1966 NFL Week 10

"GAME-OF-THE-WEEK"

Sunday November 13, 1966

Pittsburgh Steelers vs St. Louis Cardinals

It's a gorgeous and sunny November day at old Pitt Stadium, as the division-leading (7-1-1) St. Louis Cardinals visit the 2-5-1 Steelers who last week knocked off the Cleveland Browns in this same stadium. The Cardinals have lost only one game all season (they tied the up-and-coming Cowboys 4 weeks ago and the following week lost at Washington). However, a shadow hangs over the team this week because two starters, including top quarterback Charlie Johnson and center Bob DeMarco, are now out for the season as both submitted to knee surgery this past week. Backup QB Terry Nofsinger will quarterback the club and Irv Goode is moving over from guard to center to replace DeMarco.

This game clearly changes abruptly on a single play in the second quarter! The Cardinals' first possession ends with a 37-yard FG by kicker Jim Bakken and St. Louis takes the lead, 3-0. Soon the Cardinals are again knocking on the Steeler door. Nofsinger completes passes to Jackie Smith and Sonny Randle, moving the ball to the Steeler nine. A third-down Nofsinger to Bobby Joe Conrad pass is broken up by Marv Woodson and the Redbirds are limited to a second Jim Bakken FG. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh QB Ron Smith is having trouble generating any sort of Steeler offense. Rushed and hit by Joe Robb, he fumbles on his own 11-yard line and Bill Komen recovers the ball on the Steeler four! Once again, the Steeler defense holds, limiting St. Louis to another FG by Bakken, so after three great opportunities to score, the Cardinals lead only 9-0 late in the first quarter. So far, Ron Smith has been ineffective moving the Steelers and they must again punt. However, Frank Lambert's kick is fumbled by Johnny Roland and is recovered by Ralph Wenzel at the Cardinal 31! Again, the Steelers can't move the ball, but Mike Clark's 40-yard FG changes the score to St. Louis 9, Pittsburgh 3 by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter the game turns when Jackie Smith's punt is blocked by Paul Martha, who also scoops it up and races to the end zone! In an instant, the Steelers suddenly have the lead, 10-9! The Cardinals have a chance to take back the lead on their next possession, but this time Bakken's long 49-yard FG try is short and the ball is fielded by Brady Keys who runs it back to the Pittsburgh 24. This possession results in a 35-yard FG by Clark and at halftime the score is Steelers 13, Cardinals 9.

A third-quarter 22-yard field goal by Mike Clark is the only second-half score by either team as the final quarter opens with an interception by Paul Martha who carries the ball all the way back to the Cardinal 11-yard line! Ron Smith, given plenty of time to throw, hits John Hilton in the end zone with his first TD pass of the game, and Pittsburgh now has a 23-9 lead. The Steeler defense again forces the Cardinals to punt twice more. Then on third down and five on the Cardinal 41, the Steelers clinch the game when Smith hands off to Dick Hoak who runs to the right and tosses a halfback option pass to the 15-yard line where Roy Jefferson is all alone and takes the ball in for the touchdown, making the final score Steelers 30, Cardinals 9.

Throughout this DVD (narrated by Lindsey Nelson) you'll see many other Steelers of the day: Clendon Thomas, Andy Russell, Ben McGee, Lloyd Voss, Ken Kortas, Bill Asbury, Amos Bullocks, Chuck Hinton and John Campbell. Other Cardinals you'll see include Prentice Gautt, Billy Gambrell, all-pro Larry Wilson, Don Brumm, Jerry Stovall, Lloyd Boss and more.

To order your own DVD of this well-remembered game, send $29.95 plus $4.60 S&H to:
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