# 1966 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1966 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 34th in the National Football League.

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | September 11 | New York Giants | T 34–34 | 0–0–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 2 | September 18 | Detroit Lions | W 17–3 | 1–0–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 3 | September 25 | Washington Redskins | L 27–33 | 1–1–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 4 | October 2 | at Washington Redskins | L 10–24 | 1–2–1 | D.C. Stadium |
| 5 | October 8 | at Cleveland Browns | L 10–41 | 1–3–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium |
| 6 | October 16 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–31 | 1–4–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 7 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 8 | October 30 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 21–52 | 1–5–1 | Cotton Bowl |
| 9 | November 6 | Cleveland Browns | W 16–6 | 2–5–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 10 | November 13 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 30–9 | 3–5–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 11 | November 20 | Dallas Cowboys | L 7–20 | 3–6–1 | Pitt Stadium |
| 12 | November 27 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 3–6 | 3–7–1 | Busch Stadium |
| 13 | December 4 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 23–27 | 3–8–1 | Franklin Field |
| 14 | December 11 | at New York Giants | W 47–28 | 4–8–1 | Yankee Stadium |
| 15 | December 18 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 57–33 | 5–8–1 | Atlanta Stadium |
* A bye week was necessary in 1966, as the league expanded to an odd-number (15) of teams (Atlanta); one team was idle each week.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1 vs New York Giants

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Giants | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 | 34 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 17 | 3 | 34 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh
* Date: September 11
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
* Pro Football Reference
Game information :
First Quarter
New York Giants – Homer Jones 75-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Gogolak kick), Giants 7-0
Pittsburgh – Gary Ballman 9-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Clark kick), 7–7
Second Quarter
New York Giants – Bobby Crespino 19-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Gogolak kick), Giants 14-7
Pittsburgh – Willie Asbury 6-yard run (Clark kick), 14–14
New York Giants – Pete Gogolak 26-yard field goal, Giants 17-14
Third Quarter
Pittsburgh – Simmons 21-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Clark kick), Steelers 21–17
Pittsburgh – Mike Clark 25-yard field goal, Steelers 24–17
Pittsburgh – John Hilton 31-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Clark kick), Steelers 31–17
Fourth Quarter
New York Giants – Pete Gogolak 14-yard field goal, Steelers 31–20
New York Giants – Homer Jones 98-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Gogolak kick) Steelers 31–27
New York Giants – Wendall Harris 72-yard fumble return (Gogolak kick), Giants 34-31
Pittsburgh – Mike Clark 41-yard field goal, 34–34
Top Passers
NYG – Earl Morrall: 10/18, 273 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
NE – Bill Nelson: 16/27, 265 yds, 3 TD
Top rushers
NYG – Chuck Mercien: 8 car, 14 yds
PIT – Willie Asbury: 18 car, 83 yds. 1 TD
Top receivers
NYG – Homer Jones: 2 rec, 173 yds. 2 TD
PIT – Gary Ballman: 5 rec, 114 yds. 1 TD :

#### Week 2 (Sunday September 18, 1966): Detroit Lions

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 35,473
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 13 3–0
* Pittsburgh – Hilton 32 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)10–0
* Detroit – FG Walker 42 10–3
* Pittsburgh – Jefferson 84 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)17–3

#### Week 3 (Sunday September 25, 1966): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 9 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 33 |
| Steelers | 0 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 37,505
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Washington – FG Gogolak 41 0–3
* Washington – FG Gogolak 47 0–6
* Washington – FG Gogolak 29 0–9
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 49 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)7–9
* Pittsburgh – J. Bradshaw 27 interception return (Clark kick)14–9
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 79 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)21–9
* Washington – Taylor 4 pass from Jurgensen (Gogolak kick)21–16
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 47 24–16
* Washington – Mitchell 35 pass from Jurgensen (Gogolak kick)24–23
* Washington – Taylor 2 run (Gogolak kick)24–30
* Washington – FG Gogolak 15 24–33
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 42 27–33

#### Week 4 (Sunday October 2, 1966): Washington Redskins

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Redskins | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at D.C. Stadium, Washington, DC
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 47,360
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Washington – Taylor 60 pass from Jurgensen (Gogolak kick)0–7
* Washington – FG Gogolak 12 0–10
* Pittsburgh – Hoak 2 run (Clark kick)7–10
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 25 10–10
* Washington – Mitchell 51 pass from Jurgensen (Gogolak kick)10–17
* Washington – Mitchell 70 pass from Jurgensen (Gogolak kick)10–24

