2005 Game 3 Preview, Pats at Heinz

September 23, 2005 by Steel Phantom

2005 Game 2 Preview

2005 Game 3 Preview

For two games, the Steelers have played (nearly) flawless football.� That is especially true of the PSO, which is #3 in both points and total yards.� Ben Roethlisberger leads the world with a stratospheric 153.6 QB rating.� Willie Parker is #2 in rushing, with 272 yards, 4 behind T-Bay rook Cadillac Williams, who has had four carries more.� The PSO has allowed just (1) sack and, most important, has committed no turnovers.� None.

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In years past, the Steeler offense has been TOP oriented, grinding time, keeping the PSD fresh.� On the downside, this mode generally kept the score close.� The 2005 edition is different: with quick strike capacity either by air or ground, this PSO scored on their opening 6 possessions Week 1, and their opening 4 possessions Week 2.�� TOP-wise, well, this is not the 35-minute per game beast of 2001, or 2004.� Nonetheless, quick-strike mode has benefited this Steeler defense, forcing both opponents towards a 1-dimensional chuck and duck mode throughout the 2^nd half, if not earlier.� This has played towards the Steelers� defensive strength, evident far more in their packages, especially the quarter, than their base.�

While the Steeler O has been a paragon of efficiency, so far, the Pats� has not.� Week 1, NE turned in a workmanlike performance executing the Oakland Raiders, but that is a team that came out of their last Super Bowl to compile a 9-25 record over the past two plus seasons.�� Week 2, in Carolina, NE imploded; uncharacteristically, the Pats beat themselves, sucking down a hellbroth of penalties and repetitive ST breakdowns.� In a form befitting those Raiders, NE had 12 penalties, including (6) O-side pre-snap plus a D-hold that negated an INT, costing 42 yards of precious field position.� There were ST failures too, especially punt coverage: Carolina CB Chris Gamble had one PR, for 76 yards, which preceded a Carolina TD drive of 13 yards.� Ultimately, Carolina gained nearly as many yards in the return game as on offense even discounting another 104 in PR (and 1 TD) called back by penalty.� Finally, the Pats turned it over three times, including one setting Carolina up for a 12-yard TD drive.�

Turnovers factored in Charlotte just as, in each of the past four times the Pats and Steelers have met, turnovers have told the tale.� In the 2002 opener and in both AFCC 2001 and 2004, the Steelers were on the wrong end, (+4) in gives; Halloween 2004, the Pats gave it up at the same rate.� As we�ve seen here over many Week(s) in Review, a turnover differential of (+2) or more occurs in less than 50% of all games.� That has been a losing margin at just over 90% overall including all four in this series.�� FWIW, to date, New England is (+1) in turnovers; (2) gets and (3) gives.� To date, the Steelers are (-5); no gives and five gets.� Now:�

Week 2, O-side results:�

	Steelers	Patriots	Remarks on the Pats� performance
Points	27	10	Pats� 17 v. Carolina included an INT returned for a TD by Mike Vrabel.��
Total yards	388	288	Pull out an uncontested 70 yarder to Troy Brown when Carolina blew coverage, and the results are far worse.
TOP	29:06	28:01	Pats went 3 and out in 3 of four 4^th quarter possessions.
Turnovers	None	3	Two 2^nd Half drives ended in fumbles.� Those bracket the 3 and outs noted above.��
Sacked	One	2, 8 pressures	�Pats focused on Julius Peppers while Mike Rucker dominated.
Big plays	7: 3 run and 4 pass	4: 1R/3P	By definition: 10 yard run and 20 yard pass

Here, we understand the Pats to be a pass first team.� That is because we�ve seen the PSD strafed repetitively, both in the 2002 opener and just last winter, in another dismal AFCC home loss, #4 overall.� However, NE is not, by design, pass- happy.� Sure, they will exploit whatever weakness presents but being old grads from the College of Parcells, a TOP-oriented program, the Pat braintrust has sought balance.� Consider:

Patriots� NFL O-ranks, 2001-2005:

	Pass attempts	Rush attempts	Rush yards	Feature RB	Remarks
2005	7^th	29^th	T-19	Corey Dillon	The name is the same, but the game may not be so.� Pats are #32 in YPC, a microscopic 2.4.
2004	22^nd	5^th	7^th	Dillon	Dillon provided a big play factor and could grind it too.� Dillon had more yards than all 2003 Pat rushers.�
2003	6^th	12^th	27th	None	Smith and Kevin Faulk combined for 1280 yards, at 3.55 per.
2002	4^th	28^th	28^th	Antowain Smith	Smith still was a reasonably effective situational RB but the Pats were in a number of shootouts.� Pass-heavy by necessity for one season.��
2001	24^th	9^th	13^th	Smith	Smith had 1157 yards at 4.0 per.� Pats switched from Bledsoe to Brady

The 2005 Pat attack is out of whack, to date.� It is early, of course, but the last time they were so unbalanced was 2002, and they did miss the PO that season.� In fairness it should be acknowledged that they have faced two (apparently) proficient run defenses.� With Kris Jenkins or without, Carolina has one of the finest Front 7 sets in the League.� Last week, they limited Corey Dillon to 14/36; in the opener, they limited the Saints� Deuce McAlister to 26/64 (note that the Hasletts entered 2005 professing a new commitment to the run but got stuffed in Carolina, and followed that with just 20/62 v. the NJG Week 2).��

Oakland is not considered a top defense.� However, they do have one of the bigger D-lines in the League.� The early results suggest that, if nothing else, they can play the run.� Week 1, they limited NE to 31/73.�� Week 2, they limited the tandem of Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson to 28/119; Week 1, that KC pair had tallied 31/195 against the NJJ.�

The short form is: level of competition may be a factor in the Pats� pathetic run performance to date.� Too soon to say; however, it�s not too soon to say that Corey Dillon is approaching his expiration date.� Consider this: Dillon will be 31 next month; the Football Outsiders suggest that RB decline commences at age 28.�� Further, Dillon carried a heavy load last year as tabulated below:

Corey Dillon, 3 seasons:

	Games played	Rush attempts	Rush Yards	Remarks
2005	2	37	99	Long gain, 14
2004	18	410	1927	434 touches
2001	16	340	1315	373 touches, highest prior workload.�

By way of context, Jerome Bettis had 423 carries in 1997 (440 touches).� In the following 3 seasons, he did not average more than 3.8 YPC.� Yes, PS O-line was a wreck and, yes, the pass game had no vertical component.� No doubt though, the Bus did slow markedly in that term.� That�s a fact of life in this Not-For-Long.� Still, that Bus was younger then suggests that age may not be the deciding factor.� Maybe it�s workload, as this arc recently traced by Jamal Lewis, age 24 to 25 attests:

Jamal Lewis, two seasons:

	Games played	Rush attempts	Rush Yards	Remarks
2004	12	235	1006	245
2003	17	401	2101	429 touches

Dillon may be done, or not; few RB of his vintage have taken the load outlined above but Curtis Martin, lost to NE in the storm that brought in the Big Tuna a couple head coaches ago, is one.� Two things for sure:� First, NE has no other options as, while Kevin Faulk is a nice change of pace RB, be is not an every down player.� Pat Pass, 3^rd and last of Pat RB, isn�t the guy either.� Second, while the NE O-line is effective in many aspects, pounding the gut is not one.� Per Football Outsiders, the 2004 NE line was:

� T-4^th in pass protection, allowing a sack rate of just 4.8%.� The League average was 6.8%; the 2004 Steelers were 28^th, at 8.9%.

� 5^th overall in run blocking, the 2004 PS were 4^th; however:

� NE was just 16^th running inside the tackles (PS were #2).� The Pats did their business on the edges, ranking 5^th around both LDE and RDE.� Off tackle, 2^nd right and 8^th left.�

NE fields a relatively light O-line.� They do not move people but they do gain creases.� It is worth noting that from OC Dan Koppen to the right, RG Stephan Neal and RT Tom Ashworth, the Pats have found their O-linemen late.� Koppen was a R5 pick, 2003; the other two UDFA, circa 2001.� Their top OT backup, Brandon Gorin, is a former UDFA too.� Their top interior backup, Russ Hochstein, was a R5 get, then cast off, by Tampa Bay.�

Hochstein subbed in for Stephan Neal last week, distinguishing himself by drawing two false start penalties.� Earlier, LT Matt Light had one, as did rook LG Logan Mankins.� Both Light and Mankins are Day 1 picks: Light, R2 2001 and Mankins R1 2005.� Mankins had a nice opener but struggled Week 2; ultimately, he figures to be a better player than the man he replaced, Joe Andruzzi, but not so now.� Additionally, Andruzzi provided some leadership and stability evidently lacking in this set.� Light is a technician; however, this player has struggled since the middle of last season.� Once a virtually error-free player, Light has committed pre-snaps in each game this season.� Additionally, he has given up heavy pressure both to Oakland DE Tommy Kelly and the Carolina tandem of Peppers and Rucker.�

