NFL Network: America's Game- 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers

Source:NFL Network- Pittsburgh Steelers CB Mel Blount.

"NFL America's Game Super Bowl 13 Champions 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers" 

From David Stronach 

"Hall of Fame defensive tackle "Mean" Joe Greene (75) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Steelers 35-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida." 

Source:Getty Images- Pittsburgh Steelers DT Joe Greene.

From Getty Images 

"UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1978: Randy Grossman #84 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during an NFL football game circa 1978. Grossman played for the Steelers from 1974-81." 

Source:Getty Images- Pittsburgh Steelers TE Randy Grossman.

From Getty Images 

"Rocky Bleier isn't sure how his valiant story -- from Purple Heart honoree in the Vietnam War to four-time Super Bowl winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- would have played out had it happened this decade.

More media coverage, he figures. More opinions about the merits of war, thanks to social media." 

Source:ESPN- Pittsburgh Steelers tailback Mel Blount.

From ESPN

Mel Blount had the perfect comment that perfectly summed up the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers and how they transitioned from where they were just 3 years earlier in 1975 when they won their 2nd Super Bowl. Blount said that: "The NFL is a physical game (or it used to be) and we beat teams by out-hitting and being stronger and more physical than our opponents." 

Because of the offensive rule changes in 1978 that turned the NFL from more a pound the ground, Big 10, running attack on offense, with the rules favoring the defense, the 1978 rule changes relating to both blocking and taking away the head slap on defense, and how defenders could cover receivers, 1978 was the start of the NFL becoming a lot more balance. 

Starting in 1978 there were now not just power-run, ball-control offenses, that only threw off of play action when the defenses were trying to take the run away, to now where NFL teams were not just balanced, but even threw the ball more than they ran it, like with the San Diego Chargers and Clevleland Browns in the AFC and other clubs. 

The 1978 Steelers weren't as good on defense because they were getting older on defense and losing some of their key veterans and the NFL taking away what they could do on defense. But now because of the rule changes and the emergence of Terry Bradshaw becoming a great QB, John Stallworth and Lynn Swann becoming great receivers, the emergence of Randy Grossman at TE, the Steelers offensive line now being able to block great pass rushers on because of the rule changes and perhaps the Steelers o-line becoming better pass blockers, the Steelers were now a great offensive team, to go along with what was still the best defense in the NF. Even if they weren't as dominant as they were in the mid 1970s. In 1978 we saw the 2nd installment of the Steel Curtain Pittsburgh Steelers and they might be the best NFL team ever.