Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7)Date: Monday, Nov. 12, 2012Kickoff: 8:30 p.m., ETSite: Heinz Field (65,500) • Pittsburgh, Pa.Playing Surface: Natural GrassTV Coverage: ESPN (locally WTAE-TV, channel 4)Announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play)*Jon Gruden (analyst) Lisa Salters (sideline)Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)National Radio: Dial Global Radio SportsAnnouncers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play) Boomer Esiason (analyst) Steve Tasker (sideline)Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) *XEDA-FM 90.5
THE COACHES
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike TomlinOverall regular-season record: 60-28 (.682)/sixth seasonRegular-season record at Pittsburgh: 60-28 (.682)/sixth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 5-3/four yearsKansas City Chiefs Head Coach Romeo CrennelOverall regular-season record: 27-48 (.360)/sixth seasonRegular-season record at Kansas City: 3-8 (.273)/second seasonPlayoff Record/Years: n/a
SERIES HISTORYSeries History: Series began in 1970Overall: Steelers lead 18-9At Pittsburgh: Steelers lead 8-4At Kansas City:Steelers lead 10-5Neutral Sites: n/aLast Regular-Season Meeting: Nov. 27, 2011(in Kansas City) Pittsburgh 13, Kansas City 9Postseason Series: Kansas City leads 1-0(postseason record not included in overall series record)Pittsburgh is attempting to win consecutive games for the*first time in the series since it won four in a row between 1987 and 1992…this will be the third time in the last four seasons these two franchises have met during the regular season with the two teams splitting the last two games…the last two contests were decided by a total of seven points with the 2009 matchup going to overtime…the Steelers and the Chiefs have met 11 times since 1992 but this is only the third time the game is taking place in Pittsburgh…Kansas City has not won in Pittsburgh in its last three tries…Monday night's game marks the second straight year the teams have met in primetime…this matchup is also the first *time the teams have met in back-to-back seasons since 1998-99.
STEELERS-CHIEFS CONNECTIONSLOCAL CONNECTIONS• Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haleywas the head coach*of the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-2011, compiling a 19-26 record during that time. A number of current Chiefs coaches were on Haley's staff, including: Head CoachRomeo Crennel,Maurice Carthon,Mike Clark,Gary Gibbs,Bernie Parmalee,Anthony Pleasant,Brent Salazar,Nick Sirianni,Otis Smith,Emmitt Thomas,Adam Zimmer andJim Zorn.• SteelersTE Leonard Pope was a member of the Chiefs under Haley and played in Kansas City from 2009-11.• Chiefs wide receiversNick Sirianni coached at local Indiana University of Pennsylvania from 2006-2008.• ChiefsWR Jon Baldwin was born in Aliquippa, Pa., and attended Aliquippa High School and the University of Pittsburgh. In three seasons with the Panthers, Baldwin had 157 receptions for 2,306 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was the Chiefs' first-round selection (26th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, becoming the first Pittsburgh wide receiver to be drafted in the first round since Larry Fitzgerald in 2004.• ChiefsWR Steve Breaston was born in North Braddock, Pa.. Breaston attended Woodland Hills High School with SteelersS Ryan Mundy. Breaston lettered in both football and track and field for the Woodland Hills Wolverines. • SteelersDE Ziggy Hood attended the University of Missouri, which is located between St. Louis and Kansas City.• ChiefsP Dustin Colquitt is the son of Craig Colquitt, who punted for the Steelers from 1978-1984 and was a member of two Super *Bowl winning teams in Pittsburgh.
PRO CONNECTIONS
• Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haleywas on the New York*Jets' coaching staff from 1997-2000 and Chiefs head coach/defensive coordinatorRomeo Crennel was on the Jets' staff from 1997-1999, Chiefs assistant head coachMaurice Carthon was on the Jets' staff from 1997-2000 and Chiefs defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant was on the Jets' staff from 1998-1999. Chiefs tight ends coachBernie Parmalee was on the Jets' staff from 1999-2000.• Haley was the Arizona Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 2007-2008 when ChiefsWR Steve Breaston was a member of the Cardinals. While playing with the Cardinals, Breaston was teammates with SteelersTE Leonard Pope and SteelersLB Brandon Johnson from 2006-07. Breaston and Pope also played the 2008 season together in Arizona and then became teammates again in Kansas City in 2011. Also, Chiefs assistant head coach Maurice Carthon was on the Cardinals' staff from 2007-2008. In 2004, Haley and Chiefs linebackers coachGary Gibbs were both on the Cowboys' coaching staff.
