Steelers vs. Raiders: Pre-Game Notes; Odds & Ends

"Football is not a contact sport. It's a collision sport. Dancing is a contact sport." Lombardi

Steelers vs. Raiders: Pre-Game Notes

• Sunday. 4:25. CBS
• Line: Steelers 3 1/2
• Harrison and Polamalu will not be playing against Oakland.
• RB Mendenall and LB Sylvester also ruled out for the game.
• TE Heath Miller ruled probable (Miller has two TD for seven catches).
• Rookie Mike Adams questionable (back spasms).
• Steelers rank 30th in running game (Oakland 31st)
• Steeler's offensive line remains depleted with the loss of DeCastro.
• Roethlisberger can take aim at Oakland's depleted secondary with WR's Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown
• This game would be a good opportunity for the Steelers to open up their running game.  Dwyer is currently averaging 3.4-yard average while Redman is averaging an anemic 2.0 average.
• Expect LaMarr Woodley and Ryan Clark should be able to take charge of the defense against the Raiders. Steelers defense is still looking for its first interception.
• Palmer has averaged 342.8 passing yards with a 93.6 passer rating in five home starts for the Raiders.

Odds and Ends:

• If Steelers win, it would mark the sixth consecutive season the Steelers go into the bye with a winning record.
• With a win, Tomlin will be 2-1 against the Raiders.
• With a win, Tomlin improved his regular season road record to 25-17
• With a win, Roethlisberger will b 82-34 as a starter during the regular season.
• TE Health Miller needs 67 receiving yards to become the eighth player in Steeler history to reach 4,000 receiving yards.
• Miller is six receptions short of joining Hines Ward (1,000), John Stallworth (537) and Louis Lipps (358) as the only players in franchise history with a least 350 career receptions during the regular season.
• Woodley needs one sack to become the eighth player in team history to record 50.0 career sacks.

(Sources: Pitt.PG, Steelers.Com, USA TODAY, YardBarker, Steelers Universe)