12-4 record (8-0 at home), during the regular season. The team advanced to their second straight Super Bowl, and they were appearing in their fourth Super Bowl in six seasons. However in the 1979 season, this Steelers team seemed to be the best one out of all the teams that made it to the Super Bowl. The team led the league with 6,258 yards of total offense, and they averaged 391 yards per game. 

The team fell 31 yards short of an NFL record, and they also led the league in points scored with 412. Running back Franco Harris rushed for 1,186 yards and 11 touchdowns, as he was the Steelers leading rusher for the eighth consecutive season. That season was also the seventh consecutive season that he rushed for 1,000 yard or more, which tied a record set by Jim Brown. The “Steel Curtain” defense continued to terrorize opponents, as they were the top rated defense in the AFC. Led by Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, Mel Blunt, and Joe Greene, the Steelers limited opponents to 4,621 yards on offense. 

The Rams outscored their opponents 323-309, as they finished the regular season with a 9-7 record, which was the worst record by a team to ever play in the Super Bowl (the record was later tied by the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, and the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI). The Rams were plagued by injuries, as they lost starting quarterback, Pat Haden during the regular season. Los Angeles avenged their loss to Dallas in the previous year’s NFC Championship, by defeating the Cowboys, 21-19. Then in the NFC Championship, the Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 9-0. Pittsburgh beat the Miami Dolphins 34-14, and the Houston Oilers 27-13, en route to the team’s second straight Super Bowl. 

The Steelers were 10 ½ point favorites entering the game, and CBS broadcasted the game, with Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier on the call. Despite many people thinking Pittsburgh would run away with the game, Los Angeles was able to hang tough with the Steelers. LA held the 13-10 lead at half-time, and they led 19-17 at the end of the third quarter. However, Pittsburgh took over in the fourth quarter, as they scored 14 unanswered points to win Super Bowl XIV, 31-19. Despite throwing three interceptions, Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw was named Super Bowl MVP. 

He completed 14 of his 21 pass attempts for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Franco Harris had 20 carries for 46 yards and two touchdowns. John Stallworth had three catches for 121 yards and one touchdown, as he caught that touchdown that put them ahead for good. Lynn Swann caught five passes for 79 yards and one touchdown. Vince Ferragamo completed 15 of his 25 pass attempts for 212 yards. The backup had zero touchdowns and one interception for the Rams. Wendell Tyler carried the ball 17 times for 60 yards, and Cullen Bryant had six carries for 30 yards and one touchdown. Billy Waddy added three catches for 75 yards.