Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) at San Diego Chargers (2-2)
Date: Monday, Oct. 12, 2015
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Site: Qualcomm Stadium (71,500) • San Diego, Calif.
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
TV Coverage: ESPN-TV (locally WTAE-TV, channel 4)
Announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Jon Gruden (color analyst), Lisa Salters (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)
National Radio: Westwood One Sports
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Kurt Warner (color analyst), Scott Kaplan (sideline)
**
A LOOK AT THE COACHES**
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall regular-season record: 84-48 (.636)/ninth season
Regular-season record with Pittsburgh: 84-48 (.636)/ninth season
Playoff Record/Years: 5-4/five years
San Diego Chargers Head Coach Mike McCoy
Overall regular-season record: 20-16 (.556)/third season
Regular-season record with San Diego: 20-16 (.556)/third season
Playoff Record/Years: 1-1/one year
STEELERS-CHARGERS SERIES HISTORY
Series History: Series began in 1971
Overall Regular Season: Steelers lead, 21-7
At Pittsburgh: Steelers lead, 14-1
At San Diego: Steelers lead, 7-6
Neutral Sites: n/a
Streak: Chargers won previous meeting
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 9, 2012, in Pittsburgh
San Diego 34, Pittsburgh 24
Postseason Series: Chargers lead, 2-1
Last Post-Season Meeting: Jan. 11, 2009, in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh 35, San Diego 24
(preseason and postseason record not included in overall series record)
This week's game marks the 29th time the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers will meet in the regular season and the 14th time in San Diego, where the Steelers are 7-6 vs. the Chargers...the two teams are meeting for the third time on Monday Night Football in regular season history, with the Monday primetime series being split at one.
THE LAST TIME VS. SAN DIEGO
San Diego 34, Pittsburgh 24
Dec. 9, 2012
Heinz Field (61,359)
PITTSBURGH - QB Philip Rivers threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns, lifting the visiting San Diego Chargers to a 34-24 victory over the Steelers at Heinz Field. The Steelers dropped to 7-6 on the season.
San Diego scored the fi rst 13 points of the contest. Late in the first quarter, K Nick Novak connected on a 51-yard fi eld goal to give the Chargers a 3-0 lead. Late in the second quarter, Rivers found WR Danario Alexander down the sideline for a 39-yard touchdown to give San Diego a 10-0 lead. With just 50 seconds left in the half, Novak drilled a 39-yard field goal to give the Chargers a 13-0 lead.
The Steelers managed to cut the lead to 13-3 when K Shaun Suisham connected on a 49-yard fi eld goal at the end of the fi rst half. On the Chargers fi rst drive of the second half, Rivers led the team on a 17-play, 78-yard drive that took 9:32 off the clock. Rivers capped off that drive with a three-yard pass to WR Malcom Floyd, and San Diego took a 20-3 lead.
On Pittsburgh's ensuing drive, QB Ben Roethlisberger attempted to throw a screen pass to WR Antonio Brown but the ball ricocheted off TE David Paulson and rolled into the endzone. CB Quentin Jammer recovered the ball in the endzone for the touchdown and the Chargers took a 27-3 lead.
Roethlisberger found WR Mike Wallace on the Steelers' ensuing possession for a 40-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead 27-10. It was Wallace's 26th career reception of 40 yards and the 16th that has gone for a touchdown.
The Steelers held the Chargers on their next drive and forced them to punt. But Roethlisberger threw an interception to Chargers' LB Bront Bird on the second play of the drive. Rivers then threw his third touchdown pass of the game, a 15-yarder to Alexander, and San Diego led 34-10.
Roethlisberger threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Wallace midway through the fourth to cut the lead 34-17, and Roethlisberger threw a one-yard touchdown to Brown with less than a minute remaining.
