Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw, left, and Houston Oilers Gregg Bingham slip and slide in rain-drenched artificial turf in an AFC championship game, Sunday, Jan. 7, 1979, Pittsburgh, Pa. Bradshaw ran with the ball after being unable to find pass receiver until Bingham pulled him down.

The forecast for Sunday: Steelers and Bills set to play in historic weather playoff game

RAY FITTIPALDO
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com
JAN 11, 2024 1:32 PM

The Steelers have played in some memorable weather games in their long and storied playoff history. The 1978-79 AFC championship game against the Houston Oilers was played in freezing rain at Three Rivers Stadium. There are some iconic NFL Films shots of Terry Bradshaw sliding and spinning in slow motion on the artificial turf, as well as icicles forming on the goalposts.

The conditions set the stage for the sloppiest playoff game in NFL history. There were 14 turnovers in the game, including nine by the Oilers, as the Steelers coasted to a 34-5 victory and a berth in Super Bowl XIII.

Twenty-six years later, another Super Bowl berth was on the line at Acrisure Stadium. The game-time temperature for the 2004-05 AFC championship game against the Patriots was 11 degrees with a wind chill of minus-1. The Patriots iced the Steelers 41-27 en route to their third Super Bowl win in four years.

Sunday’s AFC wild card game in Buffalo is trending toward being another playoff contest where the Steelers will have to battle the elements. The forecast for Buffalo on Sunday is calling for a temperature of 26 degrees at kickoff with possible snow showers, with winds whipping at 25 miles per hour and gusts up to 50 mph.

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Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published January 11, 2024, 1:31pm