1952 Pittsburgh Steelers season
# 1952 Pittsburgh Steelers season

The 1952 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 20th in the National Football League they finished the season with a 5–7 record under head coach Joe Bach, who returned to the organization replacing John Michelosen.

The season was notable in that it was the last year the Steelers used the single-wing formation on offense, switching to the T formation the following year. The Steelers were the last NFL team to use the single-wing as their primary offensive formation.

## Regular season

### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | September 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 25–31 | 0–1 |
| 2 | October 4 | Cleveland Browns | L 20–21 | 0–2 |
| 3 | October 12 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 21–26 | 0–3 |
| 4 | October 19 | Washington Redskins | L 24–28 | 0–4 |
| 5 | October 26 | at Chicago Cardinals | W 34–28 | 1–4 |
| 6 | November 2 | at Washington Redskins | W 24–23 | 2–4 |
| 7 | November 9 | Detroit Lions | L 6–31 | 2–5 |
| 8 | November 16 | at Cleveland Browns | L 28–29 | 2–6 |
| 9 | November 23 | Chicago Cardinals | W 17–14 | 3—6 |
| 10 | November 30 | New York Giants | W 63–7 | 4–6 |
| 11 | December 7 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 24–7 | 5–6 |
| 12 | December 14 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 14–28 | 5–7 |

### Game summaries

**Week 1 (Sunday September 28, 1952): Philadelphia Eagles**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Eagles | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Steelers | 0 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 25 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 22,501
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Philadelphia – Grant 84 pass from Burk (Walston kick)
* Philadelphia – Ziegler 4 pass from Burk (Walston kick)
* Pittsburgh – Finks 20 run (kick blocked)
* Philadelphia – FG Walston 32
* Pittsburgh – Modzelewski 1 run (kick blocked)
* Philadelphia – Ziegler 3 run (Walston kick)
* Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Philadelphia – Pihos 25 pass from Burk (Walston kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 27 pass from Finks (kick blocked)

**Week 2 (Saturday October 4, 1952): Cleveland Browns**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Browns | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Steelers | 6 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 20 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 27,923
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Pittsburgh – Nickel 10 pass from Finks (kick failed)
* Cleveland – Motley 68 pass from Graham (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 30 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Cleveland – Jones 17 pass from Graham (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Howard 57 pass from Graham (Groza kick)

**Week 3 (Sunday October 12, 1952): Philadelphia Eagles**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Eagles | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 26 |

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 18,648
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

'Scoring drives:

* Philadelphia – FG Walston 25
* Philadelphia – FG Walston 20
* Pittsburgh – Chandnois 93 kick return (Kerkorian kick)
* Philadelphia – Brewer 1 run (Walston kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 25 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 54 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Philadelphia – Grant 17 pass from Enke (Walston kick)
* Philadelphia – FG Walston 24
* Philadelphia – FG Walston 19

**Week 4 (Sunday October 19, 1952): Washington Redskins**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Redskins | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Steelers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 22,605
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Washington – Williams 62 punt return (LeBaron kick)
* Washington – Heath 1 run (LeBaron kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 6 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 36
* Pittsburgh – Hays 1 interception (Kerkorian kick)
* Washington – Taylor 11 pass from Gilmer (LeBaron kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 36 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Washington – Taylor 43 pass from LeBaron (LeBaron kick)

**Week 5 (Sunday October 26, 1952): Chicago Cardinals**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 0 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 28 |

at Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 20,395
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Pittsburgh – Chandnois 28 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 70 punt return (kick blocked)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 5 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Sulima 13 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Matson 33 pass from Panciera (Geri kick)
* Pittsburgh – Ferry 71 fumble run (Kerkorian kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Matson 41 pass from Panciera (Geri kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Matson 47 pass from Panciera (Geri kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Cross 4 run (Geri kick)

**Week 6 (Sunday November 2, 1952): Washington Redskins**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Redskins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 23 |

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 25,866
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring Drives:

* Pittsburgh – Dodrill 35 blocked field goal return (Kerkorian kick)
* Washington – LeBaron 2 run (Rykovich kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 23
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 70 punt return (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Washington – Safety, Finks tackled in end zone by Hennessey
* Washington – Taylor 40 pass from LeBaron (LeBaron kick)
* Washington – Justice 13 pass from LeBaron (Buksar kick)

**Week 7 (Sunday November 9, 1952): Detroit Lions**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lions | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 26,170
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Detroit – FG Walker 16
* Detroit – Girard 1 run (Walker kick)
* Detroit – Box 46 pass from Layne (Walker kick)
* Pittsburgh – Rogel 3 run (kick failed)
* Detroit – Girard 31 run (Walker kick)
* Detroit – Bailey 9 run (Layne kick)

**Week 8 (Sunday November 16, 1952): Cleveland Browns**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| Browns | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 29 |

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 34,973
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Cleveland – Lavelli 22 pass from Graham (Groza kick)
* Cleveland – Safety, Finks tackled in end zone by Young
* Cleveland – FG Groza 11
* Cleveland – FG Groza 34
* Cleveland – Lavelli 22 pass from Graham (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 33 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Butler 7 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Cleveland – Graham 2 run (Groza kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 38 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 9 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)

**Week 9 (Sunday November 23, 1952): Chicago Cardinals**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 18,330
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 23
* PIttsburgh – Modzelewski 6 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Paul 9 pass from Panciera (Geri kick)
* Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Chicago Cardinals – Cross 38 pass from Panciera (Geri kick)

**Week 10 (Sunday November 30, 1952): New York Giants**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Giants | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Steelers | 14 | 14 | 7 | 28 | 63 |

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 15,140
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Pittsburgh – Chandnois 91 kick return (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Chandnois 5 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 21 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Mathews 42 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hensley 25 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* New York Giants – Stribling 55 lateral from Scott after 15 pass from Landry (Poole kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hensley 60 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – George Hays 3 run with blocked punt (Mathews kick)
* Pittsburgh – Butler 20 pass from Kerkorian (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Modzelewski 3 run (Kerkorian kick

Notes: Tom Landry was brought in as a 3rd string quarterback for New York to complete the game for the entire 2nd half.

**Week 11 (Sunday December 7, 1952): San Francisco 49ers**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| 49ers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 13,886
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Pittsburgh – Rogel 3 run (Kerkorian kick)
* San Francisco – Soltau 6 pass from Albert (Soltau kick)
* Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 19
* Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Chandnois 48 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)

**Week 12 (Sunday December 14, 1952): Los Angeles Rams**

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Rams | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

* Game time:
* Game weather:
* Game attendance: 71,130
* Referee:
* TV announcers:

Scoring drives:

* Los Angeles – Fears 10 pass from Van Brocklin (Waterfield kick)
* Los Angeles – Lane 42 interception return (Waterfield kick)
* Pittsburgh – Hogan 15 interception return (Kerkorian kick)
* Pittsburgh – Nickel 13 pass from Finks (Kerkorian kick)
* Los Angeles – Hirsch 65 pass from Van Brocklin (Waterfield kick)
* Los Angeles – Fears 5 pass from Van Brocklin (Waterfield kick)

### Standings

NFL American Conference :

| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cleveland Browns | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | 7–3 | 310 | 213 | L1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 6–4 | 252 | 271 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | 5–4 | 234 | 231 | W1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 5 | 7 | 0 | .417 | 4–5 | 300 | 273 | L1 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 3–7 | 172 | 221 | L2 |
| Washington Redskins | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | 4–6 | 240 | 287 | W2 |

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

