Pittsburgh Steelers fans and historians couldn't help but watch in awe when Sam Hubbard of the Cincinnati Bengals scooped up a Tyler Huntley fumble and ran 98 yards to help secure his team's 24-17 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Sunday's Wild Card Weekend and surpassing a record set by former Pittsburgh All-Pro linebacker, Andy Russell.
Sam Hubbard (98 yards) just broke Andy Russell’s record (93 yards) for the longest fumble recovery TD in #NFL playoff history.
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) January 16, 2023
Andy’s TD was known as the longest TD ever scored #Steelers #Bengals pic.twitter.com/aGL6w221mu
The Steelers in 1975, just like Cincinnati this year, was coming off a Super Bowl appearance the previous season and faced a team from Baltimore in the divisional round. Both teams needed incredible efforts by play-makers on defense to book their spots in the next round of the postseason.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Franco Harris takes a hit from a Baltimore Colts defender at Three Rivers Stadium. Harris ran 27 times for 153 yards and a touchdown. Credit: Steelers.com
Steelers-Colts Divisional Round Clash
Coming off winning the franchise's first championship in 1974, the black and gold compiled a 12-2 record to win the AFC Central and finish atop the conference, a team many consider one of the best ever. In the game where the Terrible Towel made its debut, it was the vaunted Steelers' defense that propelled the team to victory.
The Steelers defense made life miserable for Colts backup Marty Domres as he completed only two passes, and threw a pick to Jack Ham. Credit: Steelers.com
On the other side, the Colts led by second-year quarterback, Bert Jones rebounded from a 2-12 campaign in 1974 to win the AFC East and looked to do some damage in the postseason for the first time since Johnny Unitas led the team to the 1972 AFC Championship as a 39-year-old in his last season with the franchise.
Looking to set the tone on their first offensive series, the Colts tried to go to the air. Jones, after scrambling to avoid the pressure from defensive end, Dwight White, was injured on a tackle by Pittsburgh cornerback, JT Thomas and had to leave the game. Backup signal-caller Marty Domres struggled with the formidable pass rush and threw the ball right into the hands of Jack Ham.
Pittsburgh drove quickly down the field with Terry Bradshaw completing a long bomb to Frank Lewis to set up the opening score in the first quarter with legendary running back, Franco Harris punching the ball in from eight yards for the early 7-0 lead a few plays later.
In the second quarter, Bradshaw dropped back only to be picked off by Lloyd Mumphord who returned it 58 yards to the 20-yard line and set up the Colts' lone touchdown of the outing with Domres finding Glenn Doughty from five yards out.
Nearing the end of the first half, Bradshaw broke out of the pocket and began sprinting down the field before being upended by Mumphord. The legendary quarterback needed help getting off with a sprained knee.
In the second half, the Colts grabbed a Harris fumble, his second of the game, and got into position to score the go-ahead touchdown, but Jack Lambert read the eyes of the quarterback and was able to get his hands on the ball and deflect it away to force Baltimore to settle for a field goal.
The Steelers defense got a big stop by LC Greenwood on running back, Lyndell Mitchell, Harris' Penn State partner in crime, and then an interception by Mel Blount got the team in position to take the lead.
Bradshaw, despite being roughed up in the first half, came out and handed the ball off to Rocky Bleier for the seven-yard score and a 14-10 lead.
Pittsburgh, propelled by the legs of Harris, pushed into Colts territory and Bradshaw leaped into the endzone to extend the lead.
With the Colts in desperation mode, Jones re-entered the game and sailed a pass over the head of Blount to a wide-open Doughty for 58 yards with two and a half minutes left to play. The Colts pushed the ball to the three-yard line, but as Jones dropped back, Ham knocked the ball loose and it was scooped up by Russell. The underappreciated Pittsburgh linebacker returned the ball for the then-record 93-yard return to seal the game and set up a date with then-Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship.
"I ran the first 50 yards in 9.4 seconds, and I slowed down some after that," joked Russell in the winner's locker room. "I thought about running straight into the dressing room because there was no way I was going to be ready for the next defensive series. What a great play that was (by Ham). First, he knocked the ball loose and then in the same motion, he blocked Bert Jones so I could get started."
So, Steeler Nation, did Hubbard's heroics have you thinking about Russell's mad dash 48 years ago? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.
#SteelerNation
