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NFL : ATS Matchup
Sunday 9/29/2013Line$ LineOU LineScore
PITTSBURGH
 
MINNESOTA
-3  

+3  
-150

+130

41.5
 
27
Final
34

PITTSBURGH (0 - 3) vs. MINNESOTA (0 - 3)
No Previous GameView Next Game
Week 4 Sunday, 9/29/2013 1:00 PM
Wembley Stadium - London, England
Board OpenLatest
199PITTSBURGHPick-3
200MINNESOTA3941
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
PITTSBURGH - Current Season Performance
 Straight UpAgainst SpreadTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsW-LO-UScoreHalfYardsYPPTOScoreHalfYardsYPPTO
All Games0-3-4.30-31-214.07.3310.7(5.7)3.025.313.7298.0(4.5)0.0
Road Games0-1-10-10-110.010.0278.0(5.2)2.020.010.0407.0(5.2)0.0
Last 3 Games0-3-4.30-31-214.07.3310.7(5.7)3.025.313.7298.0(4.5)0.0
Grass Games0-2-3.30-21-116.06.0327.0(5.9)3.528.015.5243.5(4.1)0.0
PITTSBURGH - Current Season Statistics
 RushingPassingTotal
 PPGHalfFDTOPATT-YDSYPRCMP-ATTPCTYDSPYAATT-YDSYPPYPPT
Offense (All Games)14.07.316.326:1617-52(3)22-3760.4%259(7)54-311(5.7)(22.2)
Opponents Defensive Avg.21.611.119.329:0524-98(4)22-3662.7%244(6.8)60-341(5.7)(15.8)
Offense Road Games10.010.014.024:2616-44(2.7)20-3754.1%234(6.3)53-278(5.2)(27.8)
Defense (All Games)25.313.718.033:4435-115(3.3)19-3258.9%183(5.8)66-298(4.5)(11.8)
Opponents Offensive Avg.25.613.718.831:2529-110(3.7)21-3364.7%219(6.7)62-329(5.3)(12.9)
Defense Road Games20.010.022.035:3434-127(3.7)25-4555.6%280(6.2)79-407(5.2)(20.3)
PITTSBURGH - Turnovers, Penalties and Special Teams Statistics
 Turnovers LostThird DownsFourth DownsKickoff ReturnsPunt ReturnsPenalties
 INTFLTODIFF#-MADEPCT#-MADEPCTKR-YDSYPKRPR-YDSYPPRPEN-YDS
Stats For (All Games)1.31.73.0-3.012-327.8%1-050.0%3-60(22.5)2-14(8.4)4-45
Opponents Avg. Stats Against1.31.22.62.613-537.1%1-057.1%2-56(25.3)8-2(5.1)5-49
Stats For (Road Games)1.01.02.0-2.012-325.0%0-00.0%2-54(27)2-37(18.5)3-29
Stats Against (All Games)0.00.00.0 16-638.3%1-166.7%2-30(13)3-28(8.5)6-56
Opponents Avg. Stats For0.70.71.3 14-641.6%1-057.1%2-68(27.7)14-2(6.5)7-64
Stats Against (Road Games)0.00.00.0 17-741.2%1-00.0%1-17(17)5-27(5.4)9-84

MINNESOTA - Current Season Performance
 Straight UpAgainst SpreadTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsW-LO-UScoreHalfYardsYPPTOScoreHalfYardsYPPTO
All Games0-3-4.61-23-027.017.3336.3(5.4)3.332.020.3429.7(6.1)3.3
Road Games0-2-21-12-027.017.5340.0(6)3.532.518.5440.0(6.2)3.0
Last 3 Games0-3-4.61-23-027.017.3336.3(5.4)3.332.020.3429.7(6.1)3.3
Grass Games0-1-11-01-030.021.0350.0(5.6)3.031.024.0411.0(6.3)4.0
MINNESOTA - Current Season Statistics
 RushingPassingTotal
 PPGHalfFDTOPATT-YDSYPRCMP-ATTPCTYDSPYAATT-YDSYPPYPPT
Offense (All Games)27.017.318.728:0529-121(4.2)20-3359.0%216(6.5)62-336(5.4)(12.5)
Opponents Defensive Avg.2311.820.330:4026-92(3.6)24-3763.3%257(6.9)63-350(5.5)(15.2)
Offense Road Games27.017.517.526:3327-114(4.1)17-2958.6%226(7.8)56-340(6)(12.6)
Defense (All Games)32.020.325.031:5525-116(4.6)29-4663.5%313(6.9)71-430(6.1)(13.4)
Opponents Offensive Avg.24.915.42030:2023-85(3.7)25-4161.1%269(6.6)64-354(5.5)(14.2)
Defense Road Games32.518.526.033:2629-123(4.2)28-4168.3%317(7.7)70-440(6.2)(13.5)
MINNESOTA - Turnovers, Penalties and Special Teams Statistics
 Turnovers LostThird DownsFourth DownsKickoff ReturnsPunt ReturnsPenalties
 INTFLTODIFF#-MADEPCT#-MADEPCTKR-YDSYPKRPR-YDSYPPRPEN-YDS
Stats For (All Games)1.71.73.30.014-639.5%1-175.0%3-94(31.3)1-3(2.7)4-37
Opponents Avg. Stats Against1.31.22.63.313-641.3%1-060.0%2-49(27.6)11-2(5.6)6-51
Stats For (Road Games)2.01.53.5-0.513-434.6%2-175.0%3-102(34)0-3(6)4-38
Stats Against (All Games)2.01.33.3 13-645.0%1-150.0%2-96(41.3)3-19(7.1)7-57
Opponents Avg. Stats For1.30.61.9 14-533.6%2-150.0%2-64(27.5)13-2(5.7)6-57
Stats Against (Road Games)1.51.53.0 12-648.0%0-00.0%3-131(43.8)2-18(7.4)7-61
Average power rating of opponents played: PITTSBURGH 21,  MINNESOTA 20.7
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
PITTSBURGH - Season Results
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateOpponentScoreSULineATSTot.O/URushingPassingTORushingPassingTO
9/8/2013TENNESSEE9-16L-6L41U15-3221-33-163242-11211-20-1170
9/16/2013@ CINCINNATI10-20L6.5L40U16-4420-37-234234-12725-45-2800
9/22/2013CHICAGO23-40L2L40.5O21-8026-41-379528-10720-30-1510
9/29/2013*MINNESOTA            
10/13/2013@ NY JETS            
10/20/2013BALTIMORE            
10/27/2013@ OAKLAND            

