Super Bowl XIV (vs Los Angeles Rams)

Lore & Background

The Rams became the first team to reach the Super Bowl after posting nine wins or fewer during the regular season since the NFL season expanded to 16 games in 1978. Their 9–7 regular season record was followed by postseason wins over the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Steelers were the defending Super Bowl XIII champions, and finished the 1979 regular season with a 12–4 record, and posted playoff victories over the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Oilers. Despite the final score, Super Bowl XIV was a seesaw battle for the majority of the contest. The lead changed seven times, which remains a Super Bowl record as of the source article's publication. It was the third Super Bowl where the winning team was behind at halftime (Super Bowl V and Super Bowl X were the others; the Colts trailed the Cowboys 13–6 at the half in V en route to win 16–13, while the Steelers trailed the Cowboys 10–7 in X and won 21–17) and the first where they were behind by the fourth quarter. Los Angeles took the lead three times while Pittsburgh took it four times, including the game clincher. The Rams led 13–10 at halftime before Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw connected with wide receiver Lynn Swann on a 47-yard touchdown pass. Los Angeles regained the lead on a halfback option play with running back Lawrence McCutcheon's 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith. But Pittsburgh controlled the fourth quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points with Bradshaw's 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Stallworth, and running back Franco Harris' 1-yard touchdown run. Despite throwing three interceptions, Bradshaw was named Super Bowl MVP by completing 14 of 21 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns.

In Their Own Story

The Pasadena air bit with a chill, heavy with the weight of history as Chuck Noll stood stoic on the sideline, watching Terry Bradshaw survey a field that felt suddenly too small. The clock bled down; the score remained tied at 19-19. Then came the collapse—the Rams' pocket crumbled around Bradshaw. He scrambled, eyes scanning the chaos until they locked onto John Stallworth, who had slipped past the secondary like smoke into the end zone. The ball spiraled through the crisp California air, a perfect white arc against the blue sky. Stallworth snatched it from the grasp of Rams defenders, his cleats hitting the turf as the Rose Bowl erupted in a roar that shook the stadium. It was the final blow: the fourth crown claimed by black and gold.

Reader's Guide

The NFL awarded Super Bowl XIV to Pasadena on June 14, 1977, at the owners' meetings held in New York City. For the first time since 1973, multiple Super Bowl host sites were selected at the same meeting. A total of eight cities submitted bids: Miami, Pasadena (Rose Bowl), Los Angeles (Coliseum), Houston, New Orleans, Dallas (Cotton Bowl), Seattle (Kingdome), and Detroit (Pontiac Silverdome). Seattle and Detroit were attempting to become the first cold-weather city to host a Super Bowl, albeit inside a domed stadium. Though neither were selected, Detroit was invited to bid for a future game at the next meeting. The selection of Pasadena came just six months after the Rose Bowl hosted its first Super Bowl (XI). Observers noted that the owners stuck with familiar venues this time around, choosing Miami for XIII and Pasadena for XIV. Early favorite Houston (Rice Stadium) reportedly fell out of favor with owners when it was revealed that birds were found in the showers of the Vikings training facility during Super Bowl VIII. Likewise New Orleans was passed over since the Superdome was already set to host Super Bowl XII.

Did You Know?

• The Rams barely outscored their opponents, 323–309, and finished the regular season with a 9–7 record, the worst ever by a team who advanced to the Super Bowl (that record was later tied by the Arizona Cardinals in Super
• The Rams' defense established a still-current NFL record by holding the Seattle Seahawks' offense to a total of minus 7 yards for the game on November 4, 1979.
• Pittsburgh led the league with 6,258 yards in total offense, an average of 391 yards per game and just 31 yards short of an NFL record.
• The Steelers' offense led the NFL with a staggering 52 turnovers in the regular season, a trend that would continue in Super Bowl XIV.

Historical Context and Venue Significance

Super Bowl XIV, played on January 20, 1980, marked a historic milestone as the first championship game hosted within the home market of one of the competing franchises. Held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, the venue sat merely ten miles from downtown Los Angeles, where the Rams were based. The selection process had been competitive, with eight cities submitting bids, including cold-weather domes in Seattle and Detroit, but owners ultimately favored familiar grounds like Pasadena and Miami. This decision came just six months after the Rose Bowl hosted Super Bowl XI, signaling a preference for established venues over new frontiers at the time. For the Rams, playing so close to their home base added immense pressure, especially as they were preparing to move to Anaheim Stadium following the season. The game's location underscored the growing commercial footprint of the NFL in Southern California while providing a unique atmosphere where local fans could witness their team chase history on familiar turf.

The Rams' Underdog Journey and Roster Dynamics

The Los Angeles Rams entered Super Bowl XIV as remarkable underdogs, becoming the first team since the 1978 season expansion to reach the championship with nine or fewer regular-season wins. Their 9–7 record was marred by significant injuries, most notably the loss of starting quarterback Pat Haden, forcing backup Vince Ferragamo into a high-pressure role where he threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Despite these struggles, Ferragamo guided the team to six victories in their final seven games. Offensively, the Rams relied heavily on halfback Wendell Tyler, who led the league with a 5.1 yards-per-carry average and scored ten touchdowns, supported by fullback Cullen Bryant and deep-threat receiver Preston Dennard. Defensively, however, they were formidable, anchored by Pro Bowl end Jack Youngblood, who played through a broken leg, and linebacker Jim Youngblood, who returned two interceptions for scores. Their defense was so dominant that they once held an opponent to minus-seven yards in a single game, showcasing the unit's elite capability even as the team navigated internal turmoil following owner Carroll Rosenbloom's death.

Game Flow and Defining Fourth Quarter Turnaround

Super Bowl XIV is remembered for its dramatic volatility, featuring seven lead changes that remain a Super Bowl record as of 2023. The contest was a seesaw battle where the Rams held a 13–10 advantage at halftime, only to see the Steelers rally behind quarterback Terry Bradshaw and wide receiver Lynn Swann's 47-yard touchdown connection. Although Los Angeles briefly reclaimed the lead through a creative halfback option play resulting in a Ron Smith score, Pittsburgh seized control entirely in the final quarter. The Steelers scored 14 unanswered points to seal the victory, highlighted by Bradshaw's spectacular 73-yard strike to John Stallworth and a short goal-line plunge by Franco Harris. This fourth-quarter dominance was crucial, as it marked the first time the winning team trailed entering the period.

Legacy of the Four-Time Champions

The victory in Super Bowl XIV cemented the Pittsburgh Steelers' place in history as the first franchise to win four Super Bowls, solidifying their status as the premier dynasty of the era. Entering the game as defending champions from Super Bowl XIII, the Steelers had navigated a 12–4 regular season and defeated the Miami Dolphins and Houston Oilers en route to Pasadena. Their triumph over the Rams not only extended their legacy but also highlighted the resilience required to maintain excellence in professional football. While the Rams' journey was defined by overcoming adversity and internal strife, the Steelers' performance showcased a balanced attack capable of weathering early deficits. The game's statistical anomalies, such as the record number of lead changes and Bradshaw's MVP performance despite turnovers, added layers of complexity to this chapter of NFL history. Ultimately, Super Bowl XIV served as a capstone for the original Steel Curtain era, proving that their dominance was not a fleeting moment but a sustained period of unparalleled success in the league.