Super Bowl XIV
Generated by DeepSeek V3.2Expansion Funnel Raw 38 → Dedup 0 → NER 0 → Enqueued 0
| Super Bowl XIV | |
|---|---|
| Name | Super Bowl XIV |
| Visitor | Los Angeles Rams |
| Visitor abbr | LA |
| Home | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Home abbr | PIT |
| Visitor conf | National Football Conference |
| Home conf | American Football Conference |
| Visitor total | 19 |
| Home total | 31 |
| Date | January 20, 1980 |
| Stadium | Rose Bowl |
| City | Pasadena, California |
| Attendance | 103,985 |
| MVP | Terry Bradshaw |
| Referee | Fred Silva |
| Network | CBS |
| Halftime | Up with People |
Super Bowl XIV was the championship game of the National Football League's 1979 season, played on January 20, 1980. The American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the National Football Conference champion Los Angeles Rams, 31–19, to win their fourth Super Bowl title. The game was held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and was televised by CBS.
Background
The 1979 season culminated with the Pittsburgh Steelers seeking an unprecedented fourth Super Bowl victory in six years under head coach Chuck Noll. Their opponent, the Los Angeles Rams, coached by Ray Malavasi, were making their first Super Bowl appearance after several playoff disappointments in the 1970s. The Rams' path included a dramatic NFC Championship Game victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team coached by former Rams assistant John McKay. The game was notable for being the first Super Bowl where both starting quarterbacks, the Steelers' Terry Bradshaw and the Rams' Vince Ferragamo, were former first-round draft picks from Louisiana.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Steelers entered the game as a formidable favorite, boasting the league's top-ranked defense featuring stars like Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, and Mel Blount. Their offense, known as the "Steel Curtain" era unit, was led by Terry Bradshaw and wide receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann. The Rams, often underestimated, countered with a strong defensive line known as the "Fearsome Foursome," including Jack Youngblood who played with a fractured leg, and an offense directed by young quarterback Vince Ferragamo. Key players for Los Angeles included running back Wendell Tyler and receiver Preston Dennard.
Game summary
The Los Angeles Rams shocked the Pittsburgh Steelers by taking a 13–10 lead into halftime, with Lawrence McCutcheon throwing a touchdown pass to Ron Smith. In the third quarter, Terry Bradshaw connected with Lynn Swann for a 47-yard touchdown, but the Rams responded with a touchdown run by Wendell Tyler to reclaim a 19–17 lead early in the fourth quarter. The turning point came when Bradshaw, under pressure, threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth to put Pittsburgh ahead. Later, Bradshaw found Stallworth again for a 45-yard gain, setting up a Franco Harris touchdown run. The Steelers' defense, led by Jack Lambert and Donnie Shell, sealed the victory with a late interception.
Aftermath and legacy
Terry Bradshaw was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time, completing 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards. The victory cemented the Pittsburgh Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s, making them the first team to win four Super Bowl titles. For the Los Angeles Rams, the loss marked the end of their consistent contention in the National Football Conference, though they would relocate to St. Louis and win a title in Super Bowl XXXIV. The game is remembered for its competitive nature, defying pre-game expectations, and for iconic performances by John Stallworth and Jack Youngblood. It was also the final Super Bowl broadcast by play-by-play announcer Pat Summerall alongside analyst Tom Brookshier for CBS.