NFL preview capsules: Week 15
Saturday’s game
Dallas (7-6) at Tampa Bay (4-9)
Time: 7:20 p.m., NFL Network
Line: Cowboys by 6½
Series record: Cowboys leads 11-3
Last meeting: Cowboys beat Buccaneers 34-21, Sept. 13, 2009
Last week: Cowboys lost to Giants 37-34; Buccaneers lost to Jaguars 41-14
Streaks, stats and notes: Cowboys have dominated series, winning 11 of 14 meetings. However, Bucs have won two of four games played in Tampa. ... Dallas QB Tony Romo 2-0 vs. Tampa Bay, completing 67.9 percent of passes for 659 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 147.2. He threw a career-best five TD passes against Bucs on Thanksgiving Day in 2006. ... Cowboys RB Felix Jones returns to lineup, replacing rookie DeMarco Murray, who broke right ankle during opening quarter of last week’s loss to Giants. Jones came off bench to rush for 106 yards, third 100-yard performance of his career. ... Dallas TE Jason Witten and WRs Dez Bryant, Mile Austin and Laurent Robinson pose big challenge for Tampa Bay secondary, which hopes to get back injured CB Aqib Talib, who sat most of past two games with sore right hamstring. ... Bryant has TDs in three of Cowboys’ past four games; Robinson coming off four-reception, 137-yard, one TD performance against Giants, and Austin had 42-yard TD catch against Tampa Bay when teams last faced each other. ... Tampa Bay’s seven-game losing streak matches longest under third-year coach Raheem Morris, who lost to Dallas in his debut as NFL’s youngest coach. ... QB Josh Freeman intercepted twice and lost a fumble as Bucs turned ball over seven times against Jacksonville last week. His inconsistency has contributed to skid that’s followed 4-2 start. After throwing for 25 TDs and six interceptions in 2010, Freeman has 12 TD passes and 18 interceptions this year. ... DE Adrian Clayborn one of few bright spots for Tampa Bay defense ranked 29th. First-round draft pick is tied for second among NFC rookies with 6½ sacks.
Sunday’s games
Seattle (6-7) at BEARS (7-6)
Time: noon, FOX Ch. 32
Line: Bears by 3½
Record vs. spread:: Seattle 8-4-1; Chicago 7-6-0
Series record: Seahawks lead 8-6
Last meeting: Bears beat Seahawks 35-24, Jan. 16, 2011
Last week: Seahawks beat Rams 30-13; Bears lost to Broncos 13-10 OT
Streaks, stats and notes: Seattle KR Leon Washington has seven career kickoff touchdowns that ranks second all-time in NFL history, one behind Josh Cribbs. ... Bears KR Kevin Hester has NFL-record 12 punt returns for TDs and has taken five kickoffs in for score, giving him another league record (17) for most combined kick return TDs. ... Seahawks Red Bryant has blocked four kicks, three field goals and a PAT. ... RB Marshawn Lynch leads Seahawks with 969 yards on 225 carries with career-high 10 total TDs and has scored at least once in last nine games played, tying Shaun Alexander for longest streak in Seattle history. ... Seahawks have won four of their last five. They’ll be playing Bears for seventh time in past six years, including pair of playoff losses at Soldier Field. Seattle won regular-season game in Chicago last season, then lost divisional playoff game in January. ... Bears 0-3 since Caleb Hanie took over at quarterback for injured Jay Cutler (broken thumb). Hanie sacked 15 times to go with six interceptions. ... Bears 8-for-40 on third-down conversions over last three games. ... WR Earl Bennett has two catches during three-game losing streak. ... Seahawks rank 11th against run in NFL, giving up 104 yards per game. .... Chicago RB Marion Barber got bulk of carries last week in place of injured Matt Forte (knee sprain) and gained 108 yards but fumbled in OT when Bears were in reach of game-winning field goal.
