Passing Yards Chargers Name Host For Yards

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San Francisco holds a slim 10-9 edge in its all-time series with Pittsburgh, with the Steelers closing the gap with a 37-16 home rout when these teams last met in 2007. The 49ers had taken four of the previous five bouts in the set prior to that loss, including a 30-14 verdict at Candlestick Park in 2003. The Steelers last won in San Francisco on Nov. 7, 1999, a 27-6 victory.

Even if Roethlisberger (3526 passing yards, 21 TD, 11 INT) does manage to play, the Steelers' offensive game plan will probably be altered somewhat because of his reduced mobility. Normally a team that likes to stretch the field with its pairing of fleet-footed wide receivers Mike Wallace (62 receptions, 1034 yards, 8 TD) and Brown (55 receptions, 925 yards, 2 TD), both of whom are averaging over 16 yards a catch this season, Pittsburgh may decide to lean more on running backs Rashard Mendenhall (710 rushing yards, 8 TD, 13 receptions) and Isaac Redman (353 rushing yards, 1 TD, 14 receptions) in this one. It's not the desired strategy, however, as lead back Mendenhall has had a disappointing year after posting career bests of 1,273 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns in 2010, having recorded just one 100-yard effort while working behind a shuffled front line that's dealt with injuries throughout the season. One of those occurred in the Cleveland game, with standout center Maurkice Pouncey incurring an ankle sprain of his own that his status up in the air as well for Monday. The 37- year-old Batch has attempted just 53 passes over the past three years, but did make a pair of starts in place of a suspended Roethlisberger last season and threw for three touchdowns in a win at Tampa Bay in one of those assignments.

WHEN THE 49ERS HAVE THE BALL

Pittsburgh's tradition of excellent defense has continued during this 2011 season, and esteemed coordinator Dick LeBeau's group seems to have raised its play to an even higher level recently. The Steelers have allowed a scant 19 total points and only one touchdown over their last three wins and forced eight turnovers over that span, rectifying what had been a sore spot for the club early on this year. A secondary headlined by 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu (76 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT), fellow safety Ryan Clark (86 tackles, 1 INT) and shutdown cornerback Ike Taylor (37 tackles, 2 INT, 11 PD) has been very stout, as Pittsburgh has surrendered the fewest passing yards (179.1 ypg) in the league despite both Woodley (37 tackles, 9 sacks, 1 INT) and Harrison missing extensive time. Woodley is due back this week from his hamstring injury and was on a roll prior to getting hurt in late October, racking up 7 1/2 sacks in just four games before being shelved, while second- year outside linebacker Jason Worilds (26 tackles, 3 sacks) is coming off a two-sack outburst against the Browns in his place. The Steelers have held their own against the run as well, with Polamalu, inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (70 tackles, 1 INT) and unheralded end Brett Keisel (41 tackles, 3 sacks) spearheading a corps that's kept eight of 13 opponents under 100 rushing yards.

KEYS TO THE GAME

The 49ers will likely encounter some difficulty running the ball on Monday, especially with Gore not having been in top form lately, so it's absolutely critical that the team protects Smith sufficiently. San Francisco's quarterback has been sacked five or more times in four games this season, and the Niners are 1-3 in those tilts. If Woodley does indeed make it back, Pittsburgh will have a pass rush to be reckoned with regardless of Harrison's absence.

Roethlisberger is rarely at a loss for drama, whether it's on or off the field, and his history says there's a pretty good chance he's in the huddle with his teammates come Monday. And the Steelers will need their clutch quarterback in this game, with the 49ers likely to shut down any attempts Pittsburgh makes at running the ball. San Francisco's been able to win double-digit games largely by establishing an efficient ground attack and playing superior defense than its foe, but both of those chores will be tough to accomplish against the Steelers. Experience counts as well, and Pittsburgh's familiarity with participating in high-stakes affairs combined with the 49ers' newness to the scene puts another check mark in the column of the reigning AFC champs, who seem to possess the requisite skills that their opponent could have plenty of trouble dealing with.

Lake Forest, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox had surgery Monday to stabilize a vertebra in his mid-to-lower back. The procedure was successful and the prognosis for Knox's football future is positive. No timetable has been set for his return.

On the Bears' second possession of the game, Knox caught a 17-yard pass over the middle of the field. Knox then lost control of the football and a scramble for the ball followed.

"Johnny has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good," Bears head coach Lovie Smith said after the game. "We're doing tests right now, but he has total movement. He is not paralyzed or anything like that."

Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Here we go again. A new calendar year is likely to procure an old and familiar refrain for the San Diego Chargers, the NFL's walking definition of instability. When January comes around in a couple of weeks, the always-unpredictable team will either be basking in exhilaration from the high created by another AFC West title delivered by an out-of-nowhere closing kick, or left with the sinking low that one more season of what could have been invariably creates.

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