Over their SB run, this set has played effectively as a unit but never physically dominated.� That is reflected in the stats shown above: the Pats do protect the Franchise but to run the ball, must get to the edge.� There, this O-line gets help from both flex TE, Ben Watson and Dan Graham, as well as WR David Givens, who is the best blocking wideout this side of Hines Ward.� If the PS can take away the wide run, then they will stifle the Pat run game.� In the air, well:

Tom Brady is, beyond doubt, the best big game QB of his era.� However, his career QB rating, 87.4, is not overwhelming.� In general, Brady has taken care of the ball, 100 TD/53 INT, but that has not been so against every opponent.� Consider:

Tom Brady�s marks, three sets:

	Games	PA	Complete	Yards	TD/INT	Rating
Carolina, Week 2	1, last week	44	23	270	1/1	69.3
Miami	8, 2001-04	231	130	1,248	11/8	72.9
Steelers	4, 2001-04	125	80	897	7/2	99.1

Of note:

� Throughout his career, Brady has had more trouble with Miami than with any other team.� Those Wannstedt/Bates Dolphins, featured Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye off the edges, with Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison locked on behind.� Those Fins were not a blitzing team.�

� Carolina is a Cover 2 team relying on their Front 4 to get pressure and their quick LB to make plays underneath.� Last week, the Panthers seemed to play a quantity of man-out matching CB Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas on the Pat #1 and #2 WR, with SS/WOLB Thomas Davis shadowing TE Ben Watson.� As a result, Pat #3 Troy Brown led the team in receiving.� A fine effort by the estimable Brown, but, at this stage, he is not a game-changer.��

Earlier this week, Coach Belichick complimented his O-line, claiming that while Carolina had blitzed upwards of 40 times, nearly all were picked up.� If true, that is an astounding number considering that Brady got off 44 passes and was sacked just twice.� If true, well, the Panthers blitzed over 90%, got pressure about 25% and closed the deal about 5%.��

The Pats were not done in by the Panthers� blitz.� They were done in by a failure to execute.� By some counts, their receivers dropped 6 balls and Brady was wild 10-12 times.� That is unlikely to recur so, as a methodological basis, we�re left with the old Fins� low-blitz mode.� Certainly, the PS can�t emulate that precisely.� Those Miami teams had one elite pass rusher, Taylor, and one highly capable complement, Ogunleye.� In contrast, the Steelers have no elite pass rushers, but a host of complements.�

By design, blitzing was a non-factor for the old Fins.� Evidently, blitzes were only moderately effective for the Panthers.� However, there is one common success factor; that is aggressive play on the corners.� We all know Madison and Surtain played a physical game; so too did the Panthers� pair, Ken Lucas and Chris Gamble.� This week, pressure on the Pat receivers is primary; some matchups are noted at the close of the section below.�

Keys:

� Against Dillon, set the edges:� Dillon�s meat is a pitch counter.� The PS ILB must maintain lane discipline; the PS OLB must be aware of Watson, Graham and Givens downblocking. ��Halloween last, the Steeler edge rushers won largely because the Pats had no run game at all.� In the AFCC, they did not win, largely because they had to honor play action to Dillon, and were stung by a couple reverses to Branch.� This time, well, if Dillon can be made a non-factor, the PS edge rush can win again, straight up.

� Get physical with Deion Branch at the LOS; keep him in front downfield:� Branch is Brady�s favorite WR and he has been a Steeler killer.� In the 2002 opener, his first game, he led the Pats in receiving.� Absent for the Halloween Massacre, he returned to destroy the PSD, by air and ground, in the AFCC.� He is quick and he is fast; however, he is small.�� Press, bump, hit and rip the ball.� Branch does present matchup problems: he is too fast for Townsend and too quick for Taylor; possibly, Rico Colclough makes his bones Sunday v. Branch.� Polamalu might be the best possible match but he has other business.�

� Gut pressure:� As noted above, in the last AFCC the Pats checked the PS edge rush by running wide successfully.� Their O-line flat out won in the middle, repeatedly blocking the inside blitzes which, earlier in 2004, had been the Steelers� winning edge (ref: Dallas, Game 6).� The results? A couple of long balls to the middle, as Brady stepped up through the throw without opposition.�� This week, the PS need something from the center, whether Hampton and the ILB in the base or the rotation DT and S in packages.

