San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers - Sunday, CBS 4:45PM ET
Pittsburgh’s No. 1 NFL defense will have to contend this Sunday with San Diego running back-kick-returner-punt
returner DARREN SPROLES (nicknamed "Tank").
Sproles’ 328-yard game plus his 139-combined-yard performance in the
2007 AFC Championship Game ranks him second all-time in combined yards (467) in a two-playoff-game span. He can
move into first in the category with 173 combined yards against the Steelers.
Just in time for more cold!
And just in time for the defense that allowed the fewest points in the league (223)
and ranked No. 1 in overall and pass defense. Pittsburgh did not allow a 100-yard rusher or 300-yard passer this
season, let only one team (Tennessee) gain 300 yards and limited eight of its opponents to 10 or fewer points.
However, the Chargers defense has been impressive since Ron Rivera was given control as the Chargers defensive
coordinator midway thru the season.
The Chargers have become very stingy since then, especially in the second half of games. Only two of the Chargers
last eight opponents have scored more than seven points in the second half against their defense (Colts and Bucs). In
last week's overtime playoff win, the Chargers held the Colts to 7-points in the second half. The 7 points came when Peyton
Manning caught the Chargers defense off-guard and as a result quick-snapped to connect with Wayne for a 72-yard TD pass
Under Rivera, the Chargers are allowing just 18.1 points per game and 317.1 yards in the second half of the 2008 season,
down from the 24.8 ppg and 371.6 ypg prior to his taking over. For the season, the Steelers allowed just 13.9 points per
game and 237.2 yards per game.
"I think definitely through 17 games that's the toughest defense we faced," says San Diego's Philip Rivers, the
lone QB to post a 100.0 passer rating this season (105.5), but who had his passer rating lowest of the year (44.4) against
Pittsburgh when the Chargers lost to them 11-10 on November 16.
In that game, Philip Rivers was intercepted twice and completed just 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards. Following
that game however, Rivers went on to post passer ratings of 96.0 or better in five of the
Chargers last six games while leading San Diego into the playoffs.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger threw for 3,301 yards in 2008 and had five fourth-quarter come-from-behind
victories in 2008.
Rivers (No. 4 overall) and Roethlisberger (No. 11) join Giants' Eli Manning (No. 1) as the top
three quarterback picks in the 2004 NFL Draft who will be active on Sunday. Between them, they have two Super Bowl
titles, four Championship Game appearances, and a 12-6 (.667) playoff record.
Roethlisberger is complemented by a balanced offensive attack as well which includes wide receivers
Heinz Ward, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington plus running backs Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore.
Ward finished the season with 81 catches for 1,043 yards (12.9 avg.). Holmes finished the 2008 regular season
with a career-high 55 catches for 821 yards (14.9avg.) with five touchdowns. Nate Washington proved to be a
very dangerous deep threat as he averaged a team-best 15.8 yards per catch and had three touchdowns, all of which
are longer than 45 yards. On the year, Washington had 40 catches for 631 yards (15.8 avg.) with three touchdowns
and had four receptions of over 25 yards.
On the ground, Willie Parker finished 2008 with 791 yards on 210 attempts (3.8 avg.) and rushed for over 100 yards four
times. Running back Mewelde Moore did an excellent job of filling in for the injured RB Willie Parker and often split
time in the backfield when Parker played. Moore was second on the team with 588 yards rushing on 140 carries (4.2 avg.)
with five touchdowns and caught 40 passes for 320 yards (8.0 avg.) with one touchdown. In four games replacing
Parker as the starter in the backfield, Moore had 360 yards rushing on 80 carries (4.5 avg.) with
five touchdowns and 16 catches for 89 yards (5.6 avg.) with one touchdown.
Series: Pittsburgh leads 20-8
The Pittsburgh Steelers own a 20-8 all-time record against
the Chargers. The Steelers lead 20-6 in regular season games while the
Chargers have lead 2-0 in postseason games. The Steelers have won
six of the past seven regular-season games versus the Chargers.
