Game #7 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) at New Orleans Saints (4-3) Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010 8:20 p.m. (ET) Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, La. Game #7 Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1) at New Orleans Saints (4-3) Date: Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010 Kickoff: 8:20 p.m., ET Site: Louisiana Superdome (68,000) New Orleans, La. Playing Surface: Sportexe Momentum TV Coverage: NBC-TV (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11) Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play) Cris Collinsworth (color analyst) Andrea Kremer (sideline) Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970) Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline) National Radio: Westwood One Radio Announcers: Dave Sims (play-by-play) James Lofton (color analyst) Scott Kaplan (sidelines) Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) XEDA-FM 90.5 A Look at the Coaches: Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Overall regular-season record: 36-18 (.667)/fourth season Regular-season record at Pittsburgh: 36-18 (.667)/fourth season Playoff Record/Years: 3-1/two years New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton Overall regular-season record: 42-29 (.592)/fifth season Regular-season record at New Orleans: 42-29 (.592)/fifth season Playoff Record/Years: 4-1/two years For all of the most up-to-date information on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit the team s official web site at. Updated daily, the web site has the most extensive information on upcoming games and the most comprehensive news on the Steelers. Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Schedule/Results Preseason (3-1) Saturday, Aug. 14 DETROIT W, 23-7 (KDKA) Saturday, Aug. 21 at New York Giants W, 24-17 (KDKA) Sunday, Aug. 29 at Denver L, 17-34 (FOX) Thursday, Sept. 2 CAROLINA W, 19-3 (KDKA) Regular Season (5-1) Sunday, Sept. 12 ATLANTA W, 15-9 (OT) (FOX) Sunday, Sept. 19 at Tennessee W, 19-11 (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 26 at Tampa Bay W, 38-13 (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 3 BALTIMORE L, 14-17 (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 10 BYE Sunday, Oct. 17 CLEVELAND W, 28-10 (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 24 at Miami W, 23-22 (CBS) Sunday, Oct. 31 at New Orleans 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Monday, Nov. 8 at Cincinnati 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, Nov. 14 NEW ENGLAND 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Nov. 21 OAKLAND 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Nov. 28 at Buffalo 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 5 at Baltimore 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Dec. 12 CINCINNATI 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 19 NEW YORK JETS 4:15 p.m. (CBS) Thursday, Dec. 23 CAROLINA 8:20 p.m. (NFL Net./KDKA) Sunday, Jan. 2 at Cleveland 1 p.m. (CBS) Times and TV Network may change due to NFL flexible scheduling Postseason Sat.-Sun., Jan. 8-9 Wild Card Weekend (NBC, CBS & FOX) Sat.-Sun., Jan. 15-16 Divisional Playoff Games (CBS & FOX) Sunday, Jan. 23 Conference Championships (CBS & FOX) Sunday, Jan. 30 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl (Hawaii) (FOX) Sunday, Feb. 6 Super Bowl XLV (Dallas, Texas) (FOX) NOTE: All times are Eastern. Home games in Bold/CAPS.
THE COACHES MIKE TOMLIN was named the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history on Jan. 22, 2007. Hired at the age of 34, Tomlin became only the third head coach hired by the Steelers since 1969. Tomlin became the youngest head coach in NFL history to both coach in and win a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. By winning the Super Bowl in only his second season as a head coach, he also became the fastest to win a Super Bowl title in Steelers history. Tomlin is one of only seven coaches in league history to win a Super Bowl within his first two seasons as an NFL head coach. Tomlin has compiled a 36-18 record in the regular season during his four-year head coaching career. His.667 winning percentage after three-plus seasons is second-best in team history. By leading the Steelers to a 9-7 record in 2009, Tomlin became only the second Steelers head coach to post winning records after each of his first three seasons. The Steelers offense ranked seventh in the NFL (ninth passing, 19 th rushing) and became the first unit in team history to boast a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher in the same season. Pittsburgh s defense ranked fifth in the NFL (third vs. run, 16 th vs. pass) while leading the AFC and finishing one shy of the NFL lead with 47 quarterback sacks. The Steelers continued to be dominant at Heinz Field under Tomlin in 2009. Pittsburgh finished with a 6-2 home record in 2009 after finishing 7-1 (2007) and 6-2 (2008) at home during Tomlin s first two seasons. Tomlin s 20-5 record and.800 winning percentage at home after three-plus seasons ranks second in Steelers history. The Steelers defense was dominant under Tomlin s guidance in 2008, leading the NFL in total defense (237.2), pass defense (156.9), points per game (13.9), total yards per play (3.9), rushing yards per attempt (3.3), passing yards per attempt (4.7) and third down efficiency (31.4), and finished second in league rushing defense (80.3). Tomlin became only the second Steelers head coach to win his first three games. During 2007, the Steelers became just the fifth team in NFL history to win their first four home games by at least 20 points. Tomlin led the Steelers to a 10-6 record in 2007, and became just the second coach in team history to post a winning record, win a division title and earn a playoff berth in his inaugural season. Tomlin was the NFL s second-youngest head coach in 2007, and he became only the second Steelers coach in team history to win at least 10 games during his first year at the helm. The Steelers posted a 7-1 record at home in 2007 and were 5-1 in the AFC North (3-0 at home). Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver at William and Mary (1990-94) and finished his career with 101 receptions for 2,046 yards and a school-record 20 TD catches. A first-team All- Yankee Conference selection in 1994, he established a school record with a 20.2 yards-per-catch average. SEAN PAYTON, in his fifth season as a head coach in the National Football League, is the first coach in New Orleans Saints history to lead the team to a Super Bowl title. Payton, who has quickly molded New Orleans into one of the NFL s elite teams, guided the Saints to their first-ever championship on February 7, 2010 when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, in Super Bowl XLIV. For Payton, the run has capped a four-year span where the Saints have won 42 games, claimed two division titles, appeared in a pair of NFC Championship games (2006 and 2009) and won Super Bowl XLIV. STEELERS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Dave Lockett, Communications Coordinator... (412) 432-7822 Burt Lauten, Public Relations/Media Manager... (412) 432-7821 Emily Scerba, Communications Admin. Asst.... (412) 432-7820 Ryan Scarpino, Media Relations Intern... (412) 432-7800 Office Fax... (412) 432-7878 STEELERS RADIO COVERAGE For the 12th consecutive year, WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGG- AM (970) are carrying all Steelers games. Additionally, Steelers games can be heard on a 64-station network spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland. The Steelers are also broadcasted on 17 stations in Mexico, marking the second straight year their games can be heard throughout Mexico. For the 17th straight season, Bill Hillgrove serves as the Voice of the Steelers and handles play-by-play duties for the broadcast. Joining Hillgrove for his 13th season as an expert analyst is Tunch Ilkin, the former Steelers All-Pro offensive tackle. Joining the team for his ninth season is former Steeler offensive lineman Craig Wolfley, who provides sideline analysis. Stations on the Steelers Radio Network include: FLAGSHIP STATIONS (2) WDVE-FM (102.5) WBGG-AM (970) PENNSYLVANIA (31) Altoona-WVAM (1430) Altoona-WRKY (104.9) Beaver Falls-WBVP (1230) Beaver Falls-WMBA (1460) Bedford-WAYC (100.9) Bradford-WESB (1490) Butler-WISR (680) Chambersburg-WCHA (800) Clarendon-WKNB (104.3) Clarion-WCCR (92.7) Cooperstown-WUUZ (107.7) DuBois-WOWQ (102.1) Erie-WJET (1440) Gettysburg-WGET (1320) Grove City-WWGY (95.1) Harrisburg-WTPA (93.5) Indiana-WQMU (92.5) Johnstown-WRKW (99.1) Johnstown-WNTW (990) Latrobe-WCNS (1480) Punxsutawney-WPXZ (104.1) Saegertown-WUUZ (94.3) Scottdale-WLSW (103.9) Scranton-WEJL (630/1240) Scranton-WEZX (96.1/106.9) Somerset-WNTJ (850) State College/Pleasant Gap- WRSC (98.7) Uniontown-WMBS (590) Washington-WJPA (1450) Williamsport-WCXR (93.3) Williamsport-WZXR (103.7) OHIO (4) Bellevue-WOHF (92.1) Findlay-WFIN (1330) Westerville-WTDA (103.9) Youngstown-WNIO (1390) MARYLAND (4) Cumberland-WTBO (1450) Frostburg-WFRB (560) Hagerstown-WHAG (1410) Mountain Lake Park-WKHJ (104.5) WEST VIRGINIA (6) Buckhannon-WBRB (101.3) Fairmont-WRLF (94.3) Fairmont-WMMN (920) Morgantown-WKKW (97.9) St. Mary s-wjaw (630) Wheeling-WWVA (1170) MEXICO (17) Grupo Imagen 2010 AFC North Standings W L T Pct. Pts. Opp. Pittsburgh 5 1 0.833 137 82 Baltimore 5 2 0.714 149 129 Cincinnati 2 4 0.333 131 141 Cleveland 2 5 0.286 118 142 This Week in the AFC North: Sunday, Oct. 31: Miami (3-3) at Cincinnati (2-4), 1 p.m. (CBS) Pittsburgh (5-1) at New Orleans (4-3), 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Bye: Baltimore, Cleveland All times are Eastern.
STEELERS PRONUNCIATIONS Flozell Adams... (FLOW-zell) Arnaz Battle... (ARE-nez) Crezdon Butler... (CREZ-den) Trai Essex... (TRAY) Ramon Foster... (ra-mone) Keyaron Fox... (KEY-aaron) Brett Keisel... (KEE-sull) Chris Kemoeatu... (kay-moy-ah-too) Keenan Lewis... (KEY-nan) Mewelde Moore... (Muh-WELL-dee) Troy Polamalu... (Pole-uh-MAH-lu) Maurkice Pouncey... (Mar-KEESE POUN-see) Matt Spaeth... (SPAYTH) LaMarr Woodley... (la-marr) MEDIA NOTES New Orleans Saints Conference Call: New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and QB Drew Brees will be available for interviews via conference call on Wednesday, Oct. 27, in the Steelers media workroom. Payton will be at 3 p.m. and Brees will be at 4 p.m. Weekly Press Conference: Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin will conduct his weekly press conference every Tuesday at noon in the Steelers media workroom at their UPMC Sports Performance Complex headquarters. Official Steelers Website: Media and fans can read about the latest Steelers news on the official Steelers website. The site,, features breaking news, statistics, player biographies and much more. Media-Only Section of The Steelers Media Relations Department offers a Media-Only section on steelers.com. To sign up for this service, go to members.steelers.com and register as a new user. Once your registration is approved, you will receive an email and can access all information. If you have any questions or problems, please email steelers_digest@yahoo.com. NFLmedia.com: Journalists worldwide have access to the dedicated media website featuring news from the NFL and its teams. Daily releases, statistics, domestic and international NFL updates and other information about the NFL are available. The site also provides links to other NFL and individual team sites. STEELERS LAST GAME Pittsburgh 23, Miami 22 Sunday, Oct. 24 Miami Gardens, Fla. (Sun Life Stadium) Pittsburgh Team Notes: Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 on the year for the second time in three years (2008). The Steelers improved to 3-0 on the road this year for the first time since 2005 when the team won their first four road games of the year. The Steelers improved to 12-9 all-time against the Miami Dolphins in the regular season. Pittsburgh captured its third straight win on the road in the series and improved to 6-7 all-time on the road against the Dolphins. The Steelers won their fifth straight game in the series. After the Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders fumbled the opening kickoff, the Dolphins grabbed a 3-0 lead as K Dan Carpenter booted a 39-yard field goal less than one minute into the game. QB Ben Roethlisberger fumbled on the Steelers first offensive drive and the Dolphins went ahead 6-0 as Carpenter connected on a 23-yard field goal with 11:15 remaining in the first quarter. The Steelers cut the lead to 6-3 on a 22-yard field goal by K Jeff Reed on the second play of the second quarter. Pittsburgh engineered a 13-play, 86-yard drive that lasted over eight minutes. After the Dolphins fumbled in their own territory, Roethlisberger put the Steelers ahead 10-6 as he found WR Hines Ward for a 21- yard touchdown with 11:11 remaining in the first half. It was Ward s third receiving touchdown of the season and the 81st receiving touchdown of his career. It also gave Ward 502 career points scored, becoming just the fifth player in team history to eclipse 500-point mark. Miami cut the lead to 10-9 midway through the second quarter as Carpenter hit his third field goal of the game, this one from 22 yards. Sanders returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the Steelers 47-yard line, and Roethlisberger found WR Mike Wallace for a 53-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive to give Pittsburgh a 17-9 lead with 5:47 remaining in the half. It was Wallace s team-leading fourth receiving touchdown of the year and his third career touchdown of at least 50 yards. Miami trimmed the lead to 17-16 with less than two minutes to go in the first half as QB Chad Henne hit WR Davone Bess for a 26-yard touchdown. Reed