Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) vs. New York Jets (1-0)Date: Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012Kickoff: 4:25 p.m., ETSite: Heinz Field (65,500) • Pittsburgh, Pa.Playing Surface: Natural GrassTV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play)*Phil Simms (analyst)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: Sports USA RadioAnnouncers: Bob Fitzgerald (play-by-play) Ross Tucker (analyst)Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) *XEDA-FM 90.5
Steelers notes for Jets game
THE COACHES
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike TomlinOverall regular-season record: 55-26 (.679)/sixth seasonRegular-season record at Pittsburgh: 55-26 (.679)/sixth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 5-3/four yearsNew York Jets Head Coach Rex RyanOverall regular-season record: 29-20 (.591)/fourth seasonRegular-season record at New York: 29-20 (.591)/fourth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 4-2/two years
SERIES HISTORYSeries History: Series began in 1970Overall: Pittsburgh leads 15-4At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 6-1At New York Jets:Pittsburgh leads 9-3Neutral Sites: N/ALast Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 19, 2010 (in Pittsburgh)*New York 22, Pittsburgh 17Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 2-0Last Postseason Meeting: Jan. 23, 2011 (in Pittsburgh)Pittsburgh 24, New York 19 (AFC Championship)(postseason record not included in overall series record)This is the third consecutive matchup, regular season or postseason, between the Jets and the Steelers in Pittsburgh…the Jets victory during the regular-season at Heinz Field in 2010 was New York's only win in Pittsburgh in franchise history…including the 2010 AFC title matchup, the last four matchups in the series have all been decided by five points or less, two of which were overtime contests…overall, the Steelers 80.9% winning percentage against the Jets is the best against any team the Steelers have played a minimum of 20 times…including the regular season and postseason, Pittsburgh won 15 of the first 17 games in the series between these two teams, but the clubs *have split the last six contests.
STEELERS-JETS CONNECTIONSLOCAL CONNECTIONS• Steelers G Willie Colonis from Bronx, N.Y. and played his college*ball at Hofstra University (Hempstead, N.Y.).• JetsCB Darelle Revis is a native of Aliquippa, Pa. and graduated from perennial prep powerhouse Aliquippa High School. Revis played his collegiate ball for the University of Pittsburgh.• Jets quarterbacks coachMatt Cavanaugh played and coached at the University of Pittsburgh. Cavanaugh played quarterback for the Panthers from 1974-1977, then had two coaching stints at his alma mater. From 1991-1993, Cavanaugh coached tight ends and then returned to Pitt and served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2005-2008.• Jets defensive coordinatorMike Pettine is a Pennsylvania native and coached at the University of Pittsburgh from 1993-1994.• Jets special teams coordinatorMike Westhoff is a native of Bethel Park, Pa. (near Pittsburgh) and a graduate of Bethel Park *High School.
PRO CONNECTIONS
• Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haleywas on the Jets staff*from 1997-2000, serving as an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach. Prior to that, Haley worked in the New York scouting department from 1995-1996. Haley also coached with Jets offensive coordinatorTony Sparano for the Dallas Cowboys from 2004-2006. Haley also coached in Dallas with Jets running backs coachAnthony Lynn from 2005-2006.• Jets defensive line coachKarl Dunbar was drafted by Steelers in the eighth round (209th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.• Steelers offensive line coachSean Kugler and JetsLB Aaron Maybin andCB Ellis Lankster were together in Buffalo during the 2009 season when Kugler served as the Bills offensive line coach.• JetsWR Santonio Holmes played for the Steelers from 2006-2009. Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in the first round (25th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft, Holmes was the MVP of the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII victory over the Arizona Cardinals.• SteelersK Shaun Suisham and JetsS LaRon Landry were teammates with the Washington Redskins from 2007-2009.
• SteelersQB Byron Leftwich and Jets running backs coach Anthony Lynn spent the 2003-2004 seasons together in Jacksonville. Leftwich played quarterback for the Jaguars and Lynn coached the running backs.• SteelersLB Brandon Johnson and JetsLB Calvin Pace played together for the Arizona Cardinals from 2006-2007. Pittsburgh running backs coachKirby Wilson also was with Pace in Arizona from 2004-2006 when Wilson held the same position with the *Cardinals.
