By Mike Ashcraft
SteelerNation.com
The Steelers (3-1) look to keep pace in the early AFC playoff race when they play host to former Central Division rival Jacksonville (2-2) on Sunday (Oct. 8) at Heinz Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The contest will be televised by CBS Sports, with Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon on the call. The game will also be broadcast on 102.5 WDVE-FM and the Steelers Radio Network, with Bill Hillgrove, Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley calling the action.
SERIES HISTORY
The regular season series between the Steelers and the Jaguars is dead even at 11-all. Pittsburgh has taken six of the previous 10 home games against Jacksonville. The two teams last met at Heinz Field on Oct. 16, 2011 -- a 17-13 victory for the Steelers in which running back Rashard Mendenhall rumbled for 146 yards. The Steelers and the Jaguars last faced off in the regular season on Oct. 5, 2014, in Jacksonville, with Pittsburgh prevailing, 17-9. With the Steelers clinging to a 10-9 lead early in the fourth quarter, cornerback Brice McCain returned a Blake Bortles interception 22 yards for a touchdown to seal the win for Pittsburgh. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger went 26-of-36 for 273 yards and a touchdown.
MEMORABLE MATCHUP
Quarterback Kordell Stewart's 17-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Bettis lifted Pittsburgh to a 23-17 overtime win over Jacksonville on Oct. 26, 1997, at Three Rivers Stadium. Stewart completed 25 of 42 passes for 317 yards and a pair of touchdowns and ran for another. Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen hauled in 11 passes for 196 yards.
NOTABLE FRANCHISE CONNECTION
Pittsburgh defensive end Tyson Alualu was selected by Jacksonville with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Alualu started 88 of the 110 games he played in over his seven years as a Jaguar. He signed a two-year contract with the Steelers on March 21, 2017.
SERIES HIGHS
Passing Yards — Steelers: Kordell Stewart, 317, 10/26/1997; Jaguars: Mark Brunell, 308, 12/2/1999
Rushing Yards — Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall, 146, 10/16/2011; Jaguars: Fred Taylor, 234, 11/19/2000
Receiving Yards — Steelers: Yancey Thigpen, 196, 10/26/1997; Jaguars: Jimmy Smith, 164, 9/22/1997
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