SAN DIEGO CHARGERS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS
AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND GAME
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009 4:30 P.M.
San Diego returns to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh for the second time this season. Their first meeting in November resulted in the only time in NFL history a game ended with a score of 11-10. This game will be the 29th between the two teams. The Steelers (12-4) hold a 20-8 series edge over the Chargers (9-8). San Diego has never prevailed at Pittsburgh during the regular season, but has won 2 playoff games there. The Chargers are avenging early season losses. With a playoff berth on the line, they beat the Broncos the last game of the season after losing to them earlier. Last week they beat the Colts in overtime after a midseason loss to them. Now they travel to Pittsburgh with the same idea. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, hasn’t played in two weeks after closing out the season with a 31-0 win over hapless Cleveland.
SAN DIEGO: UP: The Chargers are the first team to begin a season at 4-8 and make it to the playoffs. They are only the 8th team with an 8-8 record to get to the postseason, and only the 3rd team to win their wildcard game. None have ever gone to the divisional championship game. Their view is they made history in Pittsburgh back in Nov, and they intend to do it again. RB/KR Darren Sproles was the knife in the Colts back as he had 328 all-purpose yards and rushed for the winning touchdown in overtime. P Mike Scifres averaged a team record 40.9 yards per punt this year. Last week vs. the Colts he had 6 punts inside the 20, an NFL record. LS David Binn will play his 250th game as a Charger Sunday, a team record. DOWN: RB LaDainian Tomlinson is unlikely to see much, if any, playing time due to a groin pull. TE Antonio Gates has an ankle sprain, but plans on playing Sunday. LB Brandon Siler is day-to-day. QB Phillip Rivers was stripped of the ball on a sack in the end zone which Pittsburgh covered for a safety in their last meeting. The Chargers were held without a touchdown for the final 51+ minutes of that game. The safety plus three field goals accounted for the Steelers unusual 11 point score for the game.
PITTSBURGH: UP: The Steelers defense ranks #1 in the NFL in total yards allowed, points allowed, and pass defense. They were 2nd against the run to Minnesota by just 54 yards. They only allowed 223 points all season, and 16 of those were yielded by the offense. The defense has allowed only one rush of over 22 yards this year. Head Coach Mike Tomlin’s first two seasons with Pittsburgh are the most successful of any coach they have had, winning 69% of all games and two division titles. DOWN: QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered a concussion in the first half of their last game. Prior to the injury he was not sharp, throwing behind his receiver, TE Heath Miller, for an interception at the Cleveland 6 yard line in a scoreless game at that juncture. Roethlisberger is expected to play vs. the Chargers. FS Ryan Clark missed the last game with a dislocated shoulder, but should be ready Sunday.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Steelers defense against the Chargers rushing or passing game, especially Sproles and RB Michael Bennett, who will play when Tomlinson can’t. Watch the Chargers secondary duo of CB Quentin Jammer and CB Antonio Cromartie, particularly their coverage of WR Hines Ward. Ward needs just 104 yards to become the 8th receiver to catch 1,000+ postseason yards. He also has 8 postseason TD receptions.
BY THE NUMBERS: The line has Pittsburgh as 6 point favorites with the points at 38. San Diego is 9-8 ATS and 7-8-2 O/U. while the Steelers are 9-7 ATS and 8-8 O/U. As underdogs the Chargers are 2-2 SU & 4-0 ATS. Pittsburgh is 8-3 SU and 5-6 ATS when favored to win. Since 1993 in playoff games the Chargers are 6-6 both SU and ATS. The Steelers are 12-10 SU and 12-9 ATS over the same period. If the Chargers defense can rise to the occasion as they did vs. the Colts this game could give Roethlisberger even more of a headache. But the Steelers defense will definitely be ready to make Rivers have a long afternoon.