booted a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh a 20-16 lead. Carpenter hit a 37-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, late in the third quarter to cut the Steelers advantage to 20-19. Carpenter added his fifth field goal of the game with a 40-yarder with 5:17 remaining in the game to give Miami a 22-20 lead. Sanders took the ensuing kickoff 48 yards to the Steelers 48- yard line to set up the game-winning drive. Pittsburgh drove to the Dolphins two-yard line and almost scored when Roethlisberger Tuesday, Oct. 26 Noon - Coach Tomlin Press Conference Wednesday, Oct. 27 1:15-3:15 p.m. - Practice Players available for media interviews at 12:30 p.m. and following practice in locker room THIS WEEK S SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Thursday, Oct. 28 1-3 p.m. - Practice Players available for media interviews at 12:15 p.m. and following practice in locker room Friday, Oct. 29 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Practice Players available for media interviews following practice in locker room Saturday, Oct. 30 No coaches or players available for media interviews Team travels to New Orleans, La. Sunday, Oct. 31 8:20 p.m. (EST) Away Game at New Orleans Saints (Superdome) NBC (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11) Monday, Nov. 1 TBA
attempted a third-down play that was originally ruled a touchdown. However, after an official review, Roethlisberger was deemed to have fumbled the ball at the half-yard line and there was no video evidence to show who recovered the fumble. Reed then booted a game-clinching 18-yard field on the next play to make it 23-22 just before the two-minute warning. The Steelers defense held Miami to no first downs before Roethlisberger took three knees to end the game. Pittsburgh finished with 348 yards of total offense, including 290 through the air and 58 on the ground. Miami had 313 yards of total offense (64 rushing, 249 passing). Both teams had 15 first downs. Pittsburgh converted 40 percent (6 of 15) of its third-down attempts while Miami converted only 25 percent (3 of 12). The Steelers had one sack (LB Larry Foote) while the Dolphins finished with three sacks. The Steelers did not allow a 100-yard rusher for the sixth time this season. QB Charlie Batch (3rd QB), RB Jonathan Dwyer, CB Crezdon Butler, OT Tony Hills, OG Trai Essex, WR Antonio Brown, LB Thaddeus Gibson and DE Brett Keisel were inactive for the Steelers. Pittsburgh Individual Notes: QB Ben Roethlisberger Finished 19-of-27 for 302 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions (132.0 passer rating). Tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to WR Hines Ward in the second quarter. Connected with WR Mike Wallace for a 53-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Marked his 13th career game with at least 300 yards passing, extending his team record. Marked his 21st career fourth-quarter/overtime come-from-behind victory. His 132.0 passer rating was the 38th time in his career he has posted a passer rating of 100-plus, also extending his team record. RB Rashard Mendenhall Finished with a team-high 37 yards rushing on 15 carries (2.5 avg.). WR Hines Ward Finished with a season-high 131 yards receiving on seasonbest seven catches with one touchdown. His 131 yards receiving are the most since he had 159 yards receiving versus Cleveland on Oct. 18, 2009. Posted his 27th career 100-yard receiving game, most in team history, and the second this season (Week 1 vs. Atlanta). Has now caught a pass in a team-record 184 consecutive games, which is the fourth longest streak in NFL history, moving ahead of Art Monk. Had a season-long 43-yard reception in the first quarter, his longest since a 54-yard catch against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 20, 2009. Hauled in a 21-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger in the second quarter. Became just the fifth player in team history to post over 500 career points as he now has 502 points. WR Mike Wallace Finished with two catches for 53 yards and one touchdown. Hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the second quarter, his team-leading fourth receiving touchdown of the season. It marked his third career touchdown of at least 50 yards. Marked his second consecutive game in Miami with a touchdown reception of at least 50 yards (54 yards at Miami, Jan. 3, 2009). WR Emmanuel Sanders Averaged 28.8 yards per kickoff return, including a long of 48 yards in the fourth quarter that set up the game-clinching field goal. Had a 37-yard kickoff return in the second quarter that set up a 53-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger to Wallace. Added one reception for 18 yards. TE Heath Miller Finished with three catches for 33 yards (11.0 avg.). Moved into second place on the team s all-time receiving list for tight ends ahead of Bennie Cunningham. Miller now has 2,904 career receiving yards. LB Larry Foote Posted his first sack of the season, an eight-yard loss in the third quarter. LB James Farrior Recovered his first fumble of the season in the second quarter. Finished with 11 tackles (eight solo). DE Nick Eason Made his 10th career start in place of the injured DE Brett Keisel. CB Bryant McFadden Forced his first fumble of the season in the second quarter. Finished with eight tackles (five solo). P Daniel Sepulveda Averaged 47.3 yards per punt, including a long of 51 yards. K Jeff Reed Was a perfect 3-for-3 in FGs and 2-for-2 in PATs for 11 points. Booted a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter. Had a game-clinching 18-yard field goal with 2:26 remaining in the game. Became just the second kicker in team history to reach 200 career field goals as he now has exactly 200 for his career. Surpassed 900 points in his career (902), which is second on the team s all-time list behind Gary Anderson (1,343). STEELERS-SAINTS SERIES NOTES Series History: Series began in 1967 Overall: Pittsburgh leads 7-6 At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 3-2 At New Orleans: Series tied 4-4 Neutral Sites: n/a Last Regular-Season Meeting: Nov. 12, 2006 (in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 38, New Orleans 31 Postseason Series: n/a (postseason record not included in overall series record) Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 7-6 after a 38-31 victory over the Saints in the most recent matchup (2006)...this marks the first matchup between the teams in the Mike Tomlin era...this is the first game at the Superdome in the series since a 32-29 Saints victory in 2002...the Steelers have lost two of the last three meetings at the Superdome with the lone victory during that time coming in 1990, a 9-6 Pittsburgh win...the Steelers have won three of the last four meetings overall...the Steelers have played New Orleans 13 times, which is the fourth-fewest games against any team in the NFL for Pittsburgh.
