Sunday night game (1 Viewer)

[Evilgrin 72]

Don't kid yourself, Sherriff. The Chargers are a quality team and beating them at home is not going to be easy.

I think the Chargers -3 1/2 is pretty much on the money.

I'm not saying that this game is going to be easy, Burning Sensation is, but don't tell me the Chargers are that much better than the Steelers after beating up on 2 step children then losing to the 27th ranked offense. The Steelers passing game could not have played any worse in those 2 losses, and they should be 2-1 IMO. The only thing I'm disputing in this game the notion that Burning Sensation thinks SD win walking away....as I said earlier in this thread, this is going to be a good game.

Yep, and i am sure after i am right Sunday night i will just be considered "lucky", and that you guys who thought it would be a close game will still be right, but will claim the Steelers just caught some bad breaks or some other excuse.

If the Steelers lose a game, I have no problem saying it, but if they hand one away I will come right out and say it as well. I don’t get the reasoning why you think the Chargers are the best thing since sliced white bread, and so much better then the Steelers that they probably shouldn’t even show up. Care to explain ? You don't watch much football, huh ?

Good teams dont "hand games away", thats what made the Steelers as good as they were last year. The reason i like the Chargers so much over the Steelers is BECAUSE i watch the games.It seems alot of you are basing your reasoning for liking the Steelers on the fact that they are the "Steelers", and last years Superbowl winners, that they HAVE to make the playoffs this year. Making Sundays game a "must win". What is it about the way the Steelers have played this year makes you think they can go into SanDiego and win? Of course other than the argument about how well they played against the Bengals before giving the game away, which makes little sense, especially for the Steelers.

The bolded part is exactly right. And they didn't hand it away vs. Jacksonville, they just played a great defense with an outstanding scheme that execcuted to perfection. No shame there, the Jags were just the better team that night, and I believe any Steelers fan will admit it. However, last week's game was eminently winnable. In fact, I still believe they were the better team overall and should have won the game, and I think most Steelers fans will agree again. They shot themselves in the foot with stupid mistakes, and deserved to lose as a result. Great teams don't do that.The difference of opinion here is that you're saying "That was last year, this is this year. The Steelers haven't shown me anything, and they're not a great team just because they were great last year." Those who oppose your viewpoint are of the mindset that there was very little roster turnover during the offseason, the Steelers ARE still a great team, and that the loss last week was not necessarily a harbinger of things to come, but rather an anomaly based on some uncharacteristic mental errors and a rusty Roethlisberger playing a poor game. They believe this trend is unlikely to continue, while you seem sure that it will.

This difference of opinion is why the line favors the Chargers only on home field advantage and why it will not jump to at least 5 as you claim. In fact, one of my two books already has it down to 3, while the other is still at 3 1/2 (but offering odds trending lower, indicating money bet already weighted to Pittsburgh.)

Remember, a book sets the line not on what they think the outcome will be, but where they think betting will be equal on both sides. Pittsburgh has a huge, rabid, national fan base and the added attraction of being the defending champs. Right or wrong, that means money is going to flow more heavily in that direction. So, saying the oddsmakers got it wrong is inaccurate. Rather, you should say that foolish bettors will pile money on Pittsburgh when it's obvious that San Diego is a much better team. Of course, whether or not that proves to be true remains to be seen.

This is the exact kind of response i was looking for when i started the thread. I dont disagree with one thing you said here. Yes, i misspoke, i should have said the line is not close to reflecting what the actual outcome will be, and the oddsmakers probably know it.

Of course, whether or not that proves to be true remains to be seen.

Except by me apparently

See, I'm perfectly capable of discussing the Steelers without a constant homer bent, no matter the exclamations of those who believe otherwise. Sorry if I take a different route when it comes to BGP - he starts this stuff with the express purpose of extracting passionate rebuke from Steeler fans, so I just give him what he wants. I'm sure it would be more effective to ignore him, like you're dealing with a hyperactive 3-year old fishing for attention by acting up, but it's more fun to fight back.

