Former division rivals Steelers, Jaguars to clash
PITTSBURGH – With Kordell Stewart starting at quarterback and Jerome Bettis starting at halfback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain has an easy advertising angle for today’s game at Alltel Stadium against the Jacksonville Jaguars: Old Timer’s Day.
Not that Stewart and Bettis are old. Perhaps traditional is the better word when the Jaguars are involved. Today’s game is a traditional, if fading, rivalry, matching traditional, if fading, AFC powers.
Traditional and fading? Maybe old was the right word. With Stewart in all likelihood coming down the stretch of his final season with the Steelers, and Bettis struggling with injuries in a 411-yard season, the heart of the Steelers’ offense the last seven years will buckle it up together for perhaps the final time against the Jaguars.
Not that they’ve had much success against their former AFC Central rivals. Stewart has a passer rating of 68.6 against the Jaguars, while Bettis has rushed for 854 yards (3.5 average) in 12 games.
Since rushing for 139 yards against the Jaguars late in 1998, Bettis has gained only 392 yards on 131 carries (3.0 average) in the last seven meetings.
In games Stewart and Bettis have started together against the Jaguars, the Steelers are 4-5.
The same statistic is even more atypical on the other side of this Old Timer’s Day match-up. The Jaguars will start the heart of their offense over the last five years – quarterback Mark Brunell, wide receiver Jimmy Smith, running back Fred Taylor – for only the fourth time against the Steelers.
Brunell has a career passer rating of 74.1 in 12 games against the Steelers, while Smith’s caught 68 passes for 927 yards in 14 games and Taylor’s gained 520 yards on 118 carries (4.4 average) in six games against the Steelers.
Taylor, like Bettis, missed much of last season with a groin injury, but unlike Bettis has been healthy this season.
“When he’s back there he gives them a big-play threat in the running game,” said Steelers Coach Bill Cowher. “He’s a big challenge and Jimmy Smith is still a premier receiver in the National Football League, and I think Brunell looks like he’s as healthy as he’s been in awhile. He’s scrambling. He’s moving well in the pocket. He’s a guy that you have to disguise well against because he sees the field very well and sets his protections based on things we show him. We’re going to have to be on our game in regards to him. He’s moving around better than I’ve seen him in a few years.”
Any guesses as to the series record when all three key Jaguars have played together against the Steelers?
“All wins for them, I imagine,” said Bettis.
“Three and oh in favor of them,” said tight end Mark Bruener.
“All their way,” said defensive coordinator Tim Lewis.
All wrong. The Steelers hold a 2-1 edge in the three games Brunell, Smith and Taylor have started for the Jaguars.
“Too many balls to go around for the great ones I guess,” said Lewis. “They’re really good.”
“You can’t win a game with three players,” said Bruener. “I mean, they are game breakers and can win a game for you, but you have to have a supporting cast.”
And the 5-6 Jaguars don’t have much of one. An offensive line formerly anchored by Tony Boselli is now anchored by right guard Chris Naeole. Rookie Mike Pearson has replaced Boselli at left tackle.
The defensive line, formerly highlighted by Tony Brackens, Gary Walker and Renaldo Wynn, is now led by youngsters John Henderson and Marcus Stroud. The tackles each have six sacks to lead the team.
Former star linebacker Kevin Hardy has been replaced by T.J. Slaughter and the Jaguars’ secondary must use Steelers cast-off Ainsley Battles to replace Donovin Darius at strong safety.
The overhauled defense is one of the big reasons the Jaguars are struggling in spite a healthy and still-vital trio of offensive superstars. But one fan, writing on the team’s official message board, may have come up with a better reason.
“The Jaguars look like they’re struggling from sleepy millionaire syndrome,” he wrote, and fans in Pittsburgh might say the same thing about their Steelers.
Old Timer’s Day indeed.