Jaguars-Steelers Preview

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• Jaguars Come Away With a Win in a Near Collapse to the Steelers

SCOUTING REPORT

This physical wild-card game will be decided in the trenchesPittsburgh is 7-1 at home this season, and Heinz Field is a difficult place for opposing teams to navigate due to its very loud fans, soft playing surface and unpredictable winds. In Week 15, Jacksonville visited Pittsburgh, dominated most of the game and won 29-22 despite some late-game heroics by Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger. Jacksonville finished the regular season very strong, winning six of its last eight games, including Sunday's loss to Houston (the Jags rested most of their starters after clinching a postseason berth the week before). Pittsburgh also rested many of its starters in Week 17, and both teams should be energized and fresh for what promises to be a very physical and exciting playoff game.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
JAC	1-1	51	60	0-0	1-1	0-0	1-1
PIT	0-1	29	31	0-1	0-0	0-0	0-1
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Jacksonville Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Garrar... 61.8 2303 8 6 McCown 33.3 2 0 0

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 68.9 2867 17 10 Batch 50.0 17 0 0

Jacksonville Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jones-... 194 926 4.8 13 Garrar... 50 218 4.4 2

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 134 689 5.1 4 Parker 67 218 3.3 0

Jacksonville Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Sims-W... 47 694 14.8 6 Holt 38 516 13.6 0

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ward 63 798 12.7 5 Holmes 50 764 15.3 1

Full Player Stats: Jacksonville | Pittsburgh

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	JAC	357.0
	PIT	327.0
Yards Passing	JAC	208.0
	PIT	191.9
Yards Rushing	JAC	149.4
	PIT	135.5
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	JAC	313.8
	PIT	266.4
Pass Yds Allowed	JAC	213.5
	PIT	176.5
Rush Yds Allowed	JAC	100.3
	PIT	89.9

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Jacksonville leads 5-3
Dec 16, 2007	JAC 29, PIT 22
Sep 18, 2006	JAC 9, @PIT 0
Oct 16, 2005	JAC 23, PIT 17
Dec 5, 2004	JAC 16, @PIT 17
Dec 1, 2002	JAC 23, @PIT 25
Nov 18, 2001	JAC 7, PIT 20
Sep 9, 2001	JAC 21, @PIT 3

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu was in the lineup for their AFC wild-card playoff game against Jacksonville on Saturday night despite missing four of the team's previous six games with a swollen knee.

Polamalu, a Pro Bowl safety, did not practice until Friday, and coach Mike Tomlin said his status was a gametime decision. Polamalu didn't play in the Steelers' 27-21 loss in Baltimore on Sunday.

Inactive for the Steelers were: kick returner Allen Rossum, wide receiver Willie Reid, offensive tackles Marvel Smith, Jeremy Parquet and Jason Capizzi, tight end Jon Dekker and defensive end Ryan McBean. Smith (back surgery) isn't expected to play again this season, but is being kept on the Steelers' roster in case they advance deeper into the playoffs and he can return.

Not active for the Jaguars was wide receiver Chad Owens, who misplayed a punt last week against Houston when they rested a number of regulars. Also not playing were: cornerback Aaron Glenn; running back LaBrandon Toefield, safety Lamont Thompson, linebacker Shantee Orr, linebacker Mike Peterson, guard Uche Nwaneri and offensive lineman Tutan Reyes.

Tomlin: Roethlisberger likely to play vs. Ravens

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to play this weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.

2009 NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

Week 12 of the latest ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings reveals a matchup of the Nos. 1 and 4 teams.

FBO: Steelers on last legs

Football Outsiders looks at two AFC North losses in NFL Week 11. The Bengals falling to the Raiders? Likely a fluke. The Steelers falling to the Chiefs? A much bigger concern for the Steel Curtain.

Steelers QB Batch injures wrist; out 6 weeks

Steelers QB Charlie Batch has a wrist injury that will require surgery this week and will sideline him six weeks, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

Jaguars coach blasts Henderson for leaving workout because of 'minor' shoulder injury

RICK WILSON/The Times-UnionJaguars defensive tackle John Henderson grabs his left shoulder during an organized team activity session Monday at the practice fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Safety McCree set to rejoin Jaguars

DON BURK/The Times-UnionMarlon McCree , with San Diego in this 2007 photo, is set to return to the Jaguars.

After lost season, Jags seek how to put 'train' back on track

Among the league's most disappointing teams last season, the Jacksonville Jaguars never came close to meeting expectations as a chic preseason Super Bowl pick.

NewFull-speed ahead for Jaguars safety Nelson

RICK WILSON/The Times-Union Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson breaks up a pass intended for Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco during the Jaguars' 21-19 loss in Cincinnati on Nov.

Ex-Jaguar pleads not guilty to drug charges

Former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith pleaded not guilty to several charges Thursday including possession of cocaine and marijuana.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.