 

[Burning Sensation]

Don't kid yourself, Sherriff. The Chargers are a quality team and beating them at home is not going to be easy.

I think the Chargers -3 1/2 is pretty much on the money.

I'm not saying that this game is going to be easy, Burning Sensation is, but don't tell me the Chargers are that much better than the Steelers after beating up on 2 step children then losing to the 27th ranked offense. The Steelers passing game could not have played any worse in those 2 losses, and they should be 2-1 IMO. The only thing I'm disputing in this game the notion that Burning Sensation thinks SD win walking away....as I said earlier in this thread, this is going to be a good game.

Yep, and i am sure after i am right Sunday night i will just be considered "lucky", and that you guys who thought it would be a close game will still be right, but will claim the Steelers just caught some bad breaks or some other excuse.

If the Steelers lose a game, I have no problem saying it, but if they hand one away I will come right out and say it as well. I don’t get the reasoning why you think the Chargers are the best thing since sliced white bread, and so much better then the Steelers that they probably shouldn’t even show up. Care to explain ? You don't watch much football, huh ?

Good teams dont "hand games away", thats what made the Steelers as good as they were last year. The reason i like the Chargers so much over the Steelers is BECAUSE i watch the games.It seems alot of you are basing your reasoning for liking the Steelers on the fact that they are the "Steelers", and last years Superbowl winners, that they HAVE to make the playoffs this year. Making Sundays game a "must win". What is it about the way the Steelers have played this year makes you think they can go into SanDiego and win? Of course other than the argument about how well they played against the Bengals before giving the game away, which makes little sense, especially for the Steelers.

The bolded part is exactly right. And they didn't hand it away vs. Jacksonville, they just played a great defense with an outstanding scheme that execcuted to perfection. No shame there, the Jags were just the better team that night, and I believe any Steelers fan will admit it. However, last week's game was eminently winnable. In fact, I still believe they were the better team overall and should have won the game, and I think most Steelers fans will agree again. They shot themselves in the foot with stupid mistakes, and deserved to lose as a result. Great teams don't do that.The difference of opinion here is that you're saying "That was last year, this is this year. The Steelers haven't shown me anything, and they're not a great team just because they were great last year." Those who oppose your viewpoint are of the mindset that there was very little roster turnover during the offseason, the Steelers ARE still a great team, and that the loss last week was not necessarily a harbinger of things to come, but rather an anomaly based on some uncharacteristic mental errors and a rusty Roethlisberger playing a poor game. They believe this trend is unlikely to continue, while you seem sure that it will.

This difference of opinion is why the line favors the Chargers only on home field advantage and why it will not jump to at least 5 as you claim. In fact, one of my two books already has it down to 3, while the other is still at 3 1/2 (but offering odds trending lower, indicating money bet already weighted to Pittsburgh.)

Remember, a book sets the line not on what they think the outcome will be, but where they think betting will be equal on both sides. Pittsburgh has a huge, rabid, national fan base and the added attraction of being the defending champs. Right or wrong, that means money is going to flow more heavily in that direction. So, saying the oddsmakers got it wrong is inaccurate. Rather, you should say that foolish bettors will pile money on Pittsburgh when it's obvious that San Diego is a much better team. Of course, whether or not that proves to be true remains to be seen.

This is the exact kind of response i was looking for when i started the thread. I dont disagree with one thing you said here. Yes, i misspoke, i should have said the line is not close to reflecting what the actual outcome will be, and the oddsmakers probably know it.

Of course, whether or not that proves to be true remains to be seen.

Except by me apparently

See, I'm perfectly capable of discussing the Steelers without a constant homer bent, no matter the exclamations of those who believe otherwise. Sorry if I take a different route when it comes to BGP - he starts this stuff with the express purpose of extracting passionate rebuke from Steeler fans, so I just give him what he wants. I'm sure it would be more effective to ignore him, like you're dealing with a hyperactive 3-year old fishing for attention by acting up, but it's more fun to fight back.

