'Twas the day before the night before Christmas, down four

The Steelers were trailing one point in the score

The football was flung with a desperate air

by Twelve--hoping Thirty-Three soon would be there

*

John Madden was snug in his double-knit threads

While visions of Super Bowls danced in his head

Yet meanwhile the Chief, entertaining no dream

Was en route to the lockers to talk to his team

*

When out on the field there arose such a clatter

I rushed my TV to see what was the matter

(Outside greater Pittsburgh we viewers were gifted

Where NFL rules meant the blackout was lifted)

*

The afternoon sun on the deflected throw

Showed the ball had not yet touched the gridiron below

When, what to my marveling eyes should appear

But two hands quickly plucking the ball from the air

*

With a presence so bold and a purpose so true

I knew right away it must be Thirty-Two

More rapid than Raiders his blockers they came

Were the other eight Steelers, and here are their names:

*

Ray Mansfield! Sam Davis! Jon Kolb and Ron Shanklin!

B. Pearson! Jim Clack! John McMakin and Mullins!

From atop their division, to the top of the Conf'rence

Via seventeen seconds' Immaculate offense

*

And then, in an instant, I saw Franco's feet

The dancing and clawing of each steely cleat

As he stretched out his arm and was turning around

Down the sideline our running back came with a bound

*

As Franco was crossing the goal line by foot

The Chief's consolations were soon to be moot

To the Steelers' six points Franco added six more

The back judge behind him had signaled the score

*

With the end of a cigar held tight in his teeth

On his way to the locker room waiting beneath

The Chief was informed of the turn of events

And a change in a franchises' fortunes commenced

*

The refs spoke no words, but went straight to their work

The Raiders were stunned--only grumbling and smirks

No previous NFL play had prepared us

For Bradshaw to Tatum (through Fuqua) to Harris

*

The referee then to his crew gave a whistle

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle

But I heard him exclaim, 'fore the extra point's flight

"TOUCHDOWN! TOUCHDOWN! And to all a good night!"

*