Oakland RaidersVERSUSPittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh had spent four decades without a playoff victory before Chuck Noll's young team finally hosted Oakland at Three Rivers Stadium. The Raiders already represented the conference's established power, while the Steelers were still trying to prove that their long rebuild had changed the franchise.

• The Steelers were making only the second postseason appearance in franchise history and had never won a playoff game.
• Rookie Franco Harris had transformed Pittsburgh's offense with 1,055 rushing yards and was already a central figure in the team's revival.
• Oakland and Pittsburgh were at the beginning of a rivalry that would decide the AFC championship in three straight later seasons.

Sources: NFL 100: Immaculate Reception · NFL oral history