Most people here are like this, thats why i dont really post here much anymore.The only reason i started this thread is because i know whats going to happen in this game Sunday night. Is it possible that what i know is wrong? sure, but its never happend before.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Chargers v. Steelers

NBC’s Sunday Night Football will make its first-ever stop in Southern California on Sunday night Oct. 8 when the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers roll into Qualcomm Stadium to face the San Diego Chargers. Kickoff is set for 5:15 p.m. PDT.

It will be the first-ever on-field matchup between Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, two of the three highly-touted quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

The Chargers come into the game 2-1 and tied with Denver for first place in the AFC West, while the Steelers come in at 1-2. The Chargers lost a heartbreaker at Baltimore last weekend, 16-13, while Pittsburgh had a bye. It’s the second year in a row that the Chargers have met Pittsburgh with the Steelers coming off their bye.

2006 marks the fifth-consecutive year that the Chargers have faced one or both of the teams that played in the previous year’s Super Bowl and it’s the second year in a row that the Bolts have faced the defending champions. As they did in 2005, San Diego will play both of the previous year’s Super Bowl participants, facing the Steelers on Sunday night and the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 24.

Last season, the Chargers split their games against the previous year’s Super Bowl teams, defeating the New England Patriots (41-17) in Foxboro and losing to the Eagles (20-17) in Philadelphia.

Sunday night’s game will be televised across the nation on NBC (KNSD-TV, Channel 7/39 in San Diego) with Al Michaels and John Madden calling the action from the broadcast booth and Andrea Kremer reporting from the sideline. This is the second year in a row that the Chargers and Steelers will play before a national TV audience. Westwood One and CBS Radio Sports will also carry the game across the nation and on the Armed Forces Radio Network with Dave Sims and Bob Trumpy calling the action and Kevin Kiley reporting from the sidelines.

THE HOT LIST

• Donnie Edwards had his first interception of the season last Sunday in Baltimore…Edwards’ 25 career interceptions are the most among active linebackers in the NFL…against the Ravens, Edwards started his 124th consecutive game…it’s the seventh-longest active streak in the NFL.

• Shawne Merriman recorded his fourth sack of the season against the Ravens…he leads the team and his four sacks are tied for the third-most in the league.

• Shaun Phillips had his third sack of the season in Baltimore…he ranks second on the squad to Merriman and his three sacks are tied for the fifth-most in the league.

• Quentin Jammer intercepted his second pass of the year against Baltimore…it’s his highest single-season interception total since 2003 (4)…Jammer makes a $1,000 donation to the American Cancer Society for each pick.

• Mike Scifres leads the NFL with a 43.9-yard net punting average and his 47.1-yard gross average is fourth in the league…Scifres tied his career-long with a 71-yard punt in Baltimore and he averaged a whopping 53.8 yards per punt on five tries versus the Ravens…his 71 yarder is the longest punt in the league this season…only four of Scifres’ 12 punts have been returned this season for a total of 18 yards.

• Nate Kaeding tied the Chargers team record with a career-long 54-yard field goal last Sunday in Baltimore…that kick was his 14th field goal in a row without a miss, tying the third-longest consecutive makes streak in team history…the Bolts’ third-year kicker, who just signed a new contract extension through 2012 last week, is a steady 8-of-9 on field goal tries this season...he’s also hit 79 consecutive point after tries…it’s the second-longest streak in team history and just eight shy of Rolf Benirschke’s team record (87)…his 54-yarder against the Ravens on Sunday is the NFL’s

longest field goal of the season.

• Michael Turner is averaging 9.2 yards per carry in the Chargers last two games…he’s got 20 carries for 184 yards, including a 73 yarder against Tennessee Sept. 17.

