Kansas City vs. Steelers: The matchups

There is no disputing that the Chiefs have a dreadful record (1-7), but some of their statistics (their "internals" to use the parlance of politics) point to a team that may be ready for a breakout performance. Given the way that the Steelers have always played to the level of their opponent, here's hoping that Monday is not a debacle.

Kansas City Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: Kansas City offense 16th (357.5) v. Steelers defense 1st (262.6)
Average net rushing yards per game: Kansas City offense 3rd (149.9) v. Steelers defense 7th (88.6)
Average net passing yards per game: Kansas City offense 7th (207.6) v. Steelers defense 1st (174.0)
Average points per game: Kansas City offense 25th (16.6) v. Steelers defense 1st (20.5)

Steelers Offense v. Kansas City Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense 14th (367.3) v. Kansas City defense 17th (349.9)
Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense 21st (104.9) v. Kansas City defense 22nd (102.6)
Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense 10th (262.4) v. Kansas City defense 11th (247.4)v Average points per game: Steelers offense: 13th (23.9) v. Kansas City defense 30th (30.0)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: Kansas City 9th (10.7) v. Steelers 11th (10.2)
Average yards allowed per punt return: Kansas City 29th (13.2) v. Steelers 16th (8.5)
Average yards per kick return: Kansas City 22nd (22.2) v. Steelers 4th (28.0)
Average yards allowed per kick return: Kansas City 17th (24.2) v. Steelers 26th (26.9)
Net yardage punting average: Kansas City 12th (40.4) v. Steelers 27th (37.4)
Opponent net yardage punting average: Kansas City 5th (38.0) v. Steelers 15th (39.1)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Kansas City 32nd (-20) v. Steelers 13th (+0)
Time of possession: Kansas City 4th (31:58) v. Steelers 2nd (34:40)
Red Zone touchdown efficiency (touchdowns): Kansas City 32nd (31.6%) v. Steelers 15th (53.3%)
Red Zone defense (touchdowns): Kansas City 15th (51.4%) v. Steelers 24th (58.3%)
Sacks allowed: Kansas City 14th (17) v. Steelers 17th (18)

Some Individual Numbers
AFC Passer rating: Matt Cassel, 15th (68.9, Comp. Pct.: 60.4, TDs: 6, INTs: 11, Avg. per Comp.: 6.59 yards) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 2nd (101.1, Comp. Pct.: 67.1, TDs: 16, INTs: 4, Avg. per Comp.: 7.39 yards)
AFC Leading rushers: Jamaal Charles, 4th (634 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 2 TDs) v. Jonathan Dwyer, 16th (299 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 0 TDs) & Isaac Redman (274 yards, 3.6 yards per carry, 2 TDs)
AFC Leading receivers: Dwayne Bowe, 6th (45 catches, 571 yards, 12.7 per catch, 3 TDs) v. Mike Wallace, 12th (39 catches, 525 yards, 13.5 yards per catch, 5 touchdowns) Note: Antonio Brown,9th in AFC receiving, is not expected to play.
AFC sack leaders: Justin Houston, 5th (6.0 sacks) v. Larry Foote, LaMarr Woodley & Jason Worilds, 20th (3.0)

Steelers @ New York Giants: The actuals

There would have been plenty of ready made excuses had the Steelers lost this game, but instead the team earned a signature win against the best opponent they have faced thus far in 2012. Here is a look at the actual numbers versus the season's averages (in parentheses) coming into the game.

N.Y. Giants Offense v. Steelers Defense
Actual total yards per game: N.Y. Giants offense, 182 (396.8 average) v. Steelers defense, (274.1 average)

Actual net rushing yards per game: N.Y. Giants offense, 68, (114.6 average) v. Steelers defense, (91.6 average)

Actual net passing yards per game: N.Y. Giants offense, 191 (282.1 average) v. Steelers defense, (182.6 average)

Actual points per game: N.Y. Giants offense, 20, (29.3 average) v. Steelers defense (20.6 average)

Steelers Offense v. N.Y. Giants Defense
Actual total yards per game: Steelers offense, 349, (369.9 average) v. N.Y. Giants defense, (386.5 average)

Actual net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense, 158, (97.3 average) v. N.Y. Giants defense, (113.0 average)

Actual net passing yards per game: Steelers offense, 191, (272.6 average) v. N.Y. Giants defense, (273.5 average)

Actual points per game: Steelers offense: 24, (23.9 average) v. N.Y. Giants defense, (20.1 average)

Special Teams
Actual yards per punt return: N.Y. Giants, 0 yards, (6.7 average) v. Steelers, 25.3 yards, (7.5 average)

Actual yards per kick return: N.Y. Giants, 25 yards, (25.4 average) v. Steelers 34.6 yards, (26.1 average)

Net yardage punting Actual: N.Y. Giants, 32.2 yards, (39.5 average) v. Steelers, 36.3, (37.6 average)



Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: N.Y. Giants, +1,(+13) v. Steelers, -1,(+1)

Time of possession: N.Y. Giants,24:45,(30:36 average) v. Steelers,35:15,(34:35 average)

Sacks allowed: N.Y. Giants 2, (7) v. Steelers 4, (14)

Some Individual Numbers
Passer rating: Eli Manning, 41.1, (89.1) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 98.8, (101.4)

Leading rushers: Ahmad Bradhsaw, 48 yards, 3.2 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns (570 yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns) v. Issac Redman, 147 yards, 5.7 yards per carry, 1 touchdown (Jonathan Dwyer, 299 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns)

Leading receiver: Victor Cruz, 5 catches, 67 yards, 13.4 per catch, 0 touchdowns (52 catches, 650 yards, 12.5 per catch, 7 touchdowns) v. Jerricho Cotchery, 4 catches, 50 yards, 12.5 per catch, 0 touchdowns (Antonio Brown, 40 catches, 480 yards, 12.0 yards per catch, 1 touchdowns)

Sack Leaders: Justin Tuck, 2 v. Lawrence Timmons & LaMarr Woodley, 1 each