TEAM NOTES Facing The Champs: Pittsburgh owns a 3-5 record when facing the defending Super Bowl champion, including the postseason, since 2000. The last Steelers victory over a defending Super Bowl champion was when they defeated the New England Patriots in the regular season after the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII. The other two wins since 2000 were a pair of victories over Baltimore during the 2001 season after the Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV. The following is a listing of the games Pittsburgh has played versus defending Super Bowl champions since 2000: Year Team (Super Bowl champion) Result 2008 New York Giants (XLII) L, 14-21 2005 New England Patriots (XXXIV) L, 20-23 2004 New England Patriots (XXXVIII) L, 27-41 (AFC Championship) 2004 New England Patriots (XXXVIII) W, 34-20 2002 New England Patriots (XXXVI) L, 14-30 2001 Baltimore Ravens (XXXV) W, 27-10 (AFC Playoff Game) 2001 Baltimore Ravens (XXXV) W, 26-21 2001 Baltimore Ravens (XXXV) L, 10-13 Imposing Their Will: The Steelers are averaging 118.8 rushing yards per game this season, which ranks seventh in the AFC and 11th in the NFL. The Steelers have outrushed five of their six opponents this year, averaging over 50 more yards on the ground than the opponents. Road Warriors: The Steelers have had great success playing away from Heinz Field over the last decade. Since the beginning of the 2000 season, the Steelers own the fourth-best road winning percentage in the NFL. The following is a list of the top five road winning percentages since 2000: Team W L T Pct. Indianapolis 57 27 0.679 Philadelphia 54 29 1.651 New England 53 30 0.639 Pittsburgh 49 34 0.590 New Orleans 47 36 0.566 New York Giants 47 36 0.566 On The Road Again: The Steelers are in the middle of a stretch of three straight road games, continuing with their Week 8 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Pittsburgh won the first leg of the road trip, defeating the Miami Dolphins 23-22 in Week 7. The Steelers conclude the three-game road trip in Week 9 at Cincinnati on Monday Night Football. The last time Pittsburgh played three straight regular-season road games was in 1994, playing at the New York Giants (W, 10-6), at Arizona (L, 20-17 in OT) and at the Houston Oilers (W, 12-9 in OT). In The Spotlight: The Steelers are 12-3 in primetime regularseason games under fourth-year head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers had won 12 straight games in primetime under Tomlin prior to their Week 12 setback to the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. Pittsburgh is scheduled to play five primetime games this year, including each of the next three games. The Steelers play in primetime in Week 8 (at New Orleans), Week 9 (at Cincinnati), Week 10 (vs. New England), Week 13 (at Baltimore) and Week 16 (vs. Carolina). Several Steelers and Saints are products of the same colleges, including the following: STEELERS-SAINTS COLLEGE CONNECTIONS STEELERS COLLEGE SAINTS Anthony Madison (CB)... Alabama... Roman Harper (S) Antonio Brown (WR)... Central Michigan... Tory Humphrey (TE) Crezdon Butler (CB)... Clemson... Anthony Waters (LB) Nick Eason (DE) Maurkice Pouncey (C)... Florida... Alex Brown (LB) Max Starks (OT) Bryant McFadden (CB)... Florida State... Patrick Robinson (CB) Lawrence Timmons (LB) Hines Ward (WR)... Georgia... Jon Stinchcomb (OT) Keyaron Fox (LB)... Georgia Tech... Anthony Hargrove (DL) Rashard Mendenhall (RB)... Illinois... Danny Clark (LB) Pierre Thomas (RB) Antwaan Randle El... Indiana... Tracy Porter (CB) Courtney Roby (WR) James Harrison (LB)... Kent State... Usama Young (S) Ryan Clark (S)... LSU... Devery Henderson (WR) Larry Foote (LB)... Michigan... Jonathan Goodwin (C) LaMarr Woodley (LB) Ziggy Hood (DE)... Missouri... Chase Daniel (QB) Trai Essex (OT)... Northwestern... Zach Strief (OT) Arnaz Battle (WR)... Notre Dame... Julius Jones (RB) Will Allen (S)... Ohio State... Malcolm Jenkins (CB) Thaddeus Gibson (LB) Will Smith (DE) Emmanuel Sanders (WR)... SMU... Thomas Morstead (P) Troy Polamalu (S)... USC... Charles Brown (OT) Reggie Bush (RB) Sedrick Ellis (DT) Ramon Foster (OT)... Tennessee... Jabari Greer (CB) Robert Meachem (WR) Marvin Mitchell (LB) Casey Hampton (DT)... Texas... David Thomas (TE) Tony Hills (OT) Jonathan Scott (OT) Jason Worilds (LB)... Virginia Tech... Pierson Prioleau (S) Sunday Night Showdown: The Steelers own a 14-14 all-time record in Sunday Night games and this marks the first of two scheduled Sunday Night Football games this season. The Steelers will host the New England Patriots in Week 10 at Heinz Field on Sunday Night Football. Pittsburgh had won four straight Sunday Night games prior to its setback to the Ravens on Nov. 29 of last year. Controlling The NFC: The Steelers have won 22 of their past 26 regular-season games versus teams in the NFC, dating back to 2003. The Steelers are 96-56-1 (.631) all-time against teams from the NFC (including Super Bowls), including a 54-19-1 record at home and a 36-36 mark on the road. Pittsburgh had won eight straight games versus NFC teams at home prior to its 2008 loss to the New York Giants. The Steelers are 6-1 versus the NFC in the Super Bowl. Steelers-Saints Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Saints and the New Orleans area. Steelers with direct ties to the Saints and the New Orleans area include S Ryan Clark, who played at LSU and is a native of Marrero, La. CB Keenan Lewis and WR Mike Wallace are both from New Orleans and attended O. Perry Walker High School. RB Mewelde Moore is from Hammond, La. and attended Tulane, which plays their home games at the Superdome. CB Ike Taylor is from Gretna, La. and played collegiately at Louisiana-Lafayette. Offensive assistant Harold Goodwin is the brother of Saints C Jonathan Goodwin. Special teams coach Al Everest coached for the Saints from 2000-05 while assistant head coach/defensive line John Mitchell coached at LSU from 1987-90.
What To Look For: PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES The Steelers look to improve to 6-1 for the first time since 2004 when the team finished 15-1 in the regular season. The Steelers look to improve to 8-6 all-time against the Saints. Pittsburgh looks for its first win in the Superdome since a 9-6 victory in 1990. The Steelers look to improve to 5-4 on the road in the series history. Pittsburgh looks to improve to 3-0 against NFC foes this year. The Steelers look for their 23rd win in the last 27 games against NFC teams. The Steelers look to improve to a perfect 4-0 on the road this year and for the first time since winning their first four road games in 2005. PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES TE Heath Miller Needs 96 receiving yards to become just the second tight end in team history to reach 3,000 yards for his career. Miller currently has 2,904 career receiving yards and trails only Elbie Nickel (5,133) on the all-time list for tight ends. Swarming Defense: The Steelers have been putting on a defensive showcase in each of their first six games of 2010. The team has given up just six touchdowns in six games. Additionally, the Steelers have 16 takeaways in six games. The following is a quick look at some of the impressive defensive statistics the Steelers have put up in their first six games combined: Category Statistic Total Points Allowed... 82 Points Allowed/First Half (Total)... 38 Touchdowns Allowed... 6 Total Takeaways... 16 Fumbles Recovered... 8 Interceptions... 8 Total Sacks... 17 Total Rushing Yards Allowed... 382 Rushing Yards Allowed/Game... 63.7 Defense! Defense! Defense!: Pittsburgh is allowing 299.3 yards of total offense this year, which ranks second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL. The Steelers have allowed just 382 rushing yards (63.7 avg.) on the year. Pittsburgh snapped RB Chris Johnson s 12-game streak of rushing for over 100 yards as it limited him to 34 yards on 16 carries (2.1 avg.) in the Week 2 victory at Tennessee. The Steelers finished with seven takeaways (four fumbles, three interceptions) against the Titans. Pittsburgh gave up 295 yards of total offense in its Week 1 overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons. The Steelers allowed only 58 yards rushing and 237 yards passing against the Falcons. Additionally, they posted two sacks and had one interception. The Steelers ranked fourth in the AFC and fifth in the NFL in total defense in 2009 by allowing 305.3 yards per game. Turning Up the Heat: Since 1994, the Steelers have led the AFC in sacks five times and the entire NFL twice. The Steelers have 18 sacks in 2010, including a season-high five in Week 6 versus Cleveland. The 18 sacks rank third in the AFC and eighth in the NFL. In 2009, the Steelers finished with 47 sacks, ranking first in the AFC and second in the NFL. Sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982, however, a record of passers tackled was kept prior to that time. Following are the Steelers single-season sack totals dating back to 1970: Pittsburgh Steelers Team Sack Totals (Since 1970) Year Total Year Total 1970... 26 1991... 38 1971... 33 1992... 36 1972... 40 1993... 42 1973... 33 1994... 55 * 1974... 52 1995... 42 1975... 43 1996... 51 1976... 41 1997... 48 1977... 32 1998... 41 1978... 44 1999... 39 1979... 49 2000... 39 1980... 18 2001... 55 * 1981... 40 2002... 50 1982... 34 2003... 35 1983... 50 2004... 41 1984... 47 2005... 47 1985... 36 2006... 39 1986... 43 2007... 36 1987... 26 2008... 51 1988... 19 2009... 47 1989... 31 2010... 18 1990... 34 * Team Record Holding Their Ground: Over the past 10 years, Pittsburgh s defense has been among the best at holding its opponents to the fewest rushing yards in the league. The Steelers have allowed just 382 yards rushing on the year, averaging 63.7 yards per game. That average ranks first in the NFL. In 2009, the Steelers gave up 89.9 yards per game on the ground, which was first in the AFC and third in the NFL. In the past eight seasons, Pittsburgh has allowed an NFL-low nine 100-yard rushers. Baltimore is second with 16. Additionally, since 1994 the Steelers have led the AFC in rushing defense eight times and the entire NFL three times. Following is a look at the number of yards rushing the Steelers have allowed in each of the past 10 seasons: Year Rushing Yds. Allowed Avg./Game AFC/NFL Rank 2001 1,195 74.7 1st/1st 2002 1,375 85.9 1st/1st 2003 1,741 108.8 8th/12th 2004 1,299 81.2 1st/1st 2005 1,376 85.5 3rd/3rd 2006 1,412 88.2 2nd/3rd 2007 1,438 89.9 2nd/3rd 2008 1,284 80.3 1st/2nd 2009 1,438 89.9 1st/3rd 2010 382 63.7 1st/1st Total 12,940 86.3 1st/1st 2010 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL COMPARISON Steelers Category Saints 22.8... Points Scored Per Game... 21.0 13.7... Points Allowed Per Game... 19.7 14.8... First Downs Per Game... 21.9 300.7... Total Yards Per Game... 371.9 118.8... Rushing Yards Per Game... 92.6 181.8... Passing Yards Per Game... 279.3 18... Sacks By... 12 8... Interceptions By... 4 30:36... Avg. Time of Possession... 31:44 15... Touchdowns... 16 5... Rushing Touchdowns... 2 8... Passing Touchdowns... 14 2... Touchdowns on Returns... 0 11-15... Field Goals... 11-16 46.8... Punting Avg.... 47.6 4.5... Punt Return Avg.... 9.6 28.1... Kickoff Return Avg.... 22.5
LOOKING AHEAD... The Steelers conclude their three-game road trip with a Monday Night Football matchup at the Cincinnati Bengals on Nov. 8. Kickoff at Paul Brown Stadium is set for 8:30 p.m. and will be nationally televised on ESPN (locally WTAE-TV, channel 4). Run Stuffers: The Steelers rank first in the league by allowing just 63.7 yards per game. Pittsburgh has allowed only one 100-yard rusher in the past 40 games. RB Ray Rice had 141 yards in Week 16 of 2009 to snap a previous streak of 32 straight games without allowing a 100- yard rusher. The following is a look at how opponents have fared in rushing yards this season, comparing what the teams were averaging coming into the game against Pittsburgh and what the Steelers allowed in the contest: Rushing Yards/Game Rushing Yards Team (Week) Entering Game vs. Steelers Atlanta (Week 1) 58 yds. Tennessee (Week 2) 202.0 46 yds. Tampa Bay (Week 3) 119.0 75 yds. Baltimore (Week 4) 89.0 70 yds. Bye Week (Week 5) Cleveland (Week 6) 102.8 70 yds. Miami (Week 7) 115.6 64 yds. Defensive Dominance: The Steelers have given up just 82 points on the year, which ranks first in the NFL. The Steelers have allowed the fewest points in the NFL since the beginning of the 2007 season. Pittsburgh has allowed just 898 points during that span. The following is a list of the top four teams in the NFL who have allowed the fewest points since the start of the 2007 campaign: Team Points Allowed Pittsburgh 898 Indianapolis 992 New England 1,004 Baltimore 1,018 Total Defensive Package: Pittsburgh has allowed the fewest total yards in the NFL since the beginning of the 2006 season. The Steelers have given up 19,544 yards of total offense (5,955 rushing, 13,589 passing) since the beginning of 2006. The total yards allowed ranks first in the NFL during that span, while the rushing yards and passing yards each rank third in the league. Gimme The Ball: On the year, the Steelers have tallied 16 takeaways, which rank second in the AFC and fourth (tied) in the NFL. Pittsburgh posted seven takeaways in its Week 2 victory at the Tennessee Titans. The seven takeaways are the most by the Steelers since they had seven (four interceptions, three fumbles) on Nov. 9, 1997 against Baltimore. Against the Titans, S Troy Polamalu, CB Bryant McFadden and LB LaMarr Woodley each had an interception while the Steelers also recovered four fumbles. The Steelers rank second (tied) in the NFL with a plus-eight (+8) turnover advantage (16 takeaways, eight giveaways). Picking Your Poison: The Steelers have eight interceptions on the year, including a team-best two by S Troy Polamalu. The Steelers posted two interceptions (S Ryan Clark, LB Lawrence Timmons) in their Week 6 victory over the Cleveland Browns. In Pittsburgh s Week 3 victory at Tampa Bay, DE Brett Keisel posted his first career interception and returned it 79 yards for a score. It was the first pick six for the Steelers since S Tyrone Carter returned an interception 48 yards for a touchdown on Nov. 9, 2009 at Denver. 