• Philip Rivers has a 96.9 passer rating, seventh-highest in the league, and a .676 completion percentage, third-best in the NFL…his fourth-quarter passer rating of 131.3 is second in the league and his 99.1 rating on third down plays is fifth.

• LaDainian Tomlinson’s 300 rushing yards are seventh in the NFL and his three rushing TDs are tied for second.

BOLTS LOOK FOR THIRD-STRAIGHT WIN UNDER THE LIGHTS

The Chargers will face the Steelers on Sunday night in search of their third consecutive victory in a nationallytelevised night game. Their last two wins were both victories against the Raiders. During their series, the Chargers and Steelers have played three nationally-televised night games and the Bolts have won two of the three.

SERIES HISTORY

The Chargers and Steelers will meet for the 27th time, including playoffs, when they face off on Sunday night at QUALCOMM Stadium. It’s a matchup that the Steelers have dominated, winning 19 of the 26 games, including five straight. The Chargers last win though was perhaps the most memorable in the entire series, a 17-13 win over the Steelers in the 1994 AFC Championship Game at Three Rivers Stadium that sent the Chargers to Super Bowl XXIX, their first and only Super Bowl in franchise history. Chargers fans will always remember Stan Humphries’ two touchdown passes to Al Pupunu and Tony Martin in the second half and Dennis Gibson’s dramatic pass defense on a fourth down play in the end zone at the end of the game to preserve the win and send the Bolts to Miami.

BOLTS SPORT THE POWDER BLUES

Nostalgia will be in the air on Sunday night when the Chargers take the field wearing their Powder Blue Throwback jerseys with the white helmets and pants. The uniform was first made popular in the 1960s and the excitement surrounding it was later rekindled when the team wore it twice during its 1994 run to Super Bowl XXIX. The Bolts also wore their Throwback uniforms last year when they faced the Steelers in a Monday Night Football game in San Diego.

Since 1994, the Chargers have played eight regular-season home games wearing the Powder Blue jerseys with the white helmets and pants and the team is 3-5 in those eight games.

BOLTS ONLY ALLOW 23 POINTS

Three games into the season, the Chargers have the NFL’s second-greatest point differential, outscoring their opponents by 57 points (80-23). The 23 points the Bolts have allowed in their first three games is the fewest-ever by the team in a three-game stretch to open the season.

DEFENSE DOMINATES

Through the first three games of the season, the Chargers defense has only surrendered a total of 553 yards, the fewest they have ever allowed in a three-game stretch to open the season.

BOLTS LEAD THE LEAGUE IN DEFENSE

The Chargers currently lead the NFL in total defense. They rank first against the pass and second against the run. Since Wade Phillips arrived as defensive coordinator in 2004, the Bolts defense has steadily improved. In 2003, the year before Phillips arrived, San Diego’s defense ranked 27th out of 32 teams. In his first season in 2004, the Bolts ranked 18th and last season, 2005, the Bolts climbed to 13th.

CAMERON MOVES THE BOLTS OFFENSE

Under the direction of Cam Cameron, San Diego’s offense is once again one of the NFL’s best. After three games, the Chargers are ranked ninth in the NFL in total offense. Cameron arrived in 2002 and since his arrival, the Chargers offense has improved each year, ranking 16th in 2002, 14th in 2003, 10th in 2004 and 10th again in 2005.

WAYNE’S WORLD

San Diego’s run defense is once again ranked among the league’s elite. Through three games, the Chargers are only allowing 66.0 yards per game, second-fewest in the NFL.

Stuffing the run all starts up front on the defensive line and the Chargers have been among the NFL’s best at doing so since Wayne Nunnely arrived as defensive line coach in 1997. From 1997 to the present, the Chargers have only allowed their opponents to rush for 94.5 yards per game, third-lowest in the NFL.

THREE AND OUT

The NFL doesn’t keep an official statistic on how many times a team forces its opponent off the field in three plays or less, but the Chargers have to be among the league’s best. Through the first three games, the Chargers have forced their opponents off the field in three plays or less either with a punt or a turnover 19 out of 36 drives (.528).