In regular season games, the Steelers are 13-0 versus the Chargers at home.
Oddly enough, the Chargers have won both playoff confrontation in the "Steel City."
Following the 1982 regular season, the Chargers defeated the Steelers 31-28 in a Wild Card game.
In the 1994 AFC Championship Game, the Chargers defeated the Steelers 17-13, sending the Chargers on to
Super Bowl XXIX. Both wins occurred at Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium. Pittsburgh is just 3-3
in playoff games played at Heinz Field.
The Steelers won the most recent matchup earlier this season (November 16, 2008), 11-10, at Heinz Field.
It marked the first game in NFL history to end with an 11-10 final score. The Steelers outgained the
Chargers 410-213 in that game as QB Ben Roethlisberger finished with 308 yards passing, RB Willie Parker
had 115 yards rushing and WR Hines Ward finished with 124 yards receiving.
NFL 2008 Game 10: Pittsburgh Steelers 11, San Diego Chargers 10
Heinz Field – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - November 16, 2008
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San Diego Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 0 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 | |
The Steelers gave up a fourth quarter lead for the third consecutive home game, but
unlike the previous two, they were able to rally in the game’s final minutes and secure
an 11-10 victory over the San Diego Chargers on a 32-yard field goal by K Jeff Reed with
11 seconds remaining in regulation. Pittsburgh improved to 7-3 on the season, and a
perfect 13-0 all-time in the regular-season against the Chargers in
Pittsburgh. The Chargers fell to 4-6.
LaDainian Tomlinson’s three-yard touchdown run gave the Chargers a 7-0 lead midway through
the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Steelers pinned San Diego deep in their own territory.
The Steelers defense scored when linebacker James Harrison sacked Philip Rivers in the end zone and
forced a fumble. Chargers offensive tackle Marcus McNeill recovered, but was then tackled in the
end zone by Harrison for the safety which made it a 7-2 game.
The Chargers drove to Pittsburgh’s 17 yard line in the final two minutes of the first half, but a Harrison
interception ended the Chargers’ chance for another score. Ben Roethlisberger drove the Steelers 54 yards to
set up Reed's 21-yard field goal, making it 7-5 at halftime.
The Steelers took their first lead of the game when they took the opening
possession of the second half and drove 54 yards in 14 plays, with Reed
making his second field goal of the evening, this time from 41 yards away,
giving the Steelers an 8-7 advantage.
The Steelers opened the second half with a 14-play, 54-yard drive but only mustered a 41-yard kick.
Reed's field goal gave the Steelers their first lead of the day at 8-7. The Chargers responded with a drive
of their own to Pittsburgh’s 24, but came up short after a 41-yard Nate Kaeding field goal sailed wide right.
After another stop by the Chargers’ defense, Rivers led the Chargers on their longest drive of the season in terms
of plays (17), but that drive resulted in only a 22-yard Nate Kaeding field goal to put the Chargers back up by a score
of 10-8 with 6:41 remaining in the game.
After a penalty on the ensuing kickoff trapped Pittsburgh deep inside
their own territory, QB Ben Roethlisberger led his squad on a 13-play, 73
yard drive down to the Chargers 14-yard line, where Reed’s third field goal
gave the Steelers an 11-10 victory. Roethlisberger was 6-for-6 for 62 yards
passing on the game-winning drive, his 15th career regular-season come from-behind fourth-quarter victory.
Ben Roethlisberger had one of his strongest performances of 2008 by
finishing 31-of-41 for 308, his sixth career 300-yard passing peformance.