GAME SUMMARY
| Chargers (5-8) | 3 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 34 |
| STEELERS (7-6) | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
| TEAM | Q | TIME | PLAY | DRIVE | SCORE |
| SD | 1 | 3:06 | Novak 51-yd. FG | 12-36; 6:09 | 0-3 |
| SD | 2 | 3:40 | Alexander 39-yd. pass from Rivers | 3-48; 1:38 | 0-10 |
| SD | 2 | 0:50 | Novak 39-yd. FG | 8-26; 1:08 | 0-13 |
| PIT | 2 | 0:00 | Suisham 49-yd. FG | 7-59; 0:50 | 3-13 |
| SD | 3 | 5:28 | Floyd 3-yd. pass from Rivers | 17-78; 9:32 | 3-20 |
| SD | 3 | 5:16 | Jammer fumble recovery in end zone | -- --; -- -- | 3-27 |
| PIT | 3 | 2:33 | Wallace 40-yd. pass from Roethlisberger | 7-80; 2:43 | 10-27 |
| SD | 4 | 9:46 | Alexander 15-yd. pass from Rivers | 2-17; 0:39 | 10-34 |
| PIT | 4 | 6:07 | Wallace 11-yd. pass from Roethlisberger | 10-81; 3:39 | 17-34 |
| PIT | 4 | 0:58 | A. Brown 1-yd. pass from Roethlisberger | 6-44; 1:35 | 24-34 |
**
The Steelers prepare for the week 5 contest against the San Diego Chargers.
STEELERS-CHARGERS CONNECTIONS**
Former Steelers/Chargers
• Steelers DT Cam Thomas was originally selected by the Chargers in the fi fth round (146th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft. Thomas was with the Chargers for four seasons (2010-13).
• Chargers STC Kevin Spencer held the same position with the Steelers for fi ve seasons (2002-06).
• Chargers asst. OL coach Andrew Dees was part of the NFL's Minority Fellowship Internship Program in 2005, allowing him to help the Steelers coaching staff during training camp.
• San Diego TE David Johnson was a seventh-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2009 (241st overall). He played in 66 regular-season games, starting in 28 of them for the Steelers. Johnson was also a member of the Super Bowl XLV Pittsburgh team.
• San Diego college scout Paul Skansi was drafted by the Steelers in the fi fth round of the 1983 NFL Draft.
Area Connections
• Chargers OL coach Joe D'Alessandris is a native of Aliquippa, Pa., and coached the offensive line for the University of Pittsburgh in 1996.
• San Diego asst. to the HC Mark Ridgley is from Pittsburgh Pa., and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh.
• Chargers asst. secondary coach Greg Williams was the secondary and def. GA for the University of Pittsburgh in 2008.
• San Diego QB coach Nick Sirianni was the WR coach for Indiana University (Pa.) for three seasons (2006-08).
**
Here is a look at the statistical leaders for the both the Steelers and Chargers heading into the Week 5 Monday Night Football contest.
Through a little more than two and half games, before he suffered a knee injury, QB Ben Roethlisberger had completed 67 of 89 passes (75.3%) for 912 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interception and had a quarterback rating of 113.1.
Following his Week 4 start vs. the Ravens, QB Mike Vick is now 24 for 32 passing for 162 yards with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 96.1.
QB Philip Rivers leads the Chargers offense completing 99 of 140 passes (70.7.1%) for 1,248 yards, 8 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and has a quarterback rating of 105.3.
RB DeAngelo Williams is leading the Steelers in rushing attempts (44), yards (211) and touchdowns (3).
RB LeVeon Bell, who had to sit out the first two games of the season has now carried the ball 41 times for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Rookie RB Melvin Gordon leads the Chargers rushing attack with 228 yards on 56 attempts for a 4.1 yards per attempt average.
RB Danny Woodhead has carried the ball 33 times for the Chargers for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns.
WR Antonio Brown is averaging 119.5 receiving yards per game this season. Brown leads all Steelers receivers with 34 receptions, 478 yards and is tied with Darrius Heyward-Bey with two receiving touchdowns on the season.
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has 15 receptions this season for 185 yards and is tied with Antonio Brown as the Steelers team leader with two receiving touchdowns on the season.
WR Keenan Allen leads all Chargers receivers with 33 receptions for 387 yards and 3 touchdowns.
