1985 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Infobox NFL season
team = Pittsburgh Steelers
year = 1985
record = 7-9
division_place = 2nd in AFC Central
coach = Chuck Noll
stadium = Three Rivers Stadium
playoffs = did not qualify
previous = 1984
next = 1986

Offseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game Summaries

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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Colts
R1=3
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=7
H2=17
H3=7
H4=14"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 55,279
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Browns
H1=0
H2=7
H3=3
H4=7"at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 79,042
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oilers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=3
H3=3
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 58,752
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bengals
R1=0
R2=14
R3=7
R4=16
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=10
H3=14
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 59,541
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=17
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Dolphins
H1=7
H2=7
H3=3
H4=7"at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 72,820
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=3
R3=0
R4=10
Home=Cowboys
H1=0
H2=10
H3=10
H4=7"at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 62,932
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Cardinals
R1=3
R2=0
R3=0
R4=7
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=3
H3=6
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 56,478
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=7
R3=0
R4=14
Home=Bengals
H1=3
H2=14
H3=9
H4=0"at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 55,241
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Browns
R1=0
R2=6
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=7
H4=3"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 51,976
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=10
R2=17
R3=3
R4=6
Home=Chiefs
H1=7
H2=7
H3=0
H4=14"at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 46,126
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=3
R2=7
R3=13
R4=7
Home=Oilers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=7
H4=0"at Astrodome, Houston, Texas"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EST
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 45,977
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Redskins
R1=14
R2=6
R3=7
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=3
H2=14
H3=0
H4=6"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 59,293
* Referee:
* 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 Scott Campbell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Erenberg 9 pass from Scott Campbell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 39
* Washington - Riggins 1 run (Moseley kick)
* Washington - FG Moseley 37
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 42
* Washington - FG Moseley 27

Week 13 (Sunday December 1, 1985): vs. Denver Broncos

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Broncos
R1=0
R2=10
R3=0
R4=21
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=6
H3=3
H4=14"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 56,797
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=13
R3=14
R4=10
Home=Chargers
H1=21
H2=13
H3=7
H4=13"at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 52,098
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bills
R1=7
R2=14
R3=0
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=14
H3=6
H4=10"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 35,953
* Referee:
* 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

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=3
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Giants
H1=7
H2=21
H3=0
H4=0"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"

* Game time: 12:30 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 66,785
* Referee:
* 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