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On December 23, 1972, at Three Rivers Stadium, the Immaculate Reception became the turning point for the Pittsburgh Steelers, clinching the first playoff win in franchise history and beginning the rise of a dominant NFL team. In a defensive struggle between the Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, with 22 seconds remaining, fourth-and-10 at the Steelers' 40-yard line, and Oakland leading 7 to 6, Terry Bradshaw escaped a pass-rusher and threw toward Frenchy Fuqua as Raiders safety Jack Tatum arrived, producing a fierce collision. Franco Harris caught the ball out of the air, ran past one tackler, stiff-armed another, and reached the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. The play instantly became the most significant in Steelers history, later was named the greatest play in NFL history, fueled a bitter rivalry between Pittsburgh and Oakland through the 1970s, thrilled a city, and helped chart the franchise's course to multiple Super Bowl championships and a growing national fan base.
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