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The Pittsburgh Steelers were making their second straight Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XIV and their fourth appearance in the championship game in six years. This time around, the Steelers were a 10.5-point favorite going up against the St. Louis Rams at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
Pittsburgh had already won three of the last five Super Bowls and many considered this to be the best version of the team to date. The offense was fueled by quarterback Terry Bradshaw, fullback Franco Harris and wideouts John Stallworth and Lynn Swann and finished at the top of the league with 412 points on the year. The “Steel Curtain” defense allowed the fewest total yards in the AFC as well, making this Steelers squad a well-oiled machine heading into the Super Bowl.
The Los Angeles Rams were far from dominant over the course of the regular season, plagued by injuries and finishing just 9-7 before going on a run in the playoffs. The Rams didn't get much from their passing game when starter Pat Haden went down with injury, but a strong season by running back Wendell Tyler and the defense kept St. Louis in the hunt. St. Louis got by Dallas 21-19 and then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-0 in the postseason.
Most fans and bettors didn't expect the Rams to put up any kind of fight against the Steelers in the Super Bowl as indicated by the fact that the Steelers were 10.5-point favorites. But the game actually turned out to be highly competitive. Los Angeles broke a 10-10 tie with a field goal to go into the half with a 13-10 lead, and actually led the Steelers 19-17 going into the fourth quarter. But a 73-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth gave the Steelers a 24-19 lead in the fourth, and a Franco Harris punch-in with under two minutes to play gave Pittsburgh backers a cover with a 31-19 win.
For the fourth time in five years, the Super Bowl went OVER its posted total of 36 points. Pittsburgh improved to 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS in its four Super Bowl appearances.
