Your stats of the weird from a weird, exciting, season.
– Like always, we start with the score. This was only the fifth 28-12 final in NFL history and the first since 1993. Of those five, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been involved in two of those, both wins. A 1987 win over the Atlanta Falcons and today’s victory against the Cleveland Browns.
– Antonio Brown. Wow. His final stat line from this year: 136 catches, 1834 yards, and 10 TDs. His yards are fourth all-time in a single season, yet still aren’t the most this season. Julio Jones finished first. He and Jones tied the season reception mark and become the second and third players in league history to have at least 130 in a season. Marvin Harrison was the first and still all-time leader in receptions for a season with 143.
Of course, Marvin never had Mike Vick throwing to him.
– Brown’s line today? 13 catches, 187 yards, 1 TD.
– Browns’ wide receiver’s line today? 12 catches, 140 yards, 0 TDs.
– The Steelers rushed for 30 yards today, the second time they’ve been held to 30 or fewer (Denver was the other). It is only the second time since 1967 the Steelers have done that twice in a season. And it’s the first time they’ve ever won both games.
Prior to this season, were 3-16 all-time when held to 30 or less.
– Twice this year the Steelers have failed to have a single rush of more than 6 yards. Today’s long was exactly six while two weeks ago against Denver, their longest was five.
From 1998 to 2013, the Steelers had at least one seven yard gain in every single regular season game. That was a streak of 256 games. Over the last two years, the Steelers have failed to do so in three games. Two this year, one last year. Doesn’t mean much but sure is interesting.
– Fitzgerald Toussaint is the first Steelers’ running back with at least 11 carries, under 25 yards, and no touchdowns since Isaac Redman in 2012. Toussaint had a 12/24/0 line today.
– Darrius Heyward-Bey’s 66 yard catch was the second longest play of his NFL career and longest since a 69 yard TD in 2010 when he was with the Oakland Raiders.
– Markus Wheaton finishes the year with as many 40+ receptions as Martavis Bryant. Five apiece.
– It’s worth repeating. Will Allen finishes 2015 with four sacks. He never had a sack in the 200 prior football games, professional and college, he played in.
– Anthony Chickillo forced a fumble in the last regular season game today. His last FF came in the first regular season game last year at Miami. I dig it.
– Stephon Tuitt had his first two-sack game in a year-and-a-half. Last one occurred on October 19th, 2013. Tuitt’s teams are 5-0 all-time when he has a pair.
– Antwon Blake picked up his first sack since 2009 when he was a sophomore at UTEP. He’s scheduled to get his next sack in early 2023.
– This was James Harrison’s first regular season INT as a Steeler since November of 2010. He had one with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2013. But let’s forget that ugly, stripey part of his life.
– The Browns made five trips into the red zone but came away without a touchdown each time. Would love to know the last time that happened against the Steelers.
– Last one for you. The Steelers had their first seven sack game since October 11th, 2009. Brought down the Detroit Lions’ Daunte Culpepper seven times in a 28-20 victory.
Thanks for reading this all regular season, Steelers’ Nation. My favorite article to write each week.
