75 Steelers vs 85 Bears

I remember that. I also think they did one vs the 90s cowboys can't remember how that one turned out but I think our guys won in that simulation as well?

 

Honestly speaking, outside of Tight Ends, there really is not a position that the Steelers are lacking if anyone were to compose an All Time Composite Team. Some could say Offensive Tackle but many of the games most dominant EDGE rushers were from the NFC for a long time up until Derrick Thomas stormed into the AFC. Even if we account for those teams with legendary EDGE talent like the Giants of the mid 80s, the Fearsome Foursome, Doomsday and others, I have not the foggiest as to how they could penetrate the interior of the Steelers Interior Offensive Lineman as Big Ben or Terry could just simply step into that wall of steel without fear or worry. Here would be my lineup just for the lineman.


LT: Alejandro Villanueva

LG: Alan Faneca

C: Mike Webster

RG: Dermontti Dawson

RT: Tunch Ilkin



Not too worried about the Offensive Tackles. The Interior is of greater concern to me. Besides, an All Time Composite Pittsburgh Steelers team would just pound the rock then use play action anyways. Unless the player has freakish levels of instincts like LT, no worries.

 

It would be hard to be considered the greatest of all time if you don't win a title that season, just like the Patriots of 2007 won't be considered as the GOAT.

 

I do not either. I do know what you are referencing though. Either way, composite team or not, it does not matter as the end result will always be the same; Steelers come out on top.


For a Don Hutson, I have a LeRoy Butler. For a Walter Payton, I have a Jack Lambert. For a Larry Allen, I have "Mean Joe". For a Peyton Manning, I have a Donnie Shell. Contests like this are nothing more than ways to pass the time. However, given the current state of affairs World Wide, it is the next best option overall.

 

A lot of fans assume the Steelers would have beaten the Raiders in the 76 AFCCG if Bleier and Franco played, I'm not sure about that, the Raiders were playing at home and they were dominant that season.

 

…...and dirty!

 

Myself included. It wasn’t just those two. Deloplaine and Fuqua were also out. We went from a 2,000 yard rushing tandem to Reggie Harrison a guy who could barely waddle 1 1/2 yards.

Steelers has 11 pro bowl players.

 

To put it in perspective how big the 1976 AFC Championship game was:


Tommy Bell, a long-time and distinguished NFL referee, had made it known he would retire at the end of the season, and Commissioner Pete Rozelle allowed him to pick his final assignment. His choices: Steelers vs. Raiders, or Super Bowl XI.

Bell never hesitated. On Dec. 26, 1976, Tommy Bell stood at midfield of Oakland-Alameda County Stadium and flipped the coin to start the AFC Championship Game.

 

There was never any team better than the `78 Steelers. I saw it all with my own two eyes.

Even the sports media was saying "The Steelers are in a league of their own" that year. Case closed.

I have no idea why they chose the `75 team that lacked the potent pass attack of the `78 team. They were wrong.

 

Have to admit... not bad!





Have to say, this Bleacher Report GOAT Madden Torney has actually been entertaining. I take back what I said. No surprise though regarding a Steelers Defense with essentially two HOF players at EVERY level though. Even so, it was getting a bit close as Warren Moon hit Derek Mason, who somehow beat Mel Blount for a 45 yard bomb, as shown here;





However and, right on cue, he ENDED the game for good.






They will play the winner between Kansas City and New England.



I really want New England though. Knock virtual Brady on his butt!!

 

The 75 team was probably better defensively, all those guys were in their prime, my favorite team was the 78 team that went 14-2 and became more of a offensive team. Bradshaw league MVP that season.

 

And the Raiders went 13-1 that season, and had home field advantage, even if the Steelers were healthy I give the Raiders the edge. Sometimes teams have a dominant season, and it's their year.

 

A valid argument.

 

Could the 70s Steelers in their prime hold up to the league today? If they were allowed to play like they were

 

Yep.


Rule changes from 1976 and 1977 are good starting points. Those two rules alone were designed to stop the 70s Dynasty in its tracks. If the team could adapt to those rules, there is no reason to say they could not adapt to today's ones.


That being said, Chuck Noll would have quite the task attempting to explain what truly is permitted as a strike zone to the likes of Lambert and Shell!

 

Players have gotten bigger. 70’s Steelers would have looked like midgets.

 

Patriots beat Chiefs in Double OT in the #B/RGOATSIM!! Patriots will play the vaunted "Steel Curtain" tomorrow at 8 P.M. EST!! Let's go!!!








Time to knock Brady into next week!!!

 

So true. The size of linebackers now and how quick they are amazes me.

I believe the rule changes would have worked against the 70 Steelers big time.

 

The most significant rule changes in the modern era came before the 1978 season. The league made it illegal for defenders to make contact with receivers once they had gone five yards past the line of scrimmage, which was the Mel Blount rule. They changed the rules for pass blocking to favor the offensive linemen. If I remember correctly, there was more, but basically they changed the rules to open up the passing game.

The Steelers responded by opening up their offense and taking greater advantage of Bradshaw, Stallworth and Swann.

As someone already pointed out, some of the Steelers would have had a huge problem adjusting to the rules regarding where defenders can hit offensive players, especially the rules protecting quarterbacks. Of course, size would be the real issue. As jeh mentioned, size would have also been a huge problem for the Steelers of the '70s trying to compete now.

 

I hated the Raiders, injuries are a part of the game, the Raiders were the better team that year. Since you disagree the Raiders weren't the better team, where was that dominant Steelers defense that game? They still had Bradshaw, Swann, Stallworth and only scored 7 points, you can't just blame it on not having Harris and Bleier.

 

A hall of fame QB, and two hall of fame WRs also a good TE who played, give the Raiders their props that year.

 

Look at the careers of Bradshaw,Stallworth and Swann to that point. The only one who had really created a significant part of his Hall of Fame resume to that point was Swann and most of his case was built upon four plays in Super Bowl IX. Granted, those plays were spectacular and they produced 161 yards.

Stallworth missed most of the 1976 season with injuries. He caught only seven passes that year. He had started nine games in 1975, but he didn't even catch over 40 passes in a season until 1977. I know the passing rules were very different, but that still isn't that much production.

Bradshaw also missed a chunk of 1976 and he didn't play particularly well when he was in there. Swann started 12 games, catching 28 passes for 516 yards. The Steelers' offense was built around the running game, specifically around Harris, until 1978. It is a bit misleading to bring up the Hall of Fame quarterback and receivers when none of them was playing at that level yet in '76.

That said, the Raiders were dominant that season. There is a very good chance they would have beaten the Steelers even with Harris and Bleier. A healthy Pittsburgh team would have had a shot, but Oakland still would have been the more likely winner.