New Orleans (10-3) at Minnesota (2-11)
Time: noon
Line: Saints by 7
Record vs. spread:: New Orleans 9-4; Minnesota 5-7-1
Series record: Vikings lead 20-9
Last meeting: Saints beat Vikings 14-9, Sept. 9, 2010
Last week: Saints beat Titans 22-17; Vikings lost to Lions 34-28
Streaks, stats and notes: Teams haven’t met in Minnesota since 2005, when Daunte Culpepper passed for 300 yards and three TDs in 33-16 victory, but Saints have won two in row, starting with epic NFC title game after 2009 season. Since, Vikings are 8-21 and Saints are 22-9. ... Saints have won five in row and already clinched a playoff spot to lead Atlanta by two games in NFC West. Can clinch division title by beating Vikings and having Falcons lose to Jaguars. ... TE Jimmy Graham leads NFC with 80 receptions, RB Darren Sproles third with 74 catches. No pair of TE-RB teammates in NFL history have had at least 80 receptions apiece in one season. Graham is first TE in Saints history to pass 1,000 yards receiving. ... NFL passing leader Drew Brees has had a TD pass in 40 straight games, second-longest streak in league history. His 10 games of 300-plus yards passing tied for most of all time in one season. ... Vikings RB Adrian Peterson aims to return from three-game absence due to sprained left ankle. ... WR/KR Percy Harvin has at least one TD in four straight games. ... DE Jared Allen has 17½ sacks, five short of NFL single-season record. ... Vikings have gone eight straight games without an interception, giving up 22 TD passes during span.
Cincinnati (7-6) at St. Louis (2-11)
Time: noon
Line: Bengals by 6½
Record vs. spread:: Cincinnati 7-5-1; St. Louis 2-11
Series record: Bengals lead 6-5
Last week: Bengals lost to Texans 20-19; Rams lost to Seahawks 30-13
Last meeting: Bengals beat Rams 19-10, Dec. 9, 2007
Streaks, stats and notes: Rams on short week after losing at Seattle on Monday night. ... Bengals have lost four of five, imperiling playing hopes, and along with Oakland and Tennessee are a game behind Jets for final wild card spot. ... Bengals have come from behind to win in fourth quarter five times but blew 9-point lead in fourth last week. ... Rams third-string QB Brock Berlin made NFL debut as starter in last meeting due to injuries to Marc Bulger and Gus Frerotte. ... Rams will honor Hall of Fame RB Marshall Faulk, adding his name to Ring of Honor in halftime ceremony. ... Rams have won both meetings in St. Louis. ... Bengals QB Andy Dalton has 2,833 yards passing and needs 139 to pass Joe Flacco (2008) for fifth most by rookie in NFL history. ... Dalton has franchise-record 18 TD passes. ... RB Cedric Benson needs 8 yards to become fifth Bengal to reach 4,000 career yards rushing. ... WR A.J. Green leads NFL rookies in catches (55), yards receiving (891) and TD catches (7) and needs 13 catches and 119 yards receiving to break Cris Collinsworth’s franchise rookie record set in 1981. ... Dalton and Green have connected on six TD passes, fourth most among rookie QB-WR duos since 1970. ... Rams QB Sam Bradford has six TD passes on season, but has eight TD passes in six career starts vs. AFC. ... WR Brandon Lloyd three receptions shy of 300 for career and has four TDs last seven games. ... DE Chris Long has nine sacks in last seven games and has career-high 12 on year. ... Rams offense is NFL’s worst, totaling 12 touchdowns. ... Three Rams OL are on IR and no player has started every game at same spot.
Carolina (4-9) at Houston (10-3)
Time: noon
Line: Texans by 6½
Record vs. spread:: Carolina 7-5-1; Houston 9-3-1
Series record: Texans lead 2-0
Last meeting: Texans beat Panthers 34-21, Sept. 16, 2007
Last week: Panthers lost to Falcons 31-23; Texans beat Bengals 20-19
Streaks, stats and notes: Panthers have led in 12 of 13 games this season. Carolina blew 23-7 halftime lead against Atlanta last week. ... WR Steve Smith became 35th player to reach 10,000 career yards receiving in loss. Smith has 10,101 yards receiving, 34th on career list. ... Smith leads NFC and ranks second in league with 1,217 yards receiving. ... Rookie QB Cam Newton has set NFL record for rushing touchdowns for a quarterback (13). ... Panthers lead league with 76 offensive plays covering at least 20 yards. ... Carolina has 18 touchdown drives covering 80 yards or more, trailing only Green Bay and New England (19). ... Panthers signed rookie K Adi Kunalic this week and kept veteran Olindo Mare on roster. Mare 19-for-25 this season, missed 36-yarder with 5:26 left in Sunday’s game that would’ve given Carolina 26-24 lead. ... Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips begins medical leave after kidney surgery. ... Linebackers coach Reggie Herring will run defense Sunday. ... WR Andre Johnson questionable with strained left hamstring. Johnson sat out last week’s game in Cincinnati. ... Rookie T.J. Yates will make his third career start. Yates, a fifth-round pick, is first rookie quarterback starting for Houston since Dave Ragone in 2003. ... Texans are first team to win three straight games with three different starting QBs since Tennessee won last three games in 2003 (Volek, McNair and O’Donnell). ... Texans backup QB Jake Delhomme, signed Nov. 29, was Carolina’s starter in previous two meetings between teams. Delhomme also led Panthers to 2004 Super Bowl, played at Reliant Stadium, a 32-29 loss to Patriots.