#### Week 5 (Saturday October 8, 1966): Cleveland Browns

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| Browns | 14 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 41 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 82,687
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Cleveland – Collins 23 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)0–7
* Cleveland – Collins 14 pass from Ryan (Groza kick)0–14
* Cleveland – Kelly 2 run (Groza kick)0–21
* Pittsburgh – Jefferson 23 pass from Izo (Clark kick)7–21
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 16 10–21
* Cleveland – Kelly 10 run (kick failed)10–27
* Cleveland – Warfield 3 fumble return (Groza kick)10–34
* Cleveland – R. Smith 24 pass from Ninowski (Groza kick)10–41

#### Week 6 (Sunday October 16, 1966): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 14 | 0 | 17 | 31 |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 28,233
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 37 pass from Izo (Clark kick)7–0
* Philadelphia – Gros 11 run (Baker kick)7–7
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 11 run (Clark kick)14–7
* Philadelphia – Gros 1 run (Baker kick)14–14
* Philadelphia – Brown 9 pass from Snead (Baker kick)14–21
* Philadelphia – Goodwin 11 pass from Snead (Baker kick)14–28
* Philadelphia – FG Baker 51 14–31

#### Week 8 at Cowboys

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 52 |
at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
* Date: October 30
* Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
* Game attendance: 58,453
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
PIT – Marv Woodson 56-yard interception return (Mike Clark kick). Steelers 7–0.
Second quarter
DAL – Dan Reeves 1-yard pass from Don Meredith (Danny Villanueva kick). Tie 7–7. Drive:
DAL – Lee Roy Jordan 49-yard interception return (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 14–7.
DAL – Danny Villanueva 12-yard field goal. Cowboys 17–7. Drive:
DAL – Dan Reeves 8-yard pass from Don Meredith (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 24–7. Drive:
PIT – Jim Butler 93-yard kickoff return (Mike Clark kick). Cowboys 24–14.
Third quarter
DAL – Mel Renfro 87-yard kickoff return (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 31–14.
DAL – Frank Clarke 22-yard pass from Don Meredith (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 38–14. Drive:
PIT – John Hilton 4-yard pass from Ron Smith (Mike Clark kick). Cowboys 38–21. Drive:
DAL – Pete Gent 84-yard pass from Don Meredith (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 45–21. Drive:
Fourth quarter
DAL – J.D. Smith 1-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Cowboys 52–21. Drive:
Top passers
PIT – Ron Smith – 8/25, 115 yards, TD
DAL – Don Meredith – 11/25, 226 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
PIT – Jim Butler – 5 rushes, 9 yards
DAL – Dan Reeves – 13 rushes, 66 yards
Top receivers
PIT – Roy Jefferson – 4 receptions, 74 yards
DAL – Pete Gent – 1 reception, 84 yards, TD :

#### Week 9 vs Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Steelers | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: November 6, 1966
* Game weather: 35 °F (2 °C)
* Game attendance: 36,690
* Box Score
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Browns | Passing | Frank Ryan | 19/37, 228 Yds, TD, 5 INT |
| Browns | Rushing | Leroy Kelly | 19 Rush, 82 Yds |
| Browns | Receiving | Gary Collins | 7 Rec, 93 Yds, TD |
| Steelers | Passing | Ron Smith | 11/19, 151 Yds, TD |
| Steelers | Rushing | Willie Asbury | 17 Rush, 94 Yds |
| Steelers | Receiving | Gary Ballman | 7 Rec, 88 Yds, TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | CLE | PIT |
| 2 | | | | | Browns | Gary Collins 24-yard touchdown reception from Frank Ryan, kick no good | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Steelers | 28-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 6 | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | Steelers | 25-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | | | | | Steelers | Gary Ballman 8-yard touchdown reception from Ron Smith, Mike Clark kick good | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | 42-yard field goal by Mike Clark | 6 | 16 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 6 | 16 |

#### Week 10 (Sunday November 13, 1966): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cardinals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Steelers | 3 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 30 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 28,552
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 37 0–3
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 17 0–6
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 12 0–9
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 40 3–9
* Pittsburgh – Russell 14 blocked punt return (Clark kick)10–9
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 33 13–9
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 22 16–9
* Pittsburgh – Hilton 11 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)23–9
* Pittsburgh – Jefferson 42 pass from Hoak30–9

#### Week 11 (Sunday November 20, 1966): Dallas Cowboys

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Pitt Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 42,185
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Dallas – Meredith 3 run (Villanueva kick)0–7
* Dallas – FG Villandueva 27 0–10
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 11 pass from R. Smith (Clark kick)7–10
* Dallas – FG Villanueva 37 7–13
* Dallas – Hayes 38 pass from Meredith (Villanueva kick)7–20

