The Pittsburgh Steelers had a dominant run during the 1970s under Head Coach Chuck Noll. Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls during that time, establishing a dynasty that is celebrated by football fans worldwide. The Steelers are often hailed as one of the greatest franchises in NFL history, with their six Super Bowl victories. However, former players who faced those dominant Pittsburgh teams recall different reasons for their success.
Tribune-Review
Steelers legendary Head Coach, Chuck Noll before a game.
Mike Siani, a wide receiver for the then-Oakland Raiders from 1972 to 1977, shared his perspective on the Steelers' dominance. Siani detailed how Pittsburgh would cheat against the Raiders and get away with it. Over the years, when thinking of cheating franchises, the New England Patriots often come to mind. Former Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick and legendary quarterback Tom Brady were involved in several scandals, including the infamous Deflategate, where Brady was accused of instructing trainers to deflate footballs to gain an advantage during a playoff game in poor weather.
Siani expressed his disdain for playing at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh's former home. In the iconic book, Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold, Siani recounted how he believed the Steelers cheated when they played against the Raiders.
“They talk about Tom Brady and the air in the ball and all of that bull, but you don't know what cheating is until you walk into Three Rivers Stadium and it is 16 degrees below zero and they're hosing the field down with water, OK? Wait a minute, what's going on here? It's Astroturf, you don't need to water Astroturf. That was some pretty good cheating on their part. They got away with it. We showed up to play a football game, but we are playing on a sheet of ice, because it's 16 below zero and the grounds crew is watering the field down.”
Siani shared that the grounds crew would water down the field to negatively impact the Raiders. In cold weather, this turned the field into a sheet of ice. While it might be hard to fully grasp the advantage this gave Pittsburgh, as they also had to play on the same field, they were likely more accustomed to such conditions. Siani emphasized how crucial it was for the Raiders to defeat Pittsburgh despite these challenges.
“Both teams were so talented that we always knew-when we got into training camp, one of the things John Madden would talk about when he stood in front of the team, even before the first practice, was, ‘We gotta beat the Steelers.’ We knew that every other team in the league, we were going to beat. We knew it. But he always said, if you want to get to the Super Bowl, we know the Steelers are going to be waiting for us, just like they knew we were going to be waiting for them at the end of the year.”
When the Raiders played against the Steelers, both teams felt intense pressure to assert their dominance.
“Therefore, anytime we met during the season, which wasn't that often, we knew that we had to show them or they had to show us who was the dominant team. So things like Lynn Swann getting carried off the field on a gurney because he got clotheslined by George Atkinson, or things like players yelling and screaming and calling each other names on the field, or taking cheap shots at guys, those were just things that happened because of the rivalry.”
Steelers-Raiders Was An Iconic Rivalry In The 1970s
The Raiders versus Steelers rivalry in the 1970s was one of the most exciting and intense matchups in NFL history. Siani, a key player for the Raiders, was involved in several of those legendary games. However, the full scope of this fierce rivalry extended beyond Siani's time with the Raiders. During the 1970s, Pittsburgh faced Oakland 11 times, including five playoff battles. Remarkably, three of those playoff encounters were for the AFC Championship. Throughout the decade, the Raiders managed to secure six wins out of the 11 matchups against the Steelers.
Associated Press
Steelers' "Mean" Joe Greene speaks with John Madden.
John Madden, the iconic head coach of the Raiders, and Noll, the legendary coach of the Steelers, led teams that were both exceptionally talented and highly respected. Every possible edge was sought by both sides to gain an advantage. Siani has long maintained that Pittsburgh attempted to cheat during home games by spraying water on the field, creating challenging playing conditions. However, it is important to note that both teams had to play on that same field and under the same conditions. It seems improbable that Pittsburgh would risk worsening the playing conditions just to gain a slight advantage. Despite this, Siani still firmly believes that Pittsburgh cheated and got away with it.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Terry Bradshaw throws a pass against the then-Oakland Raiders.
This rivalry was marked by fierce competition, iconic games, and unforgettable moments. The legacy of the Raiders-Steelers battles in the 1970s continues to be a significant chapter in NFL history, showcasing the intensity and passion that defined the era.
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