MINNESOTA - Season Results
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateOpponentScoreSULineATSTot.O/URushingPassingTORushingPassingTO
9/8/2013@ DETROIT24-34L4L46O22-10518-28-225433-11728-43-3522
9/15/2013@ CHICAGO30-31L6W40.5O33-12316-30-227326-12928-39-2824
9/22/2013CLEVELAND27-31L-6.5L40.5O31-13425-42-195317-10331-55-3064
9/29/2013*PITTSBURGH            
10/13/2013CAROLINA            
10/21/2013@ NY GIANTS            
10/27/2013GREEN BAY            
KEY GAME INFORMATION
PITTSBURGH: The Steelers remained pass-heavy under offensive coordinator Todd Haley last year, running out of a lot of spread looks. They essentially use the pass to set up the run, with the backs running almost exclusively between the tackles. They'll rotate backs again this year, with rookie Le'Veon Bell likely to emerge as a lead back. Jonathan Dwyer is less versatile than Bell and could be on his way out of Pittsburgh. Isaac Redman and LaRod Stephens-Howling figure to split passing-down duties in the early going, though Stephens-Howling could end up taking the role full-time at some point. Haley brought more spread looks to Pittsburgh's offense. They go no-huddle frequently, with Ben Roethlisberger trusted to run the offense. Antonio Brown is now their undisputed No. 1 receiver, with the ability to be used deep or as a catch-and-run guy. Emmanuel Sanders is more of a possession receiver and will likely share No. 2 targets with TE Heath Miller. Jerricho Cotchery should see solid playing time as their slot guy, and while rookie Markus Wheaton will be eased in, he should end up seeing significant snaps as their best deep threat. Only the Saints skewed more pass-heavy in goal-to-go situations than Pittsburgh (64.6% of snaps). Despite a host of injuries in 2012, the Steelers still led the NFL in yardage defense (276 YPG) and passing defense (185 YPG), while finishing sixth in scoring defense (19.6 PPG). Rookie OLB Jarvis Jones makes the team younger and faster, as does CB Cortez Allen, 24, replacing the departed Keenan Lewis. Pittsburgh still has plenty of productive veterans though, like 32-year-old S Troy Polamalu and DE Brett Keisel, 34. Per usual, the team's linebackers are relentless, with OLB LaMarr Woodley and ILB Lawrence Timmons.
MINNESOTA: The Vikings have adopted more of a versatile running scheme, mixing in a lot of man blocking with their usual zone stuff. Obviously, Adrian Peterson is the centerpiece of this offense, and after bringing him along somewhat slowly early last season, he'll be all-systems-go as a three-down workhorse this year. Toby Gerhart will occasionally spell him and would take a full workload if Peterson were to get hurt again. This is a West Coast passing game that has Christian Ponder moving around a lot. In the past, their favorite play had been to roll Ponder out with Percy Harvin for some long hand-offs. They'd like rookie Cordarrelle Patterson to take that role of the departed Harvin. TE Kyle Rudolph will also inherit those looks, and they'll involve Peterson in the screen game frequently. Greg Jennings will move around a lot and should be their leading receiver. Jerome Simpson is a pure deep threat, while third receiver Jarius Wright will line up inside and out, but is better working downfield. Not surprisingly, the Vikings continued to ride Peterson in the red zone (59 carries inside 20-yd line last season), and they'll do the same this year. When they throw, it's usually off play-action with Rudolph. The strength of this defense comes up front with 4-time All-Pro DE Jared Allen (117 career sacks) and 5-time All-Pro DT Kevin Williams (56.5 career sacks), plus first-round pick DT Sharrif Floyd and new DE Lawrence Jackson. The Vikings still have star SLB Chad Greenway (148 tackles, T-2nd in NFL) all over the field, but despite the defense's utter lack of playmakers, it added no significant free agents in the back seven. The subpar pass defense (244 YPG, 24th in NFL) got even weaker when it allowed top CB Antoine Winfield to sign elsewhere. CB Chris Cook and rookie CB Xavier Rhodes are a shaky starting duo.
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-MINNESOTA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(UPDATES with Cassel starting for Ponder)

