Steelers @ Cleveland: The actuals

The guess here is that things will get worse before they get better. Ben Roethlisberger will be fortunate to return to play before Christmas (the game on December 16th is our guess for his earliest possible return), and the offensive ineptitude is sure to continue until then.

Without further adieu, here are the actuals for week 12:

Cleveland Offense v. Steelers Defense
Actual total yards: Cleveland offense 238 (311.9) v. Steelers defense, (259.1)

Actual net rushing yards: Cleveland offense, 108 (92.2) v. Steelers defense, (89.8)

Actual net passing yards: Cleveland offense, 130 (219.7) v. Steelers defense, (169.3)

Actual points per game: Cleveland offense, 20 (18.9) v. Steelers defense, (19.0)

Steelers Offense v. Cleveland Defense
Actual total yards: Steelers offense, 242 (349.8) v. Cleveland defense, (374.1)

Actual net rushing yards: Steelers offense, 49 (106.8) v. Cleveland defense, (125.3)

Actual net passing yards per game: Steelers offense, 193 (243.0) v. Cleveland defense, (248.8)

Actual points per game: Steelers offense: 14, (21.7) v. Cleveland defense, (23.4)

Special Teams
Actual yards per punt return: Cleveland, 10.75 (14.2) v. Steelers, 1.67 (8.4)

Actual yards per kick return: Cleveland, 5 (26.0) v. Steelers, 18.75 (27.0)

Net yardage punting: Cleveland, 37.8 (36.9) v. Steelers, 38.7 (38.9)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Cleveland, +7 (+1) v. Steelers, -7 (-3)

Time of possession: Cleveland, 33:30 (26:43) v. Steelers, 26:30 (34:08)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency (touchdowns): Cleveland, 50.0% (36.4%) v. Steelers, 100.0% (48.6%)

Sacks allowed: Cleveland, 4 (16) v. Steelers, 1 (22)

Some Individual Numbers
AFC Passer rating: Brandon Weeden, 78.7 QB rating, 65.4% Comp. pct., 1 TD, 1 INT (70.3 QB rating, 205 Comp., 55.3% Comp. pct., 11TDs, 12 INTs) v. Charlie Batch, 38.7 QB Rating, 58.8% Comp. pct., 0 TD, 3 INTs (Career: 77.8 QB rating, Comp., 56.3% Comp. pct., 60 TDs, 48 INTs)

AFC Leading rushers: Trent Richardson, 85 yards, 2.9 yards per carry, 1 TD (670 yards, 3.7 yards per carry, 5 touchdowns) v. Jonathan Dwyer, 19 yards, 2.1 yards per carry, 0 TD (410 yards, 4.6 yards per carry, 0 touchdowns)

AFC Leading receiver: Trent Richardson, 4 catches, 27 yards, 6.8 yards per catch, 0 TD (37 catches, 289 yards, 7.8 per catch, 1 touchdowns) v. Mike Wallace 1 catch, 9 yards, 9.0 yards per catch, 0 TD (46 catches, 565 yards, 12.3 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns)

AFC Sack Leaders: D'Qwell Jackson, 0 (3.0) v. LaMarr Woodley, 0 (4.0)

Ravens vs. Steelers: The actuals

The Steelers dominated in nearly every statistical category, but special teams -- the punt return squads of both teams and Ravens punter Sam Koch -- made all the difference.


Baltimore Offense v. Steelers Defense
Average total yards per game: Baltimore offense 200 (354.1) v. Steelers defense (265.7)

Average net rushing yards per game: Baltimore offense 47 (104.9) v. Steelers defense (85.1)

Average net passing yards per game: Baltimore offense 153 (249.2) v. Steelers defense (171.1)

Average points per game: Baltimore offense 13 (28.2) v. Steelers defense (19.7)

Steelers Offense v. Baltimore Defense
Average total yards per game: Steelers offense 311 (354.1) v. Baltimore defense (390.2)

Average net rushing yards per game: Steelers offense 134 (103.8) v. Baltimore defense (132.0)

Average net passing yards per game: Steelers offense 177 (250.3) v. Baltimore defense (258.2)

Average points per game: Steelers offense: 10 (23.0) v. Baltimore defense (21.8)

Special Teams
Average yards per punt return: Baltimore 24.7 (7.8) v. Steelers 16th (9.0)

Average yards per kick return: Baltimore 25.3 (29.8) v. Steelers 18.0 (27.8)

Net yardage punting average: Baltimore 42.5 (40.0) v. Steelers 35.4 (37.3)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential: Baltimore +2 (+9) v. Steelers -2 (+0)

Time of possession: Baltimore 27:09 (26:46) v. Steelers 32:51 (34:16)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency (touchdowns): Baltimore 0/2 (65.5%) v. Steelers 0/1 (50.0%)

