By Mike Ashcraft
SteelerNation.com
The Steelers (5-2) look to ride into the bye week on a three-game winning streak as they travel to the Motor City to battle the Detroit Lions (3-3) in primetime on Sunday (Oct. 29). Kickoff of the Sunday Night Football matchup at Ford Field is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. The contest will be televised by NBC Sports, with Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya 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
Pittsburgh owns a 16-14-1 lead in the all-time regular season series, but the Lions have won 12 of the 17 meetings played in Detroit. The Steelers and Lions last met in Detroit on Oct. 11, 2009, with Pittsburgh prevailing, 28-20. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw a 15-yard touchdown to tight end Heath Miller, a 17-yard touchdown to wide receiver Hines Ward and a 47-yard touchdown to wide receiver Mike Wallace. Running back Rashard Mendenhall also ran for a seven-yard score.
MEMORABLE MATCHUP
The last meeting between the Steelers and the Lions took place on Nov. 17, 2013, at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-20 halftime deficit to beat the Lions, 37-27. Roethlisberger threw for 367 yards and four touchdowns -- including a pair in the final five minutes of the game. Wide receiver Antonio Brown hauled in seven passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Matthew Stafford became Detroit's all-time leading passer in the contest by throwing for 362 yards and a pair of scores -- both of which went to wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who finished the game with 179 yards. Stafford went just 3-of-16 against the Steelers' defense in the second half, which had surrendered a whopping 27 points to the Lions in the second quarter.
NOTABLE FRANCHISE CONNECTION
Pittsburgh vice president and general manager Kevin Colbert was the Pro Scouting Director for Detroit from 1990-99 before coming to the Steelers, where he has built two Super Bowl winning squads.
SERIES HIGHS
Passing Yards — Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger, 367, 11/17/2013; Lions: Matthew Stafford, 362, 11/17/2013
Rushing Yards — Steelers: Earnest Jackson, 147, 12/7/1986; Lions: Barry Sanders, 108, 9/3/1995
Receiving Yards — Steelers: Louis Lipps, 150, 12/7/1986; Lions: Calvin Johnson, 179, 11/17/2013
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