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STEELERS vs. VIKINGS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 2009 KICKOFF 1:00 P.M. HEINZ FIELD
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*Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) vs. Minnesota Vikings (6-0)
Date: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009
Kickoff: 1 p.m., ET
Site: Heinz Field (65,050) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
TV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, Channel 2)
Announcers: Kenny Albert (play-by-play) Daryl Johnston (color analyst) Tony Siragusa (sideline)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)
Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)
Spanish Radio: Grupo Radio Acir (Mexico City) 88.9 FM
National Radio: Sports USA Radio Network
Announcers: Mark Followill (play-by-play) Ross Tucker (color analyst) Tony Graziani (sideline)
A Look at the Coaches
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall Regular-season Record: 26-12 (.684)/third season
Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 26-12 (.684)/third season
Playoff Record/Years: 3-1/two years
*Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress
Overall Regular-Season Record: 30-24 (.556)/fourth season
Regular-Season Record at Minnesota: 30-24 (.556)/fourth season
Playoff Record/Years: 0-1/one year
*Series History
Series History: Series began in 1962
*Overall: Minnesota leads 8-7
At Pittsburgh: Series tied 4-4
At Minnesota: Minnesota leads 4-2
Neutral Sites: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 18, 2005 (in Minnesota)
Pittsburgh 18, Minnesota 3
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 1-0
*(postseason record included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh owns a 7-8 all-time record against the Minnesota Vikings (including postseason)...the Steelers have won the previous two matchups with the Vikings and three of the past five games in the series...a Steelers' victory over the Vikings would even the series between the two teams at eight apiece, making Minnesota the only NFC North team the Steelers would not have a losing record against...Pittsburgh won the previous matchup between these two teams, 18-3, on Dec. 18, 2005 at the Metrodome, the Steelers first win in Minnesota since a 23-17 victory on October 5, 1980, when the Vikings played at Metropolitan Stadium...the Steelers also won the two teams' most recent contest in Pittsburgh, 21-16, on Dec. 2, 2001 - the Vikings only previous appearance at Heinz Field...Minnesota had won two straight games in Pittsburgh prior to that game...this is the Vikings fifth appearance in Pittsburgh since 1989 while the Steelers trip to Minnesota in 2005 was their only visit to the Twin Cities in that same period...Head Coach Mike Tomlin **spent one year as the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2006 prior to being named head coach of the Steelers...this is Tomlin's first regular-seasonmatchup as a head coach against his former team.
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**Steelers-Vikings Connections
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*Steelers-Vikings Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Vikings and the Minneapolis area. Steelers with direct ties to the Vikings and the surrounding Minneapolis area include head coach Mike Tomlin, who was the defensive coordinator for the Vikings for one season (2006) prior to being named the Steelers head coach. RB/KR Mewelde Mooreplayed for the Vikings from 2004-07. TE Matt Spaethis from just outside of Minneapolis (St. Michael) and played at the University of Minnesota, along with S Tyrone Carter. C Justin Hartwigis from Mankato, Minn.
Vikings with Steelers/Western Pennsylvania connections include defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who was drafted in the eighth round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Steelers and played one season in Pittsburgh. Wide receivers coach George Stewart spent three seasons as the special teams coach for the Steelers under Chuck Noll (1989-91). Strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavyattended Penn State while defensive backs coach Joe Woodswas born in Natrona Heights. FB Jeff Duganis from Pittsburgh and played high school football at Central Catholic High. WR Darius Reynaudplayed at West Virginia.
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*What To Look For
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*PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES
• The Steelers look to improve to 7-8 all-time against the Minnesota Vikings in the regular season and 5-4 at home in the series.
• The Steelers look to improve to 88-55-1 all-time against teams from the NFC and look for their 16th win in the past 21 games against the NFC.
• The Steelers look for their 10th win in the past 11 games against teams currently in the NFC North, dating back to 1998.
• The Steelers look for their seventh straight victory at home against a team in the NFC North, dating back to 1995.
• The Steelers look to improve to 4-0 at home on the year.
• The Steelers look for their eighth straight win at Heinz Field, dating back to 2008.
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*PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
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*QB Ben Roethlisberger
• *Needs one 100-plus passer rating game to surpass Hall of Fame QB Terry Bradshaw for first on the team's all-time list. Roethlisberger currently has 31 career 100-plus passer rating games in the regular season, tying Bradshaw's 31.
**TE Heath Miller
• Needs one reception to move into sole possession of second on the team's all-time list for tight ends. Miller is tied with Bennie Cunningham with 202 career receptions.
