# 1962 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1962 Pittsburgh Steelers season marked the franchise's 30th year in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished in second place with 9 wins and 5 losses. The Steelers played in the NFL Playoff Bowl but lost to the Detroit Lions 17–10.

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 16 | at Detroit Lions | L 7–45 | 0–1 | Tiger Stadium | 46,641 | Recap |
| 2 | September 23 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 30–28 | 1–1 | Cotton Bowl | 19,478 | Recap |
| 3 | September 30 | New York Giants | L 27–31 | 1–2 | Pitt Stadium | 40,916 | Recap |
| 4 | October 6 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 13–7 | 2–2 | Forbes Field | 23,164 | Recap |
| 5 | October 14 | at New York Giants | W 20–17 | 3–2 | Yankee Stadium | 62,808 | Recap |
| 6 | October 21 | Dallas Cowboys | L 27–42 | 3–3 | Forbes Field | 23,106 | Recap |
| 7 | October 28 | Cleveland Browns | L 14–41 | 3–4 | Pitt Stadium | 35,417 | Recap |
| 8 | November 4 | Minnesota Vikings | W 39–31 | 4–4 | Forbes Field | 14,642 | Recap |
| 9 | November 11 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 26–17 | 5–4 | Busch Stadium | 20,265 | Recap |
| 10 | November 18 | Washington Redskins | W 23–21 | 6–4 | Forbes Field | 21,231 | Recap |
| 11 | November 25 | at Cleveland Browns | L 14–35 | 6–5 | Cleveland Stadium | 53,601 | Recap |
| 12 | December 2 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 19–7 | 7–5 | Forbes Field | 17,285 | Recap |
| 13 | December 9 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 26–17 | 8–5 | Franklin Field | 60,671 | Recap |
| 14 | December 16 | at Washington Redskins | W 27–24 | 9–5 | RFK Stadium| | 34,508 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. |||||||||

## Standings

NFL Eastern Conference :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| New York Giants | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 10–2 | 398 | 283 | W9 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 8–4 | 312 | 363 | W3 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7 | 6 | 1 | .538 | 6–5–1 | 291 | 257 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 5 | 7 | 2 | .417 | 4–6–2 | 305 | 376 | L1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5 | 8 | 1 | .385 | 4–7–1 | 398 | 402 | L2 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 4–7–1 | 287 | 361 | W2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | 10 | 1 | .231 | 3–8–1 | 282 | 356 | L2 |
       Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Conference :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Green Bay Packers | 13 | 1 | 0 | .929 | 11–1 | 415 | 148 | W3 |
| Detroit Lions | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 10–2 | 315 | 177 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 8–4 | 321 | 287 | W2 |
| Baltimore Colts | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 5–7 | 293 | 288 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 5–7 | 282 | 331 | L2 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 2 | 11 | 1 | .154 | 1–10–1 | 254 | 410 | L3 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 1 | 12 | 1 | .077 | 1–10–1 | 220 | 334 | L3 |
       Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

## Game summaries
### Week 1 (Sunday September 16, 1962): Detroit Lions

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Lions | 0 | 21 | 7 | 17 | 45 |
at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 46,641
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Detroit – Cogdill 1 pass from Plum (Walker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Carpenter 43 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
* Detroit – Pietrosante 22 run (Walker kick)
* Detroit – Cogdill 21 pass from Plum (Walker kick)
* Detroit – Lewis 1 run (Walker kick)
* Detroit – Lewis 1 run (Walker kick)
* Detroit – FG Walker 44
* Detroit – Studstill 9 pass from Plum (Walker kick)

### Week 2 (Sunday September 23, 1962): Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 21 | 2 | 7 | 30 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 19,478
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Dallas – Lockett 29 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Womack 16 run (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dial 38 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 16 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* Dallas – Perkins 2 run (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Safety, Dallas holding in end zone
* Dallas – Perkins 6 run (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Womack 3 run (Michaels kick)
* Dallas – Clarke 13 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)

### Week 3 (Sunday September 30, 1962): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Steelers | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 40,916
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Womack 7 run (Michaels kick)
* New York Giants – FG Chandler 23
* Pittsburgh – Mack 28 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* New York Giants – Dudley 11 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 41
* New York Giants – Webster 58 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 33
* New York Giants – Gifford 27 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
* New York Giants – Shofner 16 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (Michaels kick)

### Week 4 (Saturday October 6, 1962): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 23,164
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 14
* Pittsburgh – Schmitz 24 interception return (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 10
* Philadelphia – McDonald 46 pass from Jurgensen (Walston kick)

