1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season

1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season
Head Coach	Chuck Noll
Home Field	Three Rivers Stadium
Results
Record	6–10
Place	3rd in AFC Central
Playoff Finish	did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	RB Earnest Jackson LB Mike Merriweather
Team MVP	Bryan Hinkle
Team ROY	Anthony Henton
Timeline
Previous season	Next season
1985	1987

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Location	Time (ET)	TV	Result	Record
1	Sunday September 7	at Seattle Seahawks	Kingdome	4:00 PM	NBC	L 30–0	0–1
2	Monday September 15	Denver Broncos	Three Rivers Stadium	9:00 PM	ABC	L 21–10	0–2
3	Sunday September 21	at Minnesota Vikings	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	1:00 PM	NBC	L 31–7	0–3
4	Sunday September 28	at Houston Oilers	Astrodome	1:00 PM	NBC	W 22–16 (OT)	1–3
5	Sunday October 5	Cleveland Browns	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	L 27–24	1–4
6	Monday October 13	at Cincinnati Bengals	Riverfront Stadium	9:00 PM	ABC	L 24–22	1–5
7	Sunday October 19	New England Patriots	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	L 23–10	1–6
8	Sunday October 26	Cincinnati Bengals	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	W 30–9	2–6
9	Sunday November 2	Green Bay Packers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS	W 27–3	3–6
10	Sunday November 9	at Buffalo Bills	Rich Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	L 16–12	3–7
11	Sunday November 16	Houston Oilers	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	W 21–10	4–7
12	Sunday November 23	at Cleveland Browns	Cleveland Municipal Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	L 37–31 (OT)	4–8
13	Sunday November 30	at Chicago Bears	Soldier Field	1:00 PM	NBC	L 13–10 (OT)	4–9
14	Sunday December 7	Detroit Lions	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	CBS	W 27–17	5–9
15	Saturday December 13	at New York Jets	Giants Stadium	12:30 PM	NBC	W 45–24	6–9
16	Sunday December 21	Kansas City Chiefs	Three Rivers Stadium	1:00 PM	NBC	L 24–19	6–10

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 7, 1986): at Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0
Seahawks	0	6	10	14	30

at The Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

• Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 61,461
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Seattle – Turner 4 pass from Krieg (kick failed)
• Seattle – Brown 18 interception return (Johnson kick)
• Seattle – FG Johnson 24
• Seattle – Largent 10 pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)
• Seattle – Morris 49 run (Johnson kick)

Week 2 (Monday September 15, 1986): vs. Denver Broncos

	1	2	3	4	OT
Broncos	0	7	7	7	21
Steelers	0	0	3	7	10

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 57,305
• Referee: Bob McElwee
• TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Denver – Watson 21 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
• Denver – Sewell 34 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 7 run (Anderson kick)
• Denver – Winder 13 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 21, 1986): at Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	0	0	0	7
Vikings	14	3	7	7	31

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 56,795
• Referee: Ben Dreith
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Minnesota – Jones 55 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 18 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Minnesota – Jones 16 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)
• Minnesota – FG C. Nelson 48
• Minnesota – Rice 12 run (C. Nelson kick)
• Minnesota – Gustafson 9 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 28, 1986): at Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	3	10	3	22
Oilers	3	7	0	6	16

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: Dome
• Game attendance: 42,001
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Houston – FG Zendejas 45
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42
• Houston – Givins 35 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
• Pittsburgh – Sweeney 19 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Houston – FG Zendejas 45
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
• Houston – FG Zendejas 28
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 23
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 3 run

Week 5 (Sunday October 5, 1986): vs. Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Browns	10	7	3	7	27
Steelers	0	14	7	3	24

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 57,327
• Referee: Dick Jorgensen
• TV announcers: Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

This was Cleveland's first win in Pittsburgh since 1969.

