PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-0) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-0)Date: Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m., ET
Site: M&T Bank Stadium (71,008) • Baltimore, Md.
Playing Surface: Sportexe Momentum
TV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA, channel 2)
Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play) Phil Simms (color analyst)
National Radio:Westwood One
Announcers:Howard David (play-by-play) Tony Boselli (color analyst)
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)
Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) XEDA-FM 90.5
Steelers notes for Ravens game
THE COACHES
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin
Overall regular-season record: 43-21 (.672)/fifth season
Regular-season record at Pittsburgh: 43-21 (.672)/fifth season
Playoff Record/Years: 5-2/three years
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John HarbaughOverall regular-season record: 32-16 (.667)/fourth season
Regular-season record at Carolina: 32-16 (.667)/fourth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 4-3/three years
SERIES HISTORY
Series History: Series began in 1996Overall: Pittsburgh leads 18-12At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 10-5At Baltimore: Pittsburgh leads 8-7Neutral Sites: n/aLast Regular-Season Meeting: Dec. 5, 2010 (in Baltimore)*Pittsburgh 13, Baltimore 10Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 3-0Last Postseason Meeting: Jan. 15, 2011 (in Pittsburgh) *Pittsburgh 31, Baltimore 24
*(postseason record not included in overall series record)
*
Pittsburgh is 18-12 in the regular season and 3-0 all-time in the postseason against the Ravens, including a 31-24 win in last year's Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field...the Steelers defeated the Ravens three times in 2008, including a 23-14 victory in the AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field...the teams split the regular season meetings in 2010, with each team winning on the road...the Steelers have swept the season series four times
(1997, 1998, 2002, 2008)...the Ravens swept the 2006 season series, marking the only time Pittsburgh had been swept in the series.
PITTSBURGH-BALTIMORE CONNECTIONSLOCAL CONNECTIONS
• Ravens QB Joe Flaccoplayed for the University of Pittsburgh from 2003-2004 before transferring to the University of Delaware.
• Ravens Head Coach John Harbaughcoached tight ends for the University of Pittsburgh in 1987.
• Ravens secondary coach Teryl Austinwas born in Sharon, Pa. and played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh from 1984-1987.
• Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostlerwas born in Pittsburgh and played collegiately for Indiana (Pa.) from 1986-1989. He coached at his alma mater from 1990-1992, 1994-1999 and at nearby Juniata (Pa.) in 1993.
• Ravens TE Kris Wilsonplayed for the University of Pittsburgh from 2000-2003. Wilson was born in Harrisburg, Pa. and moved to Lancaster, Pa. to attend high school.
COACHING CONNECTIONS
• Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlinwas the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings in 2006. Ravens OT Bryant McKinnie and C Matt Birkplayed for the Vikings in Tomlin's only season with Minnesota. During that time, Steelers RB Mewelde Moore
(2004-07) also played for Minnesota.
• Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Ravens special teams coordinator/asst. head coach Jerry Rosburgand Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Paganowere on the Cleveland Browns' coaching staff together from 2001-2003. Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butlerwas on that same staff from 2001-2002.
• Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lakeplayed for the Ravens in his final season in 2001.
• Steelers special teams coach Al Everestand Ravens wide receivers coach Jim Hostlerboth coached for the New Orleans Saints from 2000-2002.
COLLEGE/PRO TEAMMATES
• Steelers QB Dennis Dixonand Ravens NT Haloti Ngatawere teammates at the University of Oregon in 2005.
• Steelers WR Mike Wallaceand Ravens OT Michael Oherwere teammates at the University of Mississippi from 2005-2008.
• Steelers NT Casey Hamptonand Ravens RB Ricky Williamswere teammates at the University of Texas from 1996-1998.*Hampton was also teammates with RavensDE Cory Redding at Texas from 1999-2000.
• SteelersOT Chris Scott was teammates with RavensLS Morgan Cox at the University of Tennessee from 2006-2009. Scott and Cox were also teammates with SteelersOG Ramon Foster from 2006-2008.
• Steelers rookieCB Curtis Brown and RavensCB Chykie Brown (no relation) were teammates at the University of Texas from 2007-2010. Both were drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft. Curtis Brown went to the Steelers in the third round (95th overall) and Chykie Brown went to the Ravens in the fifth round (164th overall). They were also teammates with RavensOLB Sergio Kindle at Texas from 2007-2009.
• SteelersLB Stevenson Sylvester was teammates at the University of Utah with RavensWR David Reed from 2006-2009. Both were drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, Sylvester went to the Steelers with the 166th overall pick and Reed went to the Ravens with the 156th overall pick. Sylvester and Reed were also teammates at Utah with RavensLB Paul Kruger from 2007-2008. All three players were key in Utah's perfect 13-0 season in 2008 that ended with a Sugar Bowl victory against Alabama. WHAT TO LOOK FORPITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES*• Pittsburgh looks for its ninth straight win on Kickoff Weekend, which is the longest current streak in the NFL.
• The Steelers look to improve to 41-32-4 all-time on Kickoff Weekend.
• The Steelers are looking to improve to 19-12 all-time against the Baltimore Ravens.
• Pittsburgh looks to improve to 9-7 on the road against the Ravens.
• The Steelers look to win their fifth straight road game and improve to 20-13 on the road during the Mike Tomlin era (2007-present).
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTESHead Coach Mike Tomlin•Looks to improve his opening day record to 5-0, becoming the only active NFL head coach to be undefeated on opening day (John Harbaugh, 3-0).
QB Ben Roethlisberger•Needs six touchdown passes to equal 150 for his career, becoming only the second Steelers' quarterback to reach the mark*(Terry Bradshaw).• Looking to improve to 5-0 in Week One games. In four previous opening week games he has totaled 879 yards, on 67-of-91 passing with nine TDs and two interceptions for a QB rating of 127.5.• Has beaten Baltimore the last seven times he has played them, *including the postseason.
RB Rashard Mendenhall• Needs two rushing touchdowns to tie Walter Abercrombie (22)*for the 10th-most in the team's history.• Needs 123 yards to pass Kordell Stewart (2,561) for the 14th *most rushing yards in franchise history.
WR Hines Ward• Enters his 14th season as a member of the Steelers to tie for the*second most seasons played by an individual player in franchise *history.
WR Antonio Brown• One kickoff return for a touchdown away from tying Larry Anderson*and Will Blackwell (2) for the second-most career KORs for *TDs in Pittsburgh history.
TE Heath Miller• Six receptions shy of reaching 250 for his career and tying Charles* *Johnson for the eighth-most receptions in franchise history.
LB James Harrison• Needs 4.5 sacks to tie Greg Lloyd (53.5) for the sixth-highest* *career total in the history of the Steelers.
SS Troy Polamalu• Has recorded at least one interception in five of the last six season-opening games, including the last three.• One interception shy of tying Jack Lambert (28) for the ninth-most*in Steelers' history.
• Needs one interception return for a touchdown to tie Dwayne Woodruff (3) for the third-most in franchise history.• Needs 41 yards to surpass Chad Scott (368) for the ninth-most *interception return yards in a career in Steelers' history.
DE Aaron Smith• Needs two sacks to tie Dwight White (46.0) for the eighth-highest* *career total in Steelers' history.