SD 1 6:46 Tomlinson 3 run (Kaeding kick) 6-59; 3:30 0-7 PIT 2 14:46 McNeill tackled by J. Harrison in end zone for safety —; — 2-7 PIT 2 0:00 Reed 21 FG 8-54; 1:23 5-7 PIT 3 8:41 Reed 41 FG 14-54; 6:19 8-7 SD 4 6:41 Kaeding 22 FG 17-78; 7:34 8-10 PIT 4 0:11 Reed 32 FG 13-73; 6:30 11-10
Chargers & Steelers in 2008 Regular Season Comparison
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Chargers | Category | Steelers | |
8-8 | Record | 12-4 | |
W-4 | Current W-L | Streak W-1 | |
W, 51-21 vs. Denver | Last Game | W, 31-0 vs. Cleveland | |
439 | Total Points Scored | 347 | |
51 | Touchdowns Scored | 38 | |
13 | Rushing Touchdowns | 16 | |
34 | Passing Touchdowns | 19 | |
4 | Return Touchdowns | 3 | |
27/32 | Field Goals Made/Attempted | 27/31 | |
347 | Total Points Allowed | 223 | |
39 | Touchdowns Allowed | 21 | |
11 | Rushing Touchdowns Allowed | 7 | |
25 | Passing Touchdowns Allowed | 12 | |
3 | Return Touchdowns Allowed | 2 | |
24/31 | Opponent Field Goals Made/Attempted | 24/27 | |
349.0 | Total Yards Per Game | 311.9 | |
349.9 | Opponent Total Yards Per Game | 237.2 | |
107.9 | Rushing Yards Per Game | 105.6 | |
102.6 | Opponent Rushing Yards Per Game | 80.3 | |
241.1 | Passing Yards Per Game | 206.3 | |
247.4 | Opponent Passing Yards Per Game | 156.9 | |
89/194 (.459) | Third Downs Made/Attempted | 92/224 (.411) | |
84/207 (.406) | Opponent Third Downs Made/Attempted | 71/226 (.314) | |
8/11 (.727) | Fourth Downs Made/Attempted | 3/12 (.250) | |
13/24 (.542) | Opponent Fourth Downs Made/Attempted | 10/21 (.476) | |
+4 | Turnover Ratio | +4 | |
28:53 | Average Time of Possession | 31:29 | |
San Diego Chargers Game Notes
Chargers aim for their 3rd straight playoff win against Steelers Including postseason, Chargers aim for 6th win in row Chargers have won 2 of past their 3 divisional playoff games Head coach NORV TURNER is 4-2 (.667) in postseason as head coach In past 5 straight wins (including Wild Card playoff), QB PHILIP RIVERS has completed 100 of 157 passes (63.7 pct.)
for 1,271 yards with 11 touchdowns vs. 2 interceptions & 106.9 passer rating. In only divisional round appearance (1/13/08
against Colts), Rivers completed 14 of 19 passes (73.7 pct.) for 264 yards with 3 touchdowns vs. 1 interception & 133.2
passer rating. Team is 2-0 when Rivers has TD pass in postseason play RB DARREN SPROLES’ 328 total yards last week (105 rush, 45 receiving, 72 PR, 106 KR) were 3rd-most in postseason
history. Sproles aims for 3rd straight game with 100-plus rush yards. In past 2 (including Wild Card), Sproles has
totaled 572 yards (220 rush, 62 receiving, 88 PR, 202 KR). RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON has 4 rush touchdowns in 4 career games against Steelers. Tomlinson has 7 rush touchdowns
in past 6 games, including Wild Card vs. Colts RB MICHAEL BENNETT averaged 6.0 yards per carry in Chargers’ debut last week (4 attempts, 24 yards) Chargers are 9-0 when TE ANTONIO GATES has 2 or more TD receptions. Gates had postseason-high 8 receptions last
week. Gates has 2 TD receptions in past 3 against Steelers In 4 career postseason games, WR CHRIS CHAMBERS averages 83.7 receiving yards per game (335 total). In past 2
road playoff games, WR VINCENT JACKSON is averaging 93 receiving yards per game (13 receiving, 186 yards) with 1 TD CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE has 2 career postseason interceptions in past 3 LB STEPHEN COOPER had 4 interceptions in past 5 in 2008 LB SHAUN PHILLIPS aims for 4th straight game against Steelers with at least 0.5 sack DE JACQUES CESAIRE recorded 2 sacks in last game vs. Steelers P MIKE SCIFRES had NFL postseason record with 6 punts inside 20-yard line last week & his 52.7 average
was 3rd-highest in playoff history.