200 Plateau: The Steelers have won 26 straight games in which they have rushed for more than 200 yards. Since the NFL merger in 1970, Pittsburgh is 97-6 (.942) in the regular season when it rushes for more than 200 yards in a game. In Week 3, the Steelers rushed for a season-high 201 yards at Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh is 7-0 all-time in the postseason when rushing for more than 200 yards. If You Build It, They Will Come: The Steelers are averaging 64,502 fans at home in two games this year, including a seasonhigh 65,168 in Week 6 versus Cleveland. That mark was the fifthhighest attendance total in Heinz Field history, including the postseason. The Steelers broke two attendance records at Heinz Field last year. In their Week 7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Steelers broke the single-game record. The attendance of 65,597 surpassed the old mark of 65,350 set January 18, 2009, during the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens. For the 2009 season, Pittsburgh averaged 63,458 fans (507,882 total) at home games, breaking the old mark of 63,429 (507,434) in 2005. Pittsburgh has sold out 296 straight games at home, dating back to Nov. 5, 1972 versus Cincinnati. Following is a look at the team s average attendance in its 10 years at Heinz Field: Year Total Attendance Avg. 2001 499,191 62,399 2002 490,274 61,284 2003 477,584 59,698 2004 507,385 63,423 2005 507,434 63,429 2006 499,461 62,433 2007 496,675 62,084 2008 503,125 62,890 2009 507,882 63,458 2010 193,506 64,502 Team record Heinz Field Advantage: The Steelers own the best home record in the NFL with a 224-86-1 record (.722) since 1970. Pittsburgh is 39-12 (.765) at home over the past seven seasons, including a 2-1 record this year. Pittsburgh finished the 2004 regular season with an undefeated (8-0) home record for only the third time in team history and for the first time in 25 years. The Steelers finished the 1979 regular season with an undefeated home record (8-0) and eventually won Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers were also undefeated at home (7-0) in 1972. The following is a look at the list of the Steelers records at home since 2004: Year Record 2004 8-0 2005 5-3 2006 5-3 2007 7-1 2008 6-2 2009 6-2 2010 2-1
Return The Favor: Rookie WR Antonio Brown returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in the Steelers Week 2 victory at Tennessee. It marked the first kickoff return for Pittsburgh since Allen Rossum returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 23, 2007. The following is a list of the kickoff returns for touchdowns (4) for Pittsburgh over the last 10 years (start of 2000 season): Date Player Yards Opponent Sept. 19, 2010 Antonio Brown 89 at Tennessee Sept. 23, 2007 Allen Rossum 98 vs. San Francisco Oct. 12, 2002 Antwaan Randle El 99 at Cincinnati Dec. 24, 2000 Will Blackwell 98 at San Diego Sustaining Success: Pittsburgh has made the playoffs five times and won the AFC North four times since the divisional realignment in 2002. The Steelers won the AFC North Division for the second consecutive year in 2008. The Steelers have won 19 division titles since the NFL merger in 1970, the most in the AFC during that time. The following is a list of teams that have won the most division titles and qualified for the playoffs since 2002: Team Playoffs Division Titles Indianapolis 8 6 New England 6 6 Philadelphia 6 4 San Diego 5 5 Pittsburgh 5 4 Green Bay 5 4 Continued Success: Since the 1970 merger of the National and American Football Leagues, the Pittsburgh Steelers own the best record in the NFL. The following is a look at the top three regular-season records since the merger in 1970: Team W L T Pct. 1. Pittsburgh Steelers 377 243 2.608 2. Miami Dolphins 375 245 2.604 3. Dallas Cowboys 368 254 0.591 Additionally, Pittsburgh owns the second-best record in the NFL since the free-agency era (since 1993) with a 174-103-1 (.628) record. The following is a look at the top three regular-season records in the free agency era (since 1993): Team W L T Pct. 1. New England Patriots 176 102 0.633 2. Pittsburgh Steelers 174 103 1.628 3. Green Bay Packers 173 105 0.622 Regular-Season Success: Pittsburgh owns the third-best regular-season record in the NFL over the past 10 years. The Steelers have averaged over 10 wins per year and have earned six playoff berths, five division titles and two Super Bowl victories in that time period. The following are the top five teams in regular-season winning percentage from 2000-2010: Team W L T Pct. Playoff Berths Indianapolis 119 47 0.717 9 New England 117 49 0.705 7 Pittsburgh 108 57 1.654 6 Philadelphia 107 59 1.644 8 Green Bay 99 68 0.593 6 Among The Best: The Steelers have 565 career wins (including postseason), which is the fifth-most in NFL history. The following is a listing of the top five teams in the NFL for career wins (including postseason): Team Wins 1. Chicago Bears 713 2. Green Bay Packers 683 3. New York Giants 651 4. Washington Redskins 568 5. Pittsburgh Steelers 565 In the Red Zone: The Steelers have converted 17 (seven touchdowns, 10 field goals) of their 18 attempts in the red zone into points in 2010. Following is a look at how the Steelers offense has performed in the red zone in 2010: Opponent Att./Scores TDs FGs Pts Atlanta... 2/2... 0... 2... 6 @ Tennessee... 4/4... 0... 4... 12 @ Tampa Bay... 3/3... 2... 1... 17 Baltimore... 2/2... 2... 0... 14 Cleveland... 4/3... 3... 0... 21 @ Miami... 3/3... 0... 3... 9 Total... 18/17... 7... 10... 79 Red Zone Defense: The Steelers defense has allowed 11 scores (six field goals, five touchdowns) in 15 possessions in the red zone in 2010. The 33.3 touchdown percentage on defense ranks second in the AFC and in the NFL. Following is a look at how the Steelers defense has performed in the red zone in 2010: Opponent Att./Scores TDs FGs Pts Atlanta... 1/1... 0... 1... 3 @ Tennessee... 3/1... 1... 0... 7 @ Tampa Bay... 3/2... 1... 1... 10 Baltimore... 4/3... 2... 1... 17 Cleveland... 1/1... 1... 0... 7 @ Miami... 3/3... 0... 3... 9 Total... 15/11... 5... 6... 53 Five & 10: The Steelers rank in the top five in the AFC and/or the top 10 in the NFL in several key team and individual categories in 2010. Following is a list of those rankings: Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 AFC/NFL Rankings Team Offense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Passing Net Yards/Play... 8.63... 2nd/2nd First-Down Plays... 6.11... 5th/7th Team Defense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Yards/Game... 299.3... 2nd/4th Yards/Play... 4.8... 2nd/4th Rushing Yards/Game... 63.7... 1st/1st Rushing Yards/Attempt... 2.8... 1st/1st Passing Net Yards/Play... 6.81...3rd/11th Passing/Percent Had Intercepted... 3.6... 3rd/8th First Downs/Game... 17.3... 4th/8th Sacks (Total)... 18... 3rd/8th Points/Game... 13.7... 1st/1st Points/Game Differential... 9.2... 3rd/3rd Takeaways... 16... 2nd/T-4th Turnover Advantage... +8... 2nd/T-2nd Red-Zone Efficiency (TD pct.)... 33.3... 2nd/2nd First-Down Plays... 4.70... 3rd/8th Special Teams Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Kickoff Return Average (Offense)... 28.1... 3rd/5th Gross Punting Average (Offense)... 46.8... 2nd/4th Net Punting Average (Offense)... 40.0... 5th/7th Kickoff Return Average (Defense)... 20.7... 3rd/7th Gross Punting Average (Defense)... 41.3... 3rd/4th Avg. Starting Position (Receiving)... 30.8... 2nd/4th Avg. Starting Position (Kicking)... 23.6... 4th/7th
Individual Offense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Mendenhall (Rushing Yards)... 532... 4th/9th Individual Defense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Polamalu (Total INTs)... 2... T-4th/T-13th Fox (Def. Fumble Recoveries)... 2... T-2nd/T-6th Individual Special Teams Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Sepulveda (Punting Avg.)... 46.8... 3rd/5th Sepulveda (Net Punting Avg.)... 40.0... 5th/7th COACHING NOTES Tomlin Versus the NFC: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns an 11-3 regular-season record against NFC teams in his four seasons at the helm of the Steelers. The Steelers are 2-0 this year against NFC teams (Week 1 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Week 3 victory against Tampa Bay) and have won five straight against NFC foes under Tomlin s direction. In Control: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns a 14-6 all-time mark against teams in the AFC North. Tomlin owns an impressive 9-2 record against divisional foes at Heinz Field. Our House: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns a 21-6 regularseason record at Heinz Field in his four seasons in Pittsburgh. Last year, the Steelers finished 6-2 at home. Fast Start: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns a 36-18 overall record in his four seasons as head coach. That record marks the best total by a Steelers head coach in his first four seasons at the helm. Perfect To Start: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns a perfect 4-0 record in season openers. He is the only current coach to have a 4-0 record on Kickoff Weekend. Few And Far Between: Head Coach Mike Tomlin became only the second coach in Steelers history to post winning records in each of his first three seasons. Tomlin is the only coach in team history to win division titles in each of his first two seasons (2007-08). In 2007, Tomlin became just the second head coach in team history to post a winning record in his first season with a mark of 10-6. High Honor Roll: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of this year. LeBeau had an outstanding NFL career, finishing with 62 career interceptions (seventh all-time) and 171 consecutive starts (then- NFL record for a cornerback) with the Detroit Lions. LeBeau was also inducted into the Ohio State University Hall of Fame in 2009. He played at Ohio State as a cornerback and halfback and was a member of the 1957 national championship team. INDIVIDUAL OFFENSIVE NOTES Starting In Style: In his first seven seasons, QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 62-26 (.705) record as a starting quarterback in the regular season. That mark is the second-best record in the NFL among all active quarterbacks. The following is a look at the starting records of the top five active quarterbacks in the NFL (min. 25 starts): Name W L T Pct. 1. Tom Brady, Patriots 102 31 0.767 2. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers 62 26 0.705 3. Peyton Manning, Colts 135 63 0.682 4. Philip Rivers, Chargers 48 23 0.676 5. Tony Romo, Cowboys 39 22 0.639 Facing The NFC: With a career record of 61-26 as a starter, QB Ben Roethlisberger has posted gaudy numbers no matter the opposition. During his first six seasons, Roethlisberger has feasted on competition from the NFC. In 23 career regular-season games against NFC opponents, Roethlisberger has posted an 18-5 record while completing 345-of-569 passes (60.6 pct.) for 4,726 yards with 32 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for a passer rating of 94.2. Roethlisberger s statistics against the NFC are more impressive in games at Heinz Field. In 12 career games against NFC opponents at home, Roethlisberger has an 11-1 mark while completing 173-of-303 passes (57.1 pct.) for 2,521 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions for a passer rating of 90.9. Roethlisberger won his first seven starts when facing NFC teams. Home Cooking: QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 35-10 (.778) mark in the regular season in his career at Heinz Field, including winning his first eight starts. At Heinz Field, Roethlisberger is 790-of-1,253 (63.0 pct.) for 10,314 yards with 64 touchdowns and 41 interceptions for a passer rating of 92.3. He has thrown for more than 300 yards seven times and has 20 multi-touchdown games at home (16-4 record in such games). Roethlisberger has twice posted a perfect passer rating at home, including most recently in Week 9 of 2007 against Baltimore. He also had a perfect passer rating (158.3) against Tennessee in the 2005 season opener and has posted at least a 125.0 passer rating seven times. The Steelers have scored at least 20 points in 37 of the 45 games at home with Roethlisberger as the starter. 300-Yard Plateau: QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for over 300 yards 13 times in his career, including in Week 7 (302 yards) at Miami of this season. The 13 career 300-yard passing games are a team record. Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards in 2009 against Tennessee (363) in Week 1, San Diego (333) in Week 4, Cleveland (417) in Week 6, Kansas City (398) in Week 11 and Green Bay (503) in Week 15. Roethlisberger s five 300-yard passing games in 2009 broke the team record of four previously held by Tommy Maddox (2003) and Neil O Donnell (1995). Comeback Kid: QB Ben Roethlisberger has one fourth quarter/ overtime game-winning drive this year after posting three in 2009. He now has 21 in his career in the regular season. Roethlisberger led the Steelers from a 22-20 deficit late in the fourth quarter to a 23-22 victory in Week 7 at Miami this year. A listing of all of Roethlisberger s fourth quarter and overtime game-winning drives entering this season are available on page 255 of the Steelers media guide. Controlling The North: QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 25-7 (.781) record as a starter against AFC North opponents during his career with the Steelers. Roethlisberger had won 12 straight games against divisional foes as the starter prior to the Week 3 setback at Cincinnati in 2009, which was the longest streak in the NFL and the longest since Peyton Manning won 12 straight from 2004-06.
