Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-12)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010
Kickoff: 8:20 p.m., ET
Site: Heinz Field (65,050) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
Playing Surface: Grass
TV Coverage: NFL Network (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)
Announcers: Bob Papa (play-by-play) Matt Millen (color analyst) Joe Theismann (color analyst) Steve Wyche (sideline) Alex Flanagan (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 Radio
Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play) Trent Green (color analyst) Laura Okmin (sideline)
Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) XEDA-FM 90.5
Steelers-Panthers complete game notes. A Look at the Coaches
* *
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall regular-season record: 41-21 (.661)/fourth season
Regular-season record at Pittsburgh: 41-21 (.661)/fourth season
Playoff Record/Years: 3-1/two years
Carolina Panthers Head Coach John Fox
Overall Regular-season Record: 73-69 (.514)/ninth season
Regular-season Record at Carolina: 73-69 (.514)/ninth season
Playoff Record/Years: 5-3/three yearsSeries History: Series began in 1996
Overall: Pittsburgh leads 3-1
At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 2-0
At Carolina: Series tied 1-1
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 17, 2006 (in Carolina)
Pittsburgh 37, Carolina 3
Postseason Series: n/a
(postseason records not included in overall series record)
Pittsburgh is 3-1 in the regular season against the Carolina Panthers, including a 2-0 mark at home...the Steelers have won three straight regular-season matchups versus the Panthers after dropping the first-ever meeting between the two teams, 18-14, in the season-finale of the 1996 season...Pittsburgh defeated the Panthers, 37-3, at Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 17, 2006.
Steelers-Panthers Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Panthers and the Charlotte area. LS Greg Warren(Goldsboro) played at North Carolina. CB Crezdon Butleris from Asheville, N.C, while wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomerywas born in Shelby, N.C. and played at Duke. Montgomery was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent for the Panthers in 2000.
Panthers with connections to the Steelers and Pittsburgh include Head Coach John Fox, who coached with the Steelers from 1989-91 and the University of Pittsburgh from 1986-88. QB Brian St. Pierreplayed for the Steelers from 2004-05 and 2006-07. OG C.J. Davisand OT Rob Petittiplayed for Pitt while DT Ed Johnsonplayed at Penn State.
What To Look For
* *
PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES
• The Steelers look to improve to: 4-1 all-time against the Carolina Panthers in the regular season.
• 3-0 against the Panthers in home games.
• 2-0 against the Panthers at Heinz Field.
• 3-1 against NFC opponents this year.
• The Steelers look for their fourth straight win against the Carolina Panthers.
• The Steelers hope to clinch the AFC North Division title with a win over the Carolina Panthers and a loss by Baltimore Ravens to the Cleveland Browns.
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
WR Mike Wallace
• Needs one 100-yard receiving game to give him six on the year, which would be the second-most (tied) in team history with Yancey Thigpen (1997).
• Needs five receiving touchdowns to break the team's single-season record, which is 12 held by Hines Ward (2002), Louis Lipps (1985) and Buddy Dial (1961).
* *
LB James Harrison
• Needs 1.5 sacks to reach 50 for his career and become just the seventh player in team history to total at least 50 career sacks.
• Needs one forced fumble to match his career high of seven and to tie the team record for forced fumbles in a season, which he currently shares with Greg Lloyd (1994). Harrison had seven in 2008 and has forced six in 2010.
LB LaMarr Woodley
• Needs 1.5 sacks to reach 10 for the year and become just the second player in team history (LB James Harrison) to post at least 10 sacks in three straight seasons. Woodley had 11.5 in 2008 and 13.5 in 2009.
S Troy Polamalu
• Needs one interception to tie his single-season best. He currently has six picks on the year. He had a personal-best seven interceptions in 2008.