With 11 total tackles vs. the Ravens, LB Lawrence Timmons now leads the Steelers 2015 defense with 30 total tackles (20 solo and 10 assists).
The Chargers defense is led safety Eric Weddle who has 35 total tackles (26 solo and 9 assists) on the season.
With a sack of Ravens QB Joe Flacco, DE Stephon Tuitt added to his team leading sack total and has now recorded 3.5 sacks on the season.
OLB Jeremiah Attaochu has recorded 2.0 quarterback sacks in 2015 to lead the Chargers.
S Will Allen recorded for the first interception of the season for the Steelers defense late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win over the Rams.
CB Ross Cockrell recorded his first career interception when he picked off Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco in the 2nd quarter of Steelers Week 4 Thursday night game.
CB Patrick Robinson is one of three Chargers who have recorded a single interception for the Chargers defense so far in 2015.
OLB Kyle Emanuel is one of three Chargers who have recorded a single interception for the Chargers defense so far in 2015.
CB Steve Williams is one of three Chargers who have recorded a single interception for the Chargers defense so far in 2015.
NFL Connections**
• Pittsburgh RB DeAngelo Wiliams was a Carolina Panther while Chargers HC Mike McCoy (2006-08), WR coach Fred Graves (2011-12) and secondary coach Ron Milus (2009-10) were on the Panthers' coaching staff.
• Pittsburgh CB William Gay was a member of the Cardinals at the same time San Diego OC Frank Reich and STC Kevin Spencer were coaches in Arizona (2012).
• Steelers Asst. HC/DL coach John Mitchell and WR coach Richard Mann worked with Spencer in Cleveland for three seasons (1991-93).
• Pittsburgh conditioning coordinator Garrett Giemont also worked with Spencer in Oakland (1995-97), while Steelers OC Todd Haley was on staff with Spencer in Arizona (2007-08).
• Haley and Chargers OL coach Joe D'Alessandris were both coaches for the Chiefs (2009).
• Haley also worked with San Diego QB coach Nick Sirianni in Kansas City (2009-11), at the same time Chargers CB Brandon Flowers was a Chief.
• Steelers LB Arthur Moats played for Buffalo, while D'Alessandris was on staff for the Bills for three seasons (2010-12).
• San Diego TE coach Pete Metzelaars and asst. OL coach Andrew Dees held the same positions with Buffalo in 2012. Moats was also teammates with San Diego WR Stevie Johnson (2010-13) in Buffalo.
• Steelers STC Danny Smith and Graves worked together on the Bills coaching staff (2001-03). Pittsburgh OL coach Mike Munchak also worked with Graves in Tennessee (2007-10).
• Steelers QB Mike Vick played in Atlanta, while Chargers RB coach Ollie Wilson was on staff for the Falcons (2002-06).
• Steelers S Ross Ventrone and Chargers RB Danny Woodhead were teammates in New England for one season (2011).
College Connections
• Steelers LB Lawrence Timmons was teammates with Chargers CB Patrick Robinson for one season at Florida State (2006).
• Pittsburgh RB Jordan Todman and San Diego RB Donald Brown played alongside one another at Connecticut for one year (2008).
• Steelers WR Antonio Brown (2009) and DE L.T. Walton (2010-12) were teammates of Chargers S Jahleel Addae at Central Michigan.
• Pittsburgh DE Stephon Tuitt helped man the defense at Notre Dame with San Diego LB Manti Te'o for two years (2011-12).
• Tuitt was also teammates with Chargers C/G Chris Watt and C Trevor Robinson for one season (2011) at Notre Dame.
• Steelers LB Anthony Chickillo was teammates with Chargers ILB Denzel Perryman for all four years of his career at Miami (2011-14).
