Editing Immaculate Reception (section)

===1972 season===
The [[1972 NFL season|1972 season]] marked the third year after the [[AFL-NFL merger]], which had the Steelers move to the newly formed American Football ''Conference'' despite not having been a member of the [[American Football League|American Football ''League'']]. Thus, this was the third year in which a playoff meeting between the Raiders and the Steelers could take place outside a Super Bowl.

Having missed the playoffs the year before, the two teams met in the opening game of the season (on September 17), which Pittsburgh won, 34–28. In that game, the Steelers took leads of 17–0 and 27–7 on a blocked-punt return touchdown and two rushing touchdowns by [[quarterback]] [[Terry Bradshaw]]. Oakland fought back with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a 70-yard touchdown pass from quarterback [[Daryle Lamonica]] to [[wide receiver]] [[Mike Siani (American football)|Mike Siani]], but Pittsburgh prevailed.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197209170pit.htm Oakland Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers - September 17th, 1972], ''Pro Football Reference''. Retrieved February 17, 2021.</ref>

Both teams won their respective divisions. Pittsburgh's 11–3 record put them one game over the [[1972 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]], who earned the AFC's [[wild card (sports)|wild card]] spot, and Oakland's mark of 10–3–1 ousted the [[1972 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] by 2½ games. Until 1975 the home teams in the playoffs were two of the three division champions decided based on a yearly divisional rotation. The [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] hosted the wild card team in the first round of the playoffs, which set up the matchup between Pittsburgh and Oakland.<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1972/ 1972 NFL Standings & Team Stats], ''Pro Football Reference''. Retrieved February 17, 2021.</ref>