NFL 2008 Week 13: Steelers Face Patriots in Foxborough

NFL Football 2008 Quarterback Matt Cassel of the New England Patriots Week 7 AFC Offensive Player of the Week

This game has a lot of scenarios.

First off, the AFC North-leading Steelers want revenge for a 34-13 pasting by the Patriots a year ago in New England when TOM BRADY threw for 399 yards and WR RANDY MOSS posted seven catches for 135 yards.

But things, of course, have changed in a year.

Now MATT CASSEL's at QB for the Patriots and in each of his last two games has thrown for 400 yards (one more than Brady has in his career). Cassel can set the NFL consecutive record in the category with another 400-yarder this Sunday. Thing is, he goes against the toughest defense in the NFL that leads the league in overall, passing and rushing defense.

Cassel also faces marauding LBs JAMES HARRISON (12.0 sacks) and LA MARR WOODLEY (10.5), the only two players from the same team in the top five in NFL sacks. Cassel, who played mostly out of the shotgun last week against Miami, has been protected well recently by his OL, going down only six times in the last four games.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) at New England Patriots (7-4)

The Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium in a matchup of AFC playoff contenders.

The Steelers bring the NFLs top-ranked defense to Foxborough for a late-season clash for the second straight season.

This year, the Pittsburgh defense has allowed the league's fewest yards and fewest points, while the Patriots offense is coming off of back-to-back 500-yard games for the first time in franchise history. The Steelers are also among the NFLs best teams away from home, compiling a 4-1 on the road this season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers own a 12-7 all-time record against the New England Patriots in regular season games while the Patriots hold 3-1 edge in postseason games. The New England Patriots have won six of the past seven games in the series, including victories in the 2001 and 2004 AFC Championship games, both in Pittsburgh

The Steelers are 3-2 in New England, but Pittsburgh is 0-2 all-time at Gillette Stadium. The Steelers last victory in New England was a 24-21 overtime victory in 1997.

The Steelers snapped the Patriots' NFL-record 18-game regular-season winning streak in 2004 with a 34-20 victory at Heinz Field on Oct. 31.

The Patriots have traditionally saved their best football for the end of the season and lead the NFL with a 48-9 (.842) record in games played on Thanksgiving Day or later in the NFL season since 2001. The record includes playoff games. This week, New England hosts the league's second-best team in games on Thanksgiving or later since 2001, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming to Gillette Stadium posting a 36-16 (.692) record in such games. New England will look to continue its run of success on Thanksgiving Weekend, having won six of its last seven games during the holiday weekend.

NFL 2008 Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers 27 Cincinnati Bengals 10

Last week (NFL 2008 Week 12), the Steelers defeated the Bengals at home 27 - 10. In that game, The Steelers scored 20 consecutive points after trailing the Cincinnati Bengals. It was the fifth consecutive win for Pittsburgh over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers improved their record to 8-3 and lead the Baltimore Ravens by 1 game in the AFC North Division.

NFL 2008 Week 12: New England Patriots 48 Miami Dolphins 28

The Patriots improved to 7-4 with a division win over the Dolphins in Miami. The Dolphins took a 21-17 lead early in the second half, but the Patriots outscored Miami 31-7 the rest of the way and cruised to victory.

The Patriots offense had a historic game, piling up 530 total net yards as quarterback Matt Cassel passed for 400 yards for the second straight week. Randy Moss had eight catches for 125 yards and three touchdowns, while Wes Welker added eight catches for 120 yards.

The Patriots 530 net yards of offense is the second highest offensive yardage output in Patriots team history and the most since gaining a team-record 597 total net yards against the New York Jets on Sept. 9, 1979.

Matt Cassel 415 passing yards against the Dolphins, is the fifth time in NFL history a quarterback has totaled 400 or more passing yards in back-to-back games. Cassel threw for 400 yards against the New York Jets (Nov. 13).