PIT-SD SERIES HIGHS
Passing Yards
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger - 333 (10/4/2009)
Chargers: Dan Fouts - 372 (12/8/1985)
Rushing Yards
Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall - 165 (10/4/2009)
Chargers: Gary Anderson - 170 (12/11/1988)
Receiving Yards
Steelers: Charles Johnson - 165 (12/24/1994)
Chargers: Kellen Winslow, Sr. - 171 (12/22/1980)
**
WHAT TO LOOK FOR**
FROM THE STEELERS
• With a win, the Steelers will improve to 426-273-2 during the regular season since 1970.
• The Steelers look to improve to 22-7 all-time against the Chargers in the regular season and to 8-6 on the road.
• Pittsburgh will look to improve to 2-1 against San Diego on Monday Night Football and to 43-24 all-time in primetime on Monday Night Football.
FROM HEAD COACH MIKE TOMLIN
• A win would improve Tomlin to 85-48 during the regular season, inlcuding 37-30 on the road.
• Coach Tomlin looks to improve to 3-1 in the regular season against San Diego and win his fi rst road game vs. the Chargers.
FROM THE STEELERS OFFENSE
QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
• Needs 31 passing yards to become the first Steelers quarterback with 40,000 and to become the ninth passer in league history to reach the mark with one team.
• With 3,000 passing yards in 2015, will become the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 3,000 yards in 10 consecutive seasons.
• Will record his 40th 300-yard passing game with his next such game in 2015 and become the ninth signal caller to do so with one franchise.
QB MIKE VICK
• With his next start and win will have 60 regular season victories as a starting quarterback in his NFL career.
• Three touchdown passes to record 135 in his NFL career.
• Needs 209 pass completions to reach 2,000 in his NFL career.
WR ANTONIO BROWN
• With two touchdown catches, will move into a tie for ninth in team history with Mike Wallace (32).
• With his next 100-yard game, will become the third player in in franchise history with 20-such performances in the regular season (Hines Ward – 29 and John Stallworth – 25).
• With 100 receptions in 2015, will extend his franchise record of consecutive seasons with at least 100 catches to three.
• With 110 catches in 2015, will become the second player in NFL history to record 110 or more receptions in three consecutive years (Wes Welker, 2007-09).
• With 125 receptions in 2015, would become the first player in NFL history to record back-to-back seasons of 125 catches or more.
• With 1,000 receiving yards in 2015, will join Hines Ward (2001-04) as only the second player in franchise history to register 1,000 receiving yards in three consecutive years.
• Will surpass Lynn Swann (5,534) for the eighth-most yards from scrimmage in team history with 61.
• With 181 yards from scrimmage, will become the eighth Steeler in team history with at least 6,000.
TE HEATH MILLER
• Is 55 receptions from joining Hines Ward (1,000) as the second player in team history with 600.
• Needs six touchdown catches to become just the fourth player in Steelers history with 50.
• Is 250 yards from scrimmage away from moving into fifth in team history (Louis Lipps, 6,406).
• With 50 receptions in 2015, will record his fifth consecutive 50-catch season.
**
RB LeVEON BELL**
• With 100 rushing yards on Monday, will have seven 100-yard games in his NFL career.
• With 100 yards from scrimmage this week, will have totaled 20 games in his NFL career with 100 yards or more.
• With 1,000 rushing yards in 2015 will become the fifth Steelers running back to produce back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons and the first since Rashard Mendenhall in 2009-10.
RB DeANGELO WILLIAMS
• Will record the 20th 100-yard rushing game of his career with his next 100-yard performance.
• Will reach 50 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career with his next rushing score.
FROM THE STEELERS DEFENSE
DE CAMERON HEYWARD
• Needs 3.0 sacks on to record 5.0 quarterback takedowns in three straight seasons.
LB JAMES HARRISON
• One multi-sack game to break a tie with Jason Gildon (17) for the most such games in team history.
CB WILLIAM GAY
• Will match Rod Woodson (5) for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns in team history with his next pick six.
FROM THE STEELERS SPECIAL TEAMS
WR/PR ANTONIO BROWN
• Needs 235 punt return yards to move into second in team history (Antwaan Randle El, 1,650).
• One punt return for a touchdown to tie Antwaan Randle El (4) for the most in Steelers history.
