Top 12 Greatest Wins in Steelers' History (Non-Super Bowl) - #8: Steelers 26, Oilers 23 OT (1989)
by maryrose on Jul 26, 2010 12:15 PM EDT
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PrintHappy Monday all. Hope your weekends were enjoyable. We're just a few days away from the kickoff of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Exciting stuff. We'll try to get ready for that throughout the week, but for now, let's continue n with mary rose's countdown of the 12 greatest non Super Bowl wins in franchise story. Don't forget, mary rose's new book From Black To Gold: The Pittsburgh Steelers is now available for purchase for those who are interested. - Michael Bean -
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This series will highlight my Top 12 Greatest Wins in Pittsburgh Steelers' history. I do not include Super Bowls, as they would eat up half the series! Please keep in mind that these wins are not necessarily the most important wins. If that were the case, then only the deepest playoff wins would be recounted. Sometimes "importance" is a factor, but not always. Sometimes the underdog factor comes into play and sometimes the comeback factor is the reason for a game being selected where it is. Sometimes it is just the way the game unfolded. In any case, this is just one person's opinion, so there is no right and wrong, just fun. Enjoy.
The 1989 Pittsburgh Steelers began in sheer turmoil. After going 5-11 in 1988, the Steelers opened the 1989 campaign at home and lost 51-0 to the hated Cleveland Browns. The next week another division rival, the Cincinnati Bengals, pasted Pittsburgh 41-10. Losing two games by a composite 92-10, the media pronounced the Steelers dead and officially declared that the modern game had passed by Head Coach Chuck Noll.
Noll would not let his team be swayed by the media, nor would he take personal offense. Slowly but surely, the Steelers of 1989 kept moving two steps forward, one step back, two forward, one back, until Christmas Eve welcomed the final day of the regular season. The Steelers needed to win that last game in Florida against Tampa Bay and they needed help - lots of it. The Raiders, Bengals and Colts, all very good football teams, needed to lose in order for Pittsburgh to slip into the playoffs.
The first good sign was the snowstorm in Florida. The Buccaneers and their fans were shocked by the white flakes that poured from the heavens, accompanied by frigid temperatures. While they bundled up accordingly, the Steelers came out of their locker room in short-sleeved jerseys. The game was over before it began, Pittsburgh winning, 31-22. Meanwhile, the Bengals, Raiders and Colts all lost their games. I don't know what that four-team parlay would have payed, but it would have made someone rich.
The parlay allowed Pittsburgh to play on New Year's Eve in the Astrodome against the high-powered Oilers. The Steelers were seven-point underdogs, having lost twice to Houston in the regular season. The Steelers drew first blood after rookie linebacker Jerry Olsavsky broke through the middle to block a punt. Tim Worley scored from the nine-yard line on a fourth-and-one. The next six scores were all field goals, three by each team. Houston's run-and-shoot offense was capturing territory, but unable to cross the goal line.
In the fourth quarter, it looked as though the Steelers climb in 1989 had come to a halt. Houston finally busted free. Warren Moon connected twice on scoring strikes to Ernest Givens and the Oilers had a seven-point lead, 23-16, with time running out.
Pittsburgh answered at the end. Merril Hoge plunged in from the two-yard line with less than a minute to play and the game was tied at the end of regulation. In overtime, the Oilers had the ball near midfield, close to victory, when Rod Woodson leveled Houston running back Lorenzo While, separating White from the pigskin. The ever-opportunistic Woodson recovered the fumble and now it was Pittsburgh who was close to victory. After a few safe and effective plays down to the Houston 33, stunningly, Gary Anderson drilled a 50-yard field goal that ended the game, 26-23.
The last professional sporting event of the decade belonged to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The victory got Houston Head Coach Jerry Glanville fired. Glanville was Chuck Noll's personal arch-enemy, having displayed numerous antics that were both unprofessional and unsportsmanlike. Noll, on the other hand, whom the game had passed by, was voted NFL Coach-of-the-Year by the Maxwell Club, for the first and only time in his career.
The Countdown
#12 - Steelers 20 - 49ers 17 (1984)
#11 - Steelers 20 - Colts 16 (1995)
#10 - Steelers 23 - Browns 7 (1964)
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Another game I wasn't even born when it happened
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene and Jerry Kramer
"He Twittered that pitch" Steve Blass
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan
A Great Sunday In The Midst Of Mediocrity
The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl in 1980 against the Rams. This was year 9 of a 26 year journey through the NFL desert in search of one for the thumb. The Steelers teams of 1985 through 1991 were among some of the worst in Steelers post-Franco history. This team in this year in this game was the one apple in a bucket of spit.
Talking to Merril Hoge, he says that the players were brimming with confidence as the game wore on. He says that they basically lined up and dared Houston to stop them. Houston couldn’t. Hoge finished with 100 yards on 17 carries that day and was an unsung hero. Woodson’s hit from the heavens and a long field goal by La Machine Gary Anderson gave the Steelers Nation a Sunday to remember until 2005 when dreams came true. Thanks for the write up maryrose!
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
I admit
I was one of those who believed that the game had passed Chuck Noll by. After reading Merril Hoge’s description of the seaon, and how Chuck Noll’s speech still gave him chills, I had to retract that view to a large extent.
However, I still felt like Noll had gotten too set in his ways for the job, and it wasn’t until Cowher was hired, was I able to experience an enthusiasm for Steeler football again.
Jeez, do I remember that 1989 season opener.
I lived in Erie at the time. Erie is lousy with Browns fans. But, the boys did redeem themselves nicely — what a kooky year.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
I live in Erie now
Always have. The Browns fans up here suck!
That was one of the most wonderful memories of my life, I remeber watching with my dad and it was Magical. absolutely magical.
by Steelchamps !! on Jul 26, 2010 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You've got that right...