Cassel is the first player to achieve the feat since Tennessee Titans QB Billy Volek in 2004 (426 yards on 12/13/04 and 492 yards on 12/19/04). In addition to Volek, the other NFL passers to have achieved the feat are San Diego's Dan Fouts in 1982 (444 yards on 12/11/82 and 435 yards on 12/20/82), Miami's Dan Marino in 1984 (470 yards on 12/2/84 and 404 yards on 12/9/84) and the New York Giants' Phil Simms in 1985 (432 yards on 10/6/85 and 513 yards on 10/13/85). Cassel joins Drew Bledsoe as the only Patriots quarterbacks to pass for 400 yards or more in two or more games. Bledsoe had four 400-yard passing games with the Patriots (two in 1994, one in 1996 and one in 1998). The other Patriots players to achieve the feat are Tom Brady (1), Tony Eason (1), Steve Grogan (1) and Tom Ramsey (1).

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-3)

    The Steelers are 7-1 (.875) against AFC teams this NFL 2008 season

    In 3 career regular season games against the New England Patriots, QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER has completed 49 of 84 passes (58.3 pct.) for 599 yards with 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs & 100.2 passer rating. Including playoffs, the Steelers are 29-2 (.935) when Roethlisberger has 100+ passer rating

    In their last meeting against the New England Patriots, RB WILLIE PARKER gained 124 yards (5.9 avg.) on 21 attempts. RB MEWELDE MOORE has career-high 5 rush TDs in NFL 2008

    WR HINES WARD is averaging 91 receiving yards per game in past 3 (273 total). Ward has totaled 9 catches for 149 yards (16.6 avg.) with 2 TDs in past 2 against Patriots. For career, WR SANTONIO HOLMES averages 16.7 yards per catch (140 receptions; 2,332 yards)

    Club leads AFC with 37 sacks

    LB JAMES HARRISON (12) & LB LA MARR WOODLEY (10.5) have totaled 22.5 sacks in NFL 2008. Harrison has 3.5 sacks in past 4 games

    S TROY POLAMALU (5) needs 1 INT to set career-high (5 in '04) & aims for 3rd consecutive game with INT

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (7-4)

    Including postseason, BILL BELICHICK aims for 150th career win as head coach

    Including playoffs, Pats are 5-1 (.833) vs. Steelers since 2000

    QB MATT CASSEL aims for 3rd consecutive 400-yard passing & 3rd game in row with 3 TDs

    RB KEVIN FAULK totaled 105 yards last week (53 rush, 52 receiving). Rookie RB BEN JARVUS GREEN-ELLIS (undrafted free agent) has 5 rush TDs in past 6

    In last game against the Steelers, WR RANDY MOSS posted 7 receptions for 135 yards (19.3 avg.). For career, Moss averages 99.6 rush yards per game against Steelers (299 total). Moss (59) is tied for 2nd in NFL for most 100-yard receiving games (MARVIN HARRISON, 59; JERRY RICE, 76)

    Since 2007, WR WES WELKER leads NFL with 192 receptions. Welker can become 1st player in NFL history with 6+ receptions in team's 1st 12 games. Welker aims for 4th consecutive game with 100+ receiving yards (107, 108, 120)

    DE RICHARD SEYMOUR (7) needs 2 sacks to surpass career-high (8 in '03) & aims for 4th consecutive game with sack

    Rookie LB JEROD MAYO leads team with 98 tackles.

PREDICTION: Steelers 24 Patriots 10

Cassel has been hot the past two weeks, but has not faced the best of defenses (Jets & Dolphins). This week is a different story. As a team, the Steelers defense ranks 1st in Points Allowed per Game (14.5), Yards per Game (235.4), Passing Yards Allowed per Game (168.8) and Rushing Yards Allowed per Game (66.5). Let's see how good Matt Cassel is at reading the Steelers defense.

NFL 2008 Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers Face Patriots in Foxborough - NFL 2008