OPENING LINE _ Steelers by 5 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD _ Carolina 4-10, Pittsburgh 7-6-1
SERIES RECORD _ Steelers lead 3-1
LAST MEETING _ Steelers beat Panthers 37-3, Dec. 17, 2006
LAST WEEK _ Panthers beat Cardinals 19-12; Steelers lost to Jets 22-17
PANTHERS OFFENSE _ OVERALL (32), RUSH (12), PASS (32)
PANTHERS DEFENSE _ OVERALL (12), RUSH (23), PASS (8)
STEELERS OFFENSE _ OVERALL (19), RUSH (8), PASS (18)
STEELERS DEFENSE _ OVERALL (3), RUSH (1), PASS (24)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES _ Carolina is playing in Pittsburgh for second time this year. Panthers lost 19-3 in preseason game on Sept. 2, when Steelers QB Byron Leftwich _ expected to replace Ben Roethlisberger during his suspension _ injured knee. That forced Steelers to start Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at QB during Roethlisberger’s four-game absence. Leftwich is healthy but still has not played this season. … Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart is averaging 115 yards and 5.9 yards per carry in his last four games, with Carolina averaging 167.8 yards rushing as a team during that stretch. Stewart is trying for his third consecutive game of 130 yards-plus. Pittsburgh allows league-low 63.4 yards rushing, and has permitted one 100-yard rusher in 48 games. … Carolina DE Charles Johnson has six sacks in five games, with at least one in each game. … Carolina CB Chris Gamble needs one interception to match Eric Davis for club record with 25 in career. … Carolina is 0-6 on road, with four double-digit losses. … Panthers rookie QB Jimmy Clausen has two TD passes and seven interceptions. … Panthers K John Kasay is seventh in NFL history with 431 field goals and is eighth with 1,816 points. … Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 15 times in four games. Roethlisberger is 11-1 at home against NFC teams. … Pittsburgh is 6-1 at home vs. NFC under coach Mike Tomlin. … Steelers LB James Farrior has sack in four of five games. … Pittsburgh has won 22 of its last 27 against NFC, dating to 2003. … Steelers are playing third home game in 12 days. They beat Cincinnati 23-7 on Dec. 12 before losing to Jets on Sunday. … Steelers K Shaun Suisham is 11-for-11 in field goals since being signed Nov. 16 to replace Jeff Reed. Suisham has made his last 15 from 40-49 yards, dating to last season with Washington.
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