After losing a close, hard-fought game to the New York Jets last Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers play their second game in seven days tomorrow evening when they play host to the lowly Carolina Panthers. For obvious reasons, the Steelers and Panthers don't have a rich head-to-head history. On paper, the Steelers should have no problem winning, but I'm at least a tiny bit nervous about this one without Polamalu playing. I shouldn't be, I know.
Here's a few facts, figures and trends about the two teams' series history, as well as up-to-date season stats for both squads.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-12) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-4)
SERIES
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PANTHERS |
STEELERS |
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SERIES LEADER |
3-1 |
|
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STREAKS |
Past 3 |
|
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COACHES VS. OPP. |
Fox: 0-2 |
Tomlin: 0-0 |
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LAST WEEK |
W 19-12 vs. Cardinals |
L 22-17 vs. Jets |
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LAST GAME |
12/17/06: Steelers 37 at Panthers 3. Pittsburgh RB Willie Parker rushes for 132 yards & TD as club wins 3rd consecutive game. Steelers WR-PR Santonio Holmes has 65-yard PR-TD. |
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LAST GAME AT SITE |
12/15/02: Steelers 30, Panthers 14. Pittsburgh outgains Carolina 332-131 in total yards & Steelers RB Jerome Bettis runs for 2 scores. |
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BROADCAST |
NFLN (8:00 PM ET): Bob Papa, Matt Millen, Joe Theismann, Alex Flanagan (Field reporter). Westwood One Radio: Ian Eagle, Trent Green, Laura Okmin (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 124 (WW1), 125 (Car.), 126 (Pit.). XM: 124 (WW1), 102 (Car.), 103 (Pit.). |
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STATS
|
PASSING |
Clausen (R): 128-243-1,304-2-7-59.1 |
Roethlisberger: 203-335-2,600-14-5-92.6 |
|
RUSHING |
Stewart: 147-668-4.5-2 |
Mendenhall: 292-1,173-4.0-10 |
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RECEIVING |
Smith: 43-537-12.5-2 |
Wallace: 53-1,048-19.8-8 |
|
OFFENSE |
266.1 |
335.6 |
|
TAKE/GIVE |
-7 |
+14 (T2L) |
|
DEFENSE |
329.6 |
291.8 (3L) |
|
SACKS |
C. Johnson: 9.5 |
Harrison: 10 |
|
INTs |
Godfrey: 5 |
Polamalu: 6 (T1C) |
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PUNTING |
Baker: 43.5 |
Kapinos: 38.9 |
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KICKING |
Kasay: 85 (16/16 PAT; 23/27 FG) |
Suisham: 41 (11/11 PAT; 10/10 FG) |