# 1965 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1965 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 33rd in the National Football League.
The team set a modern NFL record with a minus-30 turnover ratio. Their -195 point differential is the worst in Steelers history.

## NFL draft

1965 Pittsburgh Steelers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 2 | 18 | Roy Jefferson * | Wide receiver | Utah | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | September 19 | Green Bay Packers | L 9–41 | 0–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 2 | September 26 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 17–27 | 0–2 | Kezar Stadium |
| 3 | October 3 | New York Giants | L 13–23 | 0–3 | Pitt Stadium |
| 4 | October 9 | at Cleveland Browns | L 19–24 | 0–4 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium |
| 5 | October 17 | St. Louis Cardinals | L 7–20 | 0–5 | Pitt Stadium |
| 6 | October 24 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 20–14 | 1–5 | Franklin Field |
| 7 | October 31 | Dallas Cowboys | W 22–13 | 2–5 | Pitt Stadium |
| 8 | November 7 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 17–21 | 2–6 | Busch Stadium (I) |
| 9 | November 14 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 17–24 | 2–7 | Cotton Bowl |
| 10 | November 21 | Washington Redskins | L 3–31 | 2–8 | Pitt Stadium |
| 11 | November 28 | Cleveland Browns | L 21–42 | 2–9 | Pitt Stadium |
| 12 | December 5 | at New York Giants | L 10–35 | 2–10 | Yankee Stadium |
| 13 | December 12 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 13–47 | 2–11 | Pitt Stadium |
| 14 | December 19 | at Washington Redskins | L 14–35 | 2–12 | D. C. Stadium |
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1 (Sunday September 19, 1965): Green Bay Packers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers | 0 | 7 | 13 | 21 | 41 |
| Steelers | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 38,383
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 21
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 34
* Green Bay – Adderley 34 interception (Chandler kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 32
* Green Bay – Fleming 31 pass from Starr (Chandler kick)
* Green Bay – FG Chandler 9
* Green Bay – FG Chandler 19
* Green Bay – Hornung 10 pass from Starr (Chandler kick)
* Green Bay – Pitts 2 run (Chandler kick)
* Green Bay – Pitts 2 run (Chandler kick)

#### Week 2 (Sunday September 26, 1965): San Francisco 49ers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| 49ers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 30,140
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* San Francisco – Crow 49 pass from Brodie (Davis kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 1 run (Clark kick)
* San Francisco – FG Davis 37
* San Francisco – FG Davis 27
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 32
* San Francisco – Wiltard 9 run (Davis kick)
* Pittsburgh – Campbell 15 fumble return (Clark kick)
* San Francisco – Brodie 4 run (Davis kick)

#### Week 3 (Sunday October 3, 1965): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 7 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 23 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 31,871
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* New York Giants – Thurlow 6 run (Stynchula kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 22
* New York Giants – Morrison 4 pass form Morrall (Stynchula kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 48
* New York Giants – FG Timberlake 43
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 1 run (Clark kick)
* New York Giants – Thomas 29 pass form Morrall (kick failed)

#### Week 4 (Saturday October 9, 1965): Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| Browns | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 80,187
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Cleveland – FG Groza 38
* Cleveland – Brown 4 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nelsen 1 run (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak – 42 run (kick failed)
* Cleveland – Brown 1 run (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 15 run (Clark kick)
* Cleveland – Collins 14 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)

#### Week 5 (Sunday October 17, 1965): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 31,085
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* St. Louis – Randle 8 pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 5 run (Clark kick)
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 32
* St. Louis – Conrad 71 pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 35

#### Week 6 (Sunday October 24, 1965): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Franklin Field, Philadelphia
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 56,515
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – Gros 4 run (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Daniel 17 fumble return (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – J. Bradshaw 82 interception return (Clark kick)
* Pittsburgh – Lind 4 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Philadelphia – Poage 14 pass from Concannon (Baker kick)
As of 2024, this remains the Steelers last win over the Eagles in Philadelphia.

