# 1992 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1992 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 60th season as a professional sports franchise and as a member of the National Football League.
The Pittsburgh Steelers celebrated their 60th Anniversary season in 1992. This was also Bill Cowher's first season as head coach following the retirement of Chuck Noll after 23 seasons. The team was coming off a 7–9 season in 1991.
Cowher led the Steelers to an 11–5 record in his first season and the top seed in the AFC playoffs. However, in what later became commonplace in Cowher's reign as coach of the Steelers, the team failed to capitalize on the seeding and lost at home to the eventual AFC champion Buffalo Bills in the divisional playoffs.

## Offseason

| Additions | Subtractions |
| TE Tim Jorden (Cardinals) | DE Keith Willis (Bills) |
| P Mark Royals (Buccaneers) | WR Louis Lipps (Saints) |
| T Stan Clayton (Patriots) | |

### NFL draft

1992 Pittsburgh Steelers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 11 | Leon Searcy * | Tackle | Miami (FL) |
| 2 | 38 | Levon Kirkland * | Linebacker | Clemson |
| 3 | 67 | Joel Steed * | Nose tackle | Colorado |
| 4 | 94 | Charles Davenport | Wide receiver | North Carolina State |
| 5 | 123 | Alan Haller | Cornerback | Michigan State |
| 7 | 179 | Russ Campbell | Tight end | Kansas State |
| 7 | 188 | Scottie Graham | Running back | Ohio State |
| 8 | 203 | Darren Perry | Free safety | Penn State |
| 8 | 206 | Hesham Ismail | Guard | Florida |
| 8 | 215 | Nate Williams | Defensive tackle | Mississippi State |
| 9 | 235 | Elnardo Webster | Linebacker | Rutgers |
| 10 | 262 | Mike Saunders | Running back | Iowa |
| 11 | 262 | Kendall Gammon * | Long snapper | Pittsburg State |
| 12 | 318 | Cornelius Benton | Quarterback | Connecticut |
| Made roster ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1992 Undrafted Free Agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Gerry Collins | Running back | Penn State |
| Mark Didio | Wide receiver | UConn |
| Paul Siffri | Tight end | Furman |
| Derrick Thomas | Linebacker | Kentucky |

## Staff

Notable additions include Levon Kirkland, Joel Steed, Darren Perry and Yancey Thigpen

## Preseason
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Game site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Result | Record |
| 1 | Sat. Aug. 8 | Philadelphia Eagles | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | L 35–33 | 0–1 |
| 2 | Mon. Aug. 17 | at New Orleans Saints | Louisiana Superdome | 8:00 p.m. | WPXI | L 26–0 | 0–2 |
| 3 | Sun. Aug. 23 | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 8:00 p.m. | TNT | W 28–17 | 1–2 |
| 4 | Sat. Aug. 29 | New York Giants | Three Rivers Stadium | 6:00 p.m. | WPXI | W 24–3 | 2–2 |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Game site | Kickoff (ET) | TV | Result | Record |
| 1 | Sun. Sep. 6 | at Houston Oilers | Astrodome | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 29–24 | 1–0 |
| 2 | Sun. Sep. 13 | New York Jets | Three Rivers Stadium | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | W 27–10 | 2–0 |
| 3 | Sun. Sep. 20 | at San Diego Chargers | Jack Murphy Stadium | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | W 23–6 | 3–0 |
| 4 | Sun. Sep. 27 | at Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | L 17–3 | 3–1 |
| 5 | Sun. Oct. 4 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 6 | Sun. Oct. 11 | at Cleveland Browns | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 17–9 | 3–2 |
| 7 | Mon. Oct. 19 | Cincinnati Bengals | Three Rivers Stadium | 9:00 p.m. | ABC | W 20–0 | 4–2 |
| 8 | Sun. Oct. 25 | at Kansas City Chiefs | Arrowhead Stadium | 7:30 p.m. | TNT | W 27–3 | 5–2 |
| 9 | Sun. Nov. 1 | Houston Oilers | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 21–20 | 6–2 |
| 10 | Sun. Nov. 8 | at Buffalo Bills | Rich Stadium | 4:00 p.m. | NBC | L 28–20 | 6–3 |
| 11 | Sun. Nov. 15 | Detroit Lions | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | W 17–14 | 7–3 |
| 12 | Sun. Nov. 22 | Indianapolis Colts | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 30–14 | 8–3 |
| 13 | Sun. Nov. 29 | at Cincinnati Bengals | Riverfront Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 21–9 | 9–3 |
| 14 | Sun. Dec. 6 | Seattle Seahawks | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 20–14 | 10–3 |
| 15 | Sun. Dec. 13 | at Chicago Bears | Soldier Field | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | L 30–6 | 10–4 |
| 16 | Sun. Dec. 20 | Minnesota Vikings | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | CBS | L 6–3 | 10–5 |
| 17 | Sun. Dec. 27 | Cleveland Browns | Three Rivers Stadium | 1:00 p.m. | NBC | W 23–13 | 11–5 |