Sacks allowed: Baltimore 2 (19) v. Steelers 3 (19)

Some Individual Numbers (AFC only)
Passer rating: Joe Flacco, 75.5, 20 Comp., 62.5% Comp. pct., 0TDs, 0 INTs (88.3, 186 Comp., 60.2% Comp. pct., 13 TDs, 7 INTs) v. Byron Leftwich, 51.3, 18 Comp., 46.2% Comp. pct., 0TDs, 1 INT (65.5, 7 Comp., 50.0% Comp. pct., 0 TDs, 0 INTs)

Leading rushers: Ray Rice, 40 yards, 2.0 yds. per carry, 0 TD (628 yards, 4.8 yds. per carry, 6 TDs) v. Jonathan Dwyer, 55 yards, 4.6 yds. per carry, 0 TD (355 yards, 4.6 yds per carry, 0 TDs) & Rashard Mendenahll, 33 yards, 3.3 yds. per carry, 0 TD

Leading receivers: Anquan Boldin, 8 catches, 79 yards, 9.9 yds. per catch, 0 TD (40 catches, 548 yards, 13.7 per catch, 1 touchdown) v. Heath Miller, 2 catches, 22 yards, 11.0 yds,. per catch, 0 TD (43 catches, 431 yards, 10.0 yards per catch, 6 touchdowns)

Sack Leaders: Ngata, Kruger & Ihedigbo 1.0 each v. James Harrison & LaMarr Woodley 1.0 each

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

Cleveland v. Steelers: The Numbers Never Lie

Each week (or nearly so) I bring you a statistical comparison of the Steelers and their opponent. Now I've decided to give you a look at the actual numbers. What follows is in the same format of the weekly statistics, only now you'll see the actual numbers. Where applicable the season average(s) is included in parentheses.

For this week the only question is why was the game so close?

Cleveland Offense v. Steelers Defense
Total yards: Cleveland offense actual, 197 (248.4) v. Steelers defense average 290.8

Net rushing yards: Cleveland offense actual, 91 (106.2) v. Steelers defense average, 71.2

Net passing yards: Cleveland offense actual, 106 (142.2) v. Steelers defense average, 219.6

Total points: Cleveland offense actual, 14 (11.0) v. Steelers defense average, 19.6

Steelers Offense v. Cleveland Defense
Total yards: Steelers offense actual, 543 (375.8) v. Cleveland defense average, 380.2

Net rushing yards: Steelers offense actual, 140 (100.4) v. Cleveland defense average, 170.4

Net passing yards: Steelers offense actual, 403 (275.4) v. Cleveland defense average, 209.8

Total points: Steelers offense actual, 27 (22.6) v. Cleveland defense average, 24.2

Special Teams
Punt return yardage: Cleveland 1 return, 26 yards (16.3) v. Steelers 1 return, 1 yard (6.8)

Average yards allowed per punt return: Cleveland 19th (8.3) v. Steelers 6th (6.0)

Kick return yardage: Cleveland 5 returns, 153 yards, 30.6 yards per kick (23.4) v. Steelers 2 returns, 55 yards, 27.5 yards per kick (23.7)

Season average yards allowed per kick return: Cleveland 16th (22.8) v. Steelers 10th (21.2)

Net yardage punting: Cleveland 38.8 yards (38.8) v. Steelers 22.5 yards (42.2)

Opponent net yardage punting season average: Cleveland 3rd (34.5) v. Steelers 24th (40.9)

Miscellaneous
Turnover differential actual: Cleveland 0 (-5) v. Steelers 0 (-5)

Time of possession actual: Cleveland 23:14 (28:26) v. Steelers 36:46 (33:18)

Red Zone touchdown efficiency actual (touchdowns): Cleveland 50.0% (27.3%) v. Steelers 50.0% (68.8%)

Red Zone defense season average (touchdowns): Cleveland 13th (47.6%) v. Steelers 23rd (60.0%)

Sacks allowed actual: Cleveland 2 (2.8 average per game) v. Steelers 3 (2.6 average per game)

Some Individual Numbers
Passer rating actual: Derek Anderson, 51.0 (39.0) v. Ben Roethlisberger, 113.6 (102.6)

Leading rushers actual: Joshua Cribbs, 45 yards v. Rashard Mendenhall, 62 yards

Leading receiver actual: M. Massaquoi (5 catches, 83 yards, 16.6 yards per catch, 0 touchdowns) v. Hines Ward, 8 catches, 159 yards, 19.9 yards per catch, 1 touchdown

Sack Leaders actual: David Bowen & Brandon McDonald 1.0 each v. Lawrence Timmons, 2.0

Interception Leaders actual: Brodney Pool, 1 v. Troy Polamalu & Ryan Clark 1 each