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
Game summaries
Week 1 (Sunday September 28, 1952): [Philadelphia Eagles]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 22,501Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Philadelphia – Grant 84 pass from Burk
- Philadelphia – Ziegler 4 pass from Burk
- Pittsburgh – Finks 20 run
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 32
- Pittsburgh – Modzelewski 1 run
- Philadelphia – Ziegler 3 run
- Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run
- Philadelphia – Pihos 25 pass from Burk
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 27 pass from Finks
Week 2 (Saturday October 4, 1952): [Cleveland Browns]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 27,923Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 10 pass from Finks
- Cleveland – Motley 68 pass from Graham
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 30 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run
- Cleveland – Jones 17 pass from Graham
- Cleveland – Howard 57 pass from Graham
Week 3 (Sunday October 12, 1952): [Philadelphia Eagles]
at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 18,648Referee: TV announcers:'Scoring drives:
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 25
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 20
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 93 kick return
- Philadelphia – Brewer 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 25 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 54 pass from Finks
- Philadelphia – Grant 17 pass from Enke
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 24
- Philadelphia – FG Walston 19
Week 4 (Sunday October 19, 1952): [Washington Redskins]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 22,605Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Washington – Williams 62 punt return
- Washington – Heath 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 6 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 36
- Pittsburgh – Hays 1 interception
- Washington – Taylor 11 pass from Gilmer
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 36 pass from Finks
- Washington – Taylor 43 pass from LeBaron
Week 5 (Sunday October 26, 1952): [Chicago Cardinals]
at Comiskey Park, Chicago, IllinoisGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 20,395Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 28 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 70 punt return
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 5 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Sulima 13 pass from Finks
- Chicago Cardinals – Matson 33 pass from Panciera
- Pittsburgh – Ferry 71 fumble run
- Chicago Cardinals – Matson 41 pass from Panciera
- Chicago Cardinals – Matson 47 pass from Panciera
- Chicago Cardinals – Cross 4 run
Week 6 (Sunday November 2, 1952): [Washington Redskins]
at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DCGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 25,866Referee: TV announcers:Scoring Drives:
- Pittsburgh – Dodrill 35 blocked field goal return
- Washington – LeBaron 2 run
- Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 23
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 70 punt return
- Pittsburgh – Rogel 1 run
- Washington – Safety, Finks tackled in end zone by Hennessey
- Washington – Taylor 40 pass from LeBaron
- Washington – Justice 13 pass from LeBaron
Week 7 (Sunday November 9, 1952): [Detroit Lions]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 26,170Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Detroit – FG Walker 16
- Detroit – Girard 1 run
- Detroit – Box 46 pass from Layne
- Pittsburgh – Rogel 3 run
- Detroit – Girard 31 run
- Detroit – Bailey 9 run
Week 8 (Sunday November 16, 1952): [Cleveland Browns]
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OhioGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 34,973Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Cleveland – Lavelli 22 pass from Graham
- Cleveland – Safety, Finks tackled in end zone by Young
- Cleveland – FG Groza 11
- Cleveland – FG Groza 34
- Cleveland – Lavelli 22 pass from Graham
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 33 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Butler 7 pass from Finks
- Cleveland – Graham 2 run
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 38 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 9 pass from Finks
Week 9 (Sunday November 23, 1952): [Chicago Cardinals]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 18,330Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 23
- PIttsburgh – Modzelewski 6 run
- Chicago Cardinals – Paul 9 pass from Panciera
- Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run
- Chicago Cardinals – Cross 38 pass from Panciera
Week 10 (Sunday November 30, 1952): [New York Giants]
at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 15,140Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 91 kick return
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 5 run
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 21 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Mathews 42 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – Hensley 25 pass from Finks
- New York Giants – Stribling 55 lateral from Scott after 15 pass from Landry
- Pittsburgh – Hensley 60 pass from Finks
- Pittsburgh – George Hays 3 run with blocked punt
- Pittsburgh – Butler 20 pass from Kerkorian
- Pittsburgh – Modzelewski 3 run (Kerkorian kick
Week 11 (Sunday December 7, 1952): [San Francisco 49ers]
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, CaliforniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 13,886Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Pittsburgh – Rogel 3 run
- San Francisco – Soltau 6 pass from Albert
- Pittsburgh – FG Kerkorian 19
- Pittsburgh – Finks 1 run
- Pittsburgh – Chandnois 48 pass from Finks
Week 12 (Sunday December 14, 1952): [Los Angeles Rams]
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CaliforniaGame time: Game weather: Game attendance: 71,130Referee: TV announcers:Scoring drives:
- Los Angeles – Fears 10 pass from Van Brocklin
- Los Angeles – Lane 42 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Hogan 15 interception return
- Pittsburgh – Nickel 13 pass from Finks
- Los Angeles – Hirsch 65 pass from Van Brocklin
- Los Angeles – Fears 5 pass from Van Brocklin