#### Week 12 (Sunday November 27, 1966): St. Louis Cardinals

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Cardinals | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 46,099
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 47 3–0
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 26 3–3
* St. Louis – FG Bakken 15 3–6

#### Week 13 (Sunday December 4, 1966): Philadelphia Eagles

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 23 |
| Eagles | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 54,275
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Philadelphia – FG Baker 35 0–3
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 7 run (Clark kick)7–3
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 37 10–3
* Philadelphia – Woodeshick 3 run (Baker kick)10–10
* Philadelphia – FG Baker 22 10–13
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 32 13–13
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 35 16–13
* Philadelphia – Woodeshick 1 run (Baker kick)16–20
* Philadelphia – Concannon 1 run (Baker kick)16–27
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 2 run (Clark kick)23–27

#### Week 14 at New York Giants

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 5 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 47 |
| Giants | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Yankee Stadium, New York City
* Date: December 11
* Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
* Box Score
Game information :
First Quarter
Pittsburgh – Safety, Spider Lockhart stepped out of endzone, Steelers 2-0.
Pittsburgh – Mike Clark 12-yard field goal, Steelers 5–0.
Second Quarter
Pittsburgh – Amos Bullocks 13-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Clark kick), Steelers 12–0.
New York – Aaron Thomas 1-yard pass from Tom Kennedy (Gogolak kick), Steelers 12-7.
Pittsburgh – Dick Leftridge 2-yard run (Clark kick), Steelers 19–7.
New York – Homer Jones 82-yard pass from Tom Kennedy (Gogolak kick), Steelers 19–14.
Third Quarter
Pittsburgh – Willie Asbury 1-yard run (Clark kick), Steelers 26–14.
Pittsburgh – Willie Asbury 1-yard run (Clark kick), Steelers 33–14.
New York – Aaron Thomas 5-yard pass from Tom Kennedy (Gogolak kick), Steelers 33-21.
Pittsburgh – Cannonball Butler 66-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Clark kick), Steelers 40–21.
Fourth Quarter
Pittsburgh – Dick Leftridge 2-yard run (extra point pass successful), Steelers 47–21.
New York – Bobby Crespino 16-yard pass from Tom Kennedy (Gogolak kick), Steelers 47-28.
Top Passers
Steelers – Bill Nelsen: 17/31, 322 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Giants– Tom Kennedy: 14/24, 229 yds, 4 TD
Top rushers
Steelers – Willie Asbury: 9 car, 19 yds. 2 TD
Giants – Allen Jacobs: 14 car, 60 yds
Top receivers
Steelers – Cannonball Butler: 2 rec, 80 yds. 1 TD
Giants – Homer Jones: 3 rec, 111 yds. 1 TD :

#### Week 15 (Sunday December 18, 1966): Atlanta Falcons

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 6 | 23 | 21 | 7 | 57 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 14 | 12 | 33 |
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 56,229
* Referee:
* TV announcers:
Scoring Drives:
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 22 3–0
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 19 6–0
* Pittsburgh – Ballman 12 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)13–0
* Pittsburgh – Bullocks 13 run (Clark kick)20–0
* Atlanta – Coffey 1 run (Kirouac kick)20–7
* Pittsburgh – Butler 1 run (run failed)26–7
* Pittsburgh – FG Clark 21 29–7
* Atlanta – Ridlehuber 53 pass from Johnson (Kirouac kick)29–14
* Pittsburgh – Butler 1 run (Clark kick)36–14
* Pittsburgh – Jefferson 68 pass from Nelsen (Clark kick)43–14
* Pittsburgh – Thomas 23 fumble return (Clark kick)50–14
* Atlanta – Ridlehuber 19 pass form Johnson (Kirouac kick)50–21
* Pittsburgh – Asbury 2 run (Clark kick)57–21
* Atlanta – Anderson 62 pass from Claridge (kick failed)57–27
* Atlanta – Anderson 12 pass from Claridge (kick failed)57–33

## Standings

NFL Eastern Conference :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Dallas Cowboys | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | 9–3–1 | 445 | 239 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 8–5 | 326 | 340 | W4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 9–4 | 403 | 259 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 8 | 5 | 1 | .615 | 7–5–1 | 264 | 265 | L3 |
| Washington Redskins | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 7–6 | 351 | 355 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 8 | 1 | .385 | 4–8–1 | 316 | 347 | W2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 2–5 | 204 | 437 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 1 | 12 | 1 | .077 | 1–11–1 | 263 | 501 | L8 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.