Harman Patil (Editor)

1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Record
  
7–9

Playoff finish
  
did not qualify

Head coach
  
Chuck Noll

General manager
  
Dick Haley

Home field
  
Three Rivers Stadium

Team roy
  
Harry Newsome

Division place
  
2nd in AFC Central

AP All-Pros
  
Louis Lipps (2nd team)

Start date
  
1985

Owner
  
Art Rooney

Team MVP
  
Louis Lipps

Pro Bowlers
  
PK Gary Anderson WR Louis Lipps LB Mike Merriweather C Mike Webster

The 1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season is the franchise's 53rd season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League. The Steelers challenged for the AFC Central most of the season. Sitting at 7-5, through the first 12 games. However, a season ending four game losing streak would end both their division title and playoff hopes, as they finished with a 7-9 record, their first season with a losing record in 14 years.

Contents

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

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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Game time: 1:00 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

    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

    at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati

  • Game time: 4:00 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

    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

    at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Game time: 1:00 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

    at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

  • Game time: 1:00 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

    at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time: 1:00 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

    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 & Paul Zimmerman (color commentators)

    • 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

    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

    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

    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)

    • References

    1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA