www.steelers.com Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 Schedule/Results Preseason (3-1) Thursday, Aug. 9 at Philadelphia L, 23-24 (KDKA) Sunday Aug. 19 INDIANAPOLIS W, 26-24 (NBC) Saturday, Aug. 25 at Buffalo W, 38-7 (KDKA) Thursday, Aug. 30 CAROLINA W, 17-16 (KDKA) Regular Season (2-3) Sunday, Sept. 9 at Denver L, 19-31 (NBC) Sunday, Sept. 16 NEW YORK JETS W, 27-10 (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 23 at Oakland L, 31-34 (CBS) Sunday, Sept. 30 BYE Sunday, Oct. 7 PHILADELPHIA W, 16-14 (FOX) Thursday, Oct. 11 at Tennessee L, 23-26 (NFL Net./WPCW) Sunday, Oct. 21 at Cincinnati 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Oct. 28 WASHINGTON 1 p.m. (FOX) Sunday, Nov. 4 at New York Giants 4:25 p.m. (CBS) Monday, Nov. 12 KANSAS CITY 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, Nov. 18 BALTIMORE • 8:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Nov. 25 at Cleveland • 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 2 at Baltimore • 4:25 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 9 SAN DIEGO • 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 16 at Dallas • 4:25 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 23 CINCINNATI • 1 p.m. (CBS) Sunday, Dec. 30 CLEVELAND • 1 p.m. (CBS) • Times and TV Network may change due to NFL flexible scheduling Postseason Sat.-Sun., Jan. 5-6 Wild Card Weekend (NBC, CBS & FOX) Sat.-Sun., Jan. 12-13 Divisional Playoff Games (CBS & FOX) Sunday, Jan. 20 Conference Championships (CBS & FOX) Sunday, Jan. 27 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl (Hawaii) (NBC) Sunday, Feb. 3 Super Bowl XLVII (New Orleans) (CBS) NOTE: All times are Eastern. Home games in Bold/CAPS. Game #6 Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) Date: Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 Kickoff: 8:20 p.m., ET Site: Paul Brown Stadium (65,515) • Cincinnati, Ohio Playing Surface: Synthetic TV Coverage: NBC (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11) Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play) Cris Collinsworth (analyst) Michele Tafoya (sideline) Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970) Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline) National Radio: Dial Global Radio Sports Dave Sims (play-by-play) James Lofton (analyst) Steve Tasker (sideline) 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: 57-28 (.671)/sixth season Regular-season record at Pittsburgh: 57-28 (.671)/sixth season Playoff Record/Years: 5-3/four years Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis Overall regular-season record: 72-77-1 (.483)/10th season Regular-season record at Cincinnati: 72-77-1 (.483)/10th season Playoff Record/Years: 0-3/three years www.steelers.com For all of the most up-to-date information on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit the team’s official web site at www.steelers.com. Updated daily, the web site has the most extensive information on upcoming games and the most comprehensive news on the Steelers. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012 • 8:20 p.m. (ET) Paul Brown Stadium • Cincinnati, Ohio Game #6
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Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 Schedule/Results
Preseason (3-1)
Thursday, Aug. 9 at Philadelphia L, 23-24 (KDKA)
Sunday Aug. 19 INDIANAPOLIS W, 26-24 (NBC)
Saturday, Aug. 25 at Buffalo W, 38-7 (KDKA)
Thursday, Aug. 30 CAROLINA W, 17-16 (KDKA)
Regular Season (2-3)
Sunday, Sept. 9 at Denver L, 19-31 (NBC)
Sunday, Sept. 16 NEW YORK JETS W, 27-10 (CBS)
Sunday, Sept. 23 at Oakland L, 31-34 (CBS)
Sunday, Sept. 30 BYE
Sunday, Oct. 7 PHILADELPHIA W, 16-14 (FOX)
Thursday, Oct. 11 at Tennessee L, 23-26 (NFL Net./WPCW)
Sunday, Oct. 21 at Cincinnati 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Oct. 28 WASHINGTON 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Nov. 4 at New York Giants 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Monday, Nov. 12 KANSAS CITY 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Nov. 18 BALTIMORE • 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Nov. 25 at Cleveland • 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 2 at Baltimore • 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 9 SAN DIEGO • 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 16 at Dallas • 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 23 CINCINNATI • 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 30 CLEVELAND • 1 p.m. (CBS)
• Times and TV Network may change due to NFL flexible scheduling
Postseason
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 5-6 Wild Card Weekend (NBC, CBS & FOX)
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 12-13 Divisional Playoff Games (CBS & FOX)
Sunday, Feb. 3 Super Bowl XLVII (New Orleans) (CBS)
NOTE: All times are Eastern.Home games in Bold/CAPS.
Game #6
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (3-3)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m., ET
Site: Paul Brown Stadium (65,515) • Cincinnati, Ohio
Playing Surface: Synthetic
TV Coverage: NBC (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11)
Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play)Cris Collinsworth (analyst)Michele Tafoya (sideline)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio NetworkWDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play)Tunch Ilkin (analyst)Craig Wolfley (sideline)
National Radio: Dial Global Radio SportsDave Sims (play-by-play)James Lofton (analyst)Steve Tasker (sideline)
Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City)XEDA-FM 90.5
A Look at the Coaches:Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike TomlinOverall regular-season record: 57-28 (.671)/sixth seasonRegular-season record at Pittsburgh: 57-28 (.671)/sixth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 5-3/four years
Cincinnati Bengals Head Coach Marvin LewisOverall regular-season record: 72-77-1 (.483)/10th seasonRegular-season record at Cincinnati: 72-77-1 (.483)/10th seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 0-3/three years
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For all of the most up-to-date information on the Pittsburgh Steelers,visit the team’s official web site at www.steelers.com. Updateddaily, the web site has the most extensive information on upcominggames and the most comprehensive news on the Steelers.
MIKE TOMLIN was named the 16th head coach in PittsburghSteelers history on Jan. 22, 2007. Hired at the age of 34, Tomlinbecame only the third head coach hired by the Steelers since1969.
Tomlin became the youngest head coach in NFL history to bothcoach 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 winningthe Super Bowl in only his second season as a head coach, healso became the fastest to win a Super Bowl title in Steelers’history.
In Tomlin’s first five years as head coach, he guided the Steelers’defense to the NFL’s top ranking in total defense three times. Hehas also sent a total of 36 selections to the league’s annual ProBowl, including five following the 2011 season. Tomlin has reachedthe playoffs four times in his first five seasons, including two tripsto the Super Bowl (winning Super Bowl XLIII).
Tomlin is one of only seven coaches in league history to win aSuper Bowl within his first two seasons as an NFL head coach.Tomlin is the only head coach in Steelers history to lead the teamto two Super Bowls in his first four seasons at the helm, includingan appearance against the Green Bay Packers in Super BowlXLV. He is one of only two Steelers’ head coaches to win threedivision titles in his first four seasons.
Tomlin has compiled a 57-28 record in the regular seasonduring his head coaching career. His .688 winning percentage(55-25) in his first five seasons is the best in team history and itwas the highest winning percentage amongst active NFL coacheswho coached at least 70 games entering this season. In 2011,Tomlin led the Steelers to a 12-4 record, marking the secondstraight season the team has posted 12 wins, which marks onlythe second time in team history it has been achieved.
The Steelers finished the 2011 season with the top-ranked totaldefense (271.8 ypg) and scoring defense (14.2 ppg). Pittsburghposted a 7-1 record at home in 2011, upping his record at HeinzField in his five seasons as head coach to 31-9.
The Steelers finished second in total defense under Tomlin’sguidance in 2010, allowing only 276.8 yards per game. Pittsburghled the NFL and set a team record in rushing defense, yieldingonly 62.8 yards per game (1,004 yards), the third-best total in NFLhistory dating back to 1970. The Steelers also established anNFL record in 2010 by not allowing an opponent to rush for morethan 75 yards in any of their first eight games during the regularseason.
In all, the Steelers defense led the NFL in 2010 in rushing yardsallowed, points allowed (232), touchdowns (22), quarterbacksacks (48), rushing average (3.0), yards per play (4.5) and yardsallowed on first down (4.08).
Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver at William andMary (1990-94) and finished his career with 101 receptions for2,054 yards and 20 TD catches. A first-team All-Yankee Conferenceselection in 1994, he established a school record with a 20.2yards-per-catch average.
This Week in the AFC North:Sunday, Oct. 21:Cleveland (1-5) at Indianapolis (2-3), 1 p.m. (CBS)Baltimore (5-1) at Houston (5-1), 1 p.m. (CBS)Pittsburgh (2-3) at Cincinnati (3-3), 8:20 p.m. (NBC, WPXI-TV, locallychannel 11)
All times are Eastern.
For the 14th consecutive year, WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGG-AM (970) are carrying all Steelers games.
Additionally, Steelers games can be heard on a 47-stationnetwork spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.For the third straight year, all Steelers’ games will be broadcast inSpanish on Estadio W (730 AM).
For the 19th straight season, Bill Hillgrove serves as the “Voiceof the Steelers” and handles play-by-play duties for the broadcast.Joining Hillgrove for his 14th season as an expert analyst is TunchIlkin, the former Steelers All-Pro offensive tackle. Joining the teamfor his 10th season is former Steelers offensive lineman CraigWolfley, who provides sideline analysis.
MARVIN LEWIS is in his 10th season as Bengals head coach— the longest tenure in franchise history. Lewis entered the 2012season with the most wins in franchise history (69). Last seasonLewis led the Bengals to a 9-7 record and Wild Card Playoff berth.
Lewis guided the Bengals to a 10-6 record and the AFC NorthDivision championship in 2009. He earned the major share ofCoach of the Year awards, winning the flagship Associated Presshonor (given annually since 1957) while also getting nods fromSports Illustrated and Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football WritersAssociation. The Bengals were unbeaten in division play (6-0) in2009 for the first time in franchise history.
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CELEBRATING 80 SEASONS
This season marks the 80th in Steelers history and the teamis celebrating its tremendous fan base. Below are a few ofmany events that are occuring to celebrate 80 years ofSteelers’ football.
• My Pittsburgh Steelers – On April 2, the Steelers gave fansa special opportunity to have their image appear on Steelerstickets during the 2012 season during the 80th seasoncelebration, “The Year of the Fan.” Starting on April 2 andrunning through April 20, fans were able to submit a 15-second video to Steelers.com saying their three words about,“My Pittsburgh Steelers.” On April 28th, 10 lucky fans werechosen to be on the face of Steelers tickets: Chris Pittman,Steve Harrison, Angelo Cammarata, Deb Neil, Benjamin andBrian Neas, Andre L. Brown, Quinn Hoerner, Theodore M.Broadnax, The Dearing Family, Mark and Corey Christofel.
• Throwback Jerseys – On April 17, the Steelers unveiledtheir throwback uniforms that they will wear during selectedhome games in 2012 during a special press conference atHeinz Field. The Steelers chose the 1934 jersey because itwas a unique part of Steelers history, and it was a uniformthat had not been worn since that season.
• Terrible Towel Wall/Steelers Fan Blitz – The Terrible TowelWall was unveiled on April 27 in the Great Hall at Heinz Field.The wall not only celebrates Steelers history but the legacy ofthe towel itself.
• 80th Season Celebration Weekend (November 17-18) – TheSaturday evening before the Steelers play the BaltimoreRavens, Heinz Field will host the 2012 Taste of the Steelersevent, which is dedicated to the 80th Season CelebrationGame. The event will feature players from most decades inthe 80-year history of the Steelers. The Steelers will weartheir throwback uniforms for their game versus the Ravens.Recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees DermonttiDawson and Jack Butler will be present for the entire weekend.
• Immaculate Reception Monument – In celebration of the40th anniversary of the most memorable play in NFL history,the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Senator John Heinz HistoryCenter, in conjunction with Allegheny TechnologiesIncorporated (ATI), will be unveiling an “ImmaculateReception” monument near Heinz Field during a specialceremony on Saturday, December 22, the day prior to the 40th
anniversary of the play and the Steelers game against theCincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field. The unveiling will takeplace at the actual site of the “Immaculate Reception,” whichis located between Heinz Field and Stage AE.
Also, on Sunday, December 23, which is the actualanniversary of the “Immaculate Reception,” the Steelers willsalute Harris and his teammates at halftime of the gameagainst the Bengals.
Additionally, the Steelers and the Heinz History Center willbe running a fundraising campaign that will give fans anopportunity to commemorate the play with “ImmaculateReception” collectibles. For more information, fans areencouraged to visit www.heinzhistorycenter.org to learn howto participate in the campaign. Portions of the proceeds willgo to the Heinz History Center.
WR Mike Wallace• Recorded an 82-yard touchdown reception, the second-longestreception of his career (95-yard touchdown at Arizona, 10/23/11).• Wallace now has 24 receptions of at least 40 yards in his career.• By registering a reception of 82 yards against Tennessee,Wallace now has 42 receptions of 25 or more yards, passing WRPlaxico Burress (41) for the second most (Hines Ward, 81) 25+yard receptions by a Steelers’ player, dating back to 1991.
TE Heath Miller• Recorded a team-high six receptions for 67 yards, passing LouisLipps (1984-91) for the third-most receptions in franchise history.
Rk. Player Receptions1. Hines Ward (1998-2011) 1,0002. John Stallworth (1974-87) 5373. Heath Miller (2005-Present) 3624. Louis Lipps (1984-91) 358
RB Isaac Redman• Finished with a career-high four receptions for 104 yards.• It was the first 100+ yard receiving game by a Steelers runningback since Frenchy Fuqua on 11/29/70 vs. Cleveland (fourreceptions for 116 yards and one touchdown).
LB James Harrison• With the Titans on the Pittsburgh two-yard line, registered aneight-yard sack of QB Matt Hasselbeck.• Now has 59.0 career sacks, tying Keith Willis for the third mostby a Steeler since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Rk. Player Sacks1. Jason Gildon (1994-2003) 77.02. Joey Porter (1999-2006) 60.03. Keith Willis (1982-91) 59.0
James Harrison (2002-Present) 59.0• Harrison has recorded three sacks, two forced fumbles and onefumble recovery in the last two games he has played at Tennessee.
LB Lawrence Timmons• Recorded an interception off Matt Hasselbeck in the fourth quarterand returned it four yards to the Tennessee 48-yard line. It markedTimmons’ fifth career interception and first of this season.
LB Larry Foote• Registered an 11-yard sack, marking his second sack of theseason and 21st of his career.
LB Jason Worilds• On third-and-11, sacked QB Matt Hasselbeck for a loss of sixyards, forcing a punt in the second quarter.• With three sacks on the season, tied his career high that wasset in 12 games last season.
RB Chris Rainey• Registered a career long 49-yard kickoff return to the Pittsburgh45-yard line. The ensuing drive resulted in a 29-yard field goal.
K Shaun Suisham• Connected on three-of-four field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder in the fourth quarter to tie his career high (at St. Louis, 12/24/06).• Suisham is now 11-for-12 on the season.
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STEELERS AND UPMC SPORTS MEDICINEANNOUNCE CONCUSSION AWARENESS PROGRAM,
“DON’T HIT THE HEAD, DON’T USE THE HEAD”
On August 29, the Pittsburgh Steelers and UPMC SportsMedicine announced a new program that will raise awarenessand promote safe play among high school, middle schooland youth football players.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin as well as Dr. MickyCollins, clinical and executive director of the UPMC SportsMedicine Concussion Program, will serve as spokespersonsfor the initiative, which was derived from a saying that Tomlinuses with the Steelers – “Don’t hit the head, Don’t use thehead” in regards to safe play.
The program will provide a letter from Coach Tomlin and Dr.Collins and a fact sheet about the UPMC concussion program.Additionally, there is a website (www.steelers.com/playsmart)for athletes and coaches to access videos about concussionawareness, symptoms and management from UPMC, and alink to information through USA Football’s “Head’s UpFootball” program with the NFL (http://videos.usafootball.com/pagesheadsupfootball/) that promotes coaching education,proper equipment fitting as well as a set of recommendedstandards for parents, coaches and leagues.
Series History: Series began in 1970Overall: Pittsburgh leads 51-32At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 28-14At Cincinnati: Pittsburgh leads 23-18Neutral Sites: n/aLast Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 4, 2011
(in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 35, Cincinnati 7Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0Last Postseason Meeting: Jan. 8, 2006 (in Cincinnati)
Pittsburgh 31, Cincinnati 17 (Wild Card Playoffs)(postseason record not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh swept the season series last year for the seventhtime since 2000 and for the fourth time under Head Coach MikeTomlin...Tomlin-led Steelers teams have won eight times in 10matchups against Cincinnati, with the only losses coming from aBengals’ season sweep in 2009...Pittsburgh has won the lastfour games in the series and could match its longest winningstreak since the team won five straight from 2006-2008…TheSteelers 35-7 rout of the Bengals in Pittsburgh last year was thelargest margin of victory for either team since another 28-pointSteelers’ win (38-10) in 2008 at Cincinnati…Before 2008, the lasttime either team had a margin of victory greater than 28 pointswas a 41-10 Bengals win in 1989…Since the series began, theSteelers and Bengals have faced each other twice every seasonexcept for 1982, when the only matchup resulted in an 26-20(ot)Pittsburgh win…The teams also faced each other three times in2005, with the third matchup being a Steelers postseason victoryen route to their fifth Super Bowl victory.
STEELERS-BENGALS SERIES HISTORY
Local Connections• Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was the defensive backscoach at the University of Cincinnati from 1999-2000. Steelersspecial teams coach Amos Jones was also on the Bearcats’staff from 1999-2002.• Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau worked two stintswith the Cincinnati Bengals. LeBeau was on the Bengals’ stafffrom 1980-1991 and from 1997-2002. He was the head coach ofthe Bengals from 2000-2002.• Steelers S Will Allen was born in Dayton, Ohio, just an hournorth of Cincinnati.• Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis was born in McDonald, Pa.,only thirty minutes southwest of Pittsburgh. Lewis coached forthe University of Pittsburgh from 1990-1991. Lewis also servedas the Steelers linebackers coach from 1992-1995. Lewis workedunder LeBeau for those four seasons, helping create the famous“Blitzburgh Defense.”• Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes and tight ends coachJonathan Hayes, who are brothers, were born in South Fayette,Pa., just minutes southwest of Pittsburgh. Jonathan coached withthe Steelers from 1994-1996 and Jay coached with the Steelersfrom 1999-2001.• Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban coached at ClarionUniversity from 1997-1998.• Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski was born in Pittsburgh, Pa. Heattended local Seton-LaSalle Catholic High School, where he seta then-WPIAL and PIAA record by throwing 30 touchdowns in asingle season.
Pro Connections• Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Bengals offensivecoordinator Jay Gruden were both members of the Tampa BayBuccaneers coaching staff from 2002-2005.• Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was the head coachof the Buffalo Bills in 2003 when Bengals S Nate Clements playedfor the Bills.• Steelers defensive assistant Jerry Olsavsky played for theBaltimore Ravens when Bengals special teams coach DarrinSimmons was on the Ravens’ staff in 1998.• Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley was the head coachfor the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-2011 when Bengals DEWallace Gilberry was on the Chiefs’ squad. Steelers TE LeonardPope was also a member of those teams and was teammateswith Gilberry from 2009-2011.• In 2009, Steelers LB Larry Foote’s only season not withPittsburgh, Foote and Bengals HB Cedric Peerman wereteammates with the Detroit Lions.• During his three separate stints with the Dallas Cowboys,Steelers K Shaun Suisham was teammates with Bengals STerrence Newman. The two played together for at least a part ofthe 2005, 2006, and 2009 seasons. Suisham was also a memberof the Cowboys when Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmerwas the Cowboys defensive coordinator (2005-06).• Steelers LB Brandon Johnson played for the Bengals from 2008-2011 and captained Cincinnati’s special teams units during the2010 season.• Steelers WR Jerricho Cotchery and Bengals K Mike Nugentwere teammates with the New York Jets from 2005-2008. Cotcherywas also a member of the Jets in 2010, when Bengals defensivebacks coach Mark Carrier was on the Jets’ coaching staff.• Steelers QB Byron Leftwich and Bengals S Chris Crocker, alsoformer collegiate teammates, were teammates with the AtlantaFalcons in 2007. That same season, Bengals assistant specialteams/assistant defensive backs coach Hue Jackson was the
STEELERS-BENGALS CONNECTIONS
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WHAT TO LOOK FORPITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES• With a win, Pittsburgh will be 52-32 against Cincinnati during theregular season, including 24-18 on the road.• Pittsburgh looks to improve its record at Paul Brown Stadium to11-2 during the regular season. The Steelers’ 10 regular-seasonwins at Paul Brown Stadium are five more than any other NFL team(Baltimore: 5-7) that visits the venue.• Pittsburgh is looking for its fifth consecutive win over the Bengalsand its 10th in the last 12 games against Cincinnati.• The Steelers look to improve to 334-212-1 all-time against AFCopponents, including the postseason.• Pittsburgh is looking to improve its record to 19-6 against theBengals during the regular season since 2000.• The Steelers are looking for their first win in a primetime gamethis season after starting out 0-2.
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTESHead Coach Mike Tomlin• With a win, will improve to 58-28 during the regular season.• Has the opportunity to improve to 9-2 against Cincinnati, includ-ing 4-1 on the road.• Looks to improve his regular-season road record to 25-19.• Has a chance to improve to 43-22 against AFC opponents duringthe regular season.• Looks to improve to 19-9 in primetime games, including 10-6 onthe road and 8-7 on Sunday Night Football.• With a win, would improve to 16-6 during the month of October.
QB Ben Roethlisberger• Is looking to throw for at least 360 yards for the third time thisseason, which would tie 2011 (3) for the second most times hehas thrown for at least 360 yards in one season (2009, 4). It wouldalso mark the second time in his career, as well as franchisehistory, that he has thrown for at least 360 yards in back-to-backweeks (Weeks 7 and 8 last season).
RB Rashard Mendenhall• Is one rushing touchdown shy of becoming the fifth player infranchise history with 30 career rushing touchdowns.
WR Mike Wallace• If he records at least 100 yards receiving, it will mark the 14th 100-yard game of his career.
TE Heath Miller• Needs two receiving touchdowns to tie Elbie Nickel (37) for themost receiving touchdowns by a Steelers’ tight end.
2012 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL COMPARISONSteelers Category Bengals
23.2 ................................. Points Scored Per Game ........................... 24.823.0 ................................ Points Allowed Per Game .......................... 27.221.0 ................................... First Downs Per Game ............................. 20.2360.6 .................................. Total Yards Per Game ............................ 382.274.8 ................................ Rushing Yards Per Game .......................... 99.3285.8 .............................. Passing Yards Per Game ........................ 282.211 .................................................. Sacks By ............................................ 192 .............................................. Interceptions By ........................................ 234:17 .............................. Avg. Time of Possession ........................ 30:5412 ................................................ Touchdowns .......................................... 172 .......................................... Rushing Touchdowns .................................... 310 ......................................... Passing Touchdowns ................................... 130 ........................................ Touchdowns on Returns .................................. 111-12 ........................................... Field Goals ..................................... 10-1140.2 ........................................... Punting Avg. ..................................... 45.08.4 .......................................... Punt Return Avg. ................................. 13.827.0 ..................................... Kickoff Return Avg. ............................... 22.4
Falcons offensive coordinator and Bengals defensive coordinatorMike Zimmer was the Falcons defensive coordinator. While heplayed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009, Leftwich wasteammates with Bengals C Jeff Faine.• Steelers S Will Allen and Bengals QB Bruce Gradkowski wereteammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2006-2007.• Steelers CB DeMarcus Van Dyke played his rookie season underBengals assistant special teams/assistant defensive backs coachHue Jackson, who was the head coach of the Oakland Raidersin 2011.
College Connections• Steelers S Troy Polamalu and Bengals assistant special teams/assistant defensive backs coach Hue Jackson both spent timetogether at the University of Southern California. During the 1999and 2000 seasons, Polamalu was standout in the Trojansdefensive backfield and Jackson was the offensive coordinator.• Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey, OT Marcus Gilbert and RB ChrisRainey were teammates with Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap at theUniversity of Florida from 2007-2009. Together, they were a part ofthe Gators’ 2009 BCS National Championship squad. Gilbertwas also teammates with Bengals S Reggie Nelson at Florida forthe 2006 season.• Steelers WR Mike Wallace and Bengals RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis were teammates at Ole Miss from 2006-2007.• Steelers G Ramon Foster and Bengals CB Jason Allen wereteammates at the University of Tennessee from 2004-2005.• Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley and Bengals CB Leon Hall playedtheir entire collegiate careers together at Michigan University. Thetwo played for Wolverines from 2003-2006.• Steelers TE Leonard Pope and Bengals G/T Dennis Rolandwere teammates at the University of Georgia from 2003-2005.Pope and Roland also played with Bengals DE Robert Geathersduring the 2003 season.• Steelers P Drew Butler was teammates with a number of Bengalsplayers during his time at the University of Georgia from 2007-2011: G Geno Atkins (2007-2009), G Clint Boling (2007-2010),A.J. Green (2008-2010), and TE Orson Charles (2009-2011).• Steelers QB Byron Leftwich was teammates with Bengals SChris Crocker at Marshall University from 1999-2002.• Steelers RB Jonathan Dwyer and Bengals DE Michael Johnsonwere teammates at Georgia Tech University from 2007-2008.• Steelers S Will Allen and Bengals CB Nate Clements wereteammates at The Ohio State University for the 2000 season.Allen also played for the Buckeyes with Bengals K Mike Nugentfrom 2001-2003.• Steelers WR Jerricho Cotchery and Bengals LB Manny Lawsonwere teammates at North Carolina State University from 2002-2003.• Steelers assistant head coach/defensive line coach John Mitchelland Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle coached atArkansas together under Head Coach Lou Holtz in 1980.• Steelers wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery held thesame position at Duke University from 2006-2009, the same yearsBengals LB Vincent Rey played for the Blue Devils.
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TEAM NOTESPrimetime Team: Sunday night’s game marks the second
consecutive week the Steelers play in primetime after losing, 23-26, at the Tennessee Titans last Thursday. This is the secondconsecutive season where the Steelers play on primetime in back-to-back weeks. In 2011 Pittsburgh beat Cleveland on Thursdaynight in Week 14 and then lost at San Francisco on Monday nightin Week 15.
Sunday night’s game at Cincinnati is the Steelers’ third of fiveappearances in primetime this season, marking the secondconsecutive year the Steelers appear in five primetime games. Tofinish its 2012 primetime schedule Pittsburgh will play a Mondaynight game versus the Kansas City Cheifs on November 12 anda Sunday night game against the Baltimore Ravens on November18.
Under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh is 18-9 in primetimegames, including 6-1 on Monday Night Football.
Limiting What Counts Most: The Steelers have allowed thefewest points in the NFL since the beginning of the 2007 season.Pittsburgh has allowed just 1,390 points during that span.
The following is a list of the top four teams in the NFL who haveallowed the fewest points since the start of the 2007 campaign:
Team Points AllowedPittsburgh 1,390Baltimore 1,543New England 1,660San Francisco 1,695
Sustaining Success: Pittsburgh has made the playoffs seventimes, including in 2011, and won the AFC North five times sincethe divisional realignment in 2002. The Steelers won the AFCNorth Division three times in last four years.
Although the Steelers finished with an identical 12-4 record in2011, the Baltimore Ravens won the division and got a first roundbye in the playoffs because the Ravens beat the Steelers twice.
The Steelers have won 20 division titles since the NFL mergerin 1970, the most in the NFL during that time.
The following is a list of teams that have won the most divisiontitles and qualified for the playoffs since 2002:
S Troy Polamalu• Needs one interception to become the ninth Steelers’ player torecord 30 career interceptions.• With one fumble return for a touchdown, will tie Jason Gildon (3)for the most fumbles returned for touchdowns in franchise history.• Is one defensive touchdown shy of tieing Carnell Lake, DwayneWoodruff and Jack Butler (5) for the second-most defensive touch-downs in Steelers history (Rod Woodson, 6).• Needs one interception return for a touchdown to tie CarnellLake, Dwayne Woodruff, Deshea Townsend and Tony Campagno(3) for the fourth-most in franchise history.
LB James Harrison• Needs one sack to tie Joey Porter (60.0) for second place on theSteelers’ sacks list, dating back to 1982 when sacks became anofficial statistic.
LB LaMarr Woodley• Looking for the third sack in the last four games he has played.
LB Jason Worilds• Needs one sack to pass his single-season career high of three,set in 12 games last season.
Team Playoffs Division TitlesIndianapolis 9 7New England** 8 8Philadelphia 7 6Pittsburgh* 7 5Green Bay** 7 5San Diego 5 5*Made the playoffs in 2011**Won division in 2011
Regular-Season Success: Pittsburgh owns the second-bestregular-season record in the NFL since 2000. The Steelers haveaveraged over 10 wins per year and have earned seven playoffberths, six division titles and two Super Bowl victories in that timeperiod.
The following are the top five teams in regular-season winningpercentage from 2000-Present:
Team W L T Pct. Playoff BerthsNew England 142 56 0 .717 9Pittsburgh 129 67 1 .657 8Indianapolis 129 68 0 .655 9Philadelphia 124 73 1 .629 9Green Bay 123 75 0 .621 8
Turning Up the Heat: Pittsburgh has recorded 11 sacks in fivegames this season, with five of those sacks coming in two homegames.
In 2011, the Steelers recorded 28 of the 35 sacks at Heinz Fieldto tie for second in the NFL for sacks at home (Baltimore, 33;Minnesota, 28). Pittsburgh’s 28 sacks at home during the 2011regular season ranked as the second most (36 in 1996) by aSteelers’ team since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Since 1994, the Steelers have led the AFC in sacks six timesand the entire NFL three times. Since 2004, when Dick LeBeaureturned as defensive coordinator, the Steelers have the mostsacks in the NFL with 355, seven more then the second placeteam (New York Giants, 348).
Sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982, however, a recordof “passers tackled” was kept prior to that time. Following are theSteelers’ single-season sack totals dating back to 1970:
Defense Feels At Home: The Steelers yielded only 10 points inthe 2012 home-opening win over the New York Jets and only 14points in a Week 5 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
In eight home games in 2011, the Steelers allowed a total of 80points, giving up 10.0 points per game, the lowest in the NFL. Itwas also the sixth lowest in Steelers history:
Year Points Per Game Allowed at Home1936 8.21946 9.01974 9.42001 9.81976 9.92011 10.0
Since Dick LeBeau has been defensive coordinator (2004-present), the Steelers have allowed an average of 15.4 points pergame at Heinz Field, ranking second in the NFL over that timespan for points given up at home during the regular season(Baltimore, 15.0).
If You Build It, They Will Come: The Steelers have totaled over64,500 fans in each of their first two home games this season.
In 2011, Pittsburgh registered a total attendance of 504,279,marking the fourth consective season that over 503,000 fansattended games at Heinz Field. Since Heinz Field opened in 2001,Pittsburgh has recorded over 503,000 fans six times.
In the 2010 AFC Championship victory over the N.Y. Jets, theSteelers broke the single-game record. The attendance of 66,662surpassed the old mark of 65,597 set October 25, 2009, during agame versus the Minnnesota Vikings.
The previous regular-season record was 65,392, which wasset on November 16, 2009 versus Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh set the team home attendance record in 2009 byaveraging 63,458 (507,882 total). Pittsburgh has sold out 309straight games at home, dating back to Nov. 5, 1972 versusCincinnati.
Following is a look at the team’s average attendance in its 10-plus years at Heinz Field:
Home Openers: The Steelers have won 10 straight homeopeners, dating back to 2002. It is the longest active streak in theleague. Under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh has outscoredtheir home opener opponents 143-49.
In Week 2 the Steelers defeated the New York Jets 27-10 in the2012 home opener. It came one year after a 24-0 win over the
Team Wins1. Chicago Bears 7332. Green Bay Packers 7113. New York Giants 6734. Pittsburgh Steelers 593*5. Washington Redskins 578*Total includes 1943 season when Pittsburgh joined Philadelphia
Additionally, Pittsburgh owns the third-best record in the NFLsince the free-agency era (since 1993) with a 195-113-1 (.633)record. The Steelers are one of three teams (New England, 201 /Green Bay, 197) to recorded over 180 wins since 1993.
The following is a look at the top three regular-season recordsin the free agency era (since 1993):
Team W L T Pct.1. New England Patriots 201 109 0 .6482. Green Bay Packers 197 113 0 .6353. Pittsburgh Steelers 195 113 1 .633
Controlling The NFC: The Steelers have won 27 of their past 33regular-season games versus teams in the NFC, dating back to2003, including beating Philadelphia, 16-14, in Week 5 thisseason.
The Steelers are 100-60-1 all-time against the NFC, including58-19-1 at home. Pittsburgh has won nine of its last 11 gamesagainst NFC opponents.
The Steelers have eight consecutive home victories versus NFCteams. Pittsburgh last lost to an NFC team at Heinz Field in 2008(21-14, vs. New York Giants). Prior to losing to the Giants,Pittsburgh had won eight straight games versus NFC teams athome. The Steelers are 6-2 versus the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Heinz Field Advantage: The Steelers own the best home recordin the NFL with a 236-89-1 record (.726) since 1970, including a2-0 record this season. Pittsburgh is 67-22-1 (.753) at homesince Heinz Field opened in 2001.
The Steelers’ .753 winning percentage in regular-seasongames at Heinz Field is the third-highest winning percentage ofany team at a stadium since 1970 (min. 25 games).
Team Stadium Record Win Pct.New England Patriots Gillete Stadium* 68-14-0 .829Miami Dolphins Orange Bowl 101-22-1 .819Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field* 67-22-1 .753Minnesota Vikings Metropolitan Stadium 64-23-1 .733L.A. Rams LA Memorial Coliseum 53-20-2 .726*current NFL stadiumNote: Ties prior to 1972 do not count in winning percentage
The 2011 season marked the first time Pittsburgh finished witha 7-1 record at home since 2007. It was the 12th time since theAFL-NFL merger in 1970 that the Steelers won at least sevenregular-season games at home, including the fourth time at HeinzField (2001, ‘04, ‘07).
In the first five seasons under Head Coach Mike Tomlin, theSteelers have won at least five games at home each season. Thelast time Pittsburgh did not win at least five home games in aseason was 2003. Since 2004, Pittsburgh and New England arethe only teams in the league to register at least five wins at homeduring each regular season.
Pittsburgh finished the 2004 regular season with an undefeated(8-0) home record for only the third time in team history and forthe first time in 25 years.
The Steelers finished the 1979 regular season with anundefeated home record (8-0) and eventually won Super BowlXIV. The Steelers were also undefeated at home (7-0) in 1972.
The following is a look at the list of the Steelers’ records at homesince 2004:
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LOOKING AHEAD...The Steelers return home to play the Washington Redskins
on Sunday, Oct. 28, at Heinz Field. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ETand will be televised on FOX (locally WPGH-TV, channel 53).
Seahawks that marked the Steelers first shutout in a home openersince 1977 (27-0 vs. San Francisco).
The last time Pittsburgh lost a home opener was in 2002 toOakland, 17-30.
Defense! Defense! Defense!: Pittsburgh recorded two shutoutsduring the 2011 regular season (Week 2, 24-0 vs. Sea, Week 16,27-0 vs. StL). It was the fifth time since 1960 that Pittsburghrecorded multiple shutouts in a season (2, in 2007, 2 in 2000, 5 in1976, 2 in 1974).
The Steelers were one of four teams to record a shutout in 2011(Buf, KC, SF) and the only team with two shutouts.
It marked the fourth and fifth shutouts during the Mike Tomlinera. The Steelers now have 29 shutouts since 1960, which is thesecond most in the NFL during that time span:
Team ShutoutsChicago 30Pittsburgh 29San Francisco 27Miami 25New England 24
Continued Success: Since the 1970 merger of the Nationaland American Football Leagues, the Pittsburgh Steelers own thebest record in the NFL.
The following is a look at the top three regular-season recordssince the merger in 1970:
Team W L T Pct.1. Pittsburgh Steelers 398 253 2 .6112. Miami Dolphins 388 264 2 .5953. Dallas Cowboys 383 270 0 .587
In the Red Zone: Following is a look at how the Steelers offenseperformed in the red zone so far this season:
Five & 10: The Steelers ranked in the top five in the AFC and/orthe top 10 in the NFL in several team and individual categoriesthis season. Following is a list of those rankings:
In Control: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns an 22-8 all-timemark against teams in the AFC North. Tomlin’s 22 regular-seasonwins against division opponents are the fourth most in the NFLand the most of any AFC North team since 2007 (Baltimore: 20-12 / Cincinnati: 15-18 / Cleveland: 7-26).
Tomlin has won at least four games against division opponentsin four of his first five seasons. Tomlin owns an impressive 12-3record against divisional foes at Heinz Field.
Among The Best: Since Mike Tomlin was named head coachof the Steelers in 2007, Pittsburgh has compiled the third-mostwins in the NFL during that time span (57). The following is thetop three regular-season records in the NFL since 2007:
Team Record Playoff App. Super Bowl App.NE 67-19 4 2GB 58-28 4 1PIT 57-28 4 2
Primetime Specialist: For the second consecutive season theSteelers play five regular-season games in primetime. HeadCoach Mike Tomlin is 18-9 overall in primetime games, includinga 9-6 record on the road. He is 6-1 on Monday Night Football, 7-6on Sunday Night Football and 5-2 on Thursday Night Football.
Tomlin joined only Bill Cowher (Steelers), Tom Flores (Raiders),Steve Mariucci (49ers), George Siefert (49ers) and Don Shula(Colts, Dolphins) as coaches to win their first six Monday NightFootball games.
Our House: Head Coach Mike Tomlin owns a 33-9 regular-season record at Heinz Field in his five plus seasons in Pittsburgh,including 2-0 this season. Tomlin’s 33 home wins during theregular season are the fourth most in the NFL since 2007. Belowis a look at the best home records during the regular seasonsince 2007:
Team W L Pct.New England 37 5 .881Baltimore 35 9 .795Green Bay 34 9 .791Pittsburgh 33 9 .786
With a win in Week 2 over the New York Jets, Tomlin becamethe first coach in team history to win his first six home openers.
For the second time in the Tomlin era, the Steelers finished 7-1 at home in 2011 (2007). For the third time in Tomlin’s fiveseasons, the Steelers started 4-0 at home last season. Tomlinhas led Pittsburgh to at least five home wins in each of his fiveseasons as head coach.
COACHING NOTES
Passer Rating ............................................. 99.9 ............................. 2nd/3rdPassing Attempts Per Game ..................... 39.6 ............................. 3rd/5th
Team Defense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL)Yards Per Game ........................................ 295.8 ............................ 1st/5thPassing Yards Per Game .......................... 200.8 ............................ 2nd/4thRushing Yards Per Game .......................... 95.0 ............................ 5th/10thForced Fumbles ............................................ 7 ......................... T-3rd/T-5th
Team Special Teams Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL)Kickoff Return Average ............................. 27.0 ............................. 5th/9thField Goals Made .......................................... 11 ...................... T-5th/T-10th
Tomlin Versus the NFC: During his career, Head Coach MikeTomlin’s regular-season record against the NFC is 15-6, including10-1 at home. Over the past three regular seasons, the Steelersare 10-3 against the NFC.
The Steelers .714 regular-season winning percentage againstthe NFC since 2007 is the third-best among AFC teams.
Team W L Pct.New England 18 4 .818Tennessee 17 5 .773Pittsburgh 15 6 .714Baltimore 15 7 .682
Strong Out Of The Gate: Head Coach Mike Tomlin is the onlySteelers head coach to win his first six home openers.
This season, for only the second time as head coach, Tomlinlost the season opener. In 2011, after the Steelers lost in Week 1at Baltimore, Pittsburgh responded with a 24-0 win over Seattle athome. This season they beat the New York Jets at home in Week2. The last time the Steelers lost consecutive regular-seasongames was in 2009.
The Steelers started 6-2 for the fifth consecutive season underTomlin in 2011. He became the only coach in Steelers history andin the NFL (since 1978) to open each of his first five seasons withat least six wins through the first eight games.
Last season marked the 14th time since 1978 that Pittsburghopened the season with at least six wins in their first eight games.In 13 of those cases, the Steelers went on to make the playoffs.
Tomlin has led Pittsburgh to a 12-4 record three times in hisfive years as head coach of the Steelers (2008, 10). Last seasonalso marked the second time in team history that the Steelersrecorded back-to-back regular seasons with at least 12 wins(1978, 14-2 and 1979, 12-4).
Under Tomlin, Pittsburgh has recorded a 9-3 record in the first12 games four times. Tomlin is the only head coach in Steelers’history to lead his team to at least nine wins through the first 12games in four of his first five seasons.
Leading The Way: Head Coach Mike Tomlin has the highestregular-season winning percentage (.671) amongst active NFLhead coaches who have coached a minimum of 75 games:
Name W L T Win Pct.Mike Tomlin (Pit 2007-12) 57 28 0 .671Mike McCarthy (GB 2006-12) 66 36 0 .647Bill Belichick (Cle 1991-95, NE 2000-11) 178 100 0 .640Andy Reid (Phi 1999-11) 129 84 1 .606
Few And Far Between: Head Coach Mike Tomlin led the Steelersto at least 10 wins for the second consecutive season in 2011and for the fourth time in five years (2007, ‘08, ‘10).
Tomlin is only the second coach in Steelers’ history to postwinning records in each of his first five seasons. He became thesixth head coach to win at least nine games in each of his first fiveseasons since the NFL merger in 1970. Tomlin joined GeorgeSeifert, Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher, Chuck Knox and MikeSherman.
In 2007, Tomlin became the second head coach in team historyto post a winning record in his first season with a mark of 10-6.
High Honor Roll: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau wasinducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August of 2010.LeBeau had an outstanding NFL career, finishing with 62 careerinterceptions (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 ofFame in 2009. He played at Ohio State as a cornerback andhalfback and was a member of the 1957 national championshipteam.
Controlling The North: QB Ben Roethlisberger is 33-9 (.786)as a starter against AFC North opponents during his career. He is9-2 over the last two seasons (2010-11) against divisional foes.
Roethlisberger had won 12 straight games against divisionalfoes as the starter prior to a Week 3 setback at Cincinnati in 2009,which was the longest streak in the NFL since Peyton Manningwon 12 straight from 2004-06.
In his 42 career games versus division opponents,Roethlisberger has posted a perfect passer rating once (11/5/07vs. Baltimore) and has recorded a passer rating of over 100.0 atotal of 16 times.
The following is a look at his statistics against the AFC North inhis 42 games as a starter:
42 games vs.Statistic AFC North (as a starter)Record ............................................................. 33-9Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.) ............... 60.9 (738-1,211)Passing Yards ................................................ 9,452Passing Touchdowns ......................................... 57Interceptions ...................................................... 38Passer Rating .................................................. 88.0
Also, the following is a look at Roethlisberger’s career statisticsagainst AFC North opponents as a starter at home compared tothe road:
Statistic Home vs. AFC North Away vs. AFC NorthRecord ................................................................ 17-5 ........................... 16-4Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.) ........... 61.2 (383-626) .......... 60.7 (355-585)Passing Yards .................................................. 5,144 ......................... 4,288Passing Touchdowns ............................................. 33 .............................. 24Interceptions .......................................................... 22 .............................. 16Passer Rating ..................................................... 90.2 ........................... 85.5
Good Way To Start: QB Ben Roethlisberger continues performwell in the first half of games. Through the first five games thisseason, Roethlisberger has recorded first-half passer ratings of126.0 (Week 2 vs. NYJ), 110.6 (Week 3 at Oak), 101.0 ( Week 1 atDen), 74.9 (Week 5 vs. Phi) and 94.4 (Week 6 at Ten).Roethlisberger’s 126.0 passer rating in Week 2 marked the 22ndregular-season game where he registered a passer rating of atleast 125.0 in the first half.
Roethlisberger has totaled 846 passing yards while completing71-of-108 passes with six touchdowns in five first halves thisseason. His first half passer rating of 104.2 ranks fifth in the NFL.
In 2011, he completed 177-of-276 pass attempts for 2,139 yards,14 touchdowns and six interceptions in first halves. Roethlisbergertotaled over 100 yards passing in the first half in 13-of-15 gameshe played in last season, including 231 yards passing twice (atInd, vs. NE).
Defensive Mastermind: The Steelers defense has been ledby defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau since 2004. During thattime span it has been regarded as one of the top defenses in theNFL, helping to lead the Steelers to three Super Bowls. Below ishow the LeBeau’s defenses rank since the start of the 2004 sea-son:
Defensive Category Statistic Rank (NFL)Sacks 355 1stPassing Touchdowns 145 1stPoints Allowed Per Game 16.6 1stYards From Scrimmage 292.9 1stScrimmage Yards/Touch 6.8 1stNet Passing Yards/Game 190.7 1stRushing Yards 11,323 1stRushing Yards/Game 85.1 1stRushes of 10+ Yards 262 1stRushing Touchdowns 62 1stRushing Average 3.6 2ndQB Rating 74.4 2nd25+ Yard Passes 159 2nd
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One Of The Best: QB Ben Roethlisberger is mostly known asone of the league’s elite quarterbacks because he wins.Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to two Super Bowl titles andthree AFC Championships.
Roethlisberger has also compiled stats that place him nearthe top of the league. He is one of only six active quarterbacks inthe league today to complete over 2,000 passes, racked up over28,000 passing yards and at least 160 passing touchdowns.
The only other active quarterbacks to stack up all of thosenumbers are Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, MattHasselbeck and Eli Manning:
Finding The End Zone: QB Ben Roethlistberger has recordedat least one touchdown pass in each of the five games this season.Roethlisberger has totaled at least three touchdown passes in21 games during his career. Three times he has thrown over 20touchdown passes during a single season (21 in 2011 / 26 in2009 / 32 in 2007).
Roethlisberger has thrown for four touchdown passes fourtimes in his career, including in Week 3 at Oakland. Roethlisbergeris the only Steelers quarterback to throw for a franchise-best fivetouchdowns in a single game twice during the regular season:
Player Opp Passing TDsBen Roethlisberger Ten (10/9/11) 5Ben Roethlisberger Bal (11/5/07) 5Mark Malone Ind (9/8/85) 5Terry Bradshaw Atl (11/15/81) 5
Since the start of the 2007 season, Roethlisberger has thefourth-most games (tied) with at least five touchdown passes inthe NFL.
Player Game of 5+ Passing TDsDrew Brees 5Tom Brady 4Matthew Stafford 3Ben Roethlisberger 2Aaron Rodgers 2Carson Palmer 2
Facing The NFC: With a career record of 82-36 as a starter, QBBen Roethlisberger has posted gaudy numbers no matter theopposition.
Throughout his career, Roethlisberger has feasted on compe-tition from the NFC. In 29 career regular-season games againstNFC opponents, Roethlisberger has posted a 22-7 record whilecompleting 478-of-779 passes (61.4 pct.) for 6,437 yards with 37touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Roethlisberger’s statistics against the NFC are equally im-pressive in games at Heinz Field. In 15 career games againstNFC opponents at home, Roethlisberger has a 14-1 mark whilecompleting 238-of-402 passes (59.2 pct.) for 3,346 yards with 18touchdowns and eight interceptions for a passer rating of 94.8.
Roethlisberger won his first seven starts against NFC teams.
Home Cooking: QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 46-13 (.780)mark in the regular season in his career at Heinz Field, includingwinning his first eight starts as a rookie in 2004. Roethlisbergeris 2-0 this season and was 6-1 at home in 2011.
At Heinz Field, Roethlisberger has completed 63.5 percent ofhis passes for 14,177 with 88 touchdowns and 46 interceptions
Roethlisberger has a career passer rating of 96.0 in the firsthalf of games, ranking fourth in the NFL among activequarterbacks (min. 670 attempts):
Player Team QB RatingAaron Rodgers Green Bay 106.7Tom Brady New England 97.8Peyton Manning Denver/Indianapolis 97.3Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh 96.0Drew Brees New Orleans 95.5
Roethlisberger has led the Steelers offense to points on 37-of-76 first-half possesions (22 TDs, 15 FGs) over the last 14 gameshe has played in, including the 2011 regular season.
Roethlisberger ranks fifth among active quarterbacks with 106passing touchdowns in first halves. Four times in his careerRoethlisberger has recorded at least three touchdown passes inthe first half.
Player Opp. Passing TDs/First HalfBen Roethlisberger Bal (11/5/07) 5Ben Roethlisberger Ten (10/9/11) 3Ben Roethlisberger Atl (10/22/06 3Ben Roethlisberger StL (12/20/07) 3Charlie Batch TB (9/26/10) 3Kordell Stewart Den (12/7/97) 3
Third-Down Success: In the first five games of the season, theSteelers have converted an AFC-best 51.9 percent of third downsand QB Ben Roethlisberger has been a big reason why.Roethlisberger is 40-of-60 (66.7 pct.) for 516 yards, fivetouchdowns and a passer rating of 121.3 on third downs.Roethlisberger leads all NFL quarterbacks in passer rating,completions and passing touchdowns (tied) on third downs thisseason.
Below is a list of the top five passer ratings on third down thisseason (min. 3.12 att/game):
Player Team Third-Down QB RatingBen Roethlisberger Pittsburgh 121.3Aaron Rodgers Green Bay 110.8Michael Vick Philadelphia 107.7Peyton Manning Denver 101.8Joe Flacco Baltimore 97.6
For his career, Roethlisberger has a passer rating of 92.3 onthird down, ranking third among active quarterbacks (min. 335attempts). He ranks third among active quarterbacks with a 61.7career completion percentage on third down (min. 335 attempts).
Starting In Style: In his career, QB Ben Roethlisberger ownsan 82-36 (.695) record as a starting quarterback in the regularseason. That mark is the third-best record in the NFL among allactive quarterbacks (min. 50 starts).
Roethlisberger registered his 80th career win in his 113th careerstart, becoming the fourth quarterback who began their career inthe Super Bowl era to reach 80 wins in 113 or fewer starts: TomBrady (104), Roger Staubach (105) and Ken Stabler (112).
His 63-27 record after his first 90 starts in the NFL ranks third(tied) in league history for the best record in such starts. OnlyBrady (67-23) and Stabler (66-23-1) had better records in theirfirst 90 starts in the NFL. Roethlisberger’s record is tied with JimMcMahon.
The following is a look at the top five starting records amongactive quarterbacks in the NFL (min. 50 starts):
Name W L T Pct.1. Tom Brady, Patriots 127 40 0 .7602. Matt Ryan, Falcons 49 19 0 .7213. Joe Flacco, Ravens 49 21 0 .7004. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers 82 36 0 .6955. Peyton Manning, Colts/Broncos 144 70 0 .673
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Single-Game TD Passes at Heinz Field (‘07 vs. Bal., ‘11 vs. Ten) 5 ............. 1st
Total Wins When Throwing for 300-plus Yards ................. 11 ............. 1st
Career Completions ...................................................... 2,218 ............. 1st
Career Passing Yards ................................................ 28,066 ............. 1st
Single-Game TD Passes on MNF (11/5/07 vs. Bal.) ** ..... 5 ......... T-1st
Consecutive Passes Completed (11/26/07 vs. Miami) ... 15 ......... T-1st
Career TD Passes (indoors) .............................................. 16 ......... T-1st
Passing TDs in Single Game (‘07 vs. Bal; ‘11 vs. Ten) ..... 5 ......... T-1st
Career QB Rating in Final 2 mins./game * .................... 78.0 ............ 2nd
Career Yards/Attempt in Final 2 mins./game * ............. 6.83 ............ 2nd
Career Attempts ........................................................... 3,511 ............ 2nd
Career Passing TDs ........................................................ 175 ............ 2nd
Career TD Passes (on road) ............................................. 87 ............ 2nd
Career Passing Yards vs. NFC ................................... 6,437 ............ 2nd
Career Touchdown Passes in Dec./Jan. ........................... 47 ............ 2nd
Career Rushing Yards (by QB) ....................................... 984 ............ 3rd
Attempts in Single Game (11/5/06 vs. Denver) ............... 54 ............ 3rd
* Since 1991** NFL Record
Passing Perfection: QB Ben Roethlisberger has achieved anumber of outstanding single-season accomplishments in hiscareer, including achieving a feat three times that is rarely done inthe NFL.
Roethlisberger, who set the team’s single-season mark forpasser rating (104.1) in 2007, has had a perfect passer rating(158.3) three times in his career, tying him with QB Peyton Manningfor the most in NFL history (minimum 10 attempts).
Roethlisberger’s 48 career 100-plus passer rating games inthe regular season rank first in team history, surpassing TerryBradshaw, who had 31 such games since the passer rating rulewas implemented in 1973. Of his 48 100-plus passer ratingperformances 13 were higher than 125.0, including registering arating of 125.1 in a win over the New York Jets in Week 2 thisseason.
Player Rating1. Ben Roethlisberger (2007) 104.12. Ben Roethlisberger (2009) 100.53. Ben Roethlisberger (2005) 98.64. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) 98.15. Ben Roethlisberger (2010) 97.0
Steelers Top Single-Season Completion Percentage Leaders(Minimum 250 Attempts)
Player Att. Comp. Pct.1. Ben Roethlisberger (2009) 506 337 66.62. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) 295 196 66.43. Ben Roethlisberger (2007) 404 264 65.34. Ben Roethlisberger (2011) 513 324 63.25. Ben Roethlisberger (2005) 268 168 62.7
Deadly Combination: QB Ben Roethlisberger and WR MikeWallace have combined for 12 touchdowns of at least 40 yardssince the start of 2009, which ranks first in team history.
In Week 6 at the Tennessee Titans this season, the two addedto that total with an 82-yard touchdown, which is the fourth longestpass play of Roethlisberger’s career. In the first five games of the2012 season the two have connected for four touchdowns.
In 2011, Roethlisberger and Wallace recorded three touchdownsof at least 40 yards. In 2011, Roethlisberger and Wallace con-nected on a 95-yard touchdown at Arizona, the longest pass playand second-longest offensive play from scrimmage in Steelershistory. The following is a list of the top QB-WR combos in termsof touchdowns of 40 yards in club history:
for a passer rating of 95.5. He has thrown for more than 300 yards11 times and has 27 multi-touchdown games at home (22-5record in such games), including a franchise and career-high(tied) five touchdowns versus the Titans in Week 5 (2011).
Roethlisberger has twice posted a perfect passer rating athome, including most recently in Week 9 of 2007 againstBaltimore. He also had a perfect passer rating (158.3) againstTennessee in the 2005 season opener and has posted at least a125.0 passer rating eight times.
The Steelers have scored at least 20 points in 47 of the 59 gamesat home with Roethlisberger as the starter.
300-Yard Plateau: QB Ben Roethlisberger has registered 22300+ yard passing games in his career during the regular season,including throwing for 384 yards at Oakland in Week 3 and 363yards at Tennessee in Week 6.
In 2011 Roethlisberger recorded five 300+ yard passingperformances, which tied his career-high for a single season.
In Weeks 7 and 8 last season, Roethlisberger became the firstSteelers’ quarterback to register at least 360 passing yards inback-to-back games (361, 365). For his career, Roethlisbergerhas thrown for at least 360 yards 12 times, a franchise best.
Title Man: QB Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to the AFCChampionship Game four times in his first eight seasons. He isone of only three active NFL quarterbacks to win multiple SuperBowl titles (Tom Brady, Eli Manning).
Roethlisberger joined Roger Staubach, Bernie Kosar, Tom Bradyand Donovan McNabb as the only quarterbacks to lead their teamsto the conference title game at least three times in their first fiveseasons as the starting quarterback.
Movin’ On Up: QB Ben Roethlisberger leads the Steelers innearly 40 different career categories and is tied for first in fiveother categories. The following is where Roethlisberger ranks inSteelers history in several key passing categories:
Roethlisberger’s Career Rankings Among Steelers QBs
Comp. %./Single Game by Rookie QB (10/17/04 vs. Dal.) ** .... 84.0 ............. 1st
Consecutive Wins to Start Career (2004) ** ................... 13 ............. 1st
Total Wins by Rookie QB (2004) ** .................................. 13 ............. 1st
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Run That Rock, 34: RB Rashard Mendenhall played in his firstgame since suffering a season-ending knee injury on 1/1/12 atCleveland in Week 5. In the win over Philadelphia Mendenhall ledthe way with a team-high 68 yards on 13 carries (5.2 avg.) withone receiving touchdown.
Mendenhall is one rushing touchdown shy of becoming thefifth Steelers’ player to record 30 career rushing touchdowns. His29 rushing touchdowns are the third most in franchise historyamong running backs, trailing only Franco Harris (91) and JeromeBettis (78).
In his first four plus seasons, Mendenhall has accumulated3,441 rushing yards, the ninth most in franchise history. Eachplayer ahead of him on the Steelers’ all-time rushing list hasplayed in at least 10 more games than he has. Mendenhall’s 4.1yards per carry is tied with Franco Harris for the sixth highest inSteelers’ history. Mendenhall has recorded 77 runs of 10 or moreyards during his career.
Miller Time: TE Heath Miller has been a consistent performerfor the Steelers throughout his career and that has continued intothis season. Last week at Tennessee, Miller led the team with sixreceptions for 67 yards, giving him 362 career receptions whichare good enough for the third-most in franchise history.
For the first time in his career, Miller recorded a touchdown ineach of the first three games of the season, tying for the second-longest streak of his career in which he recorded at least onereceiving touchdown (Games 4-6 in 2009 / Games 4-7 in 2005).Both of Miller’s touchdowns in Week 3 came in the first quarter,making him the first Steelers’ player since WR Plaxico Burress(10/31/04) to register two receiving touchdowns in the first quarter.
Miller now has 35 career receiving touchdowns, ranking seventhon the Steelers’ all-time list and is only two shy of tying ElbieNickel (37) for the most by a Pittsburgh tight end. Pittsburgh is 23-8 when Miller finds the end zone.
In Week 3 at the Oakland Raiders, Miller tied his career high forthe fourth time by registering eight receptions.
Miller has registered at least one reception in 117-of-125 careergames played, including the postseason. Miller has recorded atleast one reception in every game he has played in, regular andpostseason, dating back to 11/3/08 vs. Washington, a streak of63 games.
Since 2008, Miller has surpassed 40 receptions each season,including a career-best 76-reception performance in 2009. Duringthe first seven years of his career, Miller averaged over 10 yardsper catch each season.
Miller passed Nickel (329) for the franchise lead in receptionsby a tight end and passed Louis Lipps for the third-most in Steelershistory.
Rk. Player Rec. Yards TDs1. Hines Ward (1998-2011) 991 12,027 852. John Stallworth (1974-87) 537 8,723 633. Heath Miller (2005-Present) 362 4,101 354. Louis Lipps (1984-91) 358 6,018 395. Lynn Swann (1974-82) 336 5,462 51
Growing Up: WR Antonio Brown is a third-year player thatcontinues to get better as each game goes by. His quickprogression earned him a five-year contract extension that willkeep him with the Steelers through 2017.
Through the first four games this season, Brown leads theSteelers with 29 receptions for 346 yards (11.9 avg.) and onetouchdown.
In games 2-4 this season, Brown registered seven receptionsin each, marking the first time in his career that he recorded atleast seven receptions in three consecutive games. Dating backto the 2011 regular season, Brown has recorded at least 70 yardsreceiving in five of the last six games.
In 2011 Brown became the first player in NFL history with atleast 1,000 receiving yards (1,108) and at least 1,000 return yards(1,062) in the same season. With 2,211 all-purpose yards lastseason, Brown passed Barry Foster (2,034 in 1992) for thefranchise single-season record.
100 Is the Number: WR Mike Wallace recorded his first 100+yard game of 2012 and the 13th of his career in Week 3 at Oaklandby registering 123 yards on a career high (tied) eight receptions.His 123 receiving yards was the fourth-highest single game totalof his career.
Wallace’s 13 career 100-yard receiving games during theregular season are three shy of Louis Lipps (16) for the thirdmost in franchise history:
Career 100-yardRk. Player Years Receiving Games1. Hines Ward 1998-2011 292. John Stallworth 1974-87 253. Louis Lipps 1984-91 164. Mike Wallace 2009-Present 13
Wallace posted 100 yards receiving in each of the first threegames in 2011, setting a franchise-best streak of six consecutviegames with at least 100 yards receiving.
Wallace’s six consecutive games with 100+ yards receivingtied the second longest streak in NFL history:
100-yard Receiving GamesPlayer Team Year In a RowCharley Hannigan Hou 1961 7Michael Irvin Dal 1995 7Mike Wallace Pit 2010-11 6Raymond Berry Bal 1960 6Bill Groman Hou 1961 6Pat Studstill Det 1966 6Isaac Bruce StL 1995 6
Speedy Start: WR Mike Wallace has been an explosive playerever since entering the NFL in 2009. He once again has gotten offto a quick start this season, recording a touchdown in each of thefirst three regular-season games for the first time in his career. Itwas the second time in his career that he recorded at least onereceiving touchdown in three consecutive games (Games 5-7 in2011). In Week 6 Wallace registered the second longest receptionof his career, an 82-yard touchdown at Tennessee.
Since he entered the league in 2009, Wallace ranks third in theNFL in average yards per catch (18.5) over that time span amongstrecievers with at least 60 receptions, and is 0.2 yards short ofleague leader Malcom Floyd (18.7).
The fourth-year wide receiver is second in the league with 42receptions of 25+ yards since the start of the 2009 season, trailingDeSean Jackson by four. Dating back to 1991, his 42 receptionsof 25+ yards are second among Steelers (Hines Ward, 81).
Wallace is one of only eight NFL players to register at least 28receiving touchdowns since the beginning of the 2009 season.
In 2011, Wallace registered a reception of at least 40 yards insix consecutive games (Games 2-7), the longest such streak inthe NFL since Isaac Bruce in 2000 (Games 2-7).
The following is a list of all of Wallace’s receptions (24) of atleast 40 yards:
Reception Opponent Date95 yards (TD) at Arizona 10/23/1182 yards (TD) at Tennessee 10/11/1281 yards (TD) at Indianapolis 9/25/1160 yards (TD) vs. Green Bay 12/20/0956 yards (TD) at Cleveland 1/2/1154 yards (TD) at Miami 1/3/1053 yards (TD) at Miami 10/24/1053 yards vs. Seattle 9/18/11
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INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE NOTES
52 yards (TD) vs. Oakland 11/21/1052 yards vs. Atlanta 9/12/1051 yards at Cincinnati 9/27/0950 yards vs. Cleveland 10/17/1048 yards vs. Jacksonville 10/16/1147 yards (TD) at Detroit 10/11/0946 yards vs. St. Louis 12/24/1146 yards (TD) at Tampa Bay 9/26/1045 yards vs. Baltimore 12/27/0943 yards (TD) vs. Carolina 12/23/1041 yards at Cleveland 1/2/1141 yards (TD) at Tampa Bay 9/26/1040 yards (TD) vs. Tennessee 10/9/1140 yards at Houston 10/2/1140 yards (TD) vs. Minnesota 10/25/0940 yards vs. Carolina 12/23/10
Wallace Continues To Thrive: WR Mike Wallace continues tocontribute in big way for the Steelers. In just five games thisseason, Wallace is tied for the team-lead in touchdown receptions(4), is third in receptions (21) and second in receiving yards (345).
Wallace followed up his breakout 2010 season with a stellar2011, recording a career-high 72 receptions for 1,193 yards andeight touchdowns. He was named a starter for his first career ProBowl, becoming the first Steelers wide receiver to start in the ProBowl since 1985 when John Stallworth was named a starter.
Wallace joined WR Antonio Brown (1,108 yards) as the thirdSteeler duo since 1960 to each register at least 1,100+ receivingyards in the same season (2002: Hines Ward, 1,329 / PlaxicoBurress, 1,325 and 2009: Ward, 1,167 / Santonio Holmes, 1,248).
Tackling Machine: S Ryan Clark has teamed with perennialAll-Pro Troy Polamalu to form one of the finest safety duos in theNFL. Since coming to the Steelers in 2006, Clark has started 83of 84 regular-season games played, including all 16 in both 2010and 2011.
After missing the 2012 season opener in Denver due to a healthissue, Clark returned to the Steelers starting lineup in a big wayover the last four weeks while his backfield mate S Troy Polamluhas been out most of the season due to injury. In Week 2 againstthe New York Jets, Clark tied for the team lead with eight tacklesand one pass defensed. In Week 3 at Oakland, he registered aninterception off of QB Carson Palmer and returned it for a careerlong 26 yards to the Oakland 36-yard line. On the ensuing drivethe Steelers’ offense would score a touchdown to make it 7-0. Itmarked Clark’s ninth interception as a Steeler, the 12th of hiscareer and first since 10/23/11 at Arizona. In a Week 5 win overPhiladelphia, Clark forced a Michael Vick fumble at the Steelers’one-yard line that LB Larry Foote recovered in the end zone for atouchback. Last week, at Tennessee, he led the team with aseason high nine tackles.
Timmons Time: On a defense that has struggled to stay healthyover the last couple of seasons, LB Lawrence Timmons hasbeen a player the Steelers can count on being in the lineup eachweek.
Timmons, who has missed only two games his entire careerhas recorded a team-best 26 consecutive starts. Since the startof the 2010 season, Timmons has started (36) and played in (37)the most games out of any Steelers’ linebackers, while alsoleading the group in tackles over that time.
While Timmons is a steady player that the defense can counton game-in and game-out, he also makes plays. Over the pasttwo games Timmons has forced a fumble of Eagles QB MichaelVick and intercepted Tennessee QB Matt Hasselbeck in the fourthquarter of last week’s game.
Even though Timmons is a defensive starter, he still contributeson special teams, recording at least four special teams tackles ineach of the last five seasons.
Taking The Lead: With the loss of long-time starting insidelinebacker James Farrior, veteran LB Larry Foote has been askedto step up from his recent supporting roll and back into thedefensive leader. Through the first five games, Foote ranks amongteam leaders in tackles, forced fumbles (2), fumble recoveries(2) and sacks (2.0).
In Week 1 at Denver, Foote exceeded expections, registering ateam-high 12 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one QBpressure and one pass defensed. It was the 17th 10+ tacklegame of his career and first since 11/22/09 vs. Cleveland (12).
Twice this season (Weeks 1 and 6) Foote has recorded a sackand a forced fumble, marking the fourth and fifth times in hiscareer, and the first since 12/2/07 vs. Cincinnati, that he registereda forced fumble and a sack in the same game.
In Week 3 at Oakland, Foote tied for the team lead with threequarterback hurries, while also chipping in eight tackles. A Week5 win over Philadelphia saw Foote register a career-high twofumble recoveries.
Elite Company: LB LaMarr Woodley registered his 50th careersack in Week 3 at Oakland to become the eighth player in Steelers’history to reach the mark (including players that played beforesacks became an official statistic in 1982).
Among Steelers to reach 50.0 sacks since 1982, Woodley gotto the mark the fastest, reaching 50.0 in just 73 regular-seasongames played. Below is a list of the other Steelers who reached50.0 career sacks since 1982 and how many games it took:
Player Games To Get To 50.0 SacksLaMarr Woodley (2007-present) 73Jason Gildon (1994-2003) 95Keith Willis (1982-87, 89-91) 105Joey Porter (1999-2006) 106James Harrison (2002, 2004-11) 109Greg Lloyd (1988-97) 119
Although he is only in the seventh week of his sixth season,Woodley’s 50.0 sacks are the most by a Steelers’ player in theirfirst six seasons. The following is a breakdown of sacks in thehistory of the club in player’s first two, three, four, five and sixseasons (Kevin Greene had 35.5 sacks in his first three seasonswith the team, but he had previously played with the L.A. Rams):
Most Sacks (two consecutive seasons)Name Sacks YearsJames Harrison 26.0 2008-09Jason Gildon 25.5 2000-01LaMarr Woodley 25.0 2008-09
Most Sacks (first three seasons with team)Name Sacks YearsLaMarr Woodley 29.0 2007-09Keith Willis 20.0 1982-84
Most Sacks (first four seasons with team)Name Sacks YearsLaMarr Woodley 39.0 2007-10Joey Porter 30.5 1999-02Chad Brown 30.0 1993-96
Most Sacks (first five seasons with team)Name Sacks YearsLaMarr Woodley 48.0 2007-11Keith Willis 37.5 1982-86Joey Porter 35.5 1999-03
Most Sacks (first six seasons with team)Name Sacks YearsLaMarr Woodley 50.0 2007-12Joey Porter 42.5 1999-04Keith Willis 40.5 1982-87
Double Trouble: The Steelers have a tradition of fielding someof the best pass-rushing linebackers in the NFL, and currentlinebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley haveaccounted for two of the top four sack totals by a Steelers’ duo inteam history. Although Harrison missed the first three games of
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Rk. Name # of FF1. Greg Lloyd 362. James Harrison 263. Jason Gildon 184. Rod Woodson 175. Joey Porter 16
Carnell Lake 167. James Farrior 14
Levon Kirkland 14
The following is a list of the top five single-season forcedfumbles leaders for the Steelers since 1992:
Rk. Name (Year) # of FF1. James Harrison (2008) 7
Greg Lloyd (1994) 73. James Harrison (2010) 6
James Harrison (2007) 6Greg Lloyd (1995) 6
Bringing The Wood: Before missing last week’s game at Ten-nessee, LB LaMarr Woodley had already registered two sacksand a fumble recovery in the first four games of the 2012 season.In 2011, Woodley registered nine sacks through the first eightgames in 2011. Despite missing six games, Woodley’s nine sackstied for the team lead.
Woodley’s nine sacks were the second most he recorded in thefirst eight games of a season during his career (9.5, 2008).Woodley’s nine sacks also marked the fourth-highest total for aSteeler in the first half of a season since sacks became an officialstatistic in 1982:
Rk. Player (Year) Sacks in Games 1-81. James Harrison (2008) 10.0
In 2011, Woodley became the first Steelers’ player to registerat least 1.5 sacks in four consecutive regular-season gamessince sacks became an official statistic in 1982. The last player inthe NFL with more than one sack in four straight games wasSimeon Rice in 2002 (five straight).
Man Of Troy: SS Troy Polamalu continues to fly around the fieldand make plays when healthy. In Week 1 at Denver, Polamalufinished second on the team with nine tackles. Polamalu hasmissed most of the past four games with an injury.
In 2011, Polamalu earned his seventh Pro Bowl honor andsixth as a starter after finishing the season tied for third on theteam with 90 tackles.
Polamalu’s 29 career interceptions are the most of any activeSteeler. The team is 24-3 when Polamalu has an interception.
Polamalu ranks fifth in Steelers’ history among safeties insacks. He is one shy of passing Chris Oldham (9.5) for fourthplace in franchise history for the most sacks among safeties.
Since 2008, Polamalu is tied for second among active NFLsafeties in interceptions (19):
Player Team INTEd Reed Baltimore 25Troy Polamalu Pittsburgh 19Jairus Byrd Buffalo 14Eric Weddle San Diego 14Michael Griffin Tennessee 14
2012, Woodley has picked up the slack by registering a fumblerecovery in Week 1 and a sack in both games two and threebefore a hamstring injury sidelined him early in game four versusPhiladelphia.
In 2011, the two combined for 18.0 sacks during the regularseason: Harrison (9.0) and Woodley (9.0), even though Harrison(Weeks 5-8, 14) and Woodley (Games 9-11, 13, 15) eachedmissed games.
In 2008, Harrison and Woodley broke the team’s top sack duorecord (since 1982) by combining for 27.5 sacks. The 27.5 sacksby Harrison (16) and Woodley (11.5) broke the record (24)previously held by Jason Gildon (13.5) and Joey Porter (10.5) in2000 and Kevin Greene (14) and Greg Lloyd (10) in 1994.
The following is a list of the Steelers’ top sack duos since 1982,when sacks became an official NFL statistic:
Steelers Top Sack Duos (Since 1982)Year Players (Ind. sacks) Total Sacks2008 James Harrison (16*) 27.5*
LaMarr Woodley (11.5)2000 Jason Gildon (13.5) 24
Joey Porter (10.5)1994 Kevin Greene (14) 24
Greg Lloyd (10)2009 LaMarr Woodley (13.5) 23.5
James Harrison (10)1984 Mike Merriweather (15) 22
Edmund Nelson (7)
* Steelers Record
Harrison Makes Most Of Time On The Field: LB JamesHarrison, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, has been aterror on opposing quarterbacks since he became the startingoutside linebacker for the Steelers in 2007. After missing the firstthree games of this season with a knee injury Harrison registeredthree quarterback hits on Michael Vick in his first game back andlast week at Tennessee Harrison recorded his first sack of theseason.
Missing time due to injury is nothing new for Harrison, a hurteye sidelined him for four games during the 2011 regular season(Week 5-8). Although he only played in 11 games, Harrison finishedlast season tied for the team lead with nine sacks.
During the second half of the 2011 regular season, Harrisonregistered seven sacks: three sacks twice (Week 9 vs. Bal andWeek 13 vs. Cin) and one against St. Louis in Week 16. He becamethe third Steelers’ player to register at least three sacks multipletimes in one season since 1982 (Chad Brown, 1996, 2; MikeMerriweather, 1984, 3).
Harrison has five regular-season games with at least threesacks in his career, tying Joey Porter for the most 3+ sack gamesduring the regular season by a Steelers’ player since 1982.
The Steelers are 28-13 when he posts a sack.
Climbing The Ranks: After registering a sack last week atTennesse, LB James Harrison tied Keith Willis (59.0, 1982-91)for the third most by a Steeler since sacks became an officialstatistic in 1982.
Rk. Player Sacks1. Jason Gildon (1994-2003) 77.02. Joey Porter (1999-2006) 60.03. Keith Willis (1982-91) 59.0
James Harrison (2002-Present) 59.0
Outside Presence: LB James Harrison has 26 forced fumblesin his career, ranking second in team history for career forcedfumbles, behind only Greg Lloyd. The following is a list of the topseven career forced fumble leaders for the Steelers since 1987:
vs. AFC: 1-3 0-0vs. AFC North 0-0 0-0vs. AFC East 1-0 0-0vs. AFC South 0-1 0-0vs. AFC West 0-2 0-0
vs. NFC: 1-0 0-0vs. NFC East 1-0 0-0vs. NFC North 0-0 0-0vs. NFC South 0-0 0-0vs. NFC West 0-0 0-0
When Scoring First: 2-2 0-0When Opponent Scored First: 0-1 0-0When Scoring 20 or More Points: 1-2 0-0When Scoring Less Than 20 Points: 1-1 0-0When Leading after the first quarter: 1-2 0-0When Trailing after the first quarter: 1-0 0-0When Tied after the first quarter: 0-1 0-0When Leading at the Half: 2-2 0-0When Trailing at the Half: 0-1 0-0When Tied at the Half: 0-0 0-0When Leading after three quarters: 2-1 0-0When Trailing after three quarters: 0-2 0-0When Tied after three quarters: 0-0 0-0When Outrushing the Opponent: 1-0 0-0With 35 or More Rushing Attempts: 0-0 0-0With Less Than 25 Passing Attempts: 0-0 0-0When Led in Time of Possession: 2-2 0-0When Trailed in Time of Possession: 0-1 0-0
On Turf: 0-0 0-0On Grass: 2-3 0-0
When led in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: 2-0 0-0When even in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: 0-2 0-0When trailed in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: 0-1 0-0With an Individual 100-Yard Rusher: 0-0 0-0With an Individual 300-Yard Passer: 0-2 0-0With an Individual 100-Yard Receiver: 0-2 0-0With an Ind. Opponent 100-Yard Rusher: 0-1 0-0With an Ind. Opponent 300-Yard Passer: 0-0 0-0With an Ind. Opponent 100-Yard Receiver: 0-0 0-0
When winning the coin toss: 2-2 0-0When losing the coin toss: 0-1 0-0When playing outdoors: 2-3 0-0When playing indoors: 0-0 0-0In overtime games: 0-0 0-0
INDIVIDUAL SPECIAL TEAMS NOTESOh So Suisham: K Shaun Suisham is 11-of-12 on field goals
this season, with his only miss coming from 54 yards away late inthe fourth quarter at Tennessee. Earlier in that same gameSuisham tied his career-long with a 52-yard field goal. Suishamalso went 2-for-2 on PATs in the Tennessee contest, increasinghis streak to 66-consecutive PATs made as a Steeler. SinceOctober 4, 2009, Suisham has made 87-straight PATs, which isthe longest streak of his career.
Suisham was 10-of-10 before he missed, which marked thesecond time in his career that he started the season 10-of-10 onFGs (started 13-for-13 in ’09).
Suisham recorded a 34-yard game-winning field goal to liftthe Steelers to a 16-14 victory as time expired against Philadelphiain Week 5. It marked Suisham’s fifth career game-winning fieldgoal and third as a Steeler, and it was his first since 9/25/11 atIndianapolis.
In addition to his place kicking, Suisham has succeeded onkickoffs. Suisham already has 12 touchbacks. He is on pace for38 touchbacks at seasons end, which would break personal bestof 28 touchbacks in 2011.
Return Success: Although WR Antonio Brown has emergedas a potent threat at wide receiver, he continues to contribute inthe return game. In Week 1 at Denver, Brown registered a 23-yardpunt return, setting Pittsburgh up at the Denver 38-yard line. InWeek 3 at Oakland he returned a punt 22 yards to the Raiders 48-yard line.
Last season Brown set the franchise record with 2,048 all-purpose yards and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl as a returner.
Brown also became the first player in NFL history with at least1,000 receiving yards (1,108) and at least 1,000 return yards(1,062) in the same season.
For his career, Brown has one punt return for a touchdown andone kickoff return for a touchdown. Dating back to 1941, he is oneof three Steelers’ players with at least one punt return for atouchdown and one kick return for a touchdown:
Player PR TD KR TDAntwaan Randle El 4 1Rod Woodson 2 2Antonio Brown 1 1
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Preseason Game #1Philadelphia 24, Pittsburgh 23
Aug. 9, 2012Lincoln Financial Field (69,144)
PHILADELPHIA – K Alex Henery nailed a 51-yard field goal with12 seconds left in the game to give the Eagles a 24-23 victory overthe Steelers in the 2012 preseason opener.
The Steelers got off to a great start and went up 3-0 when KShaun Suisham connected on a 46-yard field goal midway throughthe first quarter. Early in the second quarter, QB Byron Leftwichfound WR Emmanuel Sanders for a two-yard touchdown pass togive the Steelers a 10-0 lead. DE Al Woods’ interception of QBMike Kafka set up a Suisham 31-yard field goal, and the Steelerswent into halftime with a 13-0 lead.
The Eagles responded with two big pass plays in the thirdquarter by QB Nick Foles. In a span of three minutes, Foles foundWR Damaris Johnson for a 70-yard touchdown and WR MardyGilyard for a 44-yard touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-13. Folesfinished with a game-high 144 passing yards and twotouchdowns.
QB Jerrod Johnson found RB Chris Rainey on a slip screenfor a 57-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a 20-14 lead late inthe third quarter. Johnson finished the game with a team-high 93passing yards and registered 26 rushing yards. Rainey finishedwith a team-high 65 receiving yards.
The Eagles took the lead back with about five minutes remainingwhen QB Trent Edwards found WR Jamel Hamler for a 16-yardscore. Steelers appeared to have the game won when rookie KDaniel Hrapmann nailed a 43-yard field goal right after the two-minute warning but Edwards led the Eagles down the field to setup Henery’s game-winning field goal.
Despite being outgained in total yards, the Steelers defensehad a strong showing. They held the Eagles to only one third-down conversion, 74 rushing yards and forced seven punts.
PITTSBURGH – K Daniel Hrapmann nailed a 22-yard field goalwith 22 seconds left in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a 26-24 victory in their 2012 preseason home opener.
The Steelers took a 14-point lead in the first quarter thanks totwo big plays. QB Ben Roethlisberger found WR Antonio Brownon a screen pass for a 57-yard touchdown. Late in the first quarter,CB Ike Taylor picked off QB Andrew Luck and returned it 49 yardsfor a touchdown.
The Colts responded with 17 unanswered points on two rushingtouchdowns and a field goal. RB Donald Brown scored on a one-yard run early in the second quarter, and Luck scored on a one-yard run right after the two-minute warning. As time expired in thesecond quarter, K Adam Vinatiere connected on a 53-yard field togive the Colts a 17-14 lead going into the half.
Early in the third quarter, Hrapmann connected on a 39-yardfield goal to tie the game 17-17. But the Colts scored on their nextdrive to take a 24-17 lead as QB Drew Stanton found WR GriffWhalen for a four-yard touchdown.
Hrapmann connected from 39 yards out late in the third quarterand from 43 yards out early in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to24-23. The Colts were driving with five minutes to play and foundthemselves at the Steelers’ 31-yard line until CB Josh Victorianpicked off QB Chandler Harnish’s pass. QB Jerrod Johnsonthen led the Steelers on a 15-play, 65-yard drive to set upHrapmann’s game-winning field goal.
The Steelers defense and special teams had a big showing.The defense had three interceptions, eight passes defensed andheld the Colts to 85 yards rushing. The special teams unit hadseven total tackles, held the Colts to less than 100 combinedtotal punt and kickoff return yards and had a blocked punt that setup a third-quarter field goal.
GAME SUMMARY
Colts (1-1) 0 17 7 0 24STEELERS (1-1) 14 0 6 6 26
TEAM Q TIME PLAY DRIVE SCOREPIT 1 7:44 Brown 57-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 6-80; 3:01 7-0PIT 1 2:56 Taylor 49-yd. interception return – ; – : – 14-0IND 2 13:08 Brown 1-yd. run 10-80; 4:48 14-7IND 2 1:56 Luck 1-yd. run 10-80; 5:19 14-14IND 2 0:00 Vinatieri 53-yd. FG 5-31; 0:42 14-17PIT 3 11:14 Hrapmann 25-yd. FG 4-3; 2:11 17-17IND 3 8:23 Whalen 4-yd. pass from Stanton 9-74; 2:41 17-24PIT 3 0:11 Hrapmann 39-yd. FG 12-64; 6:20 20-24PIT 4 10:40 Hrapmann 43-yd. FG 8-34; 4:07 23-24PIT 4 0:20 Hrapmann 22-yd. FG 15-65; 5:17 26-24
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Ind. – Ballard 10-34; Brown 6-30,1 TD; Evans 6-15; Karim 1-5; Luck 1-1, 1 TD.Pit. – Dwyer 8-43; Ford 8-42; Rainey 6-20; B.Batch 8-19; J. Johnson 3-11; C. Batch 1-9;Roethlisberger 1-2; W. Johnson 1-0.
PITTSBURGH – K Justin Medlock missed a 50-yard field goalwith 38 seconds left in the game, and the Steelers capped the2012 preseason with a 17-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers.The Steelers finished the preseason with a record of 3-1.
Pittsburgh wasted no time scoring as they marched right downthe field after the opening kickoff. QB Charlie Batch led the teamon a five-play, 80-yard drive that he capped off with a 37-yardtouchdown pass to WR Emmanuel Sanders.
K Shaun Suisham put the Steelers up 10-0 late in the firstquarter when he connected on a 49-yard field goal. Midway throughthe second quarter Medlock connected on a 31-yard field goal tocut the lead 10-3, which the score remained into halftime.
The Panthers tied the game 10-10 when QB Jimmy Clausenfound WR Jared Green for a three-yard touchdown pass early inthe third quarter. Medlock had a chance to put the Panthers uplate in the third quarter, but his 56-yard field goal went wide left.
The Steelers took the lead for good midway through the fourthquarter when QB Jerrod Johnson found TE Weslye Saundersfor a six-yard touchdown pass.
The Panthers made it interesting down the stretch. With lessthan three minutes left to play, Clausen found WR Lamont Bryantfor a 79-yard touchdown pass. After the touchdown, the Pantherswent for the win and attempted a two-point conversion, butClausen’s pass to Bryant fell incomplete. The Panthers had onemore chance for the win but Medlock’s kick was wide right.
The majority of the Steelers starters did not see game action,but the Steelers got quality play from their backups. Batch finishedthe game 11-of-14 for 102 yards and one touchdown. Threedifferent Steelers (RB Jonathan Dwyer, RB DuJuan Harris andRB Baron Batch) all had at least 30 yards rushing, and 12 differentSteelers had at least one reception.
ORCHARD PARK – Trailing 7-0 midway through the secondquarter, the Steelers offense scored 38 unanswered points tobeat the Buffalo Bills 38-7 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The Bills scored first when RB Fred Jackson rushed for a one-yard touchdown to put Bills up 7-0 but it would be the last pointsBuffalo would score. LB Lawrence Timmons forced a fumblethat was recovered by DE Ziggy Hood, which set up the Steelers inBills’ territory.
RB Isaac Redman scored on a two-yard run five plays later totie the game 7-7. With less than two minutes remaining in thehalf, QB Ben Roethlisberger led the team on an 11-play, 98-yarddrive that was capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass to WRAntonio Brown and the Steelers went into halftime with a 14-7lead.
S Troy Polamalu’s interception of QB Vince Young set up theSteelers third score of the contest. On the first play after theinterception, QB Byron Leftwich found Brown for a 39-yardtouchdown to put the Steelers up 21-7. Brown finished with gamehighs in receptions (7), receiving yards (108) and receivingtouchdowns (2).
S Robert Golden’s interception of Young gave the Steelersanother opportunity to put points on the board. Leftwich found WRDerrick Williams for a 10-yard touchdown to give the Steelers a28-7 lead. Leftwich finished 5-of-8 for 105 yards and twotouchdowns.
The Steelers made it 31-7 on K Daniel Hrapmann’s 40-yardfield goal midway through the fourth quarter. With less than threeminutes remaining in the game, RB Chris Rainey broke off a 41-yard touchdown run to cap off the 38-7 victory.
Despite a slow start on offense, the Steelers scored on six oftheir final 10 drives. The Steelers offense tallied 378 total netyards (269 passing, 109 rushing) and did not commit anyturnovers.
The Steelers defensed had another strong showing. It forcedthree turnovers, had two sacks and held the Bills to less than 200passing yards.
GAME SUMMARY
STEELERS (2-1) 0 14 7 17 38Bills (0-3) 7 0 0 0 7
TEAM Q TIME PLAY DRIVE SCOREBUF 1 10:04 F. Jackson 1-yd. run 5-49; 1:27 0-7PIT 2 7:37 Redman 2-yd. run 5-18; 2:50 7-7PIT 2 0:13 A. Brown 6-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 11-98; 1:33 14-7PIT 3 14:02 A. Brown 39-yd. pass from Leftwich 1-39; 0:07 21-7PIT 4 10:34 Williams 10-yd. pass from Leftwich 2-8; 0:43 28-7PIT 4 6:45 Hrapmann 40-yd. FG 8-36; 3:03 31-7PIT 4 2:44 Rainey 41-yd. run 3-74; 0:54 38-7
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Pit. – Rainey 3-41, 1 TD; B. Batch7-33; Redman 12-24, 1 TD; Roethlisberger 1-5; Leftwich 2-2; W. Johnson 1-2; Dwyer 5-1;Gilreath 1-1. Buf. – 7-50; Jackson 7-34, 1 TD;Spiller 4-10; Young 2-2; White 1-1; Z. Brown 2-0; Fitzpatrick 1-(-1).
RECEIVING: Pit. – A. Brown 7-108, 2 TD;Cotchery 4-38; Dwyer 3-48; Williams 2-36, 1TD; Sanders 2-18; Miller 2-15; Redman 1-8;Pope 1-3. Buf. – S. Johnson 3-36; Graham 3-28; Roosevelt 2-21; B. Smith 2-15; Nelson 1-25; Jones 1-20; Choice 1-18; Martin 1-14;Clowney 1-9; Hagan 1-4; Jackson 1-4; Easley1-3; Z. Brown 1-(-5).
Sept. 9, 2012Sports Authority Field at Mile High (76,823)
DENVER – CB Tracy Porter intercepted QB Ben Roethlisbergerand returned it 43 yards for a touchdown with less than two minutesremaining to seal the 31-19 Broncos victory over the Steelers inthe 2012 season opener.
Both teams got off to a slow start as neither team scored in thefirst quarter. Pittsburgh struck early in the second quarter when KShaun Suisham nailed a 21-yard field goal to give the Steelers a3-0 lead. Midway through the second quarter the Broncos wentup 7-3 when RB Knowshon Moreno scored on a seven-yard run.
The Steelers capitalized right before halftime whenRoethlisberger connected with TE Heath Miller on a four-yardtouchdown, and the Steelers took a 10-7 lead into the break.
Suisham connected on a 35-yard field goal midway throughthe third quarter to give Pittsburgh a 13-7 lead. But on Denver’sensuing drive, QB Peyton Manning and WR Demaryius Thomasconnected on a 71-yard touchdown to put the Broncos up 14-13.
The Steelers took the lead back early in the fourth quarter andwent up 19-14 when Roethlisberger found WR Mike Wallace fora three-yard touchdown. Roethlisberger finished 22-of-40 for 245yards and two touchdowns.
The Broncos went on to score 17 unanswered points. Manningconnected with TE Jacob Tamme on a one-yard score to putDenver up 22-19. Denver then extended their lead to 25-19 on KMatt Prater’s 26-yard field goal. The Steelers had one final chanceto win the game but Porter stepped in front of Roethlisberger’spass and returned it for a touchdown.
The Steelers controlled the ball for 35:05 compared to theBroncos 24:55, and the Steelers’ offense converted 11-of-19 (58%)of their third-down attempts.
RECEIVING: Pit. – A. Brown 4-74; Sanders4-55; Miller 4-50, 1 TD; Wallace 4-37, 1 TD;Dwyer 2-11; Redman 2-7; W. Johnson 1-12;Rainey 1-(-1). Den. – Thomas 5-110, 1 TD;Decker 5-54; Tamme 5-43, 1 TD; Stokley 2-26;Willis 1-14; Dreessen 1-6.
PITTSBURGH – The Steelers defeated the New York Jets 27-10in the 2012 home opener at Heinz Field. With the victory, theSteelers won their 10th consecutive home opener.
The Steelers got on the board first when K Shaun Suishamnailed a 45-yard field goal to put the Steelers up 3-0. The Jetsresponded on their ensuing drive as QB Mark Sanchez led NewYork on an eight-play, 90-yard drive that he capped off with a 14-yard touchdown pass to WR Santonio Holmes.
Suisham connected from 45-yards out again early in the secondquarter to cut the lead 7-6. New York extended its lead to 10-6 onK Nick Folk’s 38-yard field goal midway through the second quarterbut it would be the last points the Jets would score.
Just before halftime, the Steelers went up 13-10 when QB BenRoethlisberger found TE Heath Miller for a one-yard touchdown,capping off an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Early in the third quarter,Roethlisberger found WR Mike Wallace for a 37-yard score togive the Steelers a 20-10 lead.
Roethlisberger finished 24-of-31 for 275 yards and twotouchdowns for a quarterback rating of 125.1. It marked the 47th
time Roethlisberger recorded a quarterback rating of 100.0+ duringthe regular season.
Pittsburgh sealed the victory late in the fourth quarter when RBIsaac Redman scored on a two-yard run. The Steelers controlledthe ball for 10:13 on that drive, going 75 yards on 14 plays.
The Steelers defense held the Jets to 219 total net yards (129passing and 90 rushing), while registering two sacks and holdingthe Jets to 4-of-12 on third-down conversions.
The Steelers dominated the time of possession 36:36-23:24and continued their success on third-down conversions. For thesecond week in a row, the Steelers converted at least 50% of theirthird-down attempts.
GAME SUMMARY
Jets (1-1) 7 3 0 0 10STEELERS (1-1) 3 10 7 7 27
TEAM Q TIME PLAY DRIVE SCOREPIT 1 9:07 Suisham 45-yd. FG 10-53; 5:53 3-0NYJ 1 4:19 Holmes 14-yd. pass from Sanchez 8-90; 4:48 3-7PIT 2 14:56 Suisham 45-yd. FG 9-48; 4:23 6-7NYJ 2 9:35 Folk 38-yd. FG 12-61; 5:21 6-10PIT 2 1:03 Miller 1-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 11-80; 5:40 13-10PIT 3 8:44 Wallace 37-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 5-59; 2:14 20-10PIT 4 3:34 Redman 2-yd. run 14-75’ 10:13 27-10
Sept. 23, 2012Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (62,373)
OAKLAND – K Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 43-yard field goalas time expired to beat the Steelers 34-31. Pittsburgh dropped to1-2 on the season.
S Ryan Clark’s interception of QB Carson Palmer on theRaiders’ first play of the game set the Steelers up at Oakland’s36-yard line. Seven plays later, QB Ben Roethlisberger found TEHeath Miller for a four-yard touchdown to put the Steelers up 7-0.
The Raiders responded on their next drive as RB DarrenMcFadden scored on a 64-yard run to tie the game 7-7. Late in thefirst quarter, Roethlisberger hooked up with Miller again for anotherfour-yard touchdown to put the Steelers up 14-7.
Oakland tied the game 14-14 right after the two-minute warningwhen Palmer found WR Darius Heyward-Bey for a three-yardtouchdown. But Pittsburgh took a 17-14 lead into halftime on KShaun Suisham’s 33-yard field goal.
The Steelers scored on their first drive of the second half to takea 24-14 lead when Roethlisberger found WR Mike Wallace for a22-yard touchdown. Midway through the third quarter the Raiderscut the lead to 24-21 when Palmer found TE Richard Gordon for aone-yard touchdown.
Pittsburgh extended their lead 31-21 late in the third quarterwhen Roethlisberger found WR Antonio Brown for an 11-yardscore. Roethlisberger finished with a game-high 384 passingyards and four touchdown passes.
Oakland scored the next 13 points. Palmer found WR DenariusMoore for a six-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to cutthe lead 31-28. Janikowski connected from 32 yards out midwaythrough the fourth quarter to tie the game 31-31. After the Raidersrecovered a Steelers’ fumble after the two-minute warning, Palmerled them down the field for Janikowski’s game-winning kick.
PITTSBURGH – K Shaun Suisham nailed a 34-yard field goalin the rain as time expired to lift the Steelers to a 16-14 victoryagainst the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field. It was Suisham’sfifth career game-winning field goal and third as a Steeler.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Steelers found the end zonewith five minutes left before the half. RB Rashard Mendenhall, inhis first game of the 2012 season, scored on a 13-yard run to givethe Steelers a 7-0 lead. It marked Mendehall’s 30th career rushingtouchdown, making him the fifth Steeler to reach 30 career rushingtouchdowns in the regular season.
Seconds before halftime, Suisham connected on a 20-yardfield goal. For the fourth consecutive game, the Steelers scoredon their final drive before halftime, and Pittsburgh took a 10-0lead into halftime.
The Eagles responded midway through the third quarter whenQB Michael Vick found RB LeSean McCoy for a 15-yard touchdownto cut the lead 10-7. Suisham connected on a 34-yard field goalearly in the fourth quarter to give the Steelers a 13-7 lead.
Philadelphia went 79 yards on 17 plays and took a 14-13 leadas Vick found TE Brent Celek for a two-yard touchdown. TheEagles controlled the football for more than eight minutes on thedrive.
Pittsburgh took over with more than six minutes left in the game.QB Ben Roethlisberger then led the team on a 14-play, 64-yarddrive to set up Suisham’s game-winning kick. It marked the 25th
time in Roethlisberger’s career that he registered a fourth-quarter/overtime game-winning drive.
The Steelers offensive line did not allow a sack and they pavedthe way for Steelers’ rushers to gain a season-high 136 rushingyards. The Steelers defense forced a total of four fumbles andhad two fumble recoveries. The defense forced three fumbles inthe first half alone.
GAME SUMMARY
Eagles (3-2) 0 0 7 7 14STEELERS (2-2) 0 10 0 6 16
TEAM Q TIME PLAY DRIVE SCOREPIT 2 5:01 Mendenhall 13-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 12-75; 7:21 7-0PIT 2 0:06 Suisham 20-yd. FG 12-77; 2:28 10-0PHI 3 6:32 McCoy 15-yd. pass from Vick 8-80; 3:50 10-7PIT 4 14:51 Suisham 34-yd. FG 9-51; 4:25 13-7PHI 4 6:33 Celek 2-yd. pass from Vick 17-79; 8:18 13-14PIT 4 0:00 Suisham 34-yd. FG 14-64; 6:33 16-14
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Phi. – McCoy 16-53; Vick 5-16;Havili 1-5; B. Brown 1-4. Pit. – Mendenhall 13-68; Redman 13-41; Roethlisberger 3-14;Rainey 1-0.
NASHVILLE – K Rob Bironas connected on a 40-yard fieldgoal as time expired to lift the Tennessee Titans to a 26-23 victoryover the Steelers at LP Field.
The Titans took the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards onnine plays and went up 3-0 on Bironas’ 22-yard field goal.Pittsburgh tied the game midway through the first when K ShaunSuisham connected on a 29-yard field goal.After forcing Tennessee to punt, the Steelers took over at theirown 18-yard line. On the very first play, QB Ben Roethlisbergerfound WR Mike Wallace for an 82-yard touchdown. It was thefourth-longest passing play of Roethlisberger’s career andsecond-longest reception of Wallace’s career.
Bironas nailed a 38-yard field goal near the end of the firstquarter to cut the Steelers lead 10-6. And at the very end of the firstquarter, LB Tim Shaw blocked a Drew Butler punt to set the Titansup at the Steelers’ one-yard line. RB Jamie Harper then scoredfrom one-yard out to give the Titans a 13-10 lead.
Bironas added another field goal, a 47-yarder as the halftimewhistle sounded, and the Titans took a 16-10 lead into halftime.
The only score in the third quarter came on Suisham’s 28-yard field goal and the Steelers faced a 16-13 deficit heading intothe fourth quarter. Early in the fourth, RB Baron Batch scored hisfirst career touchdown on a one-yard run to give the Steelers a 20-16 lead.
On the Titans’ ensuing drive, LB Lawrence Timmons steppedin front of a Matt Hasselbeck pass and picked it off setting theSteelers up in Titans’ territory. Suisham then made a 52-yard fieldgoal to extend the Steelers lead to 23-16.
Tennessee started their ensuing drive on their own 20-yardline. Hasselbeck then led the Titans on an 11-play, 80-yard drivethat was capped off by a five-yard touchdown pass to WR KennyBritt. With the game tied 23-23, Pittsburgh took over at their own11-yard line. Roethlisberger led the team into Titans’ territory whereSuisham attempted a career-long 54-yard field goal. The kick fellshort.
With 49 seconds left in the game, Hasselbeck droveTennessee into Steelers’ territory, setting up Bironas’ game-winning kick.
65 Woods, Al DE 6-4 307 03/25/87 25 3 LSU Jennings, LA FA '11 5/0
93 Worilds, Jason LB 6-2 262 03/03/88 24 3 Virginia Tech Carteret, NJ D2 '10 5/0
PRACTICE SQUAD11 Clemons, Toney WR 6-2 210 10/11/88 24 R Colorado Pittsburgh, PA D7a '12 0/0
42 Cromartie-Smith, Damon S 6-2 203 02/19/87 25 1 UTEP Riverside, CA FA '10 0/0
18 Gilreath, David WR 5-10 169 12/11/88 23 1 Wisconsin New Hope, MN FA '12 0/0
69 Lee, Ryan C/G 6-3 308 10/16/88 24 R Furman Carrollton, GA FA '12 0/0
62 Malecki, John G 6-2 298 05/26/88 24 1 Pittsburgh Murrysville, PA FA '11 0/0
80 McCoy, Jamie TE 6-3 240 07/21/87 25 1 Texas A&M Midland, TX FA '11 0/0
40 McFadden, Marshall LB 6-1 233 08/04/86 26 1 South Carolina State Lamar, SC FA '12 0/0
35 Victorian, Josh CB 5-10 190 07/10/88 24 1 Louisiana Tech New Orleans, LA FA '12 0/0
RESERVE/INJURED LIST; DESIGNATED FOR RETURN66 DeCastro, David G 6-5 316 01/11/90 22 R Stanford Bellevue, WA D1 '12 0/0
RESERVE/INJURED LIST51 Spence, Sean LB 5-11 231 06/07/90 22 R Miami Miami, FL D3 '12 0/0
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
Assistant Coaches:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2012 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
Experience Includes 2012 Season
Number of Players on Active Roster: 53
John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Todd Haley (offensive
coordinator); Randy Fichtner (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Scottie
Montgomery (wide receivers); Carnell Lake (defensive backs); Amos Jones (special teams coach); Sean
Kugler (offensive line); Shaun Sarrett (offensive asst); Jerry Olsavsky (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson
(running backs); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and
conditioning).
