Stats and information for the Steelers vs. Patriots showdown
Fast Facts is a weekly series featuring a quick glance at the upcoming Steelers game, including odds, records, things to watch for, and how to watch/listen to the game.
Team Records
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
- Overall regular-season record: 123-65-1 (.653)/12th season
- Regular-season record with Pittsburgh: 123-65-1 (.653)/12th season
- Playoff Record/Years: 8-7 (.533)/eight years
New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick
- Overall regular-season record: 259-122 (.680)/24th season
- Regular-season record with New England: 223-78 (.741)/19th season
- Playoff Record/Years: 28-11 (.718)/16 years
Steelers – Patriots History
- Series History: Series began in 1972
- Overall Regular Season: Steelers lead, 14-12
- In Pittsburgh: Steelers lead, 10-8
- At New England: Even, 4-4
- Neutral Sites: n/a
- Streak: Patriots won previous four meetings
- Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 17, 2017, in Pittsburgh
New England 27, Pittsburgh 24 - Postseason Series: Patriots lead, 4-1
- Last Postseason Meeting: Jan. 22, 2017, at New England
New England 36, Pittsburgh 17 – AFC Conference Championship - (preseason and postseason record not included in overall series record)
This week’s game will mark the 27th regular-season meeting between Pittsburgh and New England… the Steelers own a two-game advantage in the regular-season series (14-12), including a 10-8 mark in home games… the two teams have met 10 times in the month of December in series history, with Pittsburgh winning seven of the December matchups (5-2 at home).
Gameday Information
- Date: Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018
- Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Site: Heinz Field (68,400) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Playing Surface: Natural Grass
- TV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)
- Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst) | Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
- Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network
WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970) - Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Tunch Ilkin (analyst) | Craig Wolfley (sideline)
- National Radio: ESPN RADIO
- Announcers: Marc Kestecher (play-by-play), Bill Polian (analyst) | Sal Paolantonio (sideline)
- National Radio: Sports USA
- Announcers: Josh Appel (play-by-play) | Hank Bauer (analyst)
- Satellite Radio: SIRIUS: 81 (NE), 82 (Pit) | XM: 226 (NE), 227 (Pit)
- Referee: John Parry
Game Capsule
| Steelers | Patriots | |
|---|---|---|
| Last Week | L 24-21 at Oakland | L 34-33 at Miami |
| Coach vs. Opp. | Mike Tomlin: 2-6 | Bill Belichick: 11-10 |
| Pts. For/Against | 28.2/23.5 | 28.0/22.5 |
| Offense | 408.1 | 397.1 |
| Passing | Ben Roethlisberger: 366-546-4227-28-13-97.4 | Tom Brady: 313-477-3700-23-8-98.2 |
| Rushing | James Conner: 201-909-4.5-12 | Sony Michel (R): 164-706-4.3-5 |
| Receiving | JuJu Smith-Schuster: 91-1234-13.6-6 | James White (RB): 76-674-8.9-6 |
| Defense | 330.8 | 372.5 |
| Sacks | T.J. Watt: 10 | Trey Flowers: 6.5 |
| INTs | Many tied: 1 | Jonathan Jones: 3 |
| Take/Give | -8 (13/21) | +6 (20/14) |
| Punting (Net) | Jordan Berry: 44.2 (38.9) | Ryan Allen: 45.9 (38.9) |
| Kicking | Chris Boswell: 69 (39/44 PAT; 10/16 FG) | Stephen Gostkowski: 112 (40/41 PAT; 24/29 FG) |
Steelers
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER completed 25 of 29 (86.2 pct.) for 282 yards with 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 130.2 rating last week. Completed 22 of 30 (73.3 pct.) for 281 yards with 2 TDs vs. 1 INT for 110.6 rating in last meeting. In his past 5 vs. NE, has 1,784 pass yards (356.8 per game) with 12 TDs vs. 6 INTs for 98.7 rating. Aims for his 6th meeting in row with 95+ rating. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 366 completions & 4,227 pass yards.
RB JAMES CONNER has 653 scrimmage yards (108.8 per game) & 8 rush TDs in 6 home games in 2018. Aims for his 5th in row at home with rush TD. Rookie RB JAYLEN SAMUELS had career-high 92 scrimmage yards (64 rec., 28 rush) last week. Aims for his 3rd in row at home with TD catch. RB STEVAN RIDLEY had rush TD last week. In 4 seasons with NE (2011-14), rushed for 2,817 yards & 22 TDs.
WR ANTONIO BROWN ties for NFL lead with 12 TD catches in 2018. In his past 5 at home, has 487 rec. yards (97.4 per game) & 7 rec. TDs. Has 100+ rec. yards in 2 of his past 3 vs. NE. Brown (86 catches) & WR JUJU SMITH- SCHUSTER (91) are only pair of AFC teammates with 85+ catches this season. Smith-Schuster had 114 rec. yards in only career meeting. Ranks 4th in NFL with 1,234 rec. yards.