*Steelers-Vikings Preview* ==========================

By JEFF BARTL STATS Writer

Since the NFL adopted a 16-game regular-season schedule 35 years ago, less than 4 percent of teams that lost their first three games have qualified for the playoffs.

Neither the Pittsburgh Steelers nor the Minnesota Vikings expected to be in that position heading into Week 4, but each is hoping a trip overseas for Sunday's matchup in London will help right the ship.

Things haven't gone well stateside for either club. Both remained winless last Sunday, when Pittsburgh committed five turnovers in a 40-23 loss to Chicago while Minnesota fell 31-27 at home to previously winless Cleveland.

Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder suffered a fractured rib in that defeat, and the team announced Friday that Matt Cassel will start in his place.

No team has made the playoffs after an 0-3 start since Buffalo in 1998, and only five of the 161 clubs to lose three straight to open a season since 1978 have reached the postseason.

Only San Diego in 1992 began a season 0-4 and still made the playoffs.

The Steelers haven't begun this poorly since starting 0-3 in 2000, and coach Mike Tomlin realizes his team has plenty of room to improve.

While Minnesota made the trip to London early in the week, Tomlin chose to keep his team in Pittsburgh until Thursday evening.

"I value normalcy in the early portions of the week from a preparation standpoint and from a practice standpoint - use of our facilities, the comforts of home if you will," Tomlin said. "It's purely a business trip for me personally. This is just a road game for us. We are happy to represent the NFL in international play, but in terms of what it is that we are doing, our level of focus and the things that we need to do in preparation and in play, it's just a road game for us."

Minnesota has dropped its first three games for the second time in three seasons, but Adrian Peterson said the team isn't about to quit after winning its last four games of 2012 to get into the playoffs.

Peterson ran for a 78-yard touchdown on his first carry of the season, but he's since averaged just 2.9 yards per rush.

"I feel like we have a mature bunch here," said Peterson, who ran for 88 yards and a touchdown last week. "We've just got to stay confident. Stay confident and keep swinging, but swinging a lot better. I feel like we will approach it with that mindset and attitude, and we'll be OK."

Peterson could certainly benefit from Cassel providing more support than Ponder, who ranks 30th in the league with a 65.9 passer rating.

With coach Leslie Frazier saying it was "too risky to put (Ponder) out there to take a hit," Cassel gets his first start in a Vikings uniform.

The nine-year veteran had a league-worst 66.7 passer rating last season as he played nine games for Kansas City, throwing for six touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

"I've been preparing for this and I feel like I'm ready to go," Cassel said. "I feel comfortable with this offense. I'm excited about it. That's what you prepare for as a backup."

Fellow 31-year-old quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was solid at times last week for Pittsburgh, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a pair of fumbles that each led to Chicago touchdowns.

The Steelers still racked up 459 yards of total offense - their most in a game since 2009 - after totaling 472 in their first two contests. Antonio Brown caught nine passes for a career-best 196 yards and both of Roethlisberger's touchdown throws.

Roethlisberger finished 26 of 41 for 406 yards, but his turnovers played a huge role in Pittsburgh now being on the verge of its first 0-4 start since 1968.

"I expect Ben to be better, Ben expects himself to be better," Tomlin said. "We'll continue to work to do that."

The Steelers are the only team in the league yet to register a takeaway, and their minus-9 turnover margin is tied with the New York Giants for worst in the league.

Minnesota is second behind the Giants with 10 giveaways, committing at least three turnovers in each contest.

"You can't turn the ball over at the rate that we're turning it over and expect to win, unless you're so superior to your opponents," Frazier said. "And we're not."

Minnesota ranks 21st in run defense, allowing 114.0 yards per game, and could see an improved ground game from Pittsburgh - which averages an AFC-worst 51.7 yards rushing - as rookie running back Le'Veon Bell is expected to make his debut.

The second-round pick from Michigan State hasn't played since suffering a sprained foot in a preseason game against Washington on Aug. 19.

The Steelers limited Peterson to 69 yards on 18 carries in a 27-17 home win Oct. 25, 2009, in the most recent meeting.

Game Notes:


Last Updated: 3/28/2024 5:42:48 PM EST.


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