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PITTSBURGH (2-0) At TAMPA BAY (2-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
OPENING LINE – Steelers by 2 1/2
RECORD VS. SPREAD – Pittsburgh 2-0; Tampa Bay 1-0-1
SERIES RECORD – Steelers lead 7-1
LAST MEETING – Steelers beats Buccaneers 20-3, Dec. 3, 2006
LAST WEEK – Steelers beat Titans 19-11; Buccaneers beat Panthers 20-7.
STEELERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (31), RUSH (10), PASS (31)
STEELERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (6), RUSH (4), PASS (17)
BUCCANEERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (24), RUSH (15), PASS (25)
BUCCANEERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (15), RUSH (T15), PASS (T11)
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Steelers return to Raymond James Stadium for first time since winning Super Bowl there two seasons ago. … Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay are among six teams that have started 2-0 after not making playoffs last season. … With QB Ben Roethlisberger still serving suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and backup Dennis Dixon sidelined with knee injury that required surgery, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will start Charlie Batch over recently re-signed Byron Leftwich. Batch is 4-2 as a starter against the Buccaneers. Leftwich was with the Bucs last season, starting three games. … Bucs S Tanard Jackson suspended indefinitely without pay for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Tampa Bay was 0-4 without him in 2009, when he was given four-game ban for a previous violation. … Pittsburgh, which has not scored an offensive touchdown, trying to start 3-0 for first time since 2007. … Steelers WR Hines Ward has a reception in 180 consecutive games, fifth-longest streak in league history. … LB James Harrison had two sacks last week, leading a Steelers defense that forced seven turnovers in 19-11 win at Tennessee. … Tampa Bay has won four of five games dating to last season, which ended with a 3-13 record. Second-year QB Josh Freeman has guided each of the victories. He threw for two TDs each of the past two weeks. … Bucs CB Ronde Barber has two interceptions after not having any in 2009. … Tampa Bay TE Kellen Winslow leads NFL in third-down receiving with 8 catches for 115 yards. … Tampa Bay’s defense has not allowed any points in second half. … Bucs rookie WR Mike Williams has a TD catch in each of his first two pro games. The fourth-round draft pick is second on team with 7 catches for 84 yards.
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