### Game summaries
#### Week 1 (Sunday September 6, 1992): at Houston Oilers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 29 |
| Oilers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 63,713
* Referee: Gary Lane
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)
Bill Cowher wins his first game as Steelers Head Coach.
Scoring drives:
* Houston – Meads 15 fumble return (Del Greco kick)
* Houston – Givins 11 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
* Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
* Houston – FG Del Greco 36
* Pittsburgh – Graham 26 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Houston – Givins 8 pass from Moon (Del Greco kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 37
* Pittsburgh – Cooper 9 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)

#### Week 2 (Sunday September 13, 1992): vs. New York Jets

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 56,050
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* New York Jets – FG Staurovsky 32
* Pittsburgh – Foster 23 run (Anderson kick)
* New York Jets – Brim 77 interception return (Staurovsky kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
* Pittsburgh – Foster 54 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
* Pittsburgh – Griffin 65 interception return (Anderson kick)

#### Week 3 (Sunday September 20, 1992): at San Diego Chargers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 23 |
| Chargers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California
* Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 46,127
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* San Diego – FG Carney 24
* Pittsburgh – Cooper 24 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* San Diego – FG Carney 43
* Pittsburgh – Stone 6 pass from O'Donnell (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – O'Donnell 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 42

#### Week 4 (Sunday September 27, 1992): at Green Bay Packers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Packers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
* Game time: 4:00 pm EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 58,724
* Referee: Howard Roe
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Todd Christensen (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 35
* Green Bay – FG Jacke 47
* Green Bay – Sharpe 76 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)
* Green Bay – Brooks 8 pass from Favre (Jacke kick)

#### Week 6 (Sunday October 11, 1992): at Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Game time: 1:00 pm EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 78,080
* Referee: Larry Nemmers
* TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 25
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36
* Cleveland – FG Stover 51
* Cleveland – Mack 1 run (Stover kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 40
* Cleveland – Jackson 47 pass from Tomczak (Stover kick)

#### Week 7 (Monday October 19, 1992): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 9:00 pm EDT
* Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) (Clear)
* Game attendance: 55,411
* Referee: Gerald Austin
* TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf (color commentators)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 21
* Pittsburgh – Stone 24 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Stone 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 27

#### Week 8 (Sunday October 25, 1992): at Kansas City Chiefs

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* On October 24, 1992, Eddie Murray (American football) signed with the Kansas City Chiefs to play this game in place of an injured Nick Lowery. He was released on October 28.
* Game time: 7:30 pm EST
* Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • 9 miles per hour (14 km/h; 7.8 kn)
* Game attendance: 76,175
* Referee: Tom White
* TV announcers: NFL on TNT (TNT) Gary Bender (play by play), Pat Haden (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Woodson 80 punt return (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 30
* Kansas City – FG Murray 52
* Pittsburgh – Foster 4 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Green 4 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)

#### Week 9 (Sunday November 1, 1992): vs. Houston Oilers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 3 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) (Light Rain)
* Game attendance: 58,074
* Referee: Ed Hochuli
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bill Parcells (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Houston – FG Del Greco 29
* Houston – FG Del Greco 19
* Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Houston – Slaughter 11 pass from Carlson (Del Greco kick)
* Houston – Childress 8 fumble return (Del Greco kick)
* Pittsburgh – Cooper 2 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Green 5 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)

#### Week 10 (Sunday November 8, 1992): at Buffalo Bills

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 20 |
| Bills | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Game time: 4:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 80,294
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bill Parcells (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Buffalo – Lofton 22 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28
* Buffalo – Frerotte 2 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)
* Buffalo – Thomas 1 run (Christie kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 49
* Pittsburgh – Mills 12 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Buffalo – Lofton 45 pass from Kelly (Christie kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoge 11 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)

#### Week 11 (Sunday November 15, 1992): vs. Detroit Lions

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 29 °F (−2 °C) (Snow Showers)
* Game attendance: 52,242
* Referee: Johnny Grier
* TV announcers: (CBS) Sean McDonough (play by play), John Robinson (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Mills 11 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 20
* Detroit – Green 73 pass from Kramer (Hanson kick)
* Detroit – Sanders 1 run (Hanson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Jorden 1 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)

