STEELERS at JAGUARS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008 ALLTEL STADIUM -- KICKOFF -- 8:15 P.M. POST-GAME NOTES
Team Notes:
• Pittsburgh snapped a three-game regular-season losing streak to the Jaguars with the win. The Steelers improved to 9-11 against Jacksonville in the regular season.
• The Steelers improved to 12-12 all-time on Sunday Night Football and 2-1 against Jacksonville in such games. The Steelers have won four of their last five Sunday Night games.
• Pittsburgh improved to 4-0 against AFC opponents this year.
• The Steelers improved to 2-1 on the road this year.
• Jacksonville opened with a 7-0 lead in the first quarter as CB Rashean Mathis returned a QB Ben Roethlisbergerpass 72 yards for a touchdown with 12:49 left.
• The Steelers responded with a 12-play, 71-yard drive that knotted the score as Roethlisberger redeemed himself with a one-yard touchdown strike to TE Heath Millerat the 5:18 mark of the first quarter. It was Miller's first touchdown of the season and the 19th of his career.
• The Jaguars came right back and scored seven plays later as RB Maurice Jones-Drew ran in from one yard out to make it 14-7 late in the first quarter. The touchdown was set up by a pass interference on CB Ike Taylorin the end zone on the previous play.
• K Jeff Reedtrimmed the Jaguars lead to 14-10 as he nailed a 38-yard field goal at the 12:38 mark of the second quarter.
• After the Steelers' defense forced a three-and-out on the ensuing drive, Pittsburgh drove 82 yards in four plays to take a 17-14 lead with 9:20 left in the first half as Roethlisberger found a wide-open WR Nate Washingtonfor a 48-yard touchdown. It marked Washington's first touchdown of the season and the 10th of his career.
• Reed added a 23-yard field goal with less than a minute remaining in the first half to give Pittsburgh a 20-14 halftime lead.
• In the first half, Pittsburgh had 46 plays for 300 yards while limiting the Jaguars to just 49 yards on 17 plays. The Steelers had just 66 yards on 24 plays in the first half of Week 3 at Philadelphia and 46 yards on 21 plays in the first half versus Baltimore in Week 4.
• The Steelers also had 21 first downs in the first half to the Jaguars' four. In the previous two games combined, the Steelers had a total of 25 first downs (14 vs. Philadelphia, 11 vs. Baltimore).
• Following a scoreless third quarter, Jacksonville regained the lead 21-20 as QB David Garrard hit TE Marcedes Lewis on a 24-yard touchdown pass one minute into the fourth quarter.
• Pittsburgh capped the scoring with an 11-play, 80-yard drive in the last six minutes of the game that culminated with Roethlisberger finding WR Hines Wardon a fade pass in the corner of the end zone to give the Steelers a 26-21 lead with 1:53 remaining in the game. It was Ward's team-leading fourth touchdown of the season.
• The Steelers defense stopped Jacksonville on the ensuing drive to secure the victory.
• Pittsburgh finished with a season-high 415 yards of total offense, including 286 yards passing and 129 yards rushing. Jacksonville was held to 213 yards of total offense (175 passing, 38 rushing).
• The Steelers had 28 first downs to the Jaguars' 14.
• Pittsburgh converted 47 percent (7 of 15) of its third downs. Jacksonville was 3-of-13 (23 percent) on third-down attempts.
• Pittsburgh had 10 penalties for 129 yards and the Jaguars were flagged eight times for 89 yards.
• The Steelers held the ball for 33:23 while Jacksonville had the ball for 26:37.
• Pittsburgh posted three sacks in the game (two by LB LaMarr Woodley, one by LB James Harrison).
• QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB), FB Carey Davis, RB Willie Parker, LB Andre Frazier, OT Tony Hills, DE Nick Eason, DT Casey Hamptonand DE Brett Keiselwere inactive.
Individual Notes:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
• Finished 26-of-41 for 309 yards passing with a season-high three touchdowns and one interception (100.6 passer rating).
• Hit WR Hines Ward for the game-winning touchdown pass with under two minutes remaining in the game.
• Connected with TE Heath Miller for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
• Hit WR Nate Washington on a 48-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.
• Posted his first 300-yard passing game of the season and the fifth of his career, tying him for second on the team's all-time list with Neil O'Donnell.
• Had his 30th career game (including postseason) with a 100-plus passer rating and the Steelers are 28-2 in such games. His 30 career 100-plus passer rating games rank second in team history behind Terry Bradshaw (37).
• Owns a 43-17 (.717) career record as a starter.
• Has 10 career games in which he has thrown for at least three touchdowns.
RB Mewelde Moore
• Made his first start as a Steeler (12th of his career) in place of the injured RB Willie Parker.
• Finished just shy of 100 yards rushing, totaling 99 yards on carries (5.8 avg.).
• Posted a 19-yard run on the first play of the game.
• Had a 27-yard run on the Steelers' game-winning drive.
• Caught three passes for 17 yards.
RB Gary Russell
• Saw action in his first game of 2008 and finished with six carries for 25 yards (4.2 avg.).
WR Hines Ward
• Caught seven passes for 90 yards (12.9 avg.) with one touchdown, his team-leading fourth of the year.
• Hauled in the game-winning reception, an eight-yarder, with under two minutes remaining in the game.
• Has now caught a pass in a team-record 151 consecutive games.
• Surpassed 9,000 yards for his career as he now has 9,053, the most in franchise history.
WR Santonio Holmes
• Had four receptions for 65 yards (16.3 avg.), including a long of 19 yards.
• Finished with three punt returns for 15 yards (5.0 avg.).
WR Nate Washington
• Had a career-high six catches for a career-high 94 yards (15.7 avg.), including one touchdown.
• Hauled in a season-long 48-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the second quarter, marking his first score of the season and 10th of his career.
TE Heath Miller
• Pulled in five receptions for 45 yards (9.0 avg.), including a 17-yarder.
• Caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the first quarter, his first of the season.
DE Aaron Smith
• Had five tackles and batted down the Jaguars' last pass of the game to seal the Steelers' victory.
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Posted a seven-yard sack in the third quarter.
• Added a 12-yard sack in the fourth quarter, giving him 5.5 sacks on the year.
• Finished with a team-high six tackles (all solo) with two sacks, three tackles for loss and three QB pressures.
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*LB James Harrison
• Had a six-yard sack on the Jaguars' last drive of the game, giving him a team-leading 6.5 sacks on the year.
• Finished with four tackles (three solo), one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
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*S Troy Polamalu
• Finished with four solo tackles.
S Ryan Clark
• Finished with five tackles (four solo).
P Mitch Berger
• Punted four times for 198 yards (49.5 avg.), including a 61-yarder.
K Jeff Reed
• Was a perfect 2-for-2 in PATs and 2-for-2 in FGs for eight points.
• Booted a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter to trim the Jaguars lead to 14-10.
• Added a 23-yard field goal late in the first half to give Pittsburgh a 20-14 halftime lead.
