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A truly fascinating game from the early days of the NFL featuring Hall of Famers Bullet Bill Dudley and Slingin' Sammy Baugh. The rarity of a game from this era shot in color makes it a very compelling watch.
Leather helmets, both teams wearing "home colors" (the game is played at Forbes Field), nearly all players playing both ways (plus special teams), massive differences in blocking techniques, the ostensibly quarterback-less "Single Wing T" nature of Pittsburgh's offense... all of these things make this game incredibly fascinating and entertaining.
The Redskins move the ball well early, with Baugh completing a trademark deep "sling pass" in which he seems to just heave the ball up for grabs, yet it comes down perfectly on target and hits the receiver perfectly in stride. Baugh does this multiple times throughout the game. But Baugh also throws INTs on Washington's first two drives, both deep in Steelers territory.
On the second pick, Bill Dudley breaks on the ball, catches it in stride and races 80-yards down the left sideline, avoiding Baugh's last ditch diving tackle on his way into the end zone. Official stats credit Bill Dudley for the PAT, but Merl Condit actually kicks the extra point. Dudley -- who is Pittsburgh's QB, leading rusher and leads the league in INTs-- also does most of the place kicking and handles punting and punt/kick returns.
Dudley executes a surprise 3rd down quick-kick that travels 57 yards to pin the Redskins at their own 13, then follows up with a scintillating 52-yard punt return to the Redskin 11, only to miss a short FG attempt after a stout Washington goal-line stand. Sammy Baugh throws a terrible pick a few plays later, to set up short Pittsburgh drive featuring Pittsburgh's only pass completion of the game, capped by a 5-yard TD run for a 14-0 lead early in the 4th.
Washington fights back, as Sammy Baugh brilliantly mixes runs and passes to drive deep into Pittsburgh territory, finally scoring on a short QB plunge. The Redskins get no closer, however, as two desperation drives end in Baugh sacks to clinch a hard-fought Steeler victory.
This footage has no sound, so I've added appropriate NFL Films music.