Pittsburgh Steelers Game Notes
The Steelers have a 28-19 (.596) postseason record and are 16-9 (.615) at home in playoffs Steelers are 13-8 (.619) in divisional round playoff games, including 10-2 (.833) record at home Pittsburgh has won 4 straight regular-season games against Chargers Club clinched AFC North title for 2nd straight season under head coach MIKE TOMLIN QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has 5-2 (.714) postseason record & has completed 118 of 189 passes (62.4 pct.) for 1,547
yards with 12 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions & 85.1 passer rating. Including postseason, Roethlisberger has 29-10
(.743) career record at home. Including playoffs, team is 29-2 (.935), when Roethlisberger has 100-plus passer rating.
Roethlisberger has 2-1 (.667) record vs. Chargers In last postseason game (Super Bowl XL), RB WILLIE PARKER totaled 93 rush
yards (9.3 avg.), including 75-yard TD run (longest run from scrimmage in Super Bowl history). Parker gained 115
yards (4.6 avg.) on 25 attempts in last game against Chargers. Club has 4-0 record with Parker in postseason WR HINES WARD ranks 2nd among active players with 896 postseason receiving yards (REGGIE WAYNE, 963) & needs
104 yards to become only 8th player since 1970 to record 1,000 career postseason receiving yards. Ward aims for
3rd straight 100-yard receiving game in playoffs (123, 135) & aims for 5th playoff game in row at home with
100-plus receiving yards (104, 105, 109, 135). Ward (1,043) posted 5th season with 1,000 receiving yards in 2008.
Ward registered season-high in receptions (11) & receiving yards (124) in last meeting against Chargers In 5 playoff games, TE HEATH MILLER has 15 receptions for 192 yards (12.8 avg.) with 2 touchdowns Defense ranked 1st in NFL allowing 13.9 points per game in 2008 Pro Bowl LB JAMES HARRISON
set franchise record with 16 sacks. Harrison has 2 interceptions in past 3 against Chargers LB LA MARR WOODLEY posted 2 sacks in only career postseason game (1/5/08) Pro Bowl S TROY POLAMALU totaled career-high 7 interceptions in 2008, including 1 interception vs. Chargers.
PREDICTION: San Diego Chargers 17 Pittsburgh Steelers 9
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Chargers are currently the NFL's hottest team amongst the
remaining contenders. But, the Steelers boast the NFL's best defense, are armed with an effective offense and have
homefield advantage on their side.
Am I confused between the NFL Playoffs and college basketball's NCAA Final Four by predicting losses for
each conference's two-seeds (Cardinals at Panthers)
this week? Perhaps, but there maybe something to my January madness.
Rivers has a knack for bouncing back
Road game or home game the Chargers have no fear and they will be effective on offense. The Steelers defense
will contain Darren Sproles this week. In other words, don't expect Sproles to rack up 328 all-purpose yards.
What the Steelers defense may not be able to do is contain Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. They did stop
him last time as Rivers was intercepted twice and completed just 15-of-26 for 164 yards for a passer rating
of 44.4. Rivers went on to post passer ratings of 96.0 or better in five of the Chargers remaining six games.
Last week against the Colts in the AFC Wild Card round, Rivers was 20-of-36 with 1 interception for 217 yards
and a passer rating of 61.9. Expect Rivers to bounce back from last week's sub-standard performance.
Still, the Steelers defense is easily capable of stopping both Rivers and Sproles. Plus, the Chargers may not be
able to utilize LaDainian Tomlinson to his fullest extent due to his groin injury.
So, if the Steelers contain Rivers and Sproles and Tomlinson is ineffective or unable to play, how can the Chargers
still win? In this case, containing means that the Steelers will limit the Chargers to 17 points. Which means the
Steelers offense will need to outscore the Chargers which they won't be able to do.
First, let's take a step back to the 2008 regular season matchup.