� 3^rd down, be aware of David Givens:� In two seasons, plus two games to date, Givens has had (97) receptions; (76) resulting in first downs.� That is a rate of 78%.� By way of context, Hines Ward averages around 63%.� On crucial downs, the PS should try to lock up Ike Taylor on this player, IMO.��

� In the Red Zone, be alert for the quick out:� NE has run this effectively for years, nearly always to their left.� Branch, Troy Brown or Givens; it hasn�t mattered.� Week 1 v. Oakland, newly acquired WR/PR Tim Dwight joined the club.�

� Ben Watson:� On the chalk, Watson, with just (5) career catches, doesn�t figure.� However, it is worth noting that he was featured on the Pats opening drive 2004, v. the Colts.� He had a couple grabs then, as NE opened in an empty set, but he injured a leg in that series and spent the rest of his rook campaign on IR.� Returning for the opener this year, Big Ben made a couple big plays against the Raiders; in one, running over all opposition, just like Jeremy Shockey, circa aught two.�� Watson has TE size and WR speed (sub 4.5); he is smart and he is competitive.� IMO, only Polamalu, Taylor and Hope may match his physicality.� It is Watson, along with Branch, who will pose the primary matchup problems for these PS.��

What to expect:

NE will seek to prevent the PS from jumping to an early lead, as they have against Tennessee and Houston.� Expect the Pats to slow the game either with the run or a ball control pass attack.� Either way, the twin TE, Watson and Daniel Graham, will be featured.� Lacking a lead FB, the Pats use these TE, often on flex, for blocking support.� As noted, Watson figures to provide some matchup problems in the pass game; the same is true of Graham, although he is not the world�s most sure-handed receiver.�� Still, if balance is the key, and IMO that is so, the Pats are best balanced in twin tight.� If Dillon can�t get it going, Kevin Faulk may sub in.� Faulk is not a great runner but he is a fine receiver.�

The short form is: the strength of the Steeler D is in those packages that Coach LeBeau has constructed around Troy Polamalu.� Polamalu will be Brady�s key and, in watching, should be ours too.� Certainly, NE will try to get Polamalu to declare; IMO, they will scheme to get him into coverage, rather than allowing him, in Reliant-form, to pillage their side of the LOS unchecked.� In twin tight, they might get that done; in multi-wide, not so much.��

On the other side of the ball:

Week 2, D-side results:�

	Steelers	Patriots	Remarks on the Pats performance
Points allowed	7	27	Panther TD drives covered 69, 13 and 12 yards.
Total yards allowed	221	250	Panthers had 233 return yards too.� That doesn�t include two Steve Smith PR, 27 and 77 yards, which were negated by penalties.�
TOP against	30:54	31:59	Carolina had it 9:14 in Q4.�
Takeaways	1	1	A 2^nd takeaway, Duane Starks INT, was negated by penalty.� That cost the Pats 42 yards in field position.� Pats have just 2 takes in 2 games.
Sacks	8	1	Pats have just 3 sacks in 2 games.�
Big plays allowed	6: 3R*/3P	5: 3 r/2p	Defined:� run greater than 10 yards; pass greater than 20 yards *� Against Pittsburgh: two of three Houston big runs by QB David Carr.

The Pats� D-line is the best that the Steelers have faced this season, possibly, the best they will face all season.� Richard Seymour is the finest 3-4 DE in the game, Week 1, he destroyed the Raiders� IOL.�� 2^nd year NT Vince Wilfork has arrived; the Pats are allowing just 3.4 YPC and Wilfork is a big reason why.� Remember, in the AFCC last January, Wilfork defeated Jeff Hartings handily; for the Steelers to win Sunday, Hartings must turn the trick.� Ty Warren is a quality player too; Warren set the tone early in the AFCC tilt on that 4^th and inches when Bettis was turned back, and fumbled.� Contrary to some popular perception, the Bus did not hit the wrong gap.� In fact, the play was designed to go right, with Faneca leading; however, Warren, Bear on Vincent, beat Key on the snap, preventing him from blocking down.� Warren got in that hole (with Rodney Harrison) and, well, the rest is history.�

Jarvis Green is a quality 4^th D-linemen.� In Game 1, having been gouged early by Oakland�s Leander Jordan, NE went 4-3 with Green getting the majority of the snaps.� That turned the tide; previously, Jordan had averaged 5.4 YPC; afterwards, a low 3.�� Considering the Pats issues at ILB expect some 4-down fronts Sunday.� Alternatively, they may show Vrabel inside, relegating Chad Brown to that duty that now best suits, edge rusher, 20 snaps per game.� Vrabel is as brainy as Tedy Bruschi and bigger than Ted Johnson.� It�s an option the Pats considered last spring; one to which they may resort Sunday.�

NE has 5 CB with starting experience; however, 3 are questionable Sunday.� That leaves Duane Starks and Asante Samuels for sure, with rook Ellis Hobbs available for package duty.� All 3 have some coverage skills; all have issues in run force.� Neither Starks nor Samuels have size; Hobbs does, but he�ll be in just his 3^rd pro game.� If those questionables (Poole, Scott and Gay) can�t go, FS Eugene Wilson may swing to corner in package situations.� In that case, the edge goes to the PS, big-time.� The Pats 3^rd S, 2^nd year man Guss Scott, figures as a career backup.� Rodney Harrison figures as a future Hall of Fame player; however, he is now a liability in coverage.� Both of these players can be beaten over the top.

What to expect:�

As is well known, Bill Belichick schemes to take away the one thing any opposing O must do in order to win.� Last time, the Pats took away the Steelers� power run game, putting it all in the then shaky hands of rook Ben Roethlisberger.� Now, well who knows?� This is the Pats dilemma:� the Steeler run game has morphed from a grind it out aggregate towards that field-flipping flash, Willie Parker.� As noted, Parker is #2 in the League rushing, a state seldom reached by Bettis and never by Staley.� One thing hasn�t changed; the Steelers are, again, at the top of the League�s rush standings.�

On the other hand, while the PSO hasn�t thrown it much, they have thrown it effectively.� Ben Roethlisberger leads the League in YPA; that is the #1 indicator of passing supremacy.� Ben has an otherworldly 14.75; Carson Palmer is #2 at 8.34.� Season leaders from 2004-02 have totaled: 9.17, 8.05 and 7.85.� Consequent of the Manning Rule, or consequent of an influx of young, polished WR, the trend is up.� Still, Roethlisberger�s rate, to date, is far beyond any reasonable projection.�

Regardless, if Belichick can take away one thing, it�ll be the run.� IMO, he�s going to make Roethlisberger prove it.� To that end, expect a quantity of 4-man fronts.� Expect that, on play action, Willie Parker will be hit, and hit hard.� Parker has shown game-breaking ability; he has yet to show the toughness required to do it through 16.� Maybe he has it, maybe not but in the course of making Ben prove that he is indeed Next, Belichick will test Parker�s capacity to absorb punishment, blow by blow, with and without the pig.� Like any heavyweight, the Pats will pound the body to take the legs.�

The Pat LB, especially the OLB (McGinest, Vrabel, Colvin and Brown), will figure in that.� Last year, Belichick used a quantity of 5 LB sets against the Colts, some in lieu of D-linemen but more often to disrupt the Colt WR.� The OLB moved out, and smoked the Indy wides at the LOS.� Physical play, to the edge of the rules, is characteristic of a Belichick team; true from the departed Ty Law, co-author, as it were, of the Manning Rule, to Rodney Harrison and this aggregate of LB.� The Pats are not the fastest defensive team in football but they are faster than any elite skill player, so long as that man is flat on his back.�

Can the Steelers counter?� Well, yeah, but this will take a game plan better than what was burped out for the last AFCC when, in a fit of madness, Coach Cowher chose to try to out-tough the world champion NE Patriots.� It is true that the PS IOL had fetched the Pat D-line a beatdown Halloween, 2004.� However, this was not the deciding factor in the game.� The deciding factor in that Halloween Massacre was turnovers.� By the half, the PS had taken a 24-10 lead mainly on the strength of a (+3) take rate. �Yes, they did close out that game with 221 yards rushing; their RB did have 43 trips.� However, at the half, the PS had (just!) 81 yards rushing; they had 164 via the air.�

