Steelers-Jaguars Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

In battle of bruised clubs, Jags will take worst blowWhile the Steelers will play on the road and on short rest after Monday's overtime victory against the Ravens, the Jaguars are coming off their own OT win, a fiercely contested division battle against the Texans. Jacksonville won two crucial games against Pittsburgh last year, including a postseason knockout. Those games surely are still fresh in the minds of both teams' participants, but a lot has changed since then -- mostly the health of key players. That said, this Sunday night showcase should be an excellent matchup between physical teams with plenty on the line.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
PIT	12-4	347	223	6-2	6-2	6-0	10-2
JAC	5-11	302	367	2-6	3-5	2-4	3-9
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 66.6 4328 26 12 Dixon 46.2 145 1 1

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 60.9 3597 15 10 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 242 1108 4.6 7 Parker 98 389 4.0 0

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 312 1391 4.5 15 Garrar... 77 323 4.2 3

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Holmes 79 1248 15.8 5 Ward 95 1167 12.3 6

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 63 869 13.8 7 Holt 51 722 14.2 0

Full Player Stats: Pittsburgh | Jacksonville

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PIT	312.0
	JAC	319.0
Yards Passing	PIT	206.3
	JAC	208.3
Yards Rushing	PIT	105.6
	JAC	110.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PIT	237.2
	JAC	330.9
Pass Yds Allowed	PIT	156.9
	JAC	224.1
Rush Yds Allowed	PIT	80.3
	JAC	106.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Jacksonville leads 5-4
Jan 5, 2008	PIT 29, @JAC 31
Dec 16, 2007	PIT 22, @JAC 29
Sep 18, 2006	PIT 0, JAC 9
Oct 16, 2005	PIT 17, @JAC 23
Dec 5, 2004	PIT 17, JAC 16
Dec 1, 2002	PIT 25, JAC 23
Nov 18, 2001	PIT 20, @JAC 7
Sep 9, 2001	PIT 3, JAC 21

With an injury report that seems to be growing each week, the Pittsburgh Steelers' physical style of football appears to be catching up to them.

They've had a tough enough time catching up to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After losing twice at home to the Jaguars last season -- including a playoff defeat -- Pittsburgh will have revenge on its mind in Jacksonville on Sunday night as it looks to avoid a fifth straight loss to its former AFC Central rival.

Mike Tomlin's team started 9-3 in his first year as coach in 2007, but the Steelers (3-1) stumbled at season's end, losing four of their final five games.

The Jaguars handed Pittsburgh two of those defeats, both at Heinz Field. Jacksonville jumped out to big leads before holding on in the fourth quarter to extend their winning streak over the Steelers to four straight, the second victory being a 31-29 win in the wild-card round Jan. 5.

"We have some recent history with those guys," Tomlin said this week. "They are a very good football team."

Jacksonville (2-2) sacked Ben Roethlisberger 11 times in the two games last season, and the Steelers have struggled to protect their quarterback again in 2008. Roethlisberger has been sacked 15 times through four games -- most in the AFC -- and Pittsburgh's already shaky offensive line took another hit when it lost guard Kendall Simmons for the season during Monday night's 23-20 overtime win over Baltimore.

The Steelers overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the Ravens, but also lost rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall for the season with a fractured shoulder. Mendenhall was filling in for Willie Parker, who sat out with a knee sprain.

Parker and Simmons join defensive linemen Casey Hampton (groin) and Brett Keisel (calf) among Pittsburgh starters who won't suit up against the Jaguars.

"Injuries always happen at a bad time," Tomlin said. "They're part of the game. I'm not going to complain about them and go `Woe is me.'"

Jacksonville -- 12-8 all-time against Pittsburgh dating to their AFC Central rivalry from 1995-2001 -- can certainly relate to the Steelers' growing injury concerns. The Jaguars have already lost two starting offensive linemen for the season in addition to backup Richard Collier, who was shot and paralyzed just before the team's opener.

On Sunday against Houston, they were without starting linebacker Justin Durant and safety Reggie Nelson.

Those two were missed as the Texans' Matt Schaub threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, but David Garrard's solid play kept Jacksonville in the game and the Jaguars escaped with a 30-27 overtime win.

Garrard had 236 yards passing and a team-high 41 yards rushing, including the go-ahead touchdown late in regulation.

"Thank God we have a quarterback like David who can do it with his arms and legs," running back Fred Taylor said.

The Steelers are very aware of what Garrard can do with his legs. He led the team with 58 yards rushing in the playoff win in January, scrambling for 32 yards on a crucial fourth down on the Jaguars' winning drive.

"If you put the ball in his hands at the end of football games, those guys have a good chance of winning," Tomlin said.

Running against Pittsburgh won't be easy, though. The Steelers are fourth in the NFL in rush defense at 74.0 yards per game and second in total defense at 236.3.

Jacksonville was the league's second-best rushing team a year ago, averaging 149.4 yards behind Taylor, Garrard and Maurice Jones-Drew. They've gotten the running game going in wins the past two weeks, gaining 187.5 ypg after averaging 65.5 in their opening losses.

With all the blitzes the Steelers are known to bring, Garrard knows the Jaguars will have to keep their offense balanced.

"They have so many (different looks)," Garrard said. "We've seen them all. You just never know who they're blitzing and what kind of coverage you're going to get behind it. That's what makes playing against them so difficult."

The Steelers re-signed running backs Gary Russell and Najeh Davenport this week to fill the void left by the injuries to Parker and Mendenhall. Third-down back Mewelde Moore will start and fullback Carey Davis is questionable, leaving the onus on Roethlisberger to make plays.

Pittsburgh didn't make many in the first half against Baltimore. The Steelers only came back after Roethlisberger pleaded with Tomlin to run a no-huddle offense -- which the quarterback also employed to rally the Steelers from 18 points down in the wild-card game against the Jaguars.

Tomlin said he won't hesitate to use it this week despite being on the road.

"Ben has always been an advocate of no-huddle," Tomlin said. "He likes to get the keys to the car."

The Steelers haven't won a conference road game outside the AFC North since Oct. 10, 2005 -- a span of seven games.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Scouts Inc.: AFC offseason needs

You can think of this as the ultimate primer for the NFL offseason, or at least the AFC offseason: Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. breaks down all the squads in the AFC and tells you their top three needs to address, be it via the draft or free agency.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Burress vows return in interview with Cowher

In an interview set to air Sunday on CBS, imprisoned Plaxico Burress vows to play in the NFL again and said he apologized to the Giants for tarnishing the Giants' organization.

Polamalu, Kemoeatu out against Packers

As expected, the Steelers will be without All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu on Sunday against Green Bay, and coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that left guard Chris Kemoeatu also will miss the game.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.

Jaguars coach blasts Henderson for leaving workout because of 'minor' shoulder injury

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionJaguars defensive tackle John Henderson grabs his left shoulder during an organized team activity session Monday at the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars

DON BURK/The Times-UnionMarlon McCree , with San Diego in this 2007 photo, is set to return to the Jaguars.

After lost season, Jags seek how to put 'train' back on track

Among the league's most disappointing teams last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars never came close to meeting expectations as a chic preseason Super Bowl pick.

NewFull-speed ahead for Jaguars safety Nelson

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco during the Jaguars' 21-19 loss in Cincinnati on Nov.

Ex-Jaguar pleads not guilty to drug charges

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday including possession of cocaine and marijuana.