SB 9: Steelers defense shuts down Vikings for first title

SUPER BOWL 9

Jan. 12, 1975

At New Orleans-80,997

Pittsburgh 0..2..7..7-16

Minnesota 0..0..0..6-6

Pittsburgh's Steel Curtain totally shut down Minnesota's offense to hand the Vikings their third Super Bowl defeat.

In beating Oakland for the AFC title, Pittsburgh held the Raiders to 29 yards rushing. The Vikings didn't reach that total. On 21 rushing plays, Minnesota managed a net of 17 yards.

Yet, Minnesota trailed only 2-0 at the half, the result of a safety when Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton botched a pitchout deep in his territory. Tarkenton fell on the ball in the end zone and was pounced upon by Steelers defensive end Dwight White.

The Steelers got another break at the start of the second half when Vikings running back Bill Brown fumbled the kickoff and Pittsburgh's Marv Kellum recovered on the Vikings 30. Four plays later, Franco Harris scored from 12 yards and Pittsburgh led 9-0.

Minnesota narrowed the margin to three points at 4:27 of the fourth quarter when Matt Blair blocked Bobby Walden's punt and Terry Brown recovered in the end zone. But the Steelers came right back on a 66-yard march culminating in a 4-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw to Larry Brown.

Harris, the game's MVP, set a Super Bowl rushing record with 158 yards on 34 carries and led the Steelers' offense that outgained Minnesota 333-119.

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