|
The Steelers extended their lead to 21-10 as they drove 77 yards in 13 plays, taking 7:56 off the clock
with their opening possession of the third quarter. QB Ben Roethlisberger found TE Heath Miller on an eight yard
touchdown reception to cap the drive.
RB Gary Russell increased the lead to 28-10 when he crossed the goal-line from one-yard out in the beginning of the
fourth quarter.
San Diego scored two touchdowns, a four-yard reception by WR Legedu Naanee and a 62-yard reception by RB
Darren Sproles, sandwiched around a 16-yard touchdown run by Parker, his second score of the evening, to
conclude the scoring in favor of the Steelers, 35-24.
Roethlisberger had a very efficient game, completing 17-of-26 passes for 181 yards with one touchdown and a passer
rating of 98.4. He improved to 6-2 (.750 pct.) in the playoffs. Parker recorded his first career 100-yard rushing
performance in the postseason with 146 yards on 27 attempts (5.4 avg.) with two touchdowns. WR Hines Ward had
another big postseason performance with four receptions for 70 yards (17.5 avg.), including a long reception of 41
yards.
Defensively, the Steelers sacked Rivers four times, with LB LaMarr Woodley leading the charge with two
sacks. LB James Harrison and DE Brett Keisel had the other two Steelers sacks. LB Larry Foote had
a third-quarter interception, the second of his postseason career.
AFC 2008 Divisional Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers 35 San Diego Chargers 24
|
San Diego Chargers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 | |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 | |
|
Team | Qtr. | Time | Scoring Play | Drive | Score | |
Chargers | 1 | 12:59 | Jackson 41 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick) | 4-75; 2:01 | 0-7 | |
Steelers | 1 | 7:41 | Holmes 67 punt return (Reed kick) | —; — | 7-7 | |
Chargers | 2 | 1:56 | Kaeding 42 FG | 7-20; 3:09 | 7-10 | |
Steelers | 2 | 0:40 | Parker 3 run (Reed kick) | 7-66; 1:16 | 14-10 | |
Steelers | 3 | 7:04 | Miller 8 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick) | 13-77; 7:56 | 21-10 | |
Steelers | 4 | 12:52 | Russell 1 run (Reed kick) | 2-49; 0:49 | 28-10 | |
Chargers | 4 | 9:09 | Naanee 4 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick) | 10-73; 3:43 | 28-17 | |
Steelers | 4 | 4:11 | Parker 16 run (Reed kick) | 9-73; 4:58 | 35-17 | |
Chargers | 4 | 1:53 | Sproles 62 pass from Rivers (Kaeding kick) | 4-79; 0:50 | 35-24 | |
|
STATISTICS | Chargers | Steelers | |
1st Downs | 15 (1-13-1) | 22 (12-8-2) | |
3rd Downs | 5-12 (42%) | 6-14 (43%) | |
4th Downs | 0-0 (0%) | 0-2 (0%) | |
Total Net Yards | 290 | 342 | |
Plays-Avg. | 51-5.7 | 70-4.9 | |
Rushing Yards | 15 | 165 | |
Rush Att.-Avg. | 12-1.3 | 42-3.9 | |
Passing Yards | 275 | 177 | |
Att.-Comp.-Int. | 35-21-1 | 27-17-0 | |
Sacks By | 1-4 | 4-33 | |
Punts-Avg. | 6-47.2 | 5-43.4 | |
Penalties | 8-104 | 7-44 | |
Fumbles-Lost | 1-1 | 0-0 | |
Time of Poss. | 23:30 | 36:30 | |
Rushing
Chargers – Sproles 11-15; Bennett 1-0.
Steelers – Parker 27-146, 2 TDs; Moore 3-13; Holmes 2-7; Russell 4-5, 1 TD; Davis 1-0; Leftwich 4-(-2); Clark 1-(-4).
Passing
Chargers – Rivers 35-21-1, 308, 3 TDs.
Steelers – Roethlisberger 26-17-0, 181, 1 TD; Leftwich 1-0-0, 0.
Receiving
Chargers – Sproles 5-91, 1 TD; Gates 5-59; Chambers 4-72; Jackson 2-49, 1 TD; Hester 2-13; Manumaleuna 1-14; Bennett 1-6; Naanee 1-4, 1 TD.
Steelers – Ward 4-70; Miller 3-37, 1 TD; Washington 3-30; Davis 3-7; Holmes 2-25; Moore 2-12.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE – JANUARY 18
(All times Eastern)
Sunday, January 18
NFC: Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals, 3:00 PM (FOX)
AFC: Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, 6:30 PM (CBS)
NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND RESULTS – JANUARY 10-11
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 10
Baltimore Ravens 13, TENNESSEE TITANS 10
Arizona Cardinals 33, CAROLINA PANTHERS 13
Sunday, January 11
Philadelphia Eagles 23, NEW YORK GIANTS 11
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 35, San Diego Chargers 24
NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND RESULTS – JANUARY 3-4
(Home team in CAPS)
Saturday, January 3
ARIZONA 30, Atlanta 24
SAN DIEGO 23, Indianapolis 17 (OT)
Sunday, January 4
Baltimore 27, MIAMI 9
Philadelphia 26, MINNESOTA 14
RELATED NFL 2008 Playoffs
|
Ravens at Steelers Statistics & Game Notes
Eagles at Cardinals Statistics & Game Notes
AFC Divisional: Ravens 13 Titans 10
AFC Divisional: Steelers 35 Chargers 24
NFC Divisional: Cardinals 33 Panthers 13
Pittsburgh Steelers Sweep Baltimore Ravens
Eagles Feast on Cardinals, 48-20
First Time Top Seeds Eliminated in NFL Divisional Round
Titans & Giants Lose at Home in NFL Divisional Playoff Round
This weekend's losses by the Titans (Ravens 13-10) and Giants (Eagles 23-11) marks the first time
that both conference top-seeds have been eliminated in the divisional round playoffs. The elimination of
the Titans and Giants also marks the third time that no top conference seed will advance to the Super Bowl (1992 &
1997).
Darren "Tank" Sproles Rumbles Over Colts
San Diego Chargers 23 Indianapolis Colts 17 (OT)
The Chargers rallied from a 17-14 fourth quarter deficit behind an outstanding defensive effort, punter Mike Scifres and the
all-purpose assault by Darren "Tank" Sproles to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, 23-17 in overtime. Sproles played the key
role in the Chargers AFC Wild Card win over Indianapolis, recording 328 all-purpose yards, third-most in an NFL Playoff
game.
On Wild Card Weekend Everybody Starts on Equal Ground
In one of the most unpredictable and story-filled NFL regular seasons in memory, the road to Tampa Bay, Florida and Super
Bowl XLIII on February 1 begins this Saturday and Sunday with the NFL 2008 Playoffs and Wild Card Weekend. How each of
the NFL Playoff teams got here doesn't matter. Nor does it matter who got in first or who got in last. All that matters
is that they're here and ready to go.
SHARE
NFL 2008 PLAYOFFS RANKINGS
Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:
American Football Conference
1. Tennessee Titans (AFC South Division champion)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North Division champion)
3. Miami Dolphins (AFC East Division champion)
4. San Diego Chargers (AFC West Division champion)
5. Indianapolis Colts
6. Baltimore Ravens
National Football Conference
1. New York Giants (NFC East Division champion)
2. Carolina Panthers (NFC South Division champion)
3. Minnesota Vikings (NFC North Division champion)
4. Arizona Cardinals (NFC West Division champion)
5. Atlanta Falcons
6. Philadelphia Eagles
|
|
RSS
