Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) at Cleveland Browns (2-8)Date: Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012Kickoff: 1 p.m., ETSite: Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,300) • Cleveland, OhioPlaying Surface: Natural GrassTV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2)Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play)*Solomon Wilcots (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)Spanish Radio: Grupo Imagen - Destrito Federal (Mexico City) *XEDA-FM 90.5
THE COACHES
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike TomlinOverall regular-season record: 61-29 (.678)/sixth seasonRegular-season record at Pittsburgh: 61-29 (.678)/sixth seasonPlayoff Record/Years: 5-3/four yearsCleveland Browns Head Coach Pat ShurmurOverall regular-season record: 6-20 (.231)/second seasonRegular-season record at Cleveland: 6-20 (.231)/second seasonPlayoff Record/Years: n/a
Series History: Series began in 1950
Overall: Steelers lead 62-56
At Pittsburgh: Steelers lead 38-21
At Cleveland:Browns lead 35-24
Neutral Sites: n/a
Last Regular-Season Meeting: Jan. 1, 2012 (in Cleveland) Pittsburgh 13, Cleveland 9
Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 2-0
Last Postseason Meeting:Jan. 5, 2002 (in Pittsburgh)
Pittsburgh 36, Cleveland 33 (AFC Wildcard Playoff)
(postseason record not included in overall series record)
Aside from 1996-1998 (when the Browns were not in existence), Pittsburgh and Cleveland have played each other at least twice every season since the onset of the rivalry in 1950…the Steelers have swept the past two season series with Cleveland and have won 16 of the last 17 meetings dating back to the second game of the 2003 series...since the turn of the century, Cleveland has mustered only three wins in the series (one in 2000, 2003 and 2009)…the three Steelers quarterbacks (Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch) have a combined 21-2 record against Cleveland in their careers…with a win, Pittsburgh would own at least a five-game winning streak for the sixth different time in the series…Cleveland has not swept Pittsburgh in the season series since 1988, while Pittsburgh claims 11 season sweeps since 1988…of the three losses Pittsburgh has suffered since 2000, two of them have taken place at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
STEELERS-BROWNS CONNECTIONSLOCAL CONNECTIONS• Steelers quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtnerwas born in Cleveland.
• Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butlerwas on the Browns staff from 1999-2002.
• Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchellwas on the Browns staff from 1991-1993.
• Steelers LB James Harrisonwas born in Akron, Ohio, less than an hour south of Cleveland. Harrison attended Coventry High School in Akron, and then attended Kent State University.
• Browns linebackers coach Bill Daviswas born in nearby Youngstown, Ohio. Davis was on the Steelers staff from 1992-1994.
• Browns quarterbacks coach Mark Whipplewas on the Steelers staff from 2004-2006.
• Browns DE Jabaal Sheardplayed collegiately at University of Pittsburgh. Sheard earned first-team All-America honors in 2010.Sheard was drafted by the Browns in the second round (37th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft.
• Browns S Ray Ventronewas born in Pittsburgh and attended Chartiers Valley High School. He originally signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005 after finishing his collegiate career at Villanova University.
PRO CONNECTIONS
• Pittsburgh Head Coach Mike Tomlinand Browns offensive coordinator Brad Childresswere both on the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff in 2006. Tomlin was in his only season as the Vikings defensive coordinator before taking the head job in Pittsburgh in 2007 and Childress was in his first year as Minnesota's head coach.
• Tomlin was in his final season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach in 2005 when Browns TE/FB Alex Smith was in his rookie season in the NFL. Also, Steelers S Will Allen and Smith were teammates with the Bucs from 2005-2008.
• Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haleyand Browns defensive assistant Chuck Bulloughworked together on the Chicago Bears coaching staff from 2001 to 2003. During those years, Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauronwas the Bears' head coach. While Haley was the wide receiver coach/offensive assistant with the New York Jets from 1997-2000, Browns assistant strength and conditioning coach Rick Lylewas a defensive lineman for the Jets.
• Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeauwas on the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff in 1980, when Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauronplayed for the Bengals. Jauron was on the Detroit Lions staff from 2004-2005 with Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler.Jauron and Kugler also were on the Buffalo Bills staff together from 2007-2009 when Jauron was the head coach.
• Steelers tight ends coach James Danieland Browns linebackers coach Bill Daviswere on the Atlanta Falcons staff together from 2001-2003.
• Steelers WR Jerricho Cotcheryand Browns P Reggie Hodges played together for the New York Jets in 2008. Cotchery was also with the Jets when Browns assistant strength and conditioning coach Rick Lylewas on the Jets coaching staff from 2006-2008.
