What's the best way to beat Joe Montana and the high-powered 1984 San Francisco 49ers offense? Keep them on the sideline.

Controlling the clock behind 159 rushing yards from Franco Harris, the 1978 Steelers limited the Niners to just one touchdown in a 20-13 victory on the first weekend of Super League play.

Pittsburgh (1-0) held San Francisco to 261 total yards and sealed the victory on Mel Blount's interception of Montana in the final seconds. With primary target Dwight Clark (three catches for 31 yards) blanketed by the Steelers' defense, Montana completed just half his passes (14-for-28). The Niners became a one-dimensional attack, with the ground game held to a mere 44 rushing yards.

After San Francisco (0-1) jumped to an early 3-0 lead, the Steelers scored 17 straight points. Terry Bradshaw hit Lynn Swann for a 15-yard TD strike in the second quarter to give Pittsburgh the lead for good, and Rocky Bleier scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter.

John Stallworth set up Bleier's touchdown with a 41-yard catch that brought the Steelers to the Niners' doorstep. Stallworth led all receivers with five catches for 117 yards.

Montana's short screen pass to Wendell Tyler early in the fourth quarter brought San Francisco to within 17-13. But Roy Gerela's 42-yard field goal restored Pittsburgh's lead to a touchdown, and Blount's late pick sealed the victory in one of the most anticipated Super League showdowns of the early season.