#### Week 7 (Sunday October 31, 1965): Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Steelers | 0 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 22 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 37,804
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Dallas – Smith 2 pass from Meredith (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 2 pass from Nelsen (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 20 pass from Nelsen (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 72 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Dallas – Gent 8 pass from Meredith (Villanueva kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 18

#### Week 8 (Sunday November 7, 1965): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 31,899
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 11
* St. Louis – Triplett 3 run (Bakken kick)
* St. Louis – Randle 15 pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)
* Pittsburgh – Jefferson 50 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Pittsburgh – Lind 2 run (Clark kick)
* St. Louis – Gambrell 59 pass from Johnson (Bakken kick)

#### Week 9 (Sunday November 14, 1965): Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 57,293
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 3 run (Clark kick)
* Dallas – Clarke 1 pass from Meredith (Villanueva kick)
* Dallas – FG Villanueva 33
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 32
* Pittsburgh – Folkins 18 fumble return (Clark kick)
* Dallas – Reeves 2 run (Villanueva kick)
* Dallas – Hayes 28 pass from Meredith (Villanueva kick)

#### Week 10 (Sunday November 21, 1965): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 25,052
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 34
* Washington – Lewis 1 run (Jencks kick)
* Washington – FG Jencks 9
* Washington – Taylor 8 run (Jencks kick)
* Washington – Coia 45 pass from Jurgensen (Jencks kick)
* Washington – Harris 57 punt return (Jencks kick)

#### Week 11 (Sunday November 28, 1965): Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 42 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 42,757
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Cleveland – Kelly 56 punt return (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 2 run (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 2 run (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 87 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 15 run (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Butler 43 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Cleveland – Brewer 25 pass from Ninowski (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Thomas 80 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 27 pass from Ninowski (Groza kick)

#### Week 12 (Sunday December 5, 1965): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Giants | 7 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 62,735
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* New York Giants – Shofner 33 pass from Morrall (Timberlake kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 25
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 1 run (Clark kick)
* New York Giants – Frederickson 13 run (Timberlake kick)
* New York Giants – Frederickson 3 run (Timberlake kick)
* New York Giants – Frederickson 19 pass from Morrall (Timberlake kick)
* New York Giants – Jones 28 pass from Wood (Timberlake kick)

#### Week 13 (Sunday December 12, 1965): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 27 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 47 |
| Steelers | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 22,002
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – Gros 2 run (Baker kick)
* Philadelphia – Retzlaff 13 pass from Snead (kick failed)
* Philadelphia – Matson 8 run (Baker kick)
* Philadelphia – Baughan 33 interception return (Baker kick)
* Philadelphia – Nettles 56 interception return (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 20 pass from Wade (Clark kick)
* Pittsburgh – Woodson 61 interception return (kick failed)
* Philadelphia – Tarasovic 40 interception return (kick failed)
* Philadelphia – Lang 8 run (Baker kick)

#### Week 14 (December 19, 1965): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Redskins | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
at D.C. Stadium, Washington, D.C.
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 49,806
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Washington – Lewis 10 pass from Jurgensen (Jencks kick)
* Washington – Harris 34 interception (Jencks kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 2 run (Clark kick)
* Washington – Walters 63 interception return (Jencks kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 44 pass from Wade (Clark kick)
* Washington – Pellegrini 31 fumble return (Jencks kick)
* Washington – Hughley 4 pass from Jurgensen (Jencks kick)

## Standings

NFL Eastern Conference :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Cleveland Browns | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 11–1 | 363 | 325 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 6–6 | 325 | 280 | W3 |
| New York Giants | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 7–5 | 270 | 338 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 6–6 | 257 | 301 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 5–7 | 363 | 359 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 5–7 | 296 | 309 | L6 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 2–10 | 202 | 397 | L7 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.