NFL game summary for 10/06/1974:
Preston Pearson came off the bench and ran for 117 yards in 15 carries, scoring the winning touchdown after Roy Gerela kicked two field goals. Billy Johnson, Houston's quick little rookie from Widener, raced 47 yards for a score on an end-around play. The Oilers lost scoring chances on penalties, two fumbles, and an interception. Joe Gilliam passed for 202 yards but was intercepted twice by safety Tom Maxwell.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 126.7 (15) | 233.0 (1) | 359.7 (4) | 10 |
| DEFENSE | 150.3 (18) | 98.0 (7) | 248.3 (8) | 7 | |
 | OFFENSE | 82.0 (26) | 159.0 (9) | 241.0 (20) | 11 |
| DEFENSE | 150.7 (19) | 157.7 (16) | 308.3 (21) | 6 |
Line: Steelers by 15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1-1) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
| Houston Oilers (1-3-0) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
( 0- 7) HOU Billy Johnson 47 yard rush (Skip Butler kick)
( 3- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 37 yard field goal
( 6- 7) PIT Roy Gerela 27 yard field goal
(13- 7) PIT Preston Pearson 9 yard rush (Roy Gerela kick)
PIT HOU
First Downs: 18 10
Rushes-yards: 38-184 24-119
Yards/rush: 4.8 5.0
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 16-32-202-2 12-23-148-1
Sacked-yards: 0-0 3-27
Net pass yards: 202 121
Net yards/pass: 6.3 4.7
Total net yards: 386 240
Total plays: 70 (54% run) 50 (48% run)
Yards/play: 5.5 4.8
Fumbles-lost: 1-1 3-2
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 7-53 7-50
Attendance: 30,049
Passing:
PIT: Joe Gilliam, 16 of 32 for 202 yards (2 int) HOU: Lynn Dickey, 9 of 17 for 79 yards (1 int); Dan Pastorini, 3 of 6 for 69 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 117 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 8 for 37 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 14 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 7 for 16 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 12 for 48 yards; Vic Washington, 6 for 24 yards; Billy Johnson, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 2 for 9 yards; Lynn Dickey, 1 for 0 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Ron Shanklin, 4 for 49 yards; Larry Brown, 3 for 46 yards; Preston Pearson, 3 for 42 yards; Frank Lewis, 3 for 33 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 32 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 3 for 34 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 30 yards; George Amundson, 2 for 22 yards; Jerry Broadnax, 1 for 42 yards; Billy Parks, 1 for 14 yards; Willie Rodgers, 1 for 4 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 2 for 43 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 47 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 21 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 22 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 9 yards HOU: Tommy Maxwell, 2 for 30 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 193 yards HOU: David Beverly, 6 for 230 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1
PIT: Joe Gilliam, 16 of 32 for 202 yards (2 int) HOU: Lynn Dickey, 9 of 17 for 79 yards (1 int); Dan Pastorini, 3 of 6 for 69 yards
Rushing:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 15 for 117 yards and 1 TD; Rocky Bleier, 8 for 37 yards; Steve Davis, 8 for 14 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 7 for 16 yards HOU: Willie Rodgers, 12 for 48 yards; Vic Washington, 6 for 24 yards; Billy Johnson, 2 for 38 yards and 1 TD; Fred Willis, 2 for 9 yards; Lynn Dickey, 1 for 0 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
PIT: Ron Shanklin, 4 for 49 yards; Larry Brown, 3 for 46 yards; Preston Pearson, 3 for 42 yards; Frank Lewis, 3 for 33 yards; Frenchy Fuqua, 3 for 32 yards HOU: Fred Willis, 3 for 34 yards; Ken Burrough, 3 for 30 yards; George Amundson, 2 for 22 yards; Jerry Broadnax, 1 for 42 yards; Billy Parks, 1 for 14 yards; Willie Rodgers, 1 for 4 yards; Vic Washington, 1 for 2 yards
Kick returns:
PIT: Preston Pearson, 2 for 43 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 2 for 47 yards; Jeff Severson, 1 for 21 yards; Bob Gresham, 1 for 12 yards
Punt returns:
PIT: Lynn Swann, 3 for 22 yards HOU: Billy Johnson, 1 for 37 yards
Interceptions:
PIT: Mike Wagner, 1 for 9 yards HOU: Tommy Maxwell, 2 for 30 yards
Punting:
PIT: Bobby Walden, 5 for 193 yards HOU: David Beverly, 6 for 230 yards
Field Goals:
PIT: Roy Gerela, 2/2 HOU: Skip Butler, 0/1