O-LINE STEPS UP

The Chargers offensive line, featuring starters Shane Olivea (RT), Mike Goff (RG), Nick Hardwick ©, Kris Dielman (LG) and rookie Marcus McNeill (LT) has been solid through the first three games of the season. In three games and 69 total pass plays, the group has only surrendered one sack. The line has also paved the way for the league’s second-ranked rushing attack. In the three games this season, quarterback Philip Rivers has only been hit three times and two of the three times he completed passes, including a 38-yarder to Eric Parker in the season opener and a 12-yarder to Michael Turner Week 2 against Tennessee.

LT AND MT

The Chargers have an outstanding one-two punch of running backs in LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner. Collectively, the Chargers have the NFL’s second-ranked rushing offense. Individually, Tomlinson leads the team with 300 yards. His 131-yard performance in the ’06 season opener is the NFL’s seventh-best rushing performance of the young season. Turner has 221 yards and is averaging 7.4 yards per carry, highest in the NFL among running backs with at least 30 carries. His 138-yard performance Sept. 17 against Tennessee is the NFL’s third-best performance of the season. His 73-yard run against the Titans is tied as the seventhlongest run in team history.

BOLTS’ 2006 OPPONENTS

Just one year after facing one of the NFL’s most difficult schedules, the Chargers would seem to have a more favorable slate in 2006. Despite the fact that the Chargers face both Super Bowl participants (Pittsburgh and Seattle) and play only five games against teams that were in the playoffs last season, the Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars share the NFL’s 20th-most difficult schedule (.488 W-L percentage in 2005). Those numbers are based on last season’s results and show that the Chargers 2006 opponents were a combined 125-131 last season. The Chargers only play seven games this season against teams that had better than a .500 winning percentage in 2005, tied for the fewest in the league and the Bolts’ five games against 2005 playoff teams are tied for the second-fewest in the league. On the following page is a look at the Chargers 2006 opponents, along with how they fared in 2005 and how they’ve done so far in 2006.

CHARGERS-STEELERS CONNECTIONS

• Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and enjoyed a standout career as a linebacker at the University of Pittsburgh…he was an All-Western Pennsylvania performer at Ft. Cherry High School in McDonald, PA…Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher has a long history with Schottenheimer…Cowher played linebacker for the Cleveland Browns from 1980-82 when Schottenheimer was an assistant coach…he later coached special teams (1985-86) and defensive backs (1987-88) in Cleveland on Schottenheimer’s staff…when Schottenheimer became the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1989, Cowher followed him to there as defensive coordinator, spending three seasons (1989-1991) before landing his current job with the Steelers.

• Steelers wide receivers coach Bruce Arians served as Schottenheimer’s running backs coach with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989-1992.

• Chargers offensive line coach Jack Henry held the same position with the Steelers (1990-91) and the University of Pittsburgh (1993-95)…he’s a native of Houston, Pa. and played at Penn State and Indiana (PA) University…assistant offensive line coach Hal Hunter is from Cannonsburg, Pa.

• Chargers linebackers coach Greg Manusky is from Wilkes-Barre, PA and he attended Dallas High School.

• Chargers college scout Paul Skansi was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth-round of the 1983 NFL draft and spent his rookie season with the Steelers.

• Chargers safety Bhawoh Jue attended Penn State University…tackle Leander Jordan is a Pittsburgh native…he attended Brashear High School and was named first-team all-conference while at Indiana (PA) University.

• Steelers defensive backs coach Darren Perry signed a contract with the Chargers in 1999 but never played with the team due to a neck injury.

• The following Steelers players have ties to Southern California: Linebacker Clark Haggans (Torrance, California; Peninsula High School), defensive tackle Chris Hoke (Long Beach,CA; Foothill HS), safety Troy Polamalu (Southern California) and linebacker Joey Porter (Bakersfield, CA; Foothills HS).

