Friday, September 15, 2006
Week 2 Preview: Steelers at Jagoffs
(The Burgh - September 15, 2006) - Another week, another prime-time game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After premiering last Thursday evening on NBC, the Steelers will play their 2nd game of the young 2006 season once again in front of a national audience on ESPN's Monday Night Football next Monday evening.
Next up are the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has always found a way to keep the Steelers on their toes. Since NFL realignment separated the twice-a-year meetings between ex-AFC Central foes, the Steelers and Jags still know how to put on a good show every time they meet. For those of you with a short memory, the low point of last season had to be the game ending INT thrown by Tommy Maddox, as seen in the following video from YouTube.com:
On a more positive note, check the ending of the OT epic battle back in 1997 between AFC Central division rivals as seen here:
We just love seeing the young Bus moving like a gazelle (we know that's a stretch, but he did have some bounce in his step, didn't he?). Although Stillers Nation hopes the Steelers can get some revenge from last year's meltdown at Heniz Field, next week's game at Jacksonville should be another doozy.
STEELERS NOTES
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER is 22-3 (.880) in career as starter. Roethlisberger has completed 63.4 pct. (52 of 82) of passes in 3 career MNF games. QB CHARLIE BATCH is 3-0 as Steelers starter. In 1 career start vs. JAX (12/6/98 w/Lions), Batch tossed 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs. ... RB WILLIE PARKER has rushed for at least 115 yds in 3 games in row. ... With TD catch last wk, WR HINES WARD (332) is 5 points from surpassing KRIS BROWN (336) for 8th place on team’s all-time scoring list. Only HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH (384) has more career points among Steelers WRs. Last wk, QB Batch & TE HEATH MILLER connected on 87-yd TD pass for team’s longest pass play since KORDELL STEWART connected w/ BOBBY SHAW for 90-yd TD (12/16/01). ... LB JOEY PORTER scored 1st career TD last week on 42-yd INT-TD. Porter has sack or INT in 4 of past 5 games. In last mtg., DE AARON SMITH notched 1.0 sack & CB BRYANT MC FADDEN recorded 1st career INT.
JAGUARS NOTES
Jags are 1 of 3 teams to have faced Cowher-coached Steelers 5+ times & own lead in series (9-8). Team has won 9 of past 10 games it has played (losing in last year's playoffs). ... QB BYRON LEFTWICH has TD pass in 33 of 41 career games. Leftwich to start 1st MNF game. ... RB FRED TAYLOR rushed for career-best 234 yds vs. PIT (11/19/00). Taylor averages 5.3 yds/carry in 5 career MNF games. ... WR MATT JONES caught 1st career TD at PIT last season. WR ERNEST WILFORD has TD catch in 2 of past 4 games. WR REGGIE WILLIAMS caught career-high 6 passes last week for 47 yds & 1 TD. ... In last mtg., defense limited RB Parker to 2.6 yds/carry on 21 rushes – his lowest avg. in a game w/ more than 10 rush attempts. ... LB MIKE PETERSON has registered sack or INT in 4 of past 6 games.
Next up are the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team that has always found a way to keep the Steelers on their toes. Since NFL realignment separated the twice-a-year meetings between ex-AFC Central foes, the Steelers and Jags still know how to put on a good show every time they meet. For those of you with a short memory, the low point of last season had to be the game ending INT thrown by Tommy Maddox, as seen in the following video from YouTube.com:
On a more positive note, check the ending of the OT epic battle back in 1997 between AFC Central division rivals as seen here:
We just love seeing the young Bus moving like a gazelle (we know that's a stretch, but he did have some bounce in his step, didn't he?). Although Stillers Nation hopes the Steelers can get some revenge from last year's meltdown at Heniz Field, next week's game at Jacksonville should be another doozy.
STEELERS NOTES
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER is 22-3 (.880) in career as starter. Roethlisberger has completed 63.4 pct. (52 of 82) of passes in 3 career MNF games. QB CHARLIE BATCH is 3-0 as Steelers starter. In 1 career start vs. JAX (12/6/98 w/Lions), Batch tossed 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs. ... RB WILLIE PARKER has rushed for at least 115 yds in 3 games in row. ... With TD catch last wk, WR HINES WARD (332) is 5 points from surpassing KRIS BROWN (336) for 8th place on team’s all-time scoring list. Only HOFer JOHN STALLWORTH (384) has more career points among Steelers WRs. Last wk, QB Batch & TE HEATH MILLER connected on 87-yd TD pass for team’s longest pass play since KORDELL STEWART connected w/ BOBBY SHAW for 90-yd TD (12/16/01). ... LB JOEY PORTER scored 1st career TD last week on 42-yd INT-TD. Porter has sack or INT in 4 of past 5 games. In last mtg., DE AARON SMITH notched 1.0 sack & CB BRYANT MC FADDEN recorded 1st career INT.
JAGUARS NOTES
Jags are 1 of 3 teams to have faced Cowher-coached Steelers 5+ times & own lead in series (9-8). Team has won 9 of past 10 games it has played (losing in last year's playoffs). ... QB BYRON LEFTWICH has TD pass in 33 of 41 career games. Leftwich to start 1st MNF game. ... RB FRED TAYLOR rushed for career-best 234 yds vs. PIT (11/19/00). Taylor averages 5.3 yds/carry in 5 career MNF games. ... WR MATT JONES caught 1st career TD at PIT last season. WR ERNEST WILFORD has TD catch in 2 of past 4 games. WR REGGIE WILLIAMS caught career-high 6 passes last week for 47 yds & 1 TD. ... In last mtg., defense limited RB Parker to 2.6 yds/carry on 21 rushes – his lowest avg. in a game w/ more than 10 rush attempts. ... LB MIKE PETERSON has registered sack or INT in 4 of past 6 games.
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