STEELERS vs. GIANTS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2008 KICKOFF -- 4:15 P.M. HEINZ FIELD POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes: *
• Pittsburgh dropped to 5-2 on the year and 46-29-3 all-time against the New York Giants. The Steelers are 14-22-3 all-time at home in the series history.
• The Steelers fell to 2-1 at home on the season.
• Pittsburgh is 0-2 against teams in the NFC this year.
• The Steelers lost in their throwback uniforms for the first time in the past two years (3-1).
• Pittsburgh is 3-5 when facing the defending Super Bowl champion, including the postseason, since 2000. The Steelers have lost three straight such games.
• The game attendance was 64,991, which is the largest regular-season attendance figure in Heinz Field history and second only to the 65,242 fans in attendance on Jan. 23, 2005, at the AFC Championship Game versus the New England Patriots.
• *RB Mewelde Mooregave Pittsburgh an early 7-0 lead as he ran in from 32 yards out on its first drive of the game that ended a four-play, 60-yard drive. It was Moore's third rushing touchdown of the season, tying him with RB Willie Parkerfor the team lead.
• New York trimmed the lead to 7-3 on the ensuing possession as K John Carney hit a 26-yard field goal with 4:39 left in the first quarter.
• The Giants picked off a QB Ben Roethlisbergerpass and drove inside the Steelers' one-yard line. However, Pittsburgh responded with a goal-line stand and took over on downs.
• After the Steelers went three plays and out on the next drive, New York used a 28-yard punt return by WR Domenik Dixon to set up a 35-yard field goal by Carney, cutting the Pittsburgh lead to 7-6 with 10:30 left in the first half.
• Following a second interception by Roethlisberger, New York added its third field goal of the game as Carney hit one from 25 yards out with less than four minutes remaining to make it 9-7.
• Roethlisberger hit WR Nate Washingtonfor a season-long 65-yard touchdown pass with 10 minutes left in the third quarter to make it 14-9. It was Washington's third touchdown of the season and in as many games. The 65-yard touchdown reception was a career long for Washington.
• The score would stay 14-9 until midway through the fourth quarter when Carney booted a 24-yard field goal to pull New York to within two points, 14-12.
• After a three-and-out by the Steelers on the ensuing drive, backup long snapper LB James Harrisonsnapped the ball over P Mitch Berger's head and out of the end zone to tie the score at 14-14 with 6:48 left in the game. Harrison was forced to do the long-snapping duties after starting LS Greg Warrensuffered a game-ending knee injury.
• The Giants would take the lead, 21-14, on the next drive as QB Eli Manning connected with TE Kevin Boss for a two-yard touchdown with 3:07 left in the fourth quarter.
• Pittsburgh had two final drives to possibly tie the game but came up short on both, as the last one resulted in a fourth Roethlisberger interception on a fourth down deep in its own territory.
• Pittsburgh finished with 249 yards of total offense (95 rushing, 154 passing) to the Giants' 282 (83 rushing, 199 passing).
• The Steelers converted just 1-of-10 (10%) on third downs for the game, including 0-for-3 in the first half. New York converted 6-of-17 (35%) on third down.
• Pittsburgh held the ball for just 25:36 to New York's 34:24.
• The Steelers had four turnovers (four interceptions) while the Giants had zero.
• The Steelers did not post a sack in the game while giving up five (for 35 yards). The Steelers entered the game leading the NFL in sacks with 25.
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), WR Santonio Holmes, CB Bryant McFadden, RB Willie Parker, LB Keyaron Fox, OL Tony Hills, OT Marvel Smithand DE Orpheus Royewere inactive for Pittsburgh.
Individual Notes: *
*QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 13-of-29 for 189 yards passing with one touchdown and four interceptions (38.5 passer rating).
• Tossed a season-long 65-yard touchdown pass to WR Nate Washington in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh a 14-9 lead.
• Dropped his career record against NFC teams to 13-4.
• Fell to 44-18 in his five seasons as a starter.
RB Mewelde Moore
• Made his third straight start in place of the injured RB Willie Parker.
• Finished with 84 yards rushing on 19 attempts (4.4 avg.) with one touchdown.
• Had a 32-yard touchdown run on the Steelers' first drive of the game to put them ahead 7-0. It was Moore's third rushing touchdown of the season, tying him with Parker for the team lead.
• Caught two passes for 10 yards (5.0 avg.).
• Had two punt returns for 14 yards (7.0 avg.).
RB Najeh Davenport
• Had four kickoff returns for 77 yards (19.3 avg.), including a long of 23 yards.
*
*WR Hines Ward
• Caught three passes for 30 yards (10.0 avg.), including a 14-yarder.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 153 consecutive games.
WR Nate Washington
• Made his first start of the season (sixth career) in place of WR Santonio Holmes.
• Finished with one catch for 65 yards and a touchdown. In the past three games, he has touchdown receptions of 65 yards, 50 yards and 48 yards.
• Hauled in a career-long 65-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter to give Pittsburgh a 14-9 lead.
WR Limas Sweed
• Saw his first significant action of his career and caught three passes for 28 yards (9.3 avg.), including a 12-yarder.
TE Heath Miller
• Had a 22-yard reception on the Steelers' first drive of the game.
• Finished with a team-best (tied) three receptions for 52 yards (17.3 avg.).
OT Max Starks
• Made his second consecutive start in place of the injured OT Marvel Smith.
DE Brett Keisel
• Finished with a game-high (tied) 11 tackles (six solo), including two tackles-for-loss.
*
*DT Casey Hampton
• Returned to action for the first time since Week 3 at Philadelphia and started at NT.
• Finished with six tackles (five solo).
LB James Farrior
• Finished with a game-high (tied) 11 tackles (six solo).
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Posted five tackles (three solo).
CB Ike Taylor
• Finished with six tackles (three solo) and one pass defensed.
*
*CB Deshea Townsend
• Made his second start of the season in place of the injured CB Bryant McFadden.
• Finished with four solo tackles.
S Ryan Clark
• Finished with eight tackles (six solo) and one pass defensed before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
*
*P Mitch Berger
• Punted four times for 177 yards (44.3 avg.), including a long of 51 yards.
• Downed two punts inside the 20-yard line, including a 43-yard punt late in the second quarter that was downed at the two-yard line.
K Jeff Reed
• Was a perfect 2-for-2 in PATs for two points.
