PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-5) AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (6-2) GAME PRE-CAP
STEELERS:
In career vs. Patriots, QB Ben Rothlisberger has 3-3 regular season record with 12 TDs vs. 3 INTs and a 95.3 rating. In his past two games against the Patriots, Roethlisberger has passed for 752 yards with 5 TDs and 2 INTs with a 97.7 rating. He accumulated 199 TD passes and needs 1 more to join HOFer Terry Bradshaw (212) as only the only Steelers to reach 200 in their career. Ben also has a 89-44 (.669) record as the starter. Since 2011, the Steelers are 14-2 (.875) when they reach 100+ rush yards in a game. Rookie RB Le’veon Bell aims for his 3rd straight game with rush TD. WR Antonio Brown has reached 50 receptions for the 3rd straight season averaging an NFL-best 8 catches per game in 2013 so far. Brown had 9 receptions for 67 yards with a TD in his last game against the Patriots. WR Emmanuel Sanders tied his career-best with 7 receptions last week. Sanders has had a touchdown in 2 of past 3 games. TE Heath Miller had 7 catches for 85 yards in last meeting versus the Patriots. LB Lamarr Woodley has (57) 5th-most sacks by a Steeler since ’82. Woodley has had 3 sacks in 3 career games against New England. S Troy Polamalu had sack and an interception last week, he also had INT in last game at New England. LB Lawrence Timmons leads team with 59 tackles.
PATRIOTS:
The New England Patriots aim for their 7th consecutive win in November. In past 3 games against the Steelers, QB Tom Brady has completed 86 of 124 passes (69.4 pct.) for 947 yards with 9 TDs with 0 Interceptions and a rating of 115.9. Brady has 343 career TD passes and he is tied for 4th-most in NFL history with Drew Brees for 343. Brady also comes in with a 33-10 (.767) record as starter in November. RB Stevan Ridley has 4 rush TDs in the past 3 games. RB Brandon Bolden aims for his 3rd straight game with rush TD. In 2 career games versus Pittsburgh, TE Rob Gronkowski has had 12 catches for 166 yards with 3 TD catches. Gronkowski currently at 197 needs 3 catches to reach 200 for his career. Since 2011, Gronkowski has 28 TD receptions, tied for 3rd-most in NFL. WR and Punt Returner Julian Edelman has career-best in catches with 48 and receiving yards of 462 in 2013. The Patriots defense has forced a turnover in 35 consecutive games, longest active streak in the NFL. Registering a season-best 6 sacks last week, DE Chandler Jones has a career-best 6.5 sacks this season…Rookie DT Chris Jones ranks 1st among NFL rookies with 4.5 sacks. Rookie CB Logan Ryan had a career-best 2 sacks last week against the Miami Dolphins and Rookie S Duron Harmon registered his 1st INT of his career last week.
SERIES
| STEELERS | PATRIOTS | |
| SERIES LEADER | 14-8 | |
| STREAKS | 2 of past 3 | 5 of past 8 |
| COACHES VS. OPP. | Tomlin: 2-2 | Belichick: 9-11 |
| LAST WEEK | L 21-18 at Raiders | W 27-17 vs. Dolphins |
| LAST GAME | 10/30/11: Patriots 17 at Steelers 25. Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger passes for 365 yards & 2 TDs. Steelers defense allows 213 total net yards (43 rushing, 170 passing). | |
| LAST GAME AT SITE | 11/30/08: Steelers 33, Patriots 10. Pittsburgh defense forces 5 turnovers (3 FRs, 2 INTs) as Ben Roethlisberger throws TD to WRs Santonio Holmes (19 yards) & Hines Ward (11). | |
STATS
| PASSING | Roethlisberger: 172-260-1,930-8-7-87.2 | Brady: 171-307-1,824-9-6-74.9 |
| RUSHING | Bell (R): 64-208-3.3-3 | Ridley: 92-399-4.3-4 (T3C) |
| RECEIVING | A. Brown: 56 (1L)-630 (3C)-11.3-2 | Edelman: 48-462-9.6-2 |
| OFFENSE | 322.1 | 330.0 |
| TAKE/GIVE | -9 | +7 (T2C) |
| DEFENSE | 302.9 (2C) | 346.3 |
| SACKS | Woodley: 5 | Cha. Jones: 6.5 |
| INTs | 5 tied: 1 | Talib: 4 (T1L) |
| PUNTING | Mesko: 42.5 | Allen (R): 46.2 |
| KICKING | Suisham: 55 (10/10 PAT; 15/17 FG) | Gostkowski: 77 (2L) (17/17 PAT; 20/21 FG) |
By Sergio Peralta
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