NO NAME POS HT WT DOB AGE EXP COLLEGE BIRTHPLACE HOW ACQ 2012 GP/GS4 Byron Leftwich QB 6-5 250 01/14/80 32 10 Marshall Washington, D.C. T '10 (T.B.) 0/0
6 Shaun Suisham K 6-0 200 12/29/81 30 8 Bowling Green Wallaceburg, Ontario FA '10 5/0
John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Todd Haley (offensive
coordinator); Randy Fichtner (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Scottie
Montgomery (wide receivers); Carnell Lake (defensive backs); Amos Jones (special teams coach); Sean
Kugler (offensive line); Shaun Sarrett (offensive asst); Jerry Olsavsky (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson
(running backs); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and
conditioning).
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (8)
SPECIALISTS (3)
DEFENSE (26)DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (7)
LINEBACKERS (9)
DEFENSIVE BACKS (10)
NO NAME POS HT WT DOB AGE EXP COLLEGE BIRTHPLACE HOW ACQ 2012 GP/GS15th YEAR (1)16 Charlie Batch QB 6-2 216 12/05/74 37 15 Eastern Michigan Homestead, PA FA '02 0/0
12th YEAR (1)98 Casey Hampton NT 6-1 325 09/03/77 35 12 Texas Galveston, TX D1 '01 5/5
11th YEAR (3)25 Ryan Clark S 5-11 205 10/12/79 33 11 LSU Marrero, LA UFA '06 (Was) 4/4
50 Larry Foote LB 6-1 239 06/12/80 32 11 Michigan Detroit, MI FA '10 5/5
99 Brett Keisel DE 6-5 285 09/19/78 34 11 Brigham Young Greybull, WY D7b '02 5/5
10th YEAR (3)4 Byron Leftwich QB 6-5 250 01/14/80 32 10 Marshall Washington, D.C. T '10 (T.B.) 0/0
24 Ike Taylor CB 6-2 195 05/05/80 32 10 LA-Lafayette Gretna, LA D4 '03 5/5
43 Troy Polamalu S 5-10 207 04/19/81 31 10 Southern California Santa Ana, CA D1 '03 2/2
9th YEAR (5)7 Ben Roethlisberger QB 6-5 241 03/02/82 30 9 Miami (OH) Cory Rawson, OH D1 '04 5/5
26 Will Allen S 6-1 200 06/17/82 30 9 Ohio State Dayton, OH FA '10 5/1
78 Max Starks OT 6-8 345 01/10/82 30 9 Florida Orlando, FL FA '12 5/5
89 Jerricho Cotchery WR 6-1 200 06/16/82 30 9 North Carolina State Birmingham, AL FA '11 5/0
92 James Harrison LB 6-0 242 05/04/78 34 9 Kent State Akron, OH FA '04 2/2
8th YEAR (3)6 Shaun Suisham K 6-0 200 12/29/81 30 8 Bowling Green Wallaceburg, Ontario FA '10 5/0
60 Greg Warren LS 6-3 252 10/18/81 31 8 North Carolina Goldsboro, NC FA '05 5/0
83 Heath Miller TE 6-5 256 10/22/82 30 8 Virginia Swords Creek, VA D1 '05 5/5
7th YEAR (3)45 Leonard Pope TE 6-8 264 09/10/83 29 7 Georgia Americus, GA FA '12 5/2
74 Willie Colon G 6-3 315 04/09/83 29 7 Hofstra Bronx, NY D4a '06 5/5
91 Brandon Johnson LB 6-5 245 04/05/83 29 7 Louisville Birmingham, AL FA '12 4/0
6th YEAR (2)56 LaMarr Woodley LB 6-2 265 11/03/84 27 6 Michigan Saginaw, MI D2 '07 4/4
94 Lawrence Timmons LB 6-1 234 05/14/86 26 6 Florida State Florence, SC D1 '07 5/5
5th YEAR (1)34 Rashard Mendenhall RB 5-10 225 06/19/87 25 5 Illinois Skokie, IL D1 '08 2/2
4th YEAR (6)17 Mike Wallace WR 6-0 199 08/01/86 26 4 Mississippi New Orleans, LA D3b '09 5/5
23 Keenan Lewis CB 6-0 208 05/17/86 26 4 Oregon State New Orleans, LA D3c '09 5/5
29 Ryan Mundy S 6-1 209 02/11/85 27 4 West Virginia Pittsburgh, PA D6b '08 5/3
54 Chris Carter LB 6-1 248 04/06/89 23 2 Fresno State Fontana, CA D5 '11 5/3
77 Marcus Gilbert OT 6-6 330 02/15/88 24 2 Florida Fort Lauderdale, FL D2 '11 5/5
97 Cameron Heyward DE 6-5 288 05/06/89 23 2 Ohio State Pittsburgh, PA D1 '11 5/0
1st YEAR (1)46 Will Johnson FB 6-2 238 11/14/89 22 1 West Virginia Dayton, OH FA '12 5/2
Rookies (8)9 Drew Butler P 6-1 204 05/10/89 23 R Georgia Duluth, GA FA '12 5/0
21 Robert Golden S 5-11 202 09/13/90 22 R Arizona Fresno, CA FA '12 4/0
22 Chris Rainey RB 5-8 178 03/02/88 24 R Florida Lakeland, FL D5 '12 5/0
57 Adrian Robinson LB 6-1 250 11/21/89 22 R Temple Harrisburg, PA FA '12 3/0
68 Kelvin Beachum G 6-3 306 06/08/89 23 R SMU Mexia, TX D7d '12 1/0
76 Mike Adams OT 6-7 323 03/10/90 22 R Ohio State Farrell, PA D2 '12 4/0
81 David Paulson TE 6-4 241 02/22/89 23 R Oregon Auburn, WA D7b '12 5/2
95 Alameda Ta'amu NT 6-2 348 08/23/90 22 R Washington Kent, WA D4 '12 0/0
PRACTICE SQUAD11 Toney Clemons WR 6-2 210 10/11/88 24 R Colorado Pittsburgh, PA D7a '12 0/0
18 David Gilreath WR 5-10 169 12/11/88 23 1 Wisconsin New Hope, MN FA '12 0/0
35 Josh Victorian CB 5-10 190 07/10/88 24 1 Louisiana Tech New Orleans, LA FA '12 0/0
40 Marshall McFadden LB 6-1 233 08/04/86 26 1 South Carolina State Lamar, SC FA '12 0/0
42 Damon Cromartie-Smith S 6-2 203 02/19/87 25 1 UTEP Riverside, CA FA '10 0/0
62 John Malecki G 6-2 298 05/26/88 24 1 Pittsburgh Murrysville, PA FA '11 0/0
69 Ryan Lee C/G 6-3 308 10/16/88 24 R Furman Carrollton, GA FA '12 0/0
80 Jamie McCoy TE 6-3 240 07/21/87 25 1 Texas A&M Midland, TX FA '11 0/0
RESERVE/INJURED LIST; DESIGNATED FOR RETURN66 David DeCastro G 6-5 316 01/11/90 22 R Stanford Bellevue, WA D1 '12 0/0
RESERVE/INJURED LIST51 Sean Spence LB 5-11 231 06/07/90 22 R Miami Miami, FL D3 '12 0/0
Head Coach: Mike Tomlin
Assistant Coaches:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2012 ROSTER BY EXPERIENCE
Experience Includes 2012 Season
Number of Players on Active Roster: 53
John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Todd Haley
(offensive coordinator); Randy Fichtner (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight
ends); Scottie Montgomery (wide receivers); Carnell Lake (defensive backs); Amos Jones (special teams
coach); Sean Kugler (offensive line); Shaun Sarrett (offensive asst); Jerry Olsavsky (defensive asst);
Kirby Wilson (running backs); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength
and conditioning).
2012 ROSTER MOVES
Date Pos. Name Transaction 1/18 OG John Malecki Re-signed 1/18 TE Jamie McCoy Re-signed 1/18 OT Chris Scott Re-signed 1/18 OT Trevis Turner Re-signed 1/18 DE Corbin Bryant Re-signed 1/18 QB Jerrod Johnson Signed Contract 1/18 DT Mike Blanc Signed Contract 1/18 DT Kade Weston Signed Contract 1/18 LB Marshall McFadden Signed Contract 1/18 CB Antonio Smith Signed Contract 1/20 QB Troy Smith Signed Contract 1/20 CB Walter McFadden Signed Contract 1/20 WR David Gilreath Signed Contract 1/20 WR Derrick Williams Signed Contract 1/20 WR Tyler Beiler Signed Contract 1/20 WR Jimmy Young Signed Contract 1/26 NT Chris Hoke Retired 2/7 Coach Todd Haley Signed Contract 2/7 TE Weslye Saunders Suspended NFL (First four games) 2/8 WR Arnaz Battle Released 2/8 CB Bryant McFadden Released 2/8 S Myron Rolle Signed Contract 2/8 LB Brandon Hicks Signed Contract 2/8 WR Juamorris Stewart Signed Contract 2/29 WR Hines Ward Released 3/2 LB James Farrior Released 3/2 DE Aaron Smith Released 3/3 OG Chris Kemoeatu Released 3/21 TE Wes Lyons Signed Contract 3/21 FB Will Johnson Signed Contract 4/7 OG Ramon Foster Signed Tender 4/10 TE Leonard Pope Signed Contract 4/11 WR Jerricho Cotchery Re-signed 4/12 OG Trai Essex Re-signed 4/12 C Doug Legursky Signed Tender 4/12 TE David Johnson Signed Tender 4/16 S Ryan Mundy Signed Tender 4/16 CB Keenan Lewis Signed Tender 4/16 QB Charlie Batch Re-signed 4/26 QB Byron Leftwich Re-signed 4/26 OG David DeCastro Drafted 4/27 OT Mike Adams Drafted 4/27 LB Sean Spence Drafted 4/28 DT Alameda Ta’amu Drafted 4/28 RB Chris Rainey Drafted 4/28 WR Toney Clemons Drafted 4/28 TE David Paulson Drafted 4/28 CB Terrence Frederick Drafted 4/28 OG Kelvin Beachum Drafted 4/28 P Drew Butler Signed Contract 4/28 CB Terry Carter Signed Contract 4/28 WR Connor Dixon Signed Contract 4/28 S Robert Golden Signed Contract 4/28 DE Ikponmwosa Igbinosun Signed Contract 4/28 C/G Ryan Lee Signed Contract 4/28 LB Brandon Lindsey Signed Contract 4/28 WR Marquis Maze Signed Contract 4/28 K Grant Ressel Signed Contract 4/28 LB Adrian Robinson Signed Contract 4/28 OT Desmond Stapleton Signed Contract 4/28 DE Jake Stoller Signed Contract 5/2 RB Chad Spann Released 5/2 CB Antonio Smith Released 5/7 K Grant Ressel Released 5/17 OT Kyle Jolly Signed Contract 5/17 K Daniel Hrapmann Signed Contract 5/18 OT Trevis Turner Released 5/18 CB Andre Freeman Signed Contract 5/29 LB Sean Spence Signed Contract 6/13 LB Brandon Johnson Signed Contract
Date Pos. Name Transaction 6/13 LS Matt Katula Signed Contract 6/13 WR Connor Dixon Waived/Injured List 6/13 TE Wes Lyons Released 6/28 LB Ryan Baker Signed Contract 6/28 LB Brandon Lindsey Released 7/17 OT Max Starks Re-Signed 7/19 OT Jonathan Scott Released 7/23 G Bridger Buche Signed Contract 7/24 G David DeCastro Signed Contract 7/27 WR Antonio Brown Signed Contract Extension 7/31 G Bridger Buche Released 7/31 WR Paul Cox Signed Contract 8/1 S Damon Cromartie-Smith Activated from PUP List 8/3 CB Terry Carter Waived/Injured List 8/3 CB Josh Victorian Signed Contract 8/13 TE David Johnson Waived/Injured List 8/13 TE Justin Peelle Signed Contract 8/14 OT Max Starks Activated from PUP List 8/14 RB John Clay Waived/Injured 8/14 RB Jason Ford Signed Contract 8/17 RB Rashard Mendenhall Activated from PUP List 8/17 NT Casey Hampton Activated from PUP List 8/27 LB Ryan Baker Released 8/27 DT Mike Blanc Released 8/27 WR Paul Cox Released 8/27 CB Andre Freeman Released 8/27 K Daniel Hrapmann Released 8/27 LB Mortty Ivy Waived/Injured 8/27 OT Kyle Jolly Released 8/27 LS Matt Katula Released 8/27 TE Jamie McCoy Released 8/27 CB Walter McFadden Released 8/27 TE Justin Peelle Released 8/27 S Myron Rolle Released 8/27 WR Juamorris Stewart Released 8/27 DT Kade Weston Released 8/27 WR Jimmy Young Released 8/27 RB DuJuan Harris Signed Contract 8/28 WR Mike Wallace Signed Tender 8/28 RB Jason Ford Waived/Injured 8/28 LB James Harrison Activated from PUP List 8/28 LB Jason Worilds Activated from PUP List 8/31 LB Sean Spence Reserve/Injured List 8/31 P Jeremy Kapinos Waived/Injured 8/31 OL Trai Essex Released 8/31 S Damon Cromartie-Smith Released 8/31 CB Terrence Frederick Released 8/31 CB Josh Victorian Released 8/31 LB Brandon Hicks Released 8/31 LB Marshall McFadden Released 8/31 DE Corbin Bryant Released 8/31 DE Ikponmwosa Igbinosun Released 8/31 DE Jake Stoller Released 8/31 QB Jerrod Johnson Released 8/31 RB DuJuan Harris Released 8/31 WR Tyler Beiler Released 8/31 WR Tony Clemons Released 8/31 WR David Gilreath Released 8/31 WR Marquis Maze Released 8/31 WR Derrick Williams Released 8/31 OL Ryan Lee Released 8/31 OL John Malecki Released 8/31 OL Chris Scott Released 9/1 OL John Malecki Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 OL Ryan Lee Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 WR David Gilreath Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 WR Toney Clemons Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 TE Jamie McCoy Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 LB Marshall McFadden Signed to Practice Squad 9/1 S Damon Cromartie-Smith Signed to Practice Squad
2012 ROSTER MOVES
9/1 CB Josh Victorian Signed to Practice Squad 9/7 G David DeCastro Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return List 9/7 CB DeMarcus Van Dyke Signed Contract 10/11 TE Weslye Saunders Released
st AFC North) C Maurkice Pouncey (#1) QB Byron Leftwich T (T.B.)
