The Steelers and Cowboys have a lot of history. The two franchises are amongst the most successful clubs in NFL history, combining to win nearly a quarter of all of the Super Bowls played. There is also a lot of history between the two teams, including three Super Bowls and a ton of bad blood. As the Steelers and Cowboys prepare to meet again on the field this week in what will be yet another big game for both clubs, the America Loves Countdowns® series looks back at ten of the most memorable moments in this rivalry.

Bradshaw Calls 69 Maximum Flanker Post (Super Bowl X)
Late in the 4th quarter of Super Bowl X, the Steelers held a 15-10 lead but were faced with 3rd and 4 in their own territory. They needed a first down to keep the clock moving and to prevent Dallas from getting the ball back, so most people expected them to try either a run or a short pass to pick up the necessary 4 yards. Instead Terry Bradshaw called 69 Maximum Flanker Post and opted to throw a deep bomb to Lynn Swann. The play was nearly a disaster as Dallas blitzed and subsequently nailed Bradshaw, but not before he let go of a ball that traveled 64 yards into the hands of MVP Swann for the game-clinching touchdown. It was a gamble that paid off and brought the Steelers their second of five championships.

Steelers Knock Cowboys off Pedestal (1977)
In the 1970′s, this rivalry was very personal. The Steelers took so much pride in knocking Dallas off of their “America’s Team” pedestal.
Dallas only lost two games in 1977 en route to their second Super Bowl title, but one of those losses came at Three Rivers Stadium. The Steelers soundly beat the Cowboys 28-13 thanks to a huge day from Franco Harris (179 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns). Even when most of the league thought that the Steelers dynasty was finished and the Cowboys were about to take over as the NFL’s new best team, Pittsburgh still proved it was up to the challenge, and a year later, they would get to prove it again on the ultimate stage.

Figures Recovers Onside Kick (Super Bowl XXX)
Like his mentor Marty Schottenheimer, head coach Bill Cowher was often criticized for being too conservative in big games. But in Super Bowl XXX, Cowher was anything but conservative. With the Steelers desperately trying to mount a second half comeback, Cowher made not only the gutsiest call of his career, but also the most bold call in the history of the Super Bowl. He decided to go with a surprise onside kick, which was perfectly executed by Norm Johnson and recovered by Deon Figures. Although it did not give them quite enough momentum to win the game (see item #6), it was still memorable just because of the sheer guts it took to call that play.

Greenwood Knocks Out Staubach (1979)
After the 1978 Super Bowl, the Cryboys cried a lot about how they were “cheated” out of a championship (apparently this happens every time the Steelers win a Super Bowl). So the Steelers – especially the defense – was geared up to face Dallas in a week 9 matchup at Three Rivers Stadium. Dallas QB Roger Staubach tried to scramble on a play where his pocket had collapsed, and L.C. Greenwood absolutely nailed him. Staubach crumpled to the ground, lost the football, and had to leave the game with a concussion. The Steelers won the game 14-3 and several weeks later, Staubach was forced into an early retirement. Although he had suffered multiple concussions, Staubach told Greenwood that his hit was responsible for ending his career.

Brown Makes Second Interception (Super Bowl XXX)
It’s a painful memory for The Nation. In Super Bowl XXX, the Steelers defense had been beaten up a lot early and QB Neil O’Donnell had thrown a costly interception to Dallas DB Larry Brown. Despite all that, Pittsburgh was able to swing the momentum back in their favor, and in the 4th quarter, they had the ball and were only trailing by a field goal. However, O’Donnell threw another interception to Larry Brown, who returned it inside the Steelers 10 yard line where his team was able to ice the game with a touchdown. The play was especially hard to swallow for two reasons: (1) Brown was simply covering grass. It wasn’t like he made a great read on the ball, and for this he was awarded with the MVP honors as well as a huge off-season free agent contract from the Raiders (2) O’Donnell was known for his ability not to make mistakes. He wasn’t a big play QB or a gun-slinger, and he would often take sacks rather than even attempting to throw the ball away. It was often frustrating but that was the kind of player he was, which should have served him well in the biggest moment of his career, but instead he did the exact opposite.

Steelers Snap Cowboys’ Opening Day Streak (1982)
The Cowboys were all about anything that added to their title of “America’s Team”, and the Steelers loved taking those things away from them. Going into the 1982 season, Dallas had a record streak of 17 consecutive opening day victories. They were looking for #18 when they took on the Steelers at home in a Monday night game to open the new season, but instead Terry Bradshaw threw three touchdown passes to lead the Steelers to a 36-28 victory and end the streak. The game apparently inspired the NFL schedule makers because three of the next five regular season meetings between these two clubs would come on opening day.

