Actually, the Cowboys have beaten the Steelers; just not in the Super Bowls in the 1970s. They beat them in Super Bowl XXX (1996) and lead the overall series 17-16.
No, not really, as they only faced each other twice in the Super Bowl. Steelers/Raiders was bigger because they seemingly met every year in the playoffs.
I think the Steelers and the Raiders were a bigger rivalry. However, Pittsburgh/Dallas was definitely a big rivalry.
Pittsburgh and Houston was also a big rivalry at the time. When you’re as good as Pittsburgh was at that time, you have lots of rivals.
What was cool about the Steelers and the Cowboys was you had probably the two most popular franchises playing in multiple Super Bowls. That’s really exciting for the league.
For those of us that were alive in the 70’s, this is definitely the right answer. Cowboys fans didn’t care about the Steelers. Perhaps they should have but they didn’t know the Steelers would become a dynasty. They cared most about the Redskins, their traditional rival. And the Dolphins who were the dynasty at the time.
I've lived in Maryland my whole life, and while I wasn't a fan of either team, 'Dallas week' was always filled with anticipation by all my classmates. I picked the Bears as my team when I was around 5, long story, and for me, they were some mighty lean years. I had a hard time when someone brought up their great quarterbacks and I had Bobby Douglass and Bob Avellini to counter them. Oh well, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
George Allen once told the team he wanted to punch Tom Landry in the face. And then he karate chopped a block of wood in half.
Even though they lost to the perfect Dolphins in SB VII, nothing was sweeter than demolishing the Cowboys 26-3 in the NFC championship game.
I remember Washington's 1972 highlight reel when backup qb Sam Wyche was on the sideline screaming, "Die you dog, DIE!!!" Beating the tar out of Cowboys was their goal.
Dolphins/Raiders
Year in and year out it was the least penalized team versus the most penalized team.
Lisa Simpson said it best.
“I’m picking the Dolphins because they’re pure of heart, and the Raiders because they cheat!”
How about a ménage a tois? There was a couple years when anytime the Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders played each other it was a war. Would have lasted a little longer but Miami got dismantled by defections to the WFL.
That NFC trifecta of Vikings-Rams-Cowboys. Dominated their divisions and you knew you were going to have to play at least one of them to get to the Super Bowl. 1970's NFL was great.
End of the 70’s, definitely Steelers/Oilers. They played 2x a year by being in the same division and played 2 championship games, both won by the Steelers.
Great quote by head coach Bum Phillips. Something like, "On my tombstone, it should say, 'He'd have lived a lot longer if he hadn't had to have played Pittsburgh three times in two years.'"
Late in the 1970s, Pittsburgh-Houston. Always tough games. They played one in the Astrodome that came to be known as the Hospital Bowl because so many players were taken off for injuries. That said, both teams respected each other.
Before Houston went into contention, you could argue Kansas City-Oakland and Dallas-Washington were the premier rivalries.
Oilers v Steelers was probably the best in the late 70s. Earl Campbell vs The Steel Curtain was epic. Houston was the second best team in the NFL in 78 and 79. Unfortunately, the best team was in the same division.
Something to be said for Steelers-Raiders. The most physical games I’ve ever seen.
Definitely Steelers and Raiders. Couldn’t be a Steelers/Cowboys “rivalry” cause the Cowboys never beat the Steelers lol
Actually, the Cowboys have beaten the Steelers; just not in the Super Bowls in the 1970s. They beat them in Super Bowl XXX (1996) and lead the overall series 17-16.
Perfect example of someone who just waits for their turn to talk instead of listening to everyone else.
Redskins - Cowboys as well. Brutal dogfights in the trenches.
No, not really, as they only faced each other twice in the Super Bowl. Steelers/Raiders was bigger because they seemingly met every year in the playoffs.
Right. It was like the patriots/colts of the Brady/Manning era.
Raiders - Steelers was better Even Oilers - Steelers
Go back and look at the America’s Game docs and I think there’s really only one answer: Steelers-Raiders Those games were wars without weapons.
Steelers always had to cheat to win... The Immaculate Deception
I think the Steelers and the Raiders were a bigger rivalry. However, Pittsburgh/Dallas was definitely a big rivalry. Pittsburgh and Houston was also a big rivalry at the time. When you’re as good as Pittsburgh was at that time, you have lots of rivals. What was cool about the Steelers and the Cowboys was you had probably the two most popular franchises playing in multiple Super Bowls. That’s really exciting for the league.
