Steelers-Redskins Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• MNF Crew Breaks Down The Steelers' Win

SCOUTING REPORT

Portis and the run game will make the differenceThese are two good football teams with Super Bowl aspirations. These excellent organizations are well-coached and in need of a win. Because the Redskins are in the most competitive division in the NFL, every week is important, because the playoff race in the NFC East will go right down to the wire. The Steelers are in a much more winnable division, but they have significant injury problems and weaknesses that must be corrected before the playoffs. Washington has a great run game, a solid offensive line and a poised young quarterback. Pittsburgh has a gutsy quarterback who gets hit too much, a banged-up running game and a struggling offensive line. But the Steelers do have the No. 1 defense in the NFL, which is usually good enough to keep them in the game. This is a battle between two good teams that are not quite in the elite category, but after this game that could change for one of them.

· 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
WAS	8-8	265	296	4-4	4-4	3-3	7-5
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

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

Washington Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Campbe... 64.5 3618 20 15 Collin... 52.2 144 0 0

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

Washington Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Portis 124 494 4.0 1 Campbe... 46 236 5.1 1

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

Washington Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Moss 70 902 12.9 3 Randle... 50 530 10.6 0

Full Player Stats: Pittsburgh | Washington

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	PIT	312.0
	WAS	320.0
Yards Passing	PIT	206.3
	WAS	189.1
Yards Rushing	PIT	105.6
	WAS	130.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	PIT	237.2
	WAS	288.8
Pass Yds Allowed	PIT	156.9
	WAS	193.4
Rush Yds Allowed	PIT	80.3
	WAS	95.4

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Pittsburgh leads 2-0
Nov 28, 2004	PIT 16, @WAS 7

The Pittsburgh Steelers have looked like one of the league's elite teams against the AFC, winning all five games versus conference opponents to claim the top spot in the AFC North.

Their two games against NFC East teams have been a much different story.

Pittsburgh will hope for a better result in its third showdown with a member of the NFL's best division Monday night, as it travels to the nation's capital for the first time in 20 years to take on the Washington Redskins.

The Steelers (5-2) came into the season with the toughest schedule in the league based on 2007 winning percentages, one that featured just two teams that had losing records last year. Pittsburgh has navigated the AFC portion of its schedule with relative ease thus far, outscoring opponents by 12.2 points per game while going 5-0.

However, four of the toughest potential matchups on the Steelers' schedule were games against the NFC East, a division that boasted three playoff teams a season ago and no one with a losing record.

After their first two interconference matchups, Pittsburgh's weaknesses have been magnified. Working behind an offensive line that lost All-Pro guard Alan Faneca in free agency, Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 23 times -- third-most in the NFL -- with a majority of those coming against NFC East opponents.

Roethlisberger was dropped eight times in a 15-6 loss at Philadelphia on Sept. 21, then got sacked five times and threw four interceptions in a 21-14 loss to the New York Giants last Sunday.

"The whole NFC East is (similar to the Eagles and Giants)," Roethlisberger said. "They're throwing a lot of blitzes at you. They're all big guys who can move around and throw different looks at you and try to confuse you. We've seen it twice so far and we'll see it again this week."

While the Giants (26) and Eagles (23) topped the NFC in sacks heading into Week 9, the Redskins (6-2) have only 10 sacks in eight games, including four in their past six contests.

Despite that statistic and with Washington having forced just eight turnovers -- tied for 26th in the league -- the Redskins have the NFL's sixth-ranked defense, allowing 278.1 yards per game.

Part of that defensive success can be attributed to an offense that controls the clock. Washington is fourth in the league in time of possession (32:31) thanks to efficient quarterback Jason Campbell and Clinton Portis, the NFL rushing leader.

Campbell often hurt the Redskins as much as he helped them last season, throwing 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while compiling a 77.6 passer rating that was 20th in the league. This season, Campbell has thrown eight touchdowns without an interception, and his rating of 100.5 is fifth in the NFL.

He went 23-of-28 for a season-high 328 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Santana Moss, in Washington's 25-17 win in Detroit on Sunday.

"He is a very talented guy physically," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who coached Campbell at the Senior Bowl prior to the 2005 draft. "He can escape the pressure, he has an extremely strong arm and he is a smart guy.

"He's making great decisions, moving the offense, and his team is winning."

Portis, meanwhile, has arguably been the league's MVP in the first half the season. The seventh-year back's total of 944 rushing yards is 260 more than his closest competitor, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, and Portis has gained at least 120 yards in each of his past five games.

"All of the personal stats and (big numbers), wanting to do this and wanting to do that -- all of that is out for me," Portis told the Redskins' official Web site. "I want to win. If we come out with a win, then I come out with a smile on my face."

Portis may find running against the Steelers a bit more difficult. St. Louis, Cleveland and Detroit, Washington's last three opponents, rank 24th or worse in the league in rushing yards allowed. Pittsburgh is third at 71.6 yards per game.

Portis has 21 carries for 64 yards in two career games against the Steelers, both while with Denver.

The Steelers are hoping their feature back, Willie Parker, can return from a knee injury that has kept him out of the past four games. Tomlin said Parker will test the knee this week before a decision is made on his status.

One offensive star who will return is Santonio Holmes, the receiver suspended by the Steelers for last Sunday's game after being charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana during a traffic stop last week.

"As a football team and an organization, in terms of our view of the situation, we've laid it to bed," Tomlin said. "We're moving forward."

The Steelers have won their last three meetings with the Redskins, all in Pittsburgh. The teams last played in Washington in 1988, their only meeting in the nation's capital since 1968.

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.

Thomas's Return 'On Schedule'

Randy Thomas is sitting out OTA practices this month after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery recently, according to head coach Jim Zorn.

Redskins Take First Look at Line After Jansen

"I feel like I have the ability to be a starter," said Stephon Heyer, center, shown here taking on Scott Burley in drills during yesterday's workout as offensive line coach Joe Bugel looks on.

Kelly Full-Go At Practice

Malcolm Kelly pulled in a pass on a slant pattern, adjusting his body mid-route because the throw was slightly behind him.

Back In Action

The Redskins resumed OTAs on Monday, with more than 75 veterans and rookies returning to the practice fields at Redskins Park.

Heyer Aims To Be Worthy Heir

Late yesterday morning, Stephon Heyer performed the duties offensive linemen perform at this time of year.