• SteelersK Shaun Suisham was teammates with ChiefsWR Terrance Copper with the Cowboys in 2005. He also spent time with Dallas Cowboys in 2006 where he was a teammate of Chiefs S Abram Elam. Suisham played for the Washington Redskins when Chiefs quarterbacks coachJim Zorn was the head coach of the Redskins from 2008-2009.• SteelersWR Jerricho Cotchery and ChiefsS Abram Elam were teammates with the New York Jets from 2007-2008.• SteelersQB Byron Leftwich was in his only season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 when Chiefs special teams coachTom McMahon was on the Falcons' coaching staff.• SteelersQB Charlie Batch played for the Lions from 2001-2002 when Chiefs assistant head coachMaurice Carthon was on the Detroit Lions staff. Batch was also with Detroit when Chiefs quarterbacks coachJim Zorn was on the Lions' staff from 1998-2000.
• Steelers linebackers coachKeith Butler and Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel were on the Cleveland Browns' staff together in 2000.• Steelers defensive line coachJohn Mitchell coached for the Cleveland Browns from 1991-1993 when Chiefs defensive line coachAnthony Pleasant played on the defensive line for the Browns.• Steelers tight ends coachJames Daniel and Chiefs defensive backs coachEmmitt Thomas were on the Atlanta Falcons' staff from 2002-2003.• Steelers offensive line coachSean Kugler and Chiefs defensive quality control coachOtis Smith were on the Detroit Lions' staff together in 2003.• From 1978-1984, Steelers linebackers coachKeith Butler and Chiefs quarterbacks coachJim Zorn were teammates with the Seattle Seahawks.COLLEGE CONNECTIONS*
• SteelersS Troy Polamalu *and ChiefsQB Matt Cassel were teammates at the University of Southern California from 2001-2002. In 2001, Steelers running backs coachKirby Wilson was the Trojans' wide receivers coach.• SteelersS Ryan Clark was in his final season at Louisiana State University in 2001 when Chiefs linebackers coachGary Gibbs was the Tigers' defensive coordinator.• SteelersDE Al Woods was teammates with ChiefsDE Tyson Jackson from 2006-2008 at LSU. Woods was also teammates at LSU with ChiefsDE Glenn Dorsey from 2006-2007 andWR Dwayne Bowe in 2006.• SteelersLB LaMarr Woodley andS Ryan Mundy were teammates with ChiefsWR Steve Breaston at the University of Michigan from 2003-2006.• SteelersWR Mike Wallace and ChiefsS Kendrick Lewis,RB Dexter McCluster andNT Jerrell Powe were teammates at the University of Mississippi from 2006-2008.• SteelersLB Jason Worilds and ChiefsCB Brandon Flowers were teammates at Virginia Tech from 2006-2007.• SteelersG Ramon Foster and ChiefsS Eric Berry were teammates at the University of Tennessee from 2007-2008. Foster was also teammates with ChiefsP Dustin Colquitt for the Vols in 2004. Also, Chiefs special teams quality control coach Derius Swinton was on the Volunteers' coaching staff from 2007-2008.• SteelersDE Cameron Heyward and ChiefsS/CB Donald Washington were teammates at Ohio State University from 2007-2008.• SteelersOT Marcus Gilbert and ChiefsLB Brandon Siler were teammates at the University of Florida in 2006.