• Steelers LB Brandon Johnsonand Browns DE Frostee Rucker were teammates with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2008-2011. Johnson was a rookie with the Arizona Cardinals in 2006 when Browns wide receivers coach Mike Wilsonwas in his final season as the Cardinals' receivers coach.
• Steelers wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomeryplayed for the Denver Broncos from 2001-2002 when Browns senior assistant-defense coach Ray Rhodeswas on the Broncos staff.
COLLEGE CONNECTIONS
• Steelers S Troy Polamaluplayed with Browns DE Frostee Rucker at the University of Southern California during the 2002 season. During the 1999 season, Polamalu's first with the Trojans, Browns wide receivers coach Mike Wilsonwas on the USC coaching staff.
• Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey, OT Marcus Gilbertand RB Chris Raineywere teammates with Browns CB Joe Hadenat the University of Florida from 2007-2009, and all four men played key roles in the Gators 2009 BCS National Championship.
• Steelers LB James Harrisonand Browns WR Joshua Cribbs were teammates at Kent State University in 2001.
• Steelers OG Ramon Fosterand Browns RB Montario Hardesty were teammates at the University of Tennessee from 2005-2008. Browns OL Jarrod Shawwas also a member of the Vols with Foster and Hardesty from 2006-2008.
• Steelers CB Curtis Brownand Browns QB Colt McCoyand RB Chris Ogbonnayawere teammates at the University of Texas from 2007-2009. Steelers NT Casey Hamptonand Browns K Phil Dawsonfrom played together at Texas from 1996-1997.
• Steelers P Drew Butlerand Browns WR Mohamed Massaquoi were teammates at the University of Georgia from 2007-2008.
• Steelers TE David Paulsonand Browns SS T.J. Wardplayed together at the University of Oregon from 2007-2009.
• Steelers TE Leonard Popewas a University of Georgia Bulldog with Browns TE Benjamin Watsonin 2003.
• Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lakewas on the UCLA Bruins staff in 2009 when Browns LS Christian Yountplayed for the Bruins. Browns defensive assistant Chuck Bulloughwas also on the Bruins staff in 2009.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES• If Pittsburgh wins, it will be 63-56 against the Browns during the regular season, including 36-24 in Cleveland.
• The Steelers are looking for their fifth consecutive win over Cleveland. If it happens it would be the sixth different time that Pittsburgh has won at least five straight games against the Browns.
• Pittsburgh is hoping to register its 17th win in the last 18 games against the Browns.
• The Steelers are looking to improve to 12-2 at Cleveland since 1999.
• Pittsburgh is hoping to hold its eighth opponent this season (sixth straight) to 20 points or less.
• The Steelers are looking to improve to 23-4 against Cleveland during the regular season since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999. Pittsburgh has registered the most wins in the NFL against Cleveland over that time period (second is Baltimore 21-7).
• Pittsburgh is looking to improve to 403-254-2 during the regular season since 1970.
• If Pittsburgh wins it will mark the Steelers third consecutive road victory (Cincinnati, New York Giants).
• The Steelers defense is looking to keep its ninth opponent to under 100 yards rushing this season.
• If Pittsburgh holds Cleveland to less than 170 net passing yards it will mark the sixth game in a row and the eighth 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 34 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 seventh time this season and also 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 76.0 or less for the seventh straight game and the eighth time this season.
• The Steelers defense is looking to register at least one takeaway for the ninth game this season.
• Pittsburgh is looking to record its fourth individual 100-yard rushing performance of the season for the first time since Willie Parker (4) and Mewelde Moore (1) combined for five 100 yard rushing games in 2008.
PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Head Coach Mike Tomlin
• If Pittsburgh wins, will improve to 62-29 during the regular season.
• Looking to improve to 10-1 against the Browns, including 5-1 in Cleveland.
QB Ben Roethlisberger
•If Roethlisberger registers at least 134 passing 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 Jonathan Dwyer
• Looking to eclipse 100 yards rushing for the third time this season. It would mark the most 100-yard rushing games by a Steelers player during one regular season since Rashard Mendenhall registered three 100 yard rushing games in 2010.
RB Rashard Mendenhall
• Is one rushing touchdown shy of becoming the fifth player in franchise history with 30 career rushing touchdowns.
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
• If he records at least 100 yards receiving, it will mark the 14th 100-yard game of his career.
• With 3,771 receiving yards, Wallace needs 65 yards to pass Santonio Holmes (3,835 yards, 2006-09) for the 10th-most in franchise history.
WR Emmanuel Sanders
• Looking to record at least one reception in a career-best 17 consecutive games played, including the 2011 regular and postseason.
LB James Harrison
• Needs half a sack to pass 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 1.5 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
• Looking to extend his consecutive games played streak to 134 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.
