1986 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Infobox NFL season
team = Pittsburgh Steelers
year = 1986
record = 6-10
division_place = 3rd in AFC Central
coach = Chuck Noll
stadium = Three Rivers Stadium
playoffs = None
previous = 1985
next = 1987

Offseason

Regular season

Schedule

Game Summaries

Week 1 (Sunday September 7, 1986): at Seattle Seahawks

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Seahawks
H1=0
H2=6
H3=10
H4=14"at The Kingdome, Seattle, Washington"

* Game time: 4:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 61,461
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Dave Rowe (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Seattle - Turner 4 pass from Krieg (kick failed)
* Seattle - Brown 18 interception return (Johnson kick)
* Seattle - FG Johnson 24
* Seattle - Largent 10 pass from Krieg (Johnson kick)
* Seattle - Morris 49 run (Johnson kick)

Week 2 (Monday September 15, 1986): vs. Denver Broncos

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Broncos
R1=0
R2=7
R3=7
R4=7
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=3
H4=7"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 57,305
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (ABC) Al Michaels (play by play), Frank Gifford (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Denver - Watson 21 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 42
* Denver - Sewell 34 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)
* Pittsburgh - Erenberg 7 run (Anderson kick)
* Denver - Winder 13 pass from Elway (Karlis kick)

Week 3 (Sunday September 21, 1986): at Minnesota Vikings

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Vikings
H1=14
H2=3
H3=7
H4=7"at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 56,795
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Minnesota - Jones 55 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 18 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Minnesota - Jones 16 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)
* Minnesota - FG C. Nelson 48
* Minnesota - Rice 12 run (C. Nelson kick)
* Minnesota - Gustafson 9 pass from Kramer (C. Nelson kick)

Week 4 (Sunday September 28, 1986): at Houston Oilers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=3
R3=10
R4=3
R5=6
Home=Oilers
H1=3
H2=7
H3=0
H4=6
H5=0"at Astrodome, Houston, Texas"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather: Dome
* Game attendance: 42,001
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Sam Rutigliano (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Houston - FG Zendejas 45
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 42
* Houston - Givins 35 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
* Pittsburgh - Sweeney 19 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Houston - FG Zendejas 45
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 29
* Houston - FG Zendejas 28
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 23
* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 3 run

Week 5 (Sunday October 5, 1986): vs. Cleveland Browns

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Browns
R1=10
R2=7
R3=3
R4=7
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=14
H3=7
H4=3"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 57,327
* Referee:
* TV announcers: Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)This was Cleveland's first win in Pittsburgh since 1969.

Scoring Drives:

* Cleveland - Slaughter 15 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
* Cleveland - FG Bahr 22
* Pittsburgh - Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Erenberg 5 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - McNeil 100 kickoff return (Bahr kick)
* Pittsburgh - Lipps 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - FG Bahr 39
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 45
* Cleveland - Byner 4 run (Bahr kick)

Week 6 (Monday October 13, 1986): at Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=2
R3=10
R4=3
Home=Bengals
H1=7
H2=7
H3=0
H4=10"at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio"

* Game time: 9:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 54,283
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (ABC) Frank Gifford (play by play), Lynn Swann (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Cleveland - Holman 32 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
* Pittsburgh - Brister 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati - McGee 7 pass from Esiason (Breech kick)
* Pittsburgh - Safety, Hayes forced out of end zone
* Pittsburgh - Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 24
* Cincinnati - Hayes 61 run (Breech kick)
* Cincinnati - FG Breech 40
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 44

Week 7 (Sunday October 19, 1986): vs. New England Patriots

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Patriots
R1=10
R2=14
R3=7
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=0
H3=0
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 54,743
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* New England - FG Franklin 31
* New England - Starring 43 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
* New England - Marion 37 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
* New England - Colliins 10 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
* New England - Scott 2 pass from Grogan (Franklin kick)
* New England - FG Franklin 36

Week 8 (Sunday October 26, 1986): vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Bengals
R1=0
R2=3
R3=3
R4=3
Home=Steelers
H1=3
H2=14
H3=6
H4=7"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 50,815
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 31
* Pittsburgh - Erenberg 10 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati - FG Breech 19
* Pittsburgh - Thompson 9 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 43
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 41
* Cincinnati - FG Breech 40
* Pittsburgh - Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cincinnati - FG Breech 31