The Browns fans in Erie are like hyper-Browns-fans. They were exceedingly obnoxious in the late 80s.
"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway
1989
Other than the Super Bowls of course, that was the year of my greatest moment as a Steeler Fan: Nov. 26, 1989 — Steelers at Miami. The Dolphins tore through the Steelers for 2 quick TDs, and it looked like we’d be leaving early to beat the traffic home. And then the heavens opened…
It was one of the worst rainstorms I’ve ever seen in three decades of living in So. Fla. Within five minutes, the field was underwater. The Dolphin fans fled en masse to the safety of cover. The Steeler fans, of which there were many that day, all stayed. The Dolphins did absolutely nothing for the next two quarters, while the Steelers scored 34 unanswered points. You’ll still see highlights of the game on NFL blooper reels where Weegie Thompson [I think] makes a diving catch and hydro-planes for about 10-15 yards like he was on a Slip-n-Slide. I still remember a Steeler fan yelling derisively, “DOLPHINS CAN’T SWIM!!!” about 50 times as the Dolphins simply wilted in the rain.
Standing out there in the deluge, shivering in my t-shirt and shorts, soaked to the bone, I was never prouder to be a Steeler fan.
My thoughts about that game
- That was another gratifying win.
- I knew Rod Woodson was destined for greatness before that game. But that play really solidified it.
- Merril Hoge displayed tremendous heart in that game and the following week against Denver.
- The Steelers played well the following week against Denver, although they came up short.
- I thought Brister was a true leader. I thought he would lead us to victory at the end of the Denver game the following week, until what’s his name dropped that pass and the botched snap. Even though his career as a starter fizzled, I wish NOD had Brister’s moxie.
- I thought the Steelers could build on 1989, but the hiring of Joe Walton as OC the following year just negated everything.
Bubby Brister
I remember this game for what happened after it ended as much as the game itself. In an interview on ESPN (I think), Bubby Brister swore live on national TV. He was just really excited about the win.
Awesome game. Glad it made the top 10.
Would love to see the highlight of the Woodson hit somehow. It was killer. Too bad it’s not on youtube.
by SteelerMessican on Jul 26, 2010 8:26 PM EDT reply actions
I love how this series brings out memories by other people
I simply enjoy reading both the article and the comments… Once again, thank you for all of that.
That was A Game for the Ages
Mary Rose does it again. The 1989 victory over the Oilers in the “House of Pain” was the type of game that legends are made of.
I can remember Gary Anderson kicking for 50 yards out and splitting the uprights with room to spare, sweetly vindicating Chuck Noll who had suffered so much criticism after the 92-10 start.
The beauty of the game was that the victory was a team effort from start to finish, with players like Jerry O, Anderson, Brister, Hoge, Worley and of course Woodson all shining at key moments.
For another, slightly more indepth recount of the game, click here.
by Hombre de Acero on Jul 27, 2010 8:16 PM EDT reply actions
Elvis Left The Building - and Bum never did knock that door down!
The Raiders, Bengals and Colts. I can remember like yesterday. I was a young kid working in this Italian Restaurant and this cook and I would talk sports all the time. I told him that those teams were all on the road and that they would lose – sending the Steelers to the playoffs. I was so confident. The Bengals game was on MNF, too. We watched it at the restaurant.
I vaguely remember the Wildcard game against the Oilers but I do remember Rod’s forced fumble and jumping up so high in front of the TV. I remember feeling that the Steelers had a shot at shocking the world and beating the Broncos the following week and possibly getting the Browns as they had already gotten revenge on the Browns in the 2nd regular season game after that 51-0 beat down.
10-0 Steelers lead in the 1st half against the eventual AFC Champion Broncos the following week after beating the Oilers in OT is the game I “totally” remember from beginning to end. John Elway worked his 2:00 minute magic and beat the Steelers 24-23. After beating the Oilers, I was so confident that the Steelers could run the table to the Super Bowl – even with that 9-7 regular season record (they probably would’ve gotten blown out by the 49ers, though, lol)
Don’t come in often but I always love your presentation of bringing back The Memories, maryrose.
by Jesus_Christani on Jul 27, 2010 9:30 PM EDT reply actions
broncos game
I remember that game .. I remember late in the game I was wishing Knoll would forego the punt but he didn’t …
I also remember Hoge being so tired Brister had to drag him to the line late in the game ..
Brister didn’t have the skills but he had the heart ..
Steelers 26, Oilers 23 OT (1989)
This was my favorite steelers game (non SB) of all time .. I hated Glanville .. the game was back and forth .. The Steelers trying not to lose to the Oilers for the 3rd time and remain alive in the playoffs …
I’ll always remember Anderson drilling that FG (His father was ill in the hospital I believe) and them showing Glanville on the sidelines, he dropped his head set and left as oilers coach. SO SWEET.
Went to a new year’s eve party afterwards and was so stoked and walked in and nobody else knew what had happened ..
This was an epic win
This ranks up there with all the great Steelers wins that I can remember. I was truly euphoric after this contest. The first time I remember feeling that way after a sporting event. Great stuff. http://www.wayo72.blogspot.com
play at end of reg. when Lloyd almost scored to win it exposed Glanville as the most insane coach I have ever seen.I’m convinced this loss more than the debacle in Buf. in Jan ‘93 was the reason the Tennessee Titans exist today.We didn’t do anything in the 80s except play 1 of the best playoff games in history in the final moment’s of the decade.BTW that WR who dropped that pass in the waining min. in Den the next wk was Mark Stock.
The Steelers
gave my team a heck of a game the next week, and probably should have won. We got payback for 84, but I believe to this day that we should have won in 84 and the Steelers should have won in 89. The 89 Steelers were better than the 84 Steelers.
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