• The following players were college teammates: Chargers DE Luis Castillo with Steelers T Trai Essex at Northwestern…Chargers CB Quentin Jammer and Steelers NT Casey Hampton at Texas…Chargers TE Antonio Gates and Steelers LB James Harrison attended Kent State at the same time, although Gates did not play football for the Golden Flashes…Chargers LB Donnie Edwards with DE Travis Kirschke at UCLA…Chargers LB Randall Godfrey and Steelers WR Hines Ward at Georgia…Chargers WR Eric Parker with Steelers WR Cedric Wilson at Tennessee…Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie with Steelers WR Willie Reid and CB Bryant McFadden at Florida State.

TOMLINSON TOPS THE 10,000-YARD MARK

With 122 total yards from scrimmage in the Chargers Sept. 17 win over Tennessee, Tomlinson became the first player in team history and the 63rd player in NFL history to record 10,000 career yards from scrimmage. Tomlinson reached the plateau in his 81st career game, tying him with the legendary Jim Brown as the third-fastest players in league history to reach the mark. Edgerrin James is the fastest player in league history to get to 10,000 yards, doing it in 78 games, while Eric Dickerson is the second-fastest, reaching the plateau in his 80th career game.

McCARDELL LOOKS TO START NEW STREAK

Keenan McCardell will look to start a new receptions streak on Sunday night against the Steelers. Last Sunday, his streak of 104 consecutive games with at least one catch came to an end when he was blanked by the Ravens. It had been the seventh-longest active streak in the NFL. The last time McCardell played in a game without having at least one catch was way back on Dec. 20, 1998 in a game against the Minnesota Vikings.

If McCardell is going to re-start his streak, the Steelers would be a good team to start against. During his career, McCardell has played against the Steelers 20 times, catching 71 passes for 895 yards and four touchdowns.

BINN TO TIE WILKERSON ON SUNDAY NIGHT

David Binn will be playing in his 195th career game on Sunday night when the Chargers host the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will tie him with Doug Wilkerson (1971-1984) for the second-most games played in team history. Binn needs to play in six more games to tie the team record for games played (200), which is shared by Junior Seau (1990-2002) and Russ Washington (1968-1982). Assuming he plays in every game this season, he will tie that mark when the Bolts face the Bengals in Cincinnati on Nov. 12.

Binn has been known for durability and consistency throughout his career. In 12-plus pro seasons, he has only ever missed one game due to injury and his pinpoint snaps have helped propel the careers of some outstanding kickers and punters, including Nate Kaeding, Mike Scifres, John Carney and Darren Bennett. Carney is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and Bennett is the team’s all-time leading punter.

McNEILL NAMED NFL OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE MONTH

Starting left tackle Marcus McNeill was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month in September. The Chargers’ second-round draft pick in 2006 out of Auburn, McNeill helped the Bolts get off to a 2-0 start to the season while playing on every offensive snap. Protecting the blind-side of quarterback PHILIP RIVERS, McNeill was a significant part of an offensive line that did not allowed a sack in September while establishing the No. 2-ranked rushing attack in the league, averaging 217.5 yards per game.

STEELERS NOTES

• The Steelers look to improve to 20-5 all-time in the regular season against the Chargers and look for their sixth straight win in the series. Pittsburgh is also looking for its 10th win in the past 12 games versus San Diego.

• The Steelers are looking to snap a two-game losing streak in the regular season. They had won five straight regular-season games, dating back to last season, prior to their Week 2 loss at Jacksonville.

• The Steelers look to improve to 8-2 against San Diego under Bill Cowher.

• Pittsburgh is looking for its fifth straight win against a team from the AFC West. The Steelers have twice defeated Oakland and San Diego, dating back to 2003.

• The Steelers own the best winning percentage (.628) over the past 14 seasons (under Bill Cowher) in the NFL.

