Jaguars at Steelers
THE STORY: The Pittsburgh Steelers appear to have regained some of their swagger, and a visit from the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday might be just the thing to help them continue the process. The Steelers were able to shake off some of the frustration of a sluggish start to the season with last week's 38-17 win against Tennessee despite missing several starters because of injuries. Now they host the Jaguars, who have lost four straight. Jacksonville has won three of the past four meetings, but the Steelers won the most recent one 26-21 in 2008.
TV: CBS 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Pittsburgh -12.5, O/U 40.5
ABOUT THE JAGUARS (1-4): Jacksonville is winless in three games since rookie QB Blaine Gabbert took over the starting spot, though Gabbert has thrown a touchdown pass in each of his starts and posted a career-best 91.5 passer rating in last week's 30-20 loss to Cincinnati. Gabbert will be tested by a Steelers defense that ranks second in the league in total defense (282.8 yards per game) and leads the league in pass defense (174 yards per game). That defense is strong against the run too – it limited Chris Johnson to 51 yards last week – and will present a tough challenge for RB Maurice Jones-Drew.
ABOUT THE STEELERS (3-2): Pittsburgh still isn't clear of the injury bug, as defensive starters DE Aaron Smith and LB James Harrison are out, RB Rashard Mendenhall is questionable and QB Ben Roethlisberger is still hobbled by a strained foot. Roethlisberger played through the injury last week, though, and tied a franchise record with five touchdown passes. Jonathan Dwyer took advantage of the increased workload in Mendenhall's absence to rush for 107 yards on 11 carries.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Roethlisberger ranks second in franchise history with 152 touchdown passes, behind Terry Bradshaw's 212.
2. Steelers WR Mike Wallace has a reception of at least 40 yards in four consecutive games.
3. Jones-Drew needs 110 scrimmage yards to reach 8,000 for his career.