Stats that stood out in the Steelers’ heartbreaking loss to the Patriots

After a hard-fought contest in arguably the most anticipated regular-season game in the NFL this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost a close one to the New England Patriots, 27-24. Even through all of the heartbreak and controversy, there are still outstanding stats to be taken away from this game.

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110.6

Ben Roethlisberger had a passer rating of 110.6, which was his 2nd-best rating against New England during his career. The only time he bested that rating was as a rookie in 2004, when he finished with a passer rating of 126.4

73.3

Ben Roethlisberger completed 73.3% of his passes this week, which is tied for the highest completion percentage in any game he has played this season (he also completed 73.3% of his passes against the Packers).

Additionally, Big Ben’s 73.3 completion percentage was his best mark against the Patriots in games that he threw for greater than 25 passes during his career.

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117 and 4.88

Le’Veon Bell had his best statistical rushing game against the Patriots, setting new matchup career highs in rushing yards (117) and yards per carry (4.88). Bell’s previous highs against New England were 81 yards (2016) and 4.63 YPC (2013).

112

After rushing for 117 yards against the Patriots, Le’Veon Bell moved his career total to 5,267. Bell now needs just 112 yards to move into 3rd place in team history, a spot that Willie Parker currently holds (5,378 yards).

1

After being held scoreless in his previous matchups against the Patriots in previous matchups, Le’Veon Bell finally found the end zone against New England for the first time in his career.

8

Le’Veon Bell tallied his 8th rushing touchdown of the season, tying his previous single-season high set in both 2013 and 2014. With a touchdown in one of the remaining two weeks, Bell will set his new career mark for rushing touchdowns.

An additional stat for you: Le’Veon Bell needs only 2 more touchdowns to pass Kordell Stewart for the 3rd-most rushing touchdowns in team history.

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5

The Steelers and fans alike witnessed scary moment whenever Antonio Brown went down with a scary injury in the end zone. It appears the injury isn’t major at this point. Either way, Brown will be out for the rest of the regular season in the hopes that he can return for the playoffs. Before going down with his injury, Brown was able to notch his 100th catch of the season, making him the first player in NFL history to have 5-straight seasons of 100+ receptions.

90

Before his injury, Antonio Brown was closing in on 10,000 career receiving yards. With 9,910 yards since 2010, Brown needs just 90 yards to reach the 10K mark. He would become the 5th active player to have 10,000+ yards.

15.2

With his regular season likely over, Antonio Brown finished the year averaging 15.2 yards per catch, which is the 2nd-highest average of his career (he averaged 16.1 yards per catch in 2011).

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41

With 2 receptions against the Patriots, Jesse James set a new single-season career high for catches (41).

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2

Rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster had his 2nd 100+ yard receiving game of the season, joining Rams rookie Cooper Kupp as the only two rookies with multiple games with 100+ receiving yards.

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10

Cam Heyward notched his 10th sack of the season, making him the 1st Steelers defender with 10+ sacks in a season since 2010 when James Harrison (10.5) and LaMarr Woodley (10) both broke the double-digit threshold. What’s more impressive about Cam Heyward breaking reaching this mark? It is the most by a Steelers defensive lineman since 1986 when Keith Willis notched 12 on the season.

With 1 more sack this season, Cam Heyward can also move past both Lawrence Timmons and Kevin Greene into 8th on the Steelers all-time sack list.

1

Vince Williams had an interception on Tom Brady, the 1st time Tom Brady threw an interception against Pittsburgh since 2005. But what makes this interception so different for Williams? It was his 1st-career interception.

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85

With 10 total tackles last night, Sean Davis moves his season total to 85. That is the most tackles by a Steelers safety in a single season since Ryan Clark had 104 in 2013.

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4/4

Chris Boswell nailed a 51-yard field goal in Week 15, moving him to 4/4 on attempts of 50+ yard field goals this season. Every attempt has come at Heinz Field, one of the hardest places to kick in the NFL.

6

While he is 4/4 this season on kicks of 50+ yards, Chris Boswell is 6/8 so far in his career from that distance. His 6 made attempts is 3rd to only Gary Anderson and Jeff Reed, who both have 8 conversions of 50+ yards. The biggest difference is that while Boswell has only attempted that distance 8 times in his career, Anderson attempted 27 kicks and Reed attempted 17, meaning Boswell has had a much greater level of success with his kicks.

2

With 33 field goals made on the season, Chris Boswell only needs 2 field goals to own the new single-season team record for converted field goals. Norm Johnson currently owns the team record of 34.

35:07

The Steelers had the ball for 35:07 in Week 15, the 4th time this season they held the ball for 35+ minutes. Each of the previous games resulted in a Steelers win. Not this week.

360

The Steelers gave up 360 total yards on defense against New England. Pittsburgh has now given up 300+ yards on defense in 6 out of their last 7 games this season. In comparison, they gave up only 2 games of 300+ yards over their first 7 matchups.


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