### Week 5 (Sunday October 14, 1962): New York Giants

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 20 |
| Giants | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, New York
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 62,808
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* New York Giants – FG Chandler 30
* Pittsburgh – Layne 1 run (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 5 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* New York Giants – Walton 21 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 16
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 9
* New York Giants – Gifford 16 pass from Tittle (Chandler kick)

### Week 6 (Sunday October 21, 1962): Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 14 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 42 |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 27 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 23,106
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:'
* Dallas – Perkins 1 run (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dial 26 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* Dallas – Howton 16 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 10
* Dallas – Clark 45 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 40
* Dallas – Clark 3 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dial 9 pass form Layne (Michaels kick)
* Dallas – Clarke 13 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)
* Dallas Folkins 26 pass from LeBaron (Baker kick)

### Week 7 (Sunday October 28, 1962): Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 7 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 41 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 35,417
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Cleveland – Costello 21 fumble run (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – FG Groza 37
* Cleveland – Scales 12 run (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 1 run (Michaels kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 15 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – FG Groza 51
* Cleveland – Brown 1 run (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Green 8 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dial 6 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)

### Week 8 (Sunday November 4, 1962): Minnesota Vikings

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 39 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 14,642
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 2 run (Michaels kick)
* PIttsburgh – Womack 3 run (Michaels kick)
* Minnesota – Mason 37 pass from Tarkenton (Christopherson kick)
* Minnesota – Ferguson 19 pass from Tarkenton (Christopherson kick)
* Pittsburgh – Safety, Huth recovered fumble in end zone, covered by Stautner
* PIttsburgh – FG Michaels 32
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 2 run (Michaels kick)
* Minnesota Reichow 4 pass from Tarkenton (Christopherson kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 38
* Minnesota – Ferguson 59 pass from Tarkenton (Christopherson kick)
* Minnesota – FG Christopherson 42
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 16 run (Michaels kick)

### Week 9 (Sunday November 11, 1962): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 26 |
| Cardinals | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 20,265
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* St. Louis – Crow 22 run (Perry kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 27
* St. Louis – FG Perry 22
* Pittsburgh – Carpenter 9 pass from Layne (kick failed)
* St. Louis – Gautt 1 run (Perry kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 5 run (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 5 run (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 8

### Week 10 (Sunday November 18, 1962): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Steelers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 23 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 21,231
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 37
* Washington – Cunningham 10 pass from Snead (Khayat kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 18
* Washington – Anderson 46 pass from Snead (Khayat kick)
* Washington – Barnes 32 run (Khayat kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mack 20 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Dial 9 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 24

### Week 11 (Sunday November 25, 1962): Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Browns | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 35 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 53,601
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Cleveland – Brown 34 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Collins 12 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Womack 15 run (Michaels kick)
* Cleveland – Renfro 31 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 6 run (Michaels kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 1 run (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Brown 1 run (Groza kick)

### Week 12 (Sunday December 2, 1962): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Steelers | 7 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 19 |
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 17,285
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Daniel 49 interception return (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 35
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 36
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 23
* St. Louis – Randle 12 pass from Johnson (Perry kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 10

### Week 13 (Sunday December 9, 1962): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 17 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
| Eagles | 7 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
at Franklin Field, Philadelphia
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 60,671
* Referee: George Rennix
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – Retzlaff 7 pass from Jurgensen (Walston kick)
* Pittsburgh – Carpenter 12 pass from Brown (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 21
* Pittsburgh – Johnson 1 run (Michaels kick)
* Philadelphia – Retzlaff 49 pass from Jurgensen (Walston kick)
* Philadelphia – FG Wittenborn 18
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 46
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 28
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 29

### Week 14 (Sunday December 16, 1962): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
| Redskins | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
at D.C. Stadium, Washington, D.C.
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 34,508
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Washington – FG Khayat 33
* Pittsburgh – Dial 39 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 1 run (Michaels kick)
* Washington – James 25 pass from Izo (Khayat kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 38
* Pittsburgh – FG Michaels 13
* Pittsburgh – Carpenter 23 pass from Layne (Michaels kick)
* Washington – James 49 pass from Izo (Khayat kick)
* Washington – Anderson 26 pass from Izo (Khayat kick)

## Playoff Bowl

The game matched the conference runners-up for third place in the league and was played three weeks after the end of the regular season (and a week after the championship game). The ten editions of the Playoff Bowl, all held at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, are now considered exhibition games by the NFL, not post-season contests.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance | Recap | Sources |
| Playoff Bowl | January 6, 1963 | Detroit Lions | L 10–17 | Orange Bowl | 36,284 | | |