The game where the lead changed seven times in one afternoon

Countries & Cities · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Super Bowl XIV was a chaotic seesaw battle that shattered records for both drama and attendance. While the Pittsburgh Steelers secured their fourth title, the Los Angeles Rams defied all odds to reach the stage despite a mediocre regular season, creating one of the most unpredictable spectacles in football history.

A record crowd of 103,985 people gathered at Pasadena's Rose Bowl on 20 January 1980 for Super Bowl XIV. This match marked a geographic milestone because it occurred within a participant's local market for the first time. The Rams were based in Los Angeles, and Pasadena sits just 10 miles northeast of Downtown LA.

The game's narrative was defined by extreme volatility. It remains the record for the most lead changes in a single Super Bowl, with the score flipping seven times. Despite being heavy underdogs—so much so that some writers mocked the Rams as 'losers'—the Los Angeles team took the lead three times. They held a 13–10 advantage at halftime before Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw orchestrated a fourth-quarter surge to score 14 unanswered points, including a 73-yard touchdown pass to John Stallworth.

The Rams' path to the game was historic for its own reasons. Following the 1978 NFL expansion to 16 games, they were the initial squad to enter the Super Bowl with nine or fewer regular-season victories. Their 9–7 record was considered so poor that critics suggested they didn't belong on the field. Conversely, the Steelers entered as heavy favorites, having finished the season with 12 wins and leading the league in scoring with 416 points, though they also led the league in turnovers with a staggering 52.

The victory cemented Pittsburgh's legacy as the first team to win four Super Bowls. For the Rams, the game was a defensive masterpiece; their unit had previously set an NFL record by holding the Seattle Seahawks to -7 total yards in a single game during the regular season. Even with injuries and a backup quarterback who threw more interceptions than touchdowns, the Rams' defense remained a formidable wall until the final frame.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The 1979 heavyweight clash that redefined the Super Bowl legacy
• How a fleeting era of offensive brilliance defined the St. Louis Rams' two decades
• The first Super Bowl where both teams had already won titles
• The 1985 Super Bowl that signaled a decade of NFC dominance
• The only team to win a Super Bowl without a home playoff game
• South America’s Dutch voice still speaks under ninety percent forest
• Sudan: A complex history of ancient civilizations and modern struggles in Northeast Africa
• Japan's path to surrender was a complex struggle between military hardliners and imperial diplomacy.
• How a Harvard-trained economist became one of India's most persistent and controversial political litigants.
• From bailiff to Home Minister: The remarkable political trajectory of Sushilkumar Shinde
• The subarctic climate is a land of extremes, defined by long winters and permafrost.
• How a reluctant beauty queen became a trailblazing icon of Indian cinema and motherhood

More in Countries and other regions · More in Countries & Cities · Latest · A–Z · All topics