Steel City Blitz
The Pittsburgh Steelers record overall against the Detroit Lions is 18-17 with two tied games. In Detroit, the Steelers don’t fare so well and slump to 6-13. The Steelers began playing the Lions in Pittsburgh’s second season in the NFL, 1934. The first four contests were played in Detroit and Pittsburgh lost them all.
The Lions are of a particular interest to me as they began life in the NFL as the Portsmouth Spartans. As I was born in Portsmouth, England, you can understand my fascination with them. The original Spartans stadium still exists and is currently home to the Notre Dame High School team.
During one of #SteelerNationUK’s adventures to Pittsburgh, we drove to Portsmouth to visit the historic stadium. We were pulled over by a State trooper just outside Portsmouth. Realising we were English he let us off with just a warning to watch our speed.
When I told him we were there to visit the stadium he suggested we went down to the river to see the “mirrors”. Strange we thought? Mirrors? What he actually said, with a heavy accent, was “murals.” There are some stunning ones on the floodwall depicting the history of the town including this one of the Spartans playing the Packers.
In 1989, the Steelers had missed playoff football four years running. The Super Seventies were not quite distant, but they were a fading memory.
The Steelers chose well in the draft. In the first round they picked running back Tim Worley and guard Tom Ricketts. The defense was bolstered with the addition of Carnell Lake (DB), Jerrol Williams (LB), D.J. Johnson (DB) and Jerry Olsavsky (LB).
Bubby Brister was the starting quarterback, but he had led the team to a dismal 5-11 record the year before. A 1-6 start that season ensured there would be no post regular season football for the team.
The signs for a successful 1989 didn’t look good. The Steelers began the season facing six of their seven games against teams that had made the playoffs the previous year. The first two opening losses against division rivals Cleveland (51-0) and Cincinnati (41-10) appeared to seal the Steelers fate.
“Some fans think the season’s over, bring on the Penguins,” was the headline in the Pittsburgh Press. One reader suggested, “I think Chuck Noll told us what he wanted us to do with our Sunday afternoons when he was conducting the Pittsburgh Symphony. He’d rather we spend our Sunday afternoons at Heinz Hall listening to the symphony than watching the Steelers.”
Another reader suggested the team were trying to lose every game to earn the top pick in the following year’s draft.
After they beat the Vikings 27-14 in week 3, Brister credited his offensive line. Despite suffering four sacks, Brister acknowledged, “The offensive line gave me time and when I have time, I can find my receivers and get the ball to them.”
Gary Anderson kicked himself into the Steelers record book with his 234th PAT that saw him...