In his 32 career games versus division opponents, Roethlisberger has posted a perfect passer rating once (11/5/07 vs. Baltimore) and has recorded a passer rating of over 100.0 a total of 13 times. The following is a look at his statistics against the AFC North in his 32 games as a starter: 32 games vs. Statistic AFC North (as a starter) Record... 25-7 Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.)... 60.9 (546-896) Passing Yards... 6,966 Passing Touchdowns... 46 Interceptions... 30 Passer Rating... 88.4 Also, the following is a look at Roethlisberger s career statistics against AFC North opponents as a starter at home compared to the road: Statistic Home vs. AFC North Away vs. AFC North Record...14-4... 11-3 Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.)... 60.7 (311-512)... 61.2 (235-384) Passing Yards... 4,100... 2,866 Passing Touchdowns... 28... 18 Interceptions... 20... 10 Passer Rating... 88.0... 89.0 Title Man: QB Ben Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game three times in his first six seasons. He is one of only two active NFL quarterbacks to win multiple Super Bowl titles (Tom Brady). Roethlisberger joined Roger Staubach, Bernie Kosar, Tom Brady and Donovan McNabb as the only quarterbacks to lead their teams to the conference title game at least three times in their first five seasons as the starting quarterback. Passing Perfection: QB Ben Roethlisberger has achieved a number of outstanding single-season accomplishments in his six-year career, including achieving a feat three times that is rarely done in the NFL. Roethlisberger, who set the team s single-season mark for passer rating (104.1) in 2007, has had a perfect passer rating (158.3) three times in his career, tying him with QB Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history (minimum 10 attempts). Roethlisberger s 38 career 100-plus passer rating games in the regular season rank first in team history, surpassing Terry Bradshaw, who had 31 such games since the passer rating rule was implemented in 1973. Steelers Highest Single-Season Passer-Ratings Leaders (Among Qualifiers) Player Rating 1. Ben Roethlisberger (2007) 104.1 2. Ben Roethlisberger (2009) 100.5 3. Ben Roethlisberger (2005) 98.6 4. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) 98.1 5. Terry Bradshaw (1975) 87.8 Steelers Top Single-Season Completion Percentage Leaders (Minimum 250 Attempts) Player Att. Comp. Pct. 1. Ben Roethlisberger (2009) 506 337 66.6 2. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) 295 196 66.4 3. Ben Roethlisberger (2007) 404 264 65.3 4. Ben Roethlisberger (2005) 268 168 62.7 5. Tommy Maddox (2002) 377 234 62.1 Batch now has a 23-29 record as a starting quarterback, including a 4-2 record in his nine seasons with Pittsburgh. In his six career starts with the Steelers, Batch is 77-of-129 (59.7 pct.) for 969 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions (84.4 passer rating). Batch did not start the Week 2 game at Tennessee earlier this year, but he came on in the second quarter and finished the game following a knee injury to starter Dennis Dixon. Batch finished 5- for-11 for 25 yards against the Titans. Seasoned Veteran: QB Byron Leftwich owns a 24-25 all-time record as a starting QB, having started 44 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-06), two for the Atlanta Falcons (2007) and three for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2009). Leftwich played in five games for the Steelers in 2008, but did not start any of those contests. In those five games for Pittsburgh, he was 21-for-36 for 303 passing yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions (104.3 passer rating). Leftwich also had one of his nine career rushing touchdowns as a backup with the Steelers. For his career, Leftwich has 10,218 career passing yards with 58 touchdowns and 41 interceptions (79.6 passer rating). Ward Still Has It: WR Hines Ward surpassed 11,000 receiving yards for his career in the 2010 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Ward finished with 108 yards receiving on six catches and became the first receiver in team history to post 900 career receptions. Ward had a season-high 131 yards receiving on seven receptions in the Week 7 victory at Miami. He also added his 81st career receiving touchdowns against the Dolphins. Ward has two 100-yard receiving games this year, giving him a club-record 27 in his career. He had five 100-yard receiving games in 2009 and also posted his club-record sixth 1,000-yard receiving season of his career. Ward, who is in his 13th year in the league in 2010, proved he is still one of the elite wide receivers in the game by closing out the 2009 campaign ranking eighth in the NFL in receptions (95) and ninth (tied) in receiving yards (1,167). Ward currently ranks third among active wide receivers (12th overall in NFL history) with 919 career receptions. The following is a list the top three active wide receivers with the most career receptions: Active Player Career Receptions Terrell Owens 1,046 Randy Moss 947 Hines Ward 919 Catching Consistency: WR Hines Ward has caught at least one pass in a Steelers record 184 consecutive games. The streak began on Nov. 9, 1998 versus Green Bay. That streak ranks first among active players for consecutive games with at least one reception and fifth in NFL history. Jerry Rice (274) owns the top all-time record for consecutive games with a reception. The following is a look at the top two active players in the NFL with at least one reception in consecutive regular-season games: Player (Team) Consecutive Games Hines Ward (Steelers) 184 Tony Gonzalez (Falcons) 154 Best of the Batch: QB Charlie Batch started two games this year for the Steelers (Weeks 3-4) and went 1-1 in those two starts. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, Batch finished 12-of-17 for 186 yards passing with three touchdowns and two interceptions (106.5 passer rating). He tied a career high with his three touchdown passes.