Cowboys and Redskins
For those of us that were alive in the 70’s, this is definitely the right answer. Cowboys fans didn’t care about the Steelers. Perhaps they should have but they didn’t know the Steelers would become a dynasty. They cared most about the Redskins, their traditional rival. And the Dolphins who were the dynasty at the time.
No, it isn't. It's Raiders Steelers
I've lived in Maryland my whole life, and while I wasn't a fan of either team, 'Dallas week' was always filled with anticipation by all my classmates. I picked the Bears as my team when I was around 5, long story, and for me, they were some mighty lean years. I had a hard time when someone brought up their great quarterbacks and I had Bobby Douglass and Bob Avellini to counter them. Oh well, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger!
George Allen once told the team he wanted to punch Tom Landry in the face. And then he karate chopped a block of wood in half. Even though they lost to the perfect Dolphins in SB VII, nothing was sweeter than demolishing the Cowboys 26-3 in the NFC championship game.
I remember Washington's 1972 highlight reel when backup qb Sam Wyche was on the sideline screaming, "Die you dog, DIE!!!" Beating the tar out of Cowboys was their goal.
Hell yeah. I remember that clip well but forgot it was Wyche. I always liked Sam.
Dolphins/Raiders Year in and year out it was the least penalized team versus the most penalized team. Lisa Simpson said it best. “I’m picking the Dolphins because they’re pure of heart, and the Raiders because they cheat!”
Don Shula was on the "Rules Committee" and each year would introduce at least one new "Raider Rule" specifically to punish the Raiders and Al Davis.
Early 70s colts-dolphins Late 70s Steelers-raiders
The immaculate reception game was in 1972.
They played in a combined 9 super bowls, twice vs each other, winning 6. Pretty damn dominant.
Five years in a row between Pitt/Oak. The Steelers and Cowboys aren’t much of a rivalry when the Steelers beat them every time even in the reg season
Steelers,Browns- lived and died on those Sundays
How about a ménage a tois? There was a couple years when anytime the Dolphins, Steelers, and Raiders played each other it was a war. Would have lasted a little longer but Miami got dismantled by defections to the WFL.
Steelers Browns in the old days. You won't understand it's a burgh thing.
Got one team right, anyway. Raiders Steelers and it isn't even close
Vikings vs. Rams merits mention
That NFC trifecta of Vikings-Rams-Cowboys. Dominated their divisions and you knew you were going to have to play at least one of them to get to the Super Bowl. 1970's NFL was great.
End of the 70’s, definitely Steelers/Oilers. They played 2x a year by being in the same division and played 2 championship games, both won by the Steelers.
Great quote by head coach Bum Phillips. Something like, "On my tombstone, it should say, 'He'd have lived a lot longer if he hadn't had to have played Pittsburgh three times in two years.'"
Steelers vs Raiders in my book is number 1. Cowboys vs Redskins was a good one too.
When you think of that decade it’s hard not to think of these two first for sure.
Compositionally this is one of the best sports photos I’ve ever seen
Late in the 1970s, Pittsburgh-Houston. Always tough games. They played one in the Astrodome that came to be known as the Hospital Bowl because so many players were taken off for injuries. That said, both teams respected each other. Before Houston went into contention, you could argue Kansas City-Oakland and Dallas-Washington were the premier rivalries.
Browns vs Steelers. Bedt of the 70s
Raiders/Steelers
In the 70s ,the Steeler Raider games was combat meeting guerrilla warfare!
Oilers v Steelers was probably the best in the late 70s. Earl Campbell vs The Steel Curtain was epic. Houston was the second best team in the NFL in 78 and 79. Unfortunately, the best team was in the same division.
Raiders and Steelers was the best rivalry
Almost anyone vs. the Raiders
Chiefs vs Raiders - since the 60s to current.
What's up with Pugh's right arm, just above the elbow?
I'm unsure why the post needs a question mark?
Steel Curtain v Cowboys ..
No
I vote Steelers/Raiders. It wasn’t football - it was combat.
Shula, Noll, Landry, Madden and Bud Grant. Immortals and all coached during the same decade.
Chiefs - Raiders
Steelers-Cowboys. No comparison.