Swann Makes an Acrobatic Catch (Super Bowl X)
Anyone who has ever watched football has surely seen the oft-replayed clip of Lynn Swann’s incredible catch in Super Bowl X. Backed up in his own endzone, Terry Bradshaw lofted a deep pass for Swann, who was well covered by Dallas DB Mark Washington. As the two players battled for the deep pass, Washington actually made a great play that should have deflected the ball to the ground and forced Pittsburgh to have to punt from deep in their own territory, but instead Swann somehow tipped the ball in the air and made the catch while falling down to the ground. It was arguably the greatest catch in NFL history and certainly one of the most famous.

Testaverde Fumbles on the Star (2004)
In the wildest ending ever in this rivalry, Dallas clung to a three-point lead with only two minutes left in the 4th quarter. The good news was that they had the ball and a first down would ice the game. The bad news was that Vinny Testaverde, whose long history of choking against the Steelers has been well-documented, was playing quarterback. Vinny not only fumbled the football, but he did so without even being hit. Kimo Von Oelhoffen picked up the ball and ran it back deep into Dallas territory, where the Steelers would score the winning touchdown moments later. The best part about that play was that Testaverde lost the ball right in the middle of that big stupid star on the 50 yard line at Texas Stadium, with thousands of towel-waving Steelers fans cheering him on.

Lambert Makes a Statement (Super Bowl X)
Second year LB Jack Lambert hated the Cowboys. When asked about the ritzy beach-front hotel in Fort Lauderdale where the Dallas players were staying before Super Bowl X, Lambert said, “I hope the sharks eat Staubach.” During the game Lambert became even more enraged. When Steelers kicker Roy Gerela missed a field goal in the 2nd quarter, Dallas’ Cliff Harris tapped Gerela on the helmet to sarcastically “congratulate” him on blowing the kick. Lambert, who was standing just a few feet away, couldn’t hold it in any longer. He slammed Harris to the ground and sent a message to the Cowboys that the Steelers weren’t about to take any of their crap. It drastically swung the momentum in Pittsburgh’s favor. After the game, Chuck Noll famously said, “Jack Lambert is a defender of what is right.”

Harris Shuts Up Henderson (Super Bowl XIII)
Super Bowl XIII was a game for the ages. It featured two teams who had won multiple Super Bowls during the 1970′s battling it out for the title of “team of the decade”. With only 7 minutes left in the game, the Steelers were up by 4 points and had the ball at the Dallas 22 yard line, but were faced with 3rd and 9. The Cowboys needed to hold the Steelers to a field goal attempt to keep themselves within one score. On the previous play, Pittsburgh was flagged for delay of game. As Terry Bradshaw dropped back to pass, the refs all blew their whistles trying to stop the play, but that didn’t stop Hollywood Henderson from taking a cheap shot at the QB anyway. This really angered the normally calm Franco Harris, who got into an animated face-to-face argument with Henderson. On the next play, the Steelers called Franco’s number, and he rumbled with force up the middle for a 22-yard touchdown that put a knife in Dallas’ hopes of coming back. It was the defining moment in this rivalry – the Cowboys’ phony glitz and talk versus the Steelers’ toughness and ability to walk the talk.

Honorable Mentions:

• Beuerlein Roasts Steelers on Thanksgiving Day (1991): The Steelers played at Dallas for the annual Thanksgiving Day game in 1991 and slugged it out with the Cowboys for three and a half quarters in a low scoring affair. But late in the game, Dallas QB Steve Beuerlein hit WR Michael Irvin on a 66 yard bomb to win the game for the Cowboys.
• Blier Gets Airborne (Super Bowl XIII): With the game tied at 14 and the clock ticking down on the first half, the Steelers drove deep into Dallas territory. Terry Bradshaw floated a pass into the endzone, where RB Rocky Blier leaped higher than even he thought possible to make a Lynn Swann-like touchdown catch.
• Brister Kicks Off New Era (1988): When the 1988 season began, Steelers fans everywhere were elated that the team finally dumped QB Mark Malone in favor of QB Bubby Brister. In his first game as the new permanent starter, Brister wowed the crowd at Three Rivers Stadium by making a number of big plays, including a short touchdown scramble that beat the Cowboys 24-21. Little did anyone know that the Brister era would bring just as much frustration as the Malone era and would end much the same way.
• Fans Boo Sanders’ Injury (1997): Deion Sanders was possibly the least likeable player on a team that included such jerks as Michael Irvin and Nate Newton, so that is really saying something. But when us fans at Three Rivers Stadium booed Sanders after he went down with what appeared to be a severe neck injury, well, that crossed the line, even for this rivalry.