Game-day details
Sun., 1 p.m. ET, Heinz Field
Weather forecast from AccuWeather.com:
Intermittent clouds. High: 64. Low: 47.
Why To Watch
Two former NFL linebackers, Bill Cowher and Jack Del Rio, pit their teams in what is sure to be a defensive slugfest. This showdown will take the game back to its basics of running the ball, tackling and special teams.
This matchup took an interesting twist with 1:09 left in Pittsburgh's Monday night game against San Diego. That's when Chargers rookie Luis Castillo slammed his helmet into the knee of Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Tests on Tuesday revealed a hyperextended left knee and a bone bruise. The Steelers have not ruled Roethlisberger out but with him and backup Tommy Maddox (calf) ailing, it seems likely that third-stringer Charlie Batch will start Sunday's game against Jacksonville.
No matter the quarterback, the Steelers will lean on their running game. Cat-quick Willie Parker will start but be spelled by veteran bruiser Jerome Bettis, who missed the first three games with a calf injury sustained during the exhibition season. The Parker-Bettis combination had 27 carries against San Diego and figure to get even more this week.
The Jaguars are riding high after toppling previously undefeated Cincinnati last week. Running back Fred Taylor makes the offense go, and quarterback Byron Leftwich has elite weapons outside in wide receivers Jimmy Smith, Reggie Williams, Ernest Wilford and Matt Jones.
Jaguars Keys For Success
1. Run, run, run. Taylor is coming off a 24-carry, 132-yard outing against the tough Bengals. That same game plan must be utilized against the Steelers. The Bengals and Steelers run similar 3-4 defensive schemes, and Taylor has shown numerous times this season that the more carries he gets, the more productive he becomes late in the game.
2. Use the no-huddle offense. There is no better way to take an opponents' crowd out of a game than to have early success on offense. By not using a huddle, the Jaguars will speed up the tempo of the game and prevent the Steelers from making personnel adjustments. This also can tire out the Steelers' aggressive defense and get them playing on their heels.
3. Use eight men in the box on defense. The Jaguars have a week to prepare for Batch, the former Lions starter. Batch lacks Roethlisberger's speed, agility and arm strength. The Jaguars know the Steelers will pound the ball in an attempt to limit pressure on Batch. The Jaguars must be gap conscious and get either safety Deke Cooper or Deon Grant into the tackle box to help stop Parker and Bettis.
Steelers Keys For Success
1. Run Parker early and Bettis late. The Pittsburgh offense is a run-first, pass-second unit. And the Roethlisberger knee injury will make that plan even more pronounced against Jacksonville. The Steelers will start the game by running the faster, quicker Parker to the outside, attacking the corners of the Jaguars' defense. The Steelers must get the defensive linemen, especially tackles John Henderson and Marcus Stroud, moving laterally. This will prevent them from firing through the gaps and make them chase the ball in hopes of wearing them down as the game progresses. Once the defense begins to tire, the Steelers can turn to Bettis, and pound him between the tackles.
2. Throw to tight end Heath Miller. With Batch likely to start, the Steelers must get the tight ends involved. Miller, a rookie first-round pick, is a big, athletic player with good hands. Offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt must devise a way to get Miller open on drag routes, quick hitches and seam patterns. There is no faster way to settle a quarterback into a game than to give him an easy throw to a big target.
3. Blitz the left side of the Jaguars' line. Give rookie left tackle Khalif Barnes credit for not allowing a sack in his first NFL start last week. But the Steelers are one of the best blitzing teams in the NFL and will send tons of pressure to Byron Leftwich's backside Sunday. Strong safety Troy Polamalu is excellent at disguising when he is rushing or dropping into coverage. Look for the Steelers to use Polamalu and outside linebacker Joey Porter in many different blitz packages to take advantage of Barnes' inexperience.
Injuries at a glance
Jaguars injuries
9/21/05 Donovin Darius S Left knee (torn ACL) On injured reserve
10/7/05 Cortez Hankton WR Ankle
Steelers injuries
10/11/05 Tommy Maddox QB Calf Might be available in Week 6
10/11/05 Ben Roethlisberger QB Knee Still could play in Week 6
10/8/05 Clark Haggans LB Groin tear Could return 10/31
10/6/05 Duce Staley RB Knee Listed as Questionable for Week 1
The Bottom Line
This game will be decided by which defense can stop the other team's running game. Special teams will play a huge role because field position will be critical to the success of the running game. Batch or Leftwich will have to make a big play, but look for this one to be about the running game and the defense and for a close, low-scoring game to be decided by a Jeff Reed field goal at home.
Pick: Steelers 17, Jaguars 14
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Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers
I gonna be there to watch us kick pitts ***!!!! 
This has happened like 5 times already damn fools. 
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