Green Bay (13-0) at Kansas City (5-8)
Time: noon
Line: Packers by 14
Record vs. spread:: Green Bay 9-4; Kansas City 7-6
Series record: Chiefs lead 6-3-1
Last meeting: Packers beat Chiefs 33-22, Nov. 4, 2007
Streaks, stats and notes: Packers 13-0 for first time in franchise history and have won 19 in row, including playoffs, longest streak in team history. Only Patriots (2003-04) have had longer streak at 21 games. ... Green Bay can clinch home-field advantage throughout playoffs with victory. ... Packers coach Mike McCarthy got start in Kansas City in 1993. He served as quality control coach and later quarterbacks coach. ... Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel has taken over as interim coach following firing of Todd Haley. Crennel spent four seasons as coach of the Browns. ... Packers have set franchise record for scoring with 466 points. ... Chiefs (.722) have third-best regular-season winning percentage against Green Bay behind Miami (.769) and the Jets (.728). ... Kyle Orton will start at QB for Kansas City unless injured index finger on throwing hand causes problems. If so, fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi will start. ... Packers WR Greg Jennings sprained left knee against Oakland, out 2-3 weeks. RB James Starks (knee, ankle) could miss second straight game. ... Green Bay third in league passing. Kansas City has allowed fewest net yards passing since Nov. 1. ... Chiefs have 14 sacks over past four games.
Tennessee (7-6) at Indianapolis (0-13)
Time: noon
Line: Titans by 7
Record vs. spread:: Tennessee 6-5-2; Indianapolis 4-9
Series record: Colts lead 20-13
Last meeting: Titans beat Colts 20-13, Oct. 30, 2011
Last week: Titans lost to Saints 22-17; Colts lost to Ravens 24-10
Streaks, stats and notes: Titans and Colts had won every AFC South title until Texans clinched division crown last weekend. ... Tennessee has not won back-to-back games vs. Colts since Dec. 30, 2007 and Oct. 27, 2008. Titans only season sweep of series was in 2002. ... Titans RB Chris Johnson has rushed for 100 yards in three of last five games and needs 125 yards against NFL’s third-worst run defense for a fourth straight 1,000-yard season. ... Rookie QB Jake Locker could make first NFL start if veteran Matt Hasselbeck can’t go because of left calf injury. ... Titans ranked No. 7 in turnover differential (plus-5). ... Since 1999, Titans have allowed fifth fewest yards rushing per game (104.1) ... Colts trying to avoid going 0-14 for first time in franchise history. ... Indy could clinch No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft with loss. ... Another loss would assure Colts of worst home record since 1991 when they were 0-8 at RCA Dome and they’re first losing record against AFC South teams since division formed in 2002. ... QB Dan Orlovsky looking for first win as starter after going 0-9. ... Thirteen of Dwight Freeney’s 101½ sacks against Titans, second-most of any team Freeney has played.
Miami (4-9) at Buffalo (5-8)
Time: noon
Line: Off
Record vs. spread:: Miami 7-6; Buffalo 6-6-1
Series record: Dolphins lead 55-39-1
Last meeting: Dolphins beat Bills 35-8, Nov. 20
Last week: Dolphins lost to Eagles 26-10; Bills lost to Chargers, 37-10
Streaks, stats and notes: Two teams that spent much of 1990s battling for AFC East supremacy find themselves in game that will help determine who finishes last: something Bills seek to avoid doing for fifth straight year. ... Dolphins assistant head coach/secondary Todd Bowles makes head coaching debut after Tony Sparano was fired Monday. He becomes team’s sixth coach since Dave Wannstedt: now Bills assistant head coach/linebackers: was hired in 2000. ... Miami previously had three coaches in franchise history, including Don Shula’s tenure, which ran from 1970-95. ... With QB Matt Moore’s (head/neck) status uncertain, backup J.P. Losman has chance to face former team. Bills’ 2004 first-round draft pick’s last start came in Buffalo’s 31-27 loss at the Jets on Dec. 14, 2008. He went 24 of 39 for 148 yards with a TD, three interceptions and lost fumble. ... RB Reggie Bush has career-best 770 yards rushing, with three of his four career 100-yard