• SteelersP Drew Butler and ChiefsLB Justin Houston were *teammates at the University of Georgia from 2007-2010.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES• Pittsburgh looks to improve home record to 237-89-1, including*68-22-1 at Heinz Field.• If the Steelers win they will be 7-0 at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football. Pittsburgh is looking to record its 15th consecutive win at home on Monday Night Football. The last time the Steelers lost at home on Monday Night Football was on 10/14/91 against the New York Giants, 20-23. Pittsburgh is looking to improve to 24-5 at home all-time on Monday Night Football.• The Steelers are looking for their 11th win the last 12 homes games.• If Pittsburgh wins will start 4-0 at home for the second straight season.• Steelers look to improve to 19-9 all-time against the Chiefs during the regular season, including 9-4 at home.• Pittsburgh is looking to improve to 2-2 in primetime games this season.• The Steelers look to win their fourth consecutive home game against the Chiefs. The last time Pittsburgh lost to Kansas City at home was 1986.• Pittsburgh is looking to improve to 402-253-2 during the regular season since 1970.• Pittsburgh is looking to have an individual 100 yard rusher for the fourth game in a row. It would be the first time the Steelers registered an individual 100 yard rusher in at least four consecutive games since Duce Staley (1) and Jerome Bettis (4) combined for five straight 100 yard rushing games in 2004 (10/31 - 11/28).• The Steelers defense is looking to keep its eighth opponent to under 100 yards rushing this season.• If Pittsburgh holds Kansas City to less than 170 net passing yards it will mark the fourth game in a row and the sixth time this season the Steelers did not allow their opponent to register at least 170 net passing yards.• The Pittsburgh defense is looking to extend its regular season streak of holding teams under 300 net passing yards to 32 games. The last time the Steelers allowed a team to record at least 300 net passing yards was on 11/14/10 vs. New England (350).• The Steelers offense is looking to score points on their opening drive of the game for the sixth time this season and on the opening drive of the second half for the seventh time this season.• Pittsburgh's defense will try and hold the opposing quarterback to a passer rating of 75.0 or less for the fifth straight game and the sixth time this season.• The Steelers defense is looking to register at least one takeaway for the eighth game this season.PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES*
Head Coach Mike Tomlin• If Pittsburgh wins, will improve to 61-28 during the regular season.• Looking to improve to 20-9 in primetime games, including 7-1 on*Monday Night Football.• With a win, will start 4-0 at home for the fourth time as head coach (2007, '09, '11).QB Ben Roethlisberger• If the Steelers win, will improve to 9-3 on Monday Night Football. Nine wins would be the fourth most wins on Monday by active quarterbacks (Tom Brady, 12-4 / Peyton Manning, 12-4 / Drew Brees 10-4).• If Roethlisberger registers at least 218 passing yards and 12 rushing yards, he will become the 25th quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 29,000 yards and run for at least 1,000 yards during the regular season.• Looking to record a passer rating of 120.0 for the fourth time this season, which would tie for the second most times he has registered a passer rating of at least 120.0 in the same regular season (four in 2004 / five in 2009).• Is looking to throw for at least 360 yards for the third time this season, which would tie 2011 (3) for the second most times he has thrown for at least 360 yards in one season
(2009, 4).RB Isaac Redman• Looking to eclipse 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.RB Rashard Mendenhall• Is one rushing touchdown shy of becoming the fifth player in franchise history with 30 career rushing touchdowns.RB Jonathan Dwyer• Looking to register his third 100 yard rushing game in the last three games he has played.TE Heath Miller• Needs one receiving touchdown to pass Elbie Nickel (37) for the most receiving touchdowns by a Steelers' tight end.• Is two receiving touchdowns away from tying Louis Lipps (39) for the fifth most in franchise history.• Is one receiving touchdown shy of tying his single-season career high of seven, set in 16 games in 2007.WR Mike Wallace• Is one receiving touchdown away from becoming the ninth player in franchise history to register at least 30 receiving touchdowns.• If he records at least 100 yards receiving, it will mark the 14th 100-yard game of his career.LB James Harrison• Needs one sack to tie Joey Porter (60.0) for second place on the Steelers' sacks list, dating back to 1982 when sacks became an official statistic.LB LaMarr Woodley• Needs 2.5 sacks to tie Greg Lloyd (53.5, 1988-97) for the fifth most sacks by a Steelers' player since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.• Looking to tie his single-season career high (2010) with his second interception of the season.LB Jason Worilds• Needs one sack to pass his single-season career high of three, set in 12 games last season.CB Ike Taylor• If Taylor records an interception it will be only the third time in his career, including the postseason, that he has registered interceptions in back-to-back games.• Looking to extend his consecutive games played streak to 132 games.S Troy Polamalu• Needs one interception to become the ninth Steelers' player to record 30 career interceptions.
• With one fumble return for a touchdown, will tie Jason Gildon (3) for the most fumbles returned for touchdowns in franchise history.• Is one defensive touchdown shy of tying Carnell Lake, Dwayne Woodruff and Jack Butler (5) for the second-most defensive touchdowns in Steelers history (Rod Woodson, 6).• Needs one interception return for a touchdown to tie Carnell Lake, Dwayne Woodruff, Deshea Townsend and Tony Campagno *(3) for the fourth-most in franchise history.
