Houston v. Steelers: The Matchups

Like Christmas for a six year old, it seemed as though the beginning of the NFL season would never arrive. However kickoff is just hours away now, and in an effort to help you all prepare yourselves properly (e.g. stretching, tackling drills in the living room, special trips to the store to load up on refreshments) we offer up a statistical snapshot of where these teams were at when the 2007 regular season concluded.

Houston Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: Houston offense 14th (333.6) v. Steelers defense 1st (266.4)

Average net rushing yards per game: Houston offense 22nd (99.1) v. Steelers defense 3rd (89.9)

Average net passing yards per game: Houston offense 11th (234.4) v. Steelers defense 3rd (176.5)

Average points per game: Houston offense 12th (23.69) v. Steelers defense 2nd (16.81)

Steelers Offense v. Houston Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense 17th (327.4) v. Houston defense 24th (344.2)

Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense 3rd (135.5) v. Houston defense 19th (114.1)

Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense 22nd (191.9) v. Houston defense 25th (230.1)

Average points per game: Steelers offense: 9th (24.56) v. Houston defense 22nd (24.0)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: Houston 18th (8.7) v. Steelers 30th (6.1)

Average yards allowed per punt return: Houston 12th (7.9) v. Steelers 14th (8.6)

Average yards per kick return: Houston 2nd (26.5) v. Steelers 21st (22.0)

Average yards allowed per kick return: Houston 21st (23.1) v. Steelers 16th (22.6)

Net yardage punting average: Houston 8th (37.9) v. Steelers 9th (37.9)

Opponent net yardage punting average: Houston 14th (37.1) v. Steelers 26th (38.6)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Houston 31st (-13) v. Steelers 12th (+3)

Time of possession: Houston 20th (29:41) v. Steelers 1st (34:41)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency: Houston 4th (61.0%) v. Steelers 7th (58.2%)

Red Zone defense (touchdowns): Houston 17th (53.2%) v. Steelers 22nd (55.3%)

Sacks allowed: Houston 15th (31) v. Steelers 25th (47)

Sacks: Houston 7th (37) v. Steelers 31st (47)

Some Individual Numbers
AFC Passer rating: Matt Schaub 6th (87.2) v. Ben Roethlisberger 2nd (104.1)

AFC Leading rushers: Ron Dayne 12th (773 yards) v. Willie Parker 2nd
(1,316 yards)

AFC Leading receiver: Kevin Walter 83rd (65 catches, 800 yards, 12.3 per catch, 4 touchdowns) v. Hines Ward 13th (71 catches, 732 yards, 10.3 yards per catch, 7 touchdowns)