1973 Pittsburgh Steelers Season

The 1973 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 41st season in the National Football League. The team finished second in the AFC Central division, but qualified for the postseason for the second consecutive season.

The 1973 Steelers' pass defense is arguably the greatest in the history of the NFL. Their defensive passer rating -- the quarterback passer rating of all opposing quarterbacks throughout the season -- was 33.1, an NFL record for the Super Bowl era.

According to Cold Hard Football Facts:

Pittsburgh's pass-defense numbers that year were stunning. Opposing passers compiled the following stat-line:

    • 164 of 359 (45.7%) for 1,923 yards, 5.36, 11 and 37
The figure that leaps screaming off the sheet is the amazing 37 picks in 14 games. The 2009 Jets, by comparison, allowed a puny 8 TDs in 16 games, but hauled in just 17 picks. Pittsburgh's all-time best pass defense was an equal-opportunity unit: Mike Wagner led the team with 8 INT, but 10 other guys recorded at least one pick. Amazing. Eleven defenders boasted at least one INT for Pittsburgh that season. The entire starting secondary recorded 24 picks alone, and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount was last on the list: Wagner (8), safety Glen Edwards (6), cornerback John Rowser (6) and Blount (4).

The Steelers lost to the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.

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