Steelers Oddball Victory: Bobby Layne’s offensive onslaught

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a number of oddball victories throughout their storied history. Here’s one fans may not remember.

Since 1970, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had numerous remarkable offensive performances. Probably their single greatest offensive performance happened many years earlier.

This week’s oddball Steelers victory takes us deep into the annals of Pittsburgh history. Long before the days of the Steel Curtain, the Blonde Bomber, and the team’s familiar helmet logo. Back to the days when another NFL legend ran the Steelers offense. For this game, we go back six decades.

December 13, 1958: Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Chicago Cardinals 38-21

This matchup ended the 1958 schedule in which the Steelers would finish 7-4-1. Future Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne led Pittsburgh’s offense that year. He started the season in Detroit before they traded him to Pittsburgh two games into the season.

What makes this game unusual? They ran the most plays in Steelers history with 94. It also marked their most total offensive yards in a single game to this point at 683. Bobby Layne had 49 attempts and 23 completions for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also rushed four times for 55 yards and one touchdown.

Running back Tom Tracy also passed three times with one 72 yard touchdown to Jimmy Orr, including 18 rushes for 35 yards. Then he caught the ball seven times for 106 yards. Steelers running back, Tank Younger had 13 rushes for 106 yards, with three other Steeler running backs with six rushes. Orr had six receptions for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Jack McClairen had nine receptions for 139 yards. Then Tom Miner topped the game off with one field goal.

Indeed, it was a thrilling Steelers performance – even if it occurred 62 years ago. Interestingly enough, although Bobby Layne played first string, yet he had as back up quarterbacks the future All-Pro Earl Morrall and eventual Hall of fame inductee Len Dawson.

Pittsburgh only had two other games in which they had at least 90 offensive plays and won. Both contests came against the arch-rival Cleveland Browns, and both had precisely 90 plays. The first one played November 25, 1979; the Steelers won 33-30 at home in overtime and had their fourth-highest total yards output at 606. The second game played September 9, 1999, the Pittsburgh thumped Cleveland 43-0, only gaining 464 total yards.

The Steelers game with the second-highest total offensive yards at 646 came in a Tie against Atlanta in 2002. The third most total yards, 636, came in a  51-34 win at home against Indianapolis on October 26, 2014.  All games having 600 plus total yards at home, and the Steelers have a  3-1-1 record in games exceeding 90 plays and are 3-0-1 with games exceeding 600 plus total yards.

There are very few out there who would still remember the Steeler’s unusual win over the Chicago Cardinals from 1958, but that’s exactly why it’s worth bringing back up. This was just one milestone in many to becoming one of the best franchises in the history of the NFL.