NFL Week 10 Behind the Numbers: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) vs. New England Patriots (6-2)

1 time a New England Patriot has run for over 100 yards on the Steelers defense.  That was back in 1995 when Curtis Martin ran for 120 yards on 20 carries.

1.5 is my over/under for the amount of injuries we see on the OL throughout the game.  *Knocks on wood*

1.6 sacks per game that the Patriots are averaging per game this year.  They have a very young defense which prevents them from calling up complex blitzes and getting to the quarterback.  However, as you know, the Steelers have a lot of injury issues on their offensive line.  I believe the winner of this battle will win the game.

2nd in points per game is where the Patriots rank in the league by scoring 27.4 a game.  They face the NFL's stingiest defense in points this weekend.  Who will win the battle?

2.5% is my prediction for the percentage of comments involving Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians in the game thread that will be positive.

3 career interceptions for ILB Lawrence Timmons.  One of those came against the Pats in 2008, which he returned for 89 yards before being tackled.

4 good plays made by CB William Gay that will go unnoticed by haters too busy cursing about him being beat by a shoe-in HoF QB.

4.5 point favor for the Steelers over the Patriots.  I never put money on my own team, but I would never take this bet.  Even if the Steelers are up a good margin, there is a big chance they could perform their disappearing defense magic trick and similarly make my money disappear.

5 consecutive losses for the Steelers in 2009 after starting the season 6-2.  Hopefully, the Steelers can avoid an ugly slide like that this year by taking out the Patriots and remaining a top the AFC.

6 times QB Tom Brady has played the Steelers.  His record is 5-1 against the Steelers, probably one of the best marks in recent history against the Steelers..  Two of those were AFC Championship games.

7 times the Steelers have run for over 700 yards in the first 8 games of the season.  Each time they won at least 6 of those first 8 games.

8 yards is the longest punt return WR Antwaan Randle El has on 11 returns this year.  WR Emmanuel Sanders has a return of 38 yards on 2 returns and WR Antonio Brown has a return of 21 yards on 1 return.  Yet, we still have to suffer through watching ARE return punts.

9 - 0 is the Steelers record in games that WR Mike Wallace scores a touchdown.  Throw it deep!

10 completions given up by stingy CB Ike Taylor in the last 4 games.  Those 10 completions came in 23 pass attempts thrown his way, which is good for an incredible 43.5 catch percentage.  It is equally impressive when you consider Ike spent time in those 3 games matched up against names like Brandon Marshall, Marques Colston, and Chad Ochocinco.

11 Steelers so far this year with at least 1 sack.

15 sacks against Tom Brady in the 6 times Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau has matched up against him.  They have only been shut out of that category one time against him.  Hopefully, LeBeau can bring the heat and close up the pocket.

16 receptions WR Hines Ward needs to pass Art Monk in career receptions and join the all time top 10.  It is unlikely that Ward will reach that this weekend considering his career high is 13 receptions.  However, he can take a big chunk out of that against a young and inexperienced Patriots secondary.

20 estimated sportswriters who were fooled into thinking Isaac Redman could be injured.  Those of us who know him, read between the lines and realized it was actually his helmet that was suffering from a concussion.

24.33 years old is the average age of the very young Patriots secondary.  Compare that to 28.6 years old average for our secondary.  The ongoing debate of youth vs. experience continues...

25th time the Steelers and the Patriots have played all time will be this Sunday.  The Steelers lead the series 14-10 and look to add another win to that total this week.

27 consecutive games that Steelers OLB James Harrison has played in for the Steelers.  The last game he did not start was in 2008 when the Steelers had locked up a playoff spot.  Harrison had back spasms early Saturday morning and is listed as questionable for the game.  I believe he will play, but it would be nice for the Steelers to catch a break from injuries for once.

36 tackles needed by ILB James Farrior to become the Steelers all time leader in tackles.

68 yards needed for Hines Ward to pass Keenan McCardell and Rod Smith in career receiving yards.  Ward could very likely reach that goal Sunday.  Those 68 yards would put him in 22nd all time just behind Mushin Muhammad.

88.9% is the career field goal percentage of Jeff Reed against the Patriots.  He has hit 16 of 18 field goals, with one of the misses coming from 52 yards and the other 40.

116 projected tackles for ILB Lawrence Timmons if he continues his pace from the first half of the season.  That would break an 18 year old Steelers team record set by Hardy Nickerson (awesome name) of 114 tackles.