• RB Willie Parker has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the first three games of 2006. He began the 2006 season in style as he finished with 115 yards on 29 carries (4.0 avg.) against Miami, which was his seventh career 100-yard rushing game and his third straight in the regular season. In Week 3 versus Cincinnati, Parker finished with a season-high 133 yards on the ground on 31 (career high) carries (4.3 avg.). He posted his first multi-touchdown game against the Bengals as well. In his first year as a starter, he finished the 2005 regular season with 1,202 rushing yards, which were the sixth-best output in team history, and he looks to become the first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher for the Steelers since Jerome Bettis accomplished the feat from 1996-2001 (six straight seasons).

• QB Ben Roethlisberger, who missed the 2006 season opener after having an appendectomy, owns a 22-5 career record as a starter in the regular season, the best mark for an active starting quarterback in the NFL. He ranked third in the NFL with a 98.6 passer rating last year and led the Steelers to a victory in Super Bowl XL, becoming the youngest starting QB in NFL history to win a Super Bowl.

• LB Joey Porter has 55 career sacks, which is fifth on the team’s all-time list, after posting two against Miami in this year’s season opener. He needs five more sacks to move into fourth place on the Steelers’ all-time sack list ahead of Keith Willis (59). He also picked off a pass against the Dolphins and returned it for a touchdown, his first on an interception return. Porter posted a team-best 10.5 sacks in 2005, which were the most by a linebacker in the NFL. Additionally, his 10.5 sacks tied his career high that he set in 2000.

• TE Heath Miller scored on a Heinz Field-record 87-yard touchdown reception in the season-opening victory over Miami. It marked the longest catch by a TE in the NFL since Byron Chamberlain had an 88-yard reception on Oct. 17, 1999. It was also the longest touchdown hauled in by a tight end since Rich Caster had an 89-yard touchdown catch on Oct. 7, 1974. He finished with his first 100-yard game of his career, posting three catches for 101 yards (33.7 avg.). On the year, Miller leads the team with 146 yards receiving (seven catches). In 2005, Miller was one touchdown shy of tying a Steelers’ tight end rookie record (7). He caught a touchdown pass in four straight games and had six scores on the year, ranking third (tied) by a tight end in the NFL.

• K Jeff Reed has made 38 straight field goals from inside 40 yards and was 24-of-29 in field-goal attempts last year. Reed has 414 points, which ranks sixth on the Steelers’ all-time scoring list.

• Post-Bye Week Success: The Steelers have won four of their last five games following a bye week, including a 24-22 victory at San Diego last year. During the Bill Cowher era, Pittsburgh is 9-6 after its bye week (the Steelers had two bye weeks during the 1993 season).

• Sunday Night Showdown: The Steelers own a 10-11 all-time mark in Sunday Night games, including a 7-6 mark during the Bill Cowher era. Pittsburgh has won two straight games on Sunday Night, including a 34-21 victory over Cleveland last year on Nov. 13. Golden State Glory: The Steelers will make their first of two trips to California as they play at San Diego (Oct. 8) following the bye week. Additionally, Pittsburgh returns to the Golden State on Oct. 29 for a matchup at the Oakland Raiders.

• How The West Was Won: Pittsburgh is looking for its fifth straight regular-season victory (sixth including win over Denver in the playoffs) over a team from the AFC West as it travels to San Diego following its bye week.

• Consistency Counts: In the past 37 seasons, the Steelers have employed two head coaches, yielding five Super Bowl championships, 17 division titles and 22 playoff berths.

• Among The Best: Head coach Bill Cowher has averaged 10 wins per year since he took over in 1992. Among the 19 head coaches that have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Cowher’s 10 wins per year average would rank third behind Don Shula (10.5 avg.) and Bill Walsh (10.2).

 

[Sheriff66]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06279/727880-66.stm

Steelers Notebook: Reid to handle returns; injured Colclough out

Friday, October 06, 2006

By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Steelers will gain a new punt-returner for their game Sunday night in San Diego, but they also will lose a cornerback -- perhaps for an extended period of time.