LB VINCE WILLIAMS had INT in last meeting. Has 3 sacks in his past 5. DT CAMERON HEYWARD had sack in last meeting. Has 3.5 sacks in his past 4 at home. LB T.J. WATT has 5 sacks & 2 FFs in his past 4 at home.
Patriots
QB TOM BRADY completed 27 of 43 (62.8 pct.) for 358 yards with 3 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 112.4 rating last week. Has 47 career games with 300+ pass yards & 3+ TD passes, 2nd-most in NFL history (DREW BREES, 63). Aims for his 4th in row with 280+ pass yards & 100+ rating. Has 582 career TD passes (incl. postseason), most in NFL history. In 10 career games vs. Pit. has 3,124 pass yards (312.4 per game) with 25 TDs vs. 4 INTs for 111.8 rating. Has 100+ rating in 6 of his past 7 meetings.
RB SONY MICHEL (rookie) has 190 rush yards (95 per game) & rush TD in his past 2 on road. Ranks 3rd among NFL rookies averaging 70.6 rush yards per game. RB JAMES WHITE has 75+ scrimmage yards in 3 of his past 5 on road. Ranks 3rd among NFL RBs with 76 catches this season & is 1 of 2 RBs (CHRISTIAN MC CAFFREY) with 75+ catches & 5+ rec. TDs (6) in 2018. FB JAMES DEVELIN aims for his 3rd in row with rush TD. Has 4 rush TDs on 6 carries this season.
TE ROB GRONKOWSKI had 8 catches for 107 yards & TD last week. Had 9 catches for 168 yards in last meeting. In 6 career games vs. Pit., has 664 rec. yards (110.7 per game) & 8 TD catches. WR JULIAN EDELMAN had 86 rec. yards & TD catch last week. Has TD in 2 of his past 3.
DL TREY FLOWERS had 2 sacks & FF last week. Has 4 sacks in his past 3 & aims for his 4th in row with sack. CB STEPHON GILMORE had 8 tackles & PD in last meeting. Ranks 2nd in NFL with 16 PD this season & is only player with 15+ PD & sack (1) in 2018.
League Rankings
| Steelers | Patriots | |
|---|---|---|
| Home Record | 3-3-0 | 6-0-0 |
| Away Record | 4-2-1 | 3-4-0 |
| Record vs. Spread | 6-6-1 | 8-5-0 |
| Points Scored | 367 (4th) | 364 (6th) |
| Points Allowed | 306 (16th) | 293 (12th) |
| Takeaway Diff. | -8 (27th) | +6 (10th) |
| Pass Yds/Game | 319 (2nd) | 278 (7th) |
| Rush Yds/Game | 89 (29th) | 118 (16th) |
| Def. Pass Yds/Game | 233 (12th) | 259 (23rd) |
| Def. Rush Yds/Game | 96 (6th) | 113 (15th) |
Steelers 2018 Draft Class
S Terrell Edmunds (6-1, 217)
Rd. 1 28th Overall
Played collegiate football at Virginia Tech where he appeared in 37 games, making 31 starts…he totaled 182 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for losses…Edmunds started all 10 games en route to recording 59 tackles during the 2017 season.
WR James Washington (5-11, 213)
Rd. 2 60th Overall
Set an Oklahoma State University school record with 4,472 career receiving yards, also the second-best receiving yardage total in Big 12 conference history…he became one of two players in school history with three seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards and three years with at least 10 touchdown catches.
QB Mason Rudolph (6-5, 235)
Rd. 3 76th Overall
Led Oklahoma State University to a 32-9 record as the quarterback to produce the winningest record by a signal caller in school history…he finished his career holding no fewer than 54 school records, including single-season and career marks for passing yards, passing touchdowns and pass efficiency…his 13,618 career passing yards rank him fourth in Big 12 conference history.
OL Chukwuma Okorafor (6-8, 320)
Rd. 3 92nd Overall
At Western Michigan University, started each of his final 39 games… he was a first-team All-American selection following the 2017 campaign by the Football Writers Association of America.
S Marcus Allen (6-2, 215)
Rd. 5 148th Overall
Became the sixth player in Penn State football history to reach the 300-tackle mark in a career…his 321 stops rank fifth in program history… he was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2017, starting 13 games and recording 72 tackles (46 solo).
RB Jaylen Samuels (6-0, 225)
Rd. 5 165th Overall
Established a North Carolina State University school record for receptions in a career, finishing with 202…his 47 total touchdowns place him second in program annals and he finished fourth in touchdown receptions (19) and sixth in touchdown runs (28).
DT Joshua Frazier (6-4, 315)
Rd. 7 246th Overall
Played in 40 career games at the University of Alabama…he recorded 28 tackles (11 solo), with 4.5 tackles for losses, 2.0 sacks, one forced fumble and three passes defensed.
Statistics and game information courtesy of the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or National Football League.