It could be said that Coach Cowher and his O-side braintrust confused effect with cause.� That�s not good; far worse, that Coach schemed not so much to win but to keep the margin of defeat close.� Certainly, the last dovetails with that lamentable FG call early in Q4, which did sound the 2004 Steelers� death knell.� Anyway, by way of outline, this, reposted from our AFCC Autopsy Report, profiles a more profitable strategy.�

Halloween 2004, opening 4 possessions

	1^st down	2^nd down	3^rd down	4^th down	Remarks
Run	7/34 yards	3/3 yards	None	None	Following 1^st down runs, PS were 2^nd and 6 or worse 5/7 times
Pass	2/2/31yards	3/4/48 yards 2 TD	2/3/23 yards	None	Little success running on 2^nd down.�
Rate	7/2	3/4	0/3	None	10 run/9 pass

Not this:

AFCC, opening 5 possessions

	1^st down	2^nd down	3^rd down	4^th down	Remarks
Run	7/21 yards	6/8 yards	1/4	1/0	Again, following 1^st down runs, the PS were 2^nd and 6 or worse 5/7 times
Pass	1/1/19 yards	0/0*	2/5/22 yards 1 INT	None	Again, little success running on 2^nd down
Rate	7/1	6/1*	1/5	1/0	15/7* Scramble considered pass.�

Note:

In both games, the PS ran 7 times on 1^st down, passing once or twice.� In both, they were in SG exclusively on 3^rd.� In both, they ran ineffectively on 2^nd down.�

� Play action was effective on first down in both tilts; it was effective on 2^nd down Halloween but not used in the finale.�

Conclusion:

Last October, the PS came out of the bye week to close out the Pats� record breaking regular season win streak at 18.� Now, as the PS head towards their 2005 bye, NE defends that skein, seeking to snap the Steelers� regular season win run at 16.� Of course, all that is beside the point.� NE initiated their run in 2003, after accepting Coach Belichick�s mandate that theirs is not one sixteen game season but sixteen one game seasons.� Coach Cowher picked that up in 2004; now, well, we are where we are.�

Since adopting the one by one mode, the Steelers have erected a regular season mark of 17-1.� Since originating that mantra a year prior, the Pats have cobbled a mark of 29-5.�� It figures both teams will be in it this year so, early or no, PO ramifications are worth noting.� If the Pats win, then they will be, in effect, one up on the Steelers in the race for HFA.� Three games in, that�s not much.� On the other hand, if the Steelers win, they will be, in effect, three games up on the Pats.� That is consequential; that is a rung per week.� Factor that NE will face the presumably powerful NFC South this season, not, as will the Steelers, the evidently pitiful NFC North, and, well, there you go.�

It�s early yet but it seems that HFA advantage may be all about making Indy go outside in January, or playing the Chiefs anywhere but within their friendly confines.� Finally, while it is true that the Cowher Era Steelers are 1-4 in home AFCC tilts, consider this: they are 0-3 in PO road games.��

Back of the book:

Following an article posted here last month, The Run Game, then and now, this, to be updated as the season progresses:

2005 PS run/pass ratio, by half and tally:

	First Half			Second Half			Final
	Run	Pass	Scoring	Run	Pass	Scoring	Run	Pass	Score
v. Titans	16	9	20-7	25	2	14-0	41	11	34-7
@ Texans	15	16	20-0	17	6	� 7-7	32	22	27-7

Note:

� Kneeldowns are deleted from run totals.

� Pass attempts include both sacks and scrambles.�

Week 2 PS Notables:

� Troy Polamalu:� Coach LeBeau designed the Steelers� quarter package around Polamalu.� Last Sunday, we saw why.� Rushing mainly from the strongside slot, Polamalu had (3) sacks and several pressures.� The Texans never blocked this set, and really never gave themselves a chance.� Polamalu was split too wide for the TE and the Texan�s single back, Dom Davis, was used as a receiver, not a pass protector.�

� Jeff Reed:� Surpassing Gary Anderson, Reed now owns the longest consecutive FG streak in PS history. Kudos too to the Steeler FO, who signed this man to a multi-year deal last winter.��

� El Ced:� ARE has just 5 receptions in two games but three are in the category of big plays, including two +40 jumbos.� Wilson has a +40 and another for 36.� That�s (3) jumbos for this diminutive duo; last season, the sleeping giant Spike Burress had (4) +40 in (11) games.�

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