Scoring Drives:

• Cleveland – Slaughter 15 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 22
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 5 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – McNeil 100 kickoff return (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 39
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 45
• Cleveland – Byner 4 run (Bahr kick)

Week 6 (Monday October 13, 1986): at Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	2	10	3	22
Bengals	7	7	0	10	24

at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 54,283
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Lynn Swann (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Cincinnati – Holman 32 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Brister 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – McGee 7 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
• Pittsburgh – Safety, Hayes forced out of end zone
• Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 24
• Cincinnati – Hayes 61 run (Breech kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 40
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 44

Week 7 (Sunday October 19, 1986): vs. New England Patriots

	1	2	3	4	OT
Patriots	10	14	7	3	34
Steelers	0	0	0	0	0

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 54,743
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• New England – FG Franklin 31
• New England – Starring 43 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
• New England – Marion 37 interception return (Franklin kick)
• New England – Collins 10 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
• New England – Scott 2 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
• New England – FG Franklin 36

Week 8 (Sunday October 26, 1986): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	OT
Bengals	0	3	3	3	9
Steelers	3	14	6	7	30

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 50,815
• Referee: Jim Tunney
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 19
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 9 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 43
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 41
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 40
• Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Cincinnati – FG Breech 31

Week 9 (Sunday November 2, 1986): vs. Green Bay Packers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Packers	0	3	0	0	3
Steelers	10	3	7	7	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 52,831
• Referee: Chuck Heberling
• TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Hill (play by play), Johnny Morris (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 18 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
• Green Bay – FG Del Greco 34
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 9 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 9, 1986): at Buffalo Bills

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	0	12	0	12
Bills	6	7	0	3	16

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 72,000
• Referee: Gordon McCarter
• TV announcers: (NBC) Jay Randolph (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Buffalo – Reed 3 pass from Kelly (kick failed)
• Buffalo – Riddick 5 run (Norwood kick)
• Pittsburgh – Jackson 5 run (kick failed)
• Pittsburgh – Thompson 11 pass from Malone (kick failed)
• Buffalo – FG Norwood 29

Week 11 (Sunday November 16, 1986): vs. Houston Oilers

	1	2	3	4	OT
Oilers	7	3	0	0	10
Steelers	14	7	0	0	21

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 49,724
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 8 run (Anderson kick)
• Houston – Givins 33 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
• Pittsburgh – Jackson 3 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Erenberg 17 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Houston – FG Zendejas 44

Week 12 (Sunday November 23, 1986): at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	7	7	7	10	31
Browns	0	21	7	3	37

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 76,452
• Referee: Pat Haggerty
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Dickey 2 run (Bahr kick)
• Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 38 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Newsome 20 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – Dickey 4 run (Bahr kick)
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Cleveland – FG Bahr 25
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
• Cleveland – Slaughter 36 pass from Kosar

Week 13 (Sunday November 30, 1986): at Chicago Bears

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	3	7	0	10
Bears	3	0	0	7	13

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 61,425
• Referee: Jerry Seeman
• TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Chicago – FG Butler 39
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
• Pittsburgh – Gothard 12 from Newsome (Anderson kick)
• Chicago – Payton 3 run (Butler kick)
• Chicago – FG Butler 42

Week 14 (Sunday December 7, 1986): vs. Detroit Lions

	1	2	3	4	OT
Lions	0	10	7	0	17
Steelers	3	7	14	3	27

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 45,042
• Referee: Bob Frederic
• TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dick Vermeil (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 12 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Detroit – James 60 run (Murray kick)
• Detroit – FG Murray 30
• Detroit – Chadwick 1 pass from Ferguson (Murray kick)
• Pittsburgh – Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Lipps 39 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28

Week 15 (Saturday December 13, 1986): at New York Jets

	1	2	3	4	OT
Steelers	0	17	0	28	45
Jets	0	14	3	7	24

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Game time: 12:30 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 58,044
• Referee: Dick Hantak
• TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
• New York Jets – Townsell 93 kickoff return (Leahy kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 7 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• New York Jets – Sohn 24 pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)
• New York Jets – FG Leahy 18
• Pittsburgh – Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Stallworth 40 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
• Pittsburgh – Sanchez 67 interception return (Anderson kick)
• New York Jets – Shuler 5 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
• Pittsburgh – Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 16 (Sunday December 21, 1986): vs. Kansas City Chiefs

	1	2	3	4	OT
Chiefs	7	17	0	0	24
Steelers	0	6	7	6	19

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game time: 1:00 PM EST
• Game weather:
• Game attendance: 47,150
• Referee: Gene Barth
• TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

• Kansas City – Cherry recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lowery kick)
• Kansas City – FG Lowery 47
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Kansas City – Green 97 kickoff return (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Kansas City – Burruss 78 blocked field goal return (Lowery kick)
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
• Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Cleveland Browns	12	4	0	.750	391	310	W-5
Cincinnati Bengals	10	6	0	.625	409	394	W-1
Pittsburgh Steelers	6	10	0	.375	307	336	L-1
Houston Oilers	5	11	0	.313	274	329	W-2