LB Jason Worilds (#2) S Will Allen FA WR Emmanuel Sanders (#3) K Shaun Suisham FA LB Stevenson Sylvester (#5c) LB Larry Foote FA RB Jonathan Dwyer (#6a)
rd AFC North) OT Mike Adams (#2) FB Will Johnson FA
NT Alameda Ta’amu (#4) TE Leonard Pope FA RB Chris Rainey (#5) OT Max Starks FA TE David Paulson (#7b) LB Adrian Robinson FA G Kelvin Beachum (#7d) S Robert Golden FA P Drew Butler FA LB Brandon Johnson FA CB DeMarcus Van Dyke FA
2012 STARTING LINEUPS
OFFENSE
Opponent
WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB Preseason
at Philadelphia (8/9) Brown Adams Foster Pouncey DeCastro Gilbert Miller Sanders Roethlisberger Redman W. Johnson INDIANAPOLIS (8/19) Brown Gilbert Colon Pouncey DeCastro Foster Miller Sanders Roethlisberger Dwyer W. Johnson at Buffalo (8/25) Brown Starks Colon Pouncey DeCastro Gilbert Miller Sanders Roethlisberger Redman W. Johnson CAROLINA (8/30) Sanders Starks Colon Legursky Foster Gilbert Pope Cotchery C. Batch Dwyer Rainey
Opponent
WR LT LG C RG RT TE WR QB RB FB Regular Season at Denver (9/9) Brown Starks Colon Pouncey Foster Gilbert Miller Wallace Roethlisberger Redman W. Johnson N. Y. JETS (9/16) Brown Starks Colon Pouncey Foster Gilbert Miller Wallace Roethlisberger Redman Pope (TE) at Oakland (9/23) Paulson(TE) Starks Colon Pouncey Foster Gilbert Miller Wallace Roethlisberger Redman Pope (TE) PHILADELPHIA (10/7) Brown Starks Colon Pouncey Foster Gilbert Miller Wallace Roethlisberger Mendenhall Paulson (TE) at Tennessee (10/11) Brown Starks Colon Pouncey Foster Gilbert Miller Wallace Roethlisberger Mendenhall W. Johnson at Cincinnati (10/21) WASHINGTON (10/28)
at N. Y. Giants (11/4)
KANSAS CITY (11/12) BALTIMORE (11/18) at Cleveland (11/25) at Baltimore (12/2) SAN DIEGO (12/9) at Dallas (12/16) CINCINNATI (12/23) CLEVELAND (12/30)
2012 STARTING LINEUPS
DEFENSE
Opponent
LE NT RE LOLB LILB RILB ROLB LCB RCB SS FS
Preseason
at Philadelphia (8/9) Hood McLendon C. Allen (CB) Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Polamalu Clark INDIANAPOLIS (8/19) Hood McLendon Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Polamalu Clark at Buffalo (8/25) Hood McLendon Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Polamalu Clark CAROLINA (8/30) Bryant Hampton Heyward Robinson Foote Timmons Carter Lewis C. Allen Mundy W. Allen
Opponent
LE NT RE LOLB LILB RILB ROLB LCB RCB SS FS Regular Season at Denver (9/9) Hood Hampton Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Polamalu Mundy N. Y. JETS (9/16) Hood Hampton Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Mundy Clark at Oakland (9/23) Hood Hampton Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Carter Lewis Taylor Mundy Clark PHILADELPHIA (10/7) Hood Hampton Keisel Woodley Foote Timmons Harrison Lewis Taylor Polamalu Clark at Tennessee (10/11) Hood Hampton Keisel Worilds Foote Timmons Harrison Lewis Taylor W. Allen Clark at Cincinnati (10/21) WASHINGTON (10/28)
at N. Y. Giants (11/4)
KANSAS CITY (11/12) BALTIMORE (11/18) at Cleveland (11/25) at Baltimore (12/2) SAN DIEGO (12/9) at Dallas (12/16) CINCINNATI (12/23) CLEVELAND (12/30)
2012 PLAYER PARTICIPATION Games 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec 9 16 23 7 11 21 28 4 12 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 Injury 2012 DEN NYJ OAK PHI TEN CIN WAS NYG KC BAL CLE BAL SD DAL CIN CLE Career Consec. Games Games/ G/S G/S Missed Starts Names Adams, Mike P P SI P P 4/0 2/0 1 4/0 Allen, Cortez P P P P P 20/0 16/0 0 5/0 Allen, Will P P P P SS 119/27 27/1 0 5/1 Batch, Baron P P P P P 5/0 5/0 0 5/0 Batch, Charlie SI SI SI SI SI 79/53 0/0 0 0/0 Beachum, Kelvin SI SI P SI SI 1/0 0/0 0 1/0 Brown, Antonio WR WR P WR WR 30/7 26/2 0 5/4 Brown, Curtis P P P P P 17/0 5/0 0 5/0 Butler, Drew P P P P P 5/0 5/0 0 5/0 Carter, Chris OLB OLB OLB P P 13/3 5/0 0 5/3 Clark, Ryan SI FS FS FS FS 134/110 4/4 0 4/4 Clemons, Toney PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 Colon, Willie LG LG LG LG LG 56/56 5/5 0 5/5 Cotchery, Jerricho P P P P P 121/66 18/0 0 5/0 Cromartie-Smith, Damon PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 DeCastro, David IR IR IR IR IR 0/0 0/0 5 0/0 Dwyer, Jonathan P P P SI SI 11/0 0/0 0 3/0 Foote, Larry ILB ILB ILB ILB ILB 160/108 9/5 0 5/5 Foster, Ramon RG RG RG RG RG 46/31 20/18 0 5/5 Gilbert, Marcus RT RT RT RT RT 19/18 15/6 0 5/5 Gilreath, David PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 Golden, Robert P P P SI P 4/0 1/0 0 4/0 Hampton, Casey NT NT NT NT NT 162/151 14/14 0 5/5 Harrison, James SI SI SI OLB OLB 120/84 2/2 3 2/2 Heyward, Cameron P P P P P 21/0 21/0 0 5/0 Hood, Ziggy DE DE DE DE DE 53/28 53/19 0 5/5 Johnson, Brandon P P P SI P 77/17 1/0 0 4/0 Johnson, Will FB P P P FB 5/2 5/1 0 5/2 Keisel, Brett DE DE DE DE DE 121/87 17/17 0 5/5 Lee, Ryan PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 Leftwich, Byron DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP 58/49 0/0 0 0/0 Legursky, Doug P P P P P 40/16 5/0 0 5/0 Lewis, Keenan LCB LCB LCB LCB LCB 33/6 23/5 0 5/5 Malecki, John PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 McCoy, Jamie PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 McFadden, Marshall PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 McLendon, Steve P P P P P 26/1 19/0 0 5/0 Mendenhall, Rashard SI SI SI RB RB 53/46 2/2 3 2/2 Bold denotes starter and position P — Played DNP — Did not play IR — Injured reserve SI — Sunday inactive PUP — Physically unable to perform PS — Practice squad SUS — Suspended (NFL)
2012 PLAYER PARTICIPATION Games 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct Oct Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec Dec 9 16 23 7 11 21 28 4 12 18 25 2 9 16 23 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 Injury 2012 DEN NYJ OAK PHI TEN CIN WAS NYG KC BAL CLE BAL SD DAL CIN CLE Career Consec. Games Games/ G/S G/S Missed Starts
Names Miller, Heath TE TE TE TE TE 113/112 23/23 0 5/5 Mundy, Ryan FS SS SS P P 53/5 53/0 0 5/3 Paulson, David P P TE TE P 5/2 5/2 0 5/2 Polamalu, Troy SS SI SI SS SI 125/109 0/0 3 2/2 Pope, Leonard P TE TE P P 92/51 58/0 0 5/2 Pouncey, Maurkice C C C C C 35/35 6/6 0 5/5 Rainey, Chris P P P P P 5/0 5/0 0 5/0 Redman, Isaac RB RB RB P P 38/4 37/0 0 5/3 Robinson, Adrian P P P SI SI 3/0 0/0 0 3/0 Roethlisberger, Ben QB QB QB QB QB 119/118 6/6 0 5/5 Sanders, Emmanuel P P P P P 29/1 6/0 0 5/0 Spence, Sean IR IR IR IR IR 0/0 0/0 5 0/0 Starks, Max LT LT LT LT LT 112/85 17/17 0 5/5 Suisham, Shaun P P P P P 85/0 30/0 0 5/0 Sylvester, Stevenson SI SI SI P P 33/1 2/0 3 2/0 Ta’amu, Alameda SI SI SI SI SI 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 Taylor, Ike RCB RCB RCB RCB RCB 146/112 128/25 0 5/5 Timmons, Lawrence ILB ILB ILB ILB ILB 83/51 44/26 0 5/5 Van Dyke, DeMarcus P P P P P 19/4 12/0 0 5/0 Victorian, Josh PS PS PS PS PS 0/0 0/0 0 0/0 Wallace, Mike WR WR WR WR WR 53/39 53/6 0 5/5 Warren, Greg P P P P P 106/0 37/0 0 5/0 Woodley, LaMarr OLB OLB OLB OLB SI 74/61 0/0 1 4/4 Woods, Al P P P P P 16/0 5/0 0 5/0 Worilds, Jason P P P P OLB 31/8 13/1 0 5/1
Bold denotes starter and position P — Played DNP — Did not play IR — Injured reserve SI — Sunday inactive PUP — Physically unable to perform PS — Practice squad SUS — Suspended (NFL)
2012 INDIVIDUAL HIGHS
OPPONENTS STEELERS RUSHING
at Ten (10/11) Chris Johnson 19 Rushes 14 Rashard Mendenhall vs. Phi (10/7) at Oak (9/23) Darren McFadden 113 Yards 81 Rashard Mendenhall vs. Phi (10/7) at Oak (9/23) Darren McFadden 64t Long 17 Rashard Mendenhall vs. Phi (10/7) at Den (9/9) Knowshon Moreno 1 TDs 1 Isaac Redman vs. NYJ (9/16) at Oak (9/23) Darren McFadden 1 1 Rashard Mendenhall vs. Phi (10/7) at Ten (10/11) Jamie Harper 1 1 Baron Batch at Ten (10/11) RECEIVING at Ten (10/11) Kendall Wright 6 Receptions 8 Heath Miller at Oak (9/23) 8 Mike Wallace at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Demaryius Thomas 110 Yards 123 Mike Wallace at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Demaryius Thomas 74 Long 82t Mike Wallace at Ten (10/11) at Den (9/9) Demaryius Thomas 1 TDs 2 Heath Miller at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Jacob Tamme 1 vs. NYJ (9/16) Santonio Holmes 1 at Oak (9/23) Denarius Moore 1 at Oak (9/23) Darrius Heyward-Bey 1 at Oak (9/23) Richard Gordon 1 at Ten (10/11) Kenny Britt 1 PASSING at Ten (10/11) Matt Hasselbeck 44 Attempts 49 Ben Roethlisberger at Oak (9/23) at Ten (10/11) Matt Hasselbeck 25 Completions 36 Ben Roethlisberger at Oak (9/23) at Ten (10/11) Matt Hasselbeck 290 Yards 384 Ben Roethlisberger at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Peyton Manning 71t Long 82t Ben Roethlisberger at Ten (10/11) at Oak (9/23) Carson Palmer 3 TDs 4 Ben Roethlisberger at Oak (9/23) at Oak (9/23) Carson Palmer 1 INTs 1 Ben Roethlisberger at Den (9/9) at Ten (10/11) Matt Hasselbeck 1 1 Ben Roethlisberger at Ten (10/11) PUNT RETURNS vs. NYJ (9/16) Jeremy Kerley 3 Returns 3 Antonio Brown at Ten (10/11) at Den (9/9) Jim Leonhard 22 Yards 23 Antonio Brown at Den (9/9) at Den (9/9) Jim Leonhard 12 Long 23 Antonio Brown at Den (9/9) NONE TDs NONE KICKOFF RETURNS at Ten (10/11) Darius Reynaud 5 Returns 3 Chris Rainey at Ten (10/11) at Ten (10/11) Darius Reynaud 131 Yards 97 Chris Rainey at Ten (10/11) at Oak (9/23) Mike Goodson 51 Long 49 Chris Rainey at Ten (10/11) NONE TDs NONE PUNTS vs. NYJ (9/16) Robert Malone 6 Punts 5 Drew Butler vs. NYJ (9/16) vs. NYJ (9/16) Robert Malone 272 Yards 205 Drew Butler vs. NYJ (9/16) at Ten (10/11) Brett Kern 52.2 Avg. 47.3 Drew Butler at Den (9/9) at Ten (10/11) Brett Kern 44.8 Net 40.0 Drew Butler at Den (9/9) at Ten (10/11) Brett Kern 61 Long 52 Drew Butler at Den (9/9) at Ten (10/11) Brett Kern 2 In 20 3 Drew Butler vs. NYJ (9/16) vs. NYJ (9/16) Robert Malone 1 Touchbacks NONE vs. Phi (10/7) Mat McBriar 1 at Ten (10/11) Brett Kern 1 INTERCEPTIONS at Den (9/9) Tracy Porter 1 Interceptions 1 Ryan Clark at Oak (9/23) at Ten (10/11) Jason McCourty 1 1 Lawrence Timmons at Ten (10/11) at Den (9/9) Tracy Porter 43t Long Return 26 Ryan Clark at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Tracy Porter 1 TDs NONE TACKLES at Den (9/9) Wesley Woodward 12 Total 12 Larry Foote at Den (9/9) vs. Phi (10/7) DeMeco Ryans 12 at Den (9/9) Wesley Woodward 12 Solo 10 Larry Foote at Den (9/9) vs. NYJ (9/16) David Harris 6 Assisted 4 Keenan Lewis at Den (9/9) at Oak (9/23) Rolando McClaim 6 4 Troy Polamalu at Den (9/9) vs. Phi (10/7) DeMeco Ryans 6 4 Lawrence Timmons at Oak (9/23) at Den (9/9) Von Miller 2 Sacks 1 Larry Foote at Den (9/9) vs. NYJ (9/16) Garrett McIntyre 2 1 Jason Worilds at Den (9/9) 1 LaMarr Woodley vs. NYJ (9/16) 1 LaMarr Woodley at Oak (9/23) 1 Cam Heyward vs. NYJ (9/16) 1 Ziggy Hood vs. Phi (10/7) 1 Steve McLendon vs. Phi (10/7) 1 Jason Worilds vs. Phi (10/7) 1 Larry Foote at Ten (10/11) 1 James Harrison at Ten (10/11) 1 Jason Worilds at Ten (10/11)
2012 DRIVE ENGINEERING
Steelers
REGULAR SEASON No. Missed Blkd Blkd Scoring 1st STEELERS Drives TD FG FG FG Punt Punt Downs Fum. Int. Safety Time Pts Effic. Drive Sept. 9 at Den 9 2 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 19 44% Punt
Sept. 23 at Oak 10 4 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 0 31 50% TD
Oct. 7 vs. Phi 9 1 3 0 0 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 16 44% Punt
Oct. 11 at Ten 11 2 3 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 23 45% FG
Oct. 21 at Cin Oct. 28 vs. Was Nov. 4 at NYG Nov. 12 vs. KC Nov. 18 vs. Bal Nov. 25 at Cle Dec. 2 at Bal Dec. 9 vs. SD Dec. 16 at Dal Dec. 23 vs. Cin Dec. 20 vs. Cle TOTAL 49 12 11 1 0 18 1 2 2 2 0 0 116 47%
Opponents
REGULAR SEASON No. Missed Blkd Blkd Scoring 1st OPPONENTS Drives TD FG FG FG Punt Punt Downs Fum. Int. Safety Time Pts Effic. Drive Sept. 9 at Den 9 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 31 42% Punt Sept. 16 vs. NYJ 10 1 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 2 10 20% TD Sept. 23 at Oak 10 4 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 34 60% INT
Oct. 7 vs. Phi 9 2 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 14 22% Punt
Oct. 11 at Ten 12 2 4 0 0 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 26 50% FG
Oct. 21 at Cin Oct. 28 vs. Was Nov. 4 at NYG Nov. 12 vs. KC Nov. 18 vs. Bal Nov. 25 at Cle Dec. 2 at Bal Dec. 9 vs. SD Dec. 16 at Dal Dec. 23 vs. Cin Dec. 20 vs. Cle TOTAL 50 12 8 0 0 20 0 0 3 2 0 4 115 40%
2012 STEELERS SCORING DRIVES
REGULAR SEASON Drive Score Time
Opponent Obtained Scoring Play Plays Yards Time Pit-Opp Qtr Remain Denver Punt Suisham 21-yd. FG 10 35 4:50 3-0 2 10:10 Denver Kickoff Miller 4-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 14 79 4:48 10-7 2 0:28 Denver Kickoff Suisham 35-yd. FG 16 64 8:55 13-7 3 6:05 Denver Kickoff Wallace 3-yd. pass from Roethlisberger (pass failed) 14 80 6:18 19-14 4 14:11 N.Y. Jets Kickoff Suisham 45-yd. FG 10 53 5:53 3-0 1 9:07 N.Y. Jets Kickoff Suisham 45-yd. FG 9 48 4:23 6-7 2 14:56 N.Y. Jets Punt Miller 1-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 11 80 5:40 13-10 2 1:03 N.Y. Jets Punt Wallace 37-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 5 59 2:12 20-10 3 8:44 N.Y. Jets Punt Redman 2-yd. run 14 75 10:13 27-10 4 3:34 Oakland Interception Miller 4-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 7 36 3:06 7-0 1 11:33 Oakland Kickoff Miller 4-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 12 81 6:44 14-7 1 3:49 Oakland Kickoff Suisham 33-yd. FG 9 64 1:54 17-14 2 0:00 Oakland Kickoff Wallace 22-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 9 80 3:20 24-14 3 11:40 Oakland Kickoff A. Brown 11-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 8 48 5:04 31-21 3 1:31 Philadelphia Punt Mendenhall 13-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 12 75 7:21 7-0 2 5:01 Philadelphia Punt Suisham 20-yd FG 12 77 2:28 10-0 2 0:06 Philadelphia Punt Suisham 34-yd. FG 9 51 4:25 13-7 4 14:51 Philadelphia Kickoff Suisham 34-yd. FG 14 64 6:33 16-14 4 0:00 Tennessee Kickoff Suisham 29-yd. FG 7 44 3:29 3-3 1 7:24 Tennessee Punt Wallace 82-yd. pass from Roethlisberger 1 82 0:12 10-3 1 5:25 Tennessee Kickoff Suisham 28-yd. FG 11 65 5:57 13-16 3 9:03 Tennessee Punt B. Batch 1-yd. run 15 80 6:42 20-16 4 13:34 Tennessee Interception Suisham 52-yd. FG 5 14 1:38 23-16 4 8:18