Five of the Steelers points were generated compliments of their defense -- a James Harrison safety and a
Reed field goal started by a River's interception in the first half. Then a missed 41-yard FG by Nate Kaeding
and a Chargers 17-play drive that produced a field goal. Give credit to the Steelers defense for that victory.
They did their job.
Now, this Sunday's matchup.
Ben Roethlisberger's concussion will not keep him out of the game. He eas even listed in the NFL's latest
injury report under the "Full Participation in Practice" category despite the listed concussion. In short,
Big Ben will be more of a care-taker than a play-maker or game-breaker on Sunday.
A solid defense and an extraordinary special teams play will make the difference for the Chargers. But Sproles
won't be the star on special teams this week. Instead, that honor will go to Chargers punter Mike Scifres.
Scifres will make it difficult for the Steelers offense and in turn provide better field position to the
Chargers.
In a close game the Chargers win. After all, they've been in playoff for 6 weeks.
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
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE – JANUARY 10-11
(All times Eastern)
Saturday, January 10
Baltimore at Tennessee, 4:30 PM (CBS)
Arizona at Carolina, 8:15 PM (FOX)
Sunday, January 11
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 1:00 PM (FOX)
San Diego at Pittsburgh, 4:45 PM (CBS)
RELATED NFL 2008 Playoffs
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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.
2008 NFL Playoffs "Rematch" Weekend
NFL Playoffs Divisional Weekend: Round 2 In More Ways Than One
All four games this weekend -- Ravens vs Titans, Cards vs Panthers, Eagles vs Giants, Chargers vs. Steelers --
are rematches from the regular season. Add up the point differential in the 2008 regular-season meetings of the
teams playing in this weekend's four NFL Divisional Playoffs, and you get the grand total of -- 19 points.
And that's not in four games, but five, because one of this week's matchups is a division rematch. Think the games
in "Rematch Weekend" this Saturday and Sunday could be close? Could be!
Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at Tennessee Titans (13-3)
Saturday, CBS, 4:30 PM ET
Both teams excel in the turnover battle, finishing second (Tennessee, plus-14) and third (Baltimore, plus-13)
this season in NFL turnover differential. They are also quite similar on defense. Linemen who call for double-teams;
quick linebackers who can rush or drop back into coverage; and ball-hawking secondaries. But it certainly won't be all
defense.
Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4)
Saturday, FOX, 8:15 PM ET
Given the choice, the Cardinals would rather throw the ball. However, in last week's 30-24 Wild Card win over the Falcons
it was their defense and running attack which advanced the Cardinals to the next round. The Panthers love running the ball,
but Panthers QB Jake Delhomme was 20-of-28 for 248 yards, 2 TDs with 0 INTs for a 122.3 QB rating against the Cards in the
regular season. How will it all play out, especially in Carolina where the Panthers are undefeated this season?
Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at New York Giants (12-4)
Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET
The top-seeded New York Giants, champions of the NFC East, face their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, for
the third time this season with a berth in the NFC Championship Game on the line. The Giants are 7-1 at home this
season while the Eagles are 4-4-1 on the road, including their 26-14 Wild Card victory over the Vikings last week
in Minnesota. The Giants lost to the Vikings in Minnesota 20-19 in their regular season finale. The Eagles have
won 5 of their last 6 while the Giants have lost 3 of their last 4 after an 11-1 start.
Pass-Happy Cards Win with Defense & Running Game
Arizona Cardinals 30, Atlanta Falcons 24
The Cardinals defense was sensational, limiting Michael Turner to 42 rushing yards,
harassing Matt Ryan and scoring points on its own with a TD and safety. The offense was also strong as Edgerrin James
led a revitalized Cardinals ground game while Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald made big plays in the passing game.
Ravens Defense Forces 5 Dolphins Turnovers
Baltmore Ravens 27, Miami Dolphins 9
The Baltimore Ravens had the Miami Dolphins and Chad Pennington under pressure throughout the game as they forced
four interceptions, including one returned 64 yards for a touchdown by Ed Reed.
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.
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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
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