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
• Steelers S Troy Polamaluand Jets defensive backs coach Dennis Thurmanspent time together at the University of Southern*California from 1999-2000. During those years, Polamalu was a defensive standout for the Trojans and Thurman was his defensive backs coach.• SteelersLB LaMarr Woodley and JetsLB David Harris played together at the University of Michigan from 2003-2006.• SteelersWR Antonio Brown and JetsLB Nick Bellore were teammates at Central Michigan University from 2007-2009.• SteelersLB Lawrence Timmons and JetsCB Antonio Cromartie were teammates at Florida State University from 2003-2005.• SteelersRB Rashard Mendenhall and JetsTE Jeff Cumberland were teammates at Illinois from 2005-2006.• SteelersTE Heath Miller and JetsOT D'Brickashaw Ferguson were teammates at the University of Virginia from 2003-2004.• Steelers offensive line coachSean Kugler and JetsCB Kyle Wilson were together at Boise State University in 2006. Wilson was in the midst of a very strong college career and Kugler was the Broncos' assistant head coach/offensive line coach.• SteelersRB Jonathan Dwyer and JetsWR Stephen Hill were teammates at Georgia Tech University for the 2009 season.
• SteelersOT Marcus Gilbert and JetsQB Tim Tebow were teammates at the University of Florida from 2006-2009. Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey andRB Chris Rainey were also teammates for Tebow at Florida from 2007-2009.• SteelersS Will Allen was teammates with JetsWR Santonio Holmes andC Nick Mangold at Ohio State University. All threemen were Buckeyes together for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.• SteelersDE Al Woods and JetsS LaRon Landry were teammates at Louisiana State University in 2006. Also, SteelersS Ryan Clark and Jets defensive line coachKarl Dunbar were together at LSU from 2000-2001. Clark was a safety for the Tigers and Dunbar was the assistant strength and conditioning coach.• SteelersFB Will Johnson and JetsCB Ellis Lankster played together at West Virginia University from 2007-2008. Both men also played for the Mountaineers with SteelersS Ryan Mundy during the 2007 season.• SteelersLB Adrian Robinson and JetsDL Muhammad Wilkerson *played together at Temple University from 2008-2010.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES• Pittsburgh looks for its 10th straight win in home openers.• The Steelers look to improve to 30-13 in home openers since*1970.• With a win the Steelers would be 16-4 against the New York Jets and 7-1 at home.• The Steelers look to win their fourth consecutive home game, dating back to last season.• The Steelers look to improve to 334-210-1 against AFC opponents, including the postseason.• Pittsburgh looks to improve to 66-22-1 at Heinz Field during the *regular season.
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Head Coach Mike Tomlin•Looks to improve his record in home openers to 6-0, Tomlin is*the only head coach in Steelers' history to win his first five home *openers.
• With a win, will improve to 56-26 during the regular season.• Looks to improve his regular season home record to 32-9.• Has a chance to improve to 42-20 against AFC opponents during*the regular season.• Has a chance to improve record to 13-6 in September regular season games.QB Ben Roethlisberger• With a win, will be 81-34 as a starter during the regular season.• Looking to go 6-0 in home openers.WR Mike Wallace• If he records at least 100 yards receiving, it will mark the 13th 100-yard game of his career.• With two more receptions of 25 or more yards he will pass WR Plaxico Burress (41) for the second most (Hines Ward, 81) 25+yard receptions by a Steelers' player, dating back to 1991.TE Heath Miller• Is six yards shy of passing Ray Matthews (3,919) for ninth place on the Steelers' career receiving yards list.• Needs two receiving touchdowns to tie Matthews (34) for the seventh-most in franchise history.SS 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.• Needs eight yards to surpass Chad Scott (368) for the 10th-most interception return yards in a career in Steelers' history.LB James Harrison• Needs one sack to tie Keith Willis (59.0) for fifth place on the Steelers' all-time list.LB LaMarr Woodley• Needs two sacks to become the eighth player in team history with *50.0 career sacks.