Week 9 (Sunday November 2, 1986): vs. Green Bay Packers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Packers
R1=0
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=10
H2=3
H3=7
H4=7"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 52,831
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (CBS) Jim Hill (play by play), Johnny Morris (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 25
* Pittsburgh - Thompson 18 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 40
* Green Bay - FG Del Greco 34
* Pittsburgh - Thompson 9 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Thompson 6 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)

Week 10 (Sunday November 9, 1986): at Buffalo Bills

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=0
R3=12
R4=0
Home=Bills
H1=6
H2=7
H3=0
H4=3"at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 72,000
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Jay Randolph (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Buffalo - Reed 3 pass from Kelly (kick failed)
* Buffalo - Riddick 5 run (Norwood kick)
* Pittsburgh - Jackson 5 run (kick failed)
* Pittsburgh - Thompson 11 pass from Malone (kick failed)
* Buffalo - FG Norwood 29

Week 11 (Sunday November 16, 1986): vs. Houston Oilers

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oilers
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=14
H2=7
H3=0
H4=0"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 49,724
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Tom Hammond (play by play), Reggie Rucker (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 8 run (Anderson kick)
* Houston - Givins 33 pass from Moon (Zendejas kick)
* Pittsburgh - Jackson 3 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Erenberg 17 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Houston - FG Zendejas 44

Week 12 (Sunday November 23, 1986): at Cleveland Browns

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=7
R2=7
R3=7
R4=10
R5=0
Home=Browns
H1=0
H2=21
H3=7
H4=3
H5=6"at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 76,452
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - Dickey 2 run (Bahr kick)
* Cleveland - Mack 1 run (Bahr kick)
* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 38 run (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - Newsome 20 pass from Kosar (Bahr kick)
* Pittsburgh - Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - Dickey 4 run (Bahr kick)
* Pittsburgh - Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Cleveland - FG Bahr 25
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 40
* Cleveland - Slaughter 36 pass from Kosar

Week 13 (Sunday November 30, 1986): at Chicago Bears

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=3
R3=7
R4=0
R5=0
Home=Bears
H1=3
H2=0
H3=0
H4=7
H5=3"at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 61,425
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Charlie Jones (play by play), Jimmy Cefalo (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Chicago - FG Butler 39
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 30
* Pittsburgh - Gothard 12 from Newsome (Anderson kick)
* Chicago - Payton 3 run (Butler kick)
* Chicago - FG Butler 42

Week 14 (Sunday December 7, 1986): vs. Detroit Lions

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Lions
R1=0
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=3
H2=7
H3=14
H4=3"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 45,042
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (CBS) Verne Lundquist (play by play), Dick Vermeil (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 26
* Pittsburgh - Lipps 12 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Detroit - James 60 run (Murray kick)
* Detroit - FG Murray 30
* Detroit - Chadwick 1 pass from Ferguson (Murray kick)
* Pittsburgh - Jackson 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Lipps 39 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 28

Week 15 (Saturday December 13, 1986): at New York Jets

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Steelers
R1=0
R2=17
R3=0
R4=28
Home=Jets
H1=0
H2=14
H3=3
H4=7"at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey"

* Game time: 12:30 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 58,044
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Dick Enberg (play by play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)
* New York Jets - Townsell 93 kickoff return (Leahy kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 36
* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 7 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* New York Jets - Sohn 24 pass from O'Brien (Leahy kick)
* New York Jets - FG Leahy 18
* Pittsburgh - Malone 1 run (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Stallworth 40 pass from Malone (Anderson kick)
* Pittsburgh - Sanchez 67 interception return (Anderson kick)
* New York Jets - Shuler 5 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
* Pittsburgh - Abercrombie 1 run (Anderson kick)

Week 16 (Sunday December 21, 1986): vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chiefs
R1=7
R2=17
R3=0
R4=0
Home=Steelers
H1=0
H2=6
H3=7
H4=6"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

* Game time: 1:00 PM EST
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 47,150
* Referee:
* TV announcers: (NBC) Don Criqui (play by play), Bob Trumpy (color commentator)

Scoring Drives:

* Kansas City - Cherry recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lowery kick)
* Kansas City - FG Lowery 47
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 31
* Kansas City - Green 97 kickoff return (Lowery kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 31
* Kansas City - Burruss 78 blocked field goal return (Lowery kick)
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 31
* Pittsburgh - FG Anderson 26

References