#### Week 12 (Sunday November 22, 1992): vs. Indianapolis Colts

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 7 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 30 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) (Light Rain)
* Game attendance: 51,101
* Referee: Gary Lane
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Cris Collinsworth (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Foster 20 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 31
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 22
* Indianapolis – Culver 1 run (Biasucci kick)
* Pittsburgh – Foster 13 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Thompson 2 run (Anderson kick)
* Indianapolis – Culver 4 pass from Trudeau (Biasucci kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 36

#### Week 13 (Sunday November 29, 1992): at Cincinnati Bengals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Bengals | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 54,253
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers: (NBC) Dan Hicks (play by play), John Dockery (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Davenport 34 fumble return (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati – FG Breech 33
* Pittsburgh – Foster 2 run (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati – FG Breech 42
* Pittsburgh – Foster 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati – FG Breech 38

#### Week 14 (Sunday December 6, 1992): vs. Seattle Seahawks

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C) (Cloudy)
* Game attendance: 47,015
* Referee: Larry Nemmers
* TV announcers: (NBC) Jim Lampley (play by play), Ahmad Rashad (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Mills 19 pass from O'Donnell (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
* Seattle – Kane 28 pass from Gelbaugh (Kasay kick)
* Seattle – Williams 3 pass from Gelbaugh (Kasay kick)
* Pittsburgh – Foster 4 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 39

#### Week 15 (Sunday December 13, 1992): at Chicago Bears

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Bears | 3 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 30 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: December 13, 1992
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 34 °F (1 °C)
* Game attendance: 52, 904
* Referee: Gerald Austin
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bill Parcells
* Pro-Football-Reference, The Football Database
Game information :
First quarter
CHI – Kevin Butler 37-yard field goal, 3:40. Bears 3–0. Drive:
Second quarter
CHI – Darren Lewis 3-yard run (Kevin Butler kick), 6:27. Bears 10–0. Drive:
CHI – Kevin Butler 26-yard field goal, 0:50. Bears 13–0. Drive:
PIT – Gary Anderson 38-yard field goal, 0:08. Bears 13–3. Drive:
Third quarter
CHI – Neal Anderson 15-yard pass from Jim Harbaugh (Kevin Butler kick), 6:20. Bears 20–3. Drive:
Fourth quarter
CHI – Kevin Butler 38-yard field goal, 13:35. Bears 23–3. Drive:
PIT – Gary Anderson 38-yard field goal, 10:05. Bears 23–6. Drive:
CHI – Neal Anderson 6-yard run (Kevin Butler kick), 3:02. Bears 30–6. Drive:
Top passers
PIT – Bubby Brister – 14/31, 143 yards, 2 INT
CHI – Jim Harbaugh – 11/21, 90 yards, TD
Top rushers
PIT – Barry Foster – 12 rushes, 25 yards
CHI – Neal Anderson – 11 rushes, 56 yards, TD
Top receivers
PIT – Adrian Cooper – 3 receptions, 58 yards
CHI – Wendell Davis – 3 receptions, 41 yards :

#### Week 16 (Sunday December 20, 1992): vs. Minnesota Vikings

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 53,613
* Referee: Dick Hantak
* TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dan Fouts (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 23
* Minnesota – FG Reveiz 38
* Minnesota – FG Reveiz 36

#### Week 17 (Sunday December 27, 1992): vs. Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| Steelers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 1:00 pm EST
* Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C) (Sunny)
* Game attendance: 53,776
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers: (NBC) Joel Meyers (play by play), Paul Maguire (color commentator)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – Foster 7 run (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland – FG Stover 22
* Pittsburgh – Jorden 2 pass from Brister (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 26
* Cleveland – M. Jackson 38 pass from Tomczak (Stover kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 29
* Cleveland – FG Stover 22
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 28

### Standings

AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(1)}$ Pittsburgh Steelers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–1 | 10–2 | 299 | 225 | W1 |
| $^{(5)}$ Houston Oilers | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 352 | 258 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 272 | 275 | L3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 274 | 364 | L1 |

## Playoffs
### Game summary
#### AFC Divisional Playoff (Saturday January 9, 1993): vs. Buffalo Bills

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time: 12:30 pm EST
* Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C) (Light Rain)
* Game attendance: 60,407
* Referee: Bernie Kukar
* TV announcers: (NBC) Marv Albert (play by play), Bill Parcells (color commentator), John Dockery (Pittsburgh Sideline) and O. J. Simpson (Buffalo Sideline)
Scoring drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Anderson 38
* Buffalo – Frerotte 1 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
* Buffalo – Lofton 17 pass from Reich (Christie kick)
* Buffalo – FG Christie 43
* Buffalo – Gardner 1 run (Christie kick)

## Awards, honors, and records

* Bill Cowher, AP NFL Coach of the Year
* Bill Cowher, Sporting News NFL Coach of the Year