Coach Bill Cowher said yesterday that rookie Willie Reid, inactive for the first three games, will return punts and kickoffs against the Chargers -- a move designed to bolster a stagnant return game.

But he also said backup cornerback Ricardo Colclough will not play because of a neck injury that could sideline the former No. 2 pick for a longer period of time, perhaps the season. The decision came after Colclough, who fumbled a fourth-quarter punt in the Sept. 24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, underwent tests yesterday morning to determine the severity of his injury.

Colclough returned from the bye weekend complaining of a problem in his neck. He practiced in non-contact drills with the team Monday and Wednesday and lifted weights.

"It's a nerve issue we have to get rectified," Cowher said. "We really don't know [how he was injured]. He doesn't remember any specific situation. It's something he's been feeling for a week."

Reid, a No. 3 draft pick who was one of the nation's top returners, will split the punt-return duties with rookie No. 1 pick Santonio Holmes, who will continue to handle punts near the goal line. Reid and Holmes will also be paired together on kick returns.

Reid was the team's top punt-returner in the preseason, gaining 88 yards on 10 returns, but he has been inactive in the regular season because Steelers were dressing five wide receivers, including special-teams captain Sean Morey. At Florida State, Reid set a school-record with a 15.4-yard return average and tied a school record with three punt returns for touchdowns as a senior.

In an Orange Bowl defeat to Penn State, Reid returned seven punts for 180 yards, including an 87-yard touchdown. Reid's performance was a record for any bowl game.

"I'm very satisfied, very happy," Reid said about returning punts. "It was a couple weeks of waiting, being patient and working hard. Hopefully, it will pay off Sunday night."

 

[Sheriff66]

Just wanted to bump this, 7-0, Steelers have the wet blanket D going, LT going NOWHERE....

 

[Sheriff66]

Wow, unbelieveable footwork on that TD....

 

[Gr00vus]

I dont think i have ever seen a line so far off. I was sure the spread in that game was going to be in the 7 - 8 range. I was shocked to see it at - 3 1/2 last night, no way this spread is not at least 5 by Sunday. Yes, i unloaded my yearly winnings on the Chargers this morning as soon as the game went up on my site.

So what are you going to do with all the money?

 

[Burning Sensation]

I dont think i have ever seen a line so far off. I was sure the spread in that game was going to be in the 7 - 8 range. I was shocked to see it at - 3 1/2 last night, no way this spread is not at least 5 by Sunday. Yes, i unloaded my yearly winnings on the Chargers this morning as soon as the game went up on my site.

So what are you going to do with all the money?

Larry Johnson getting his head ripped of before he scored a TD cost me alot of what i eventualy won on the Chargers.

 

[Gr00vus]

I dont think i have ever seen a line so far off. I was sure the spread in that game was going to be in the 7 - 8 range. I was shocked to see it at - 3 1/2 last night, no way this spread is not at least 5 by Sunday. Yes, i unloaded my yearly winnings on the Chargers this morning as soon as the game went up on my site.

So what are you going to do with all the money?

Larry Johnson getting his head ripped of before he scored a TD cost me alot of what i eventualy won on the Chargers.

Sorry about that, but at least you had this one nailed.

 

[Burning Sensation]

I dont like to put too much stock in past years results when looking at how a team is this year. Hypothetical situation, you take an NFL oddsmaker who has been stranded on a deserted island for the last 5 years. Now this oddsmaker, having no idea of the last 5 years results watched all the Chargers and Steelers games this year, what would he set the line at? I know this is probably a bit extreme, but fact is the Chargers looked better in their only loss than the Steelers did in their only win.

You said 27-10 Chargers is this game ??? Can't wait to bump this one Sunday night, you act like the Ravens offense is any better than last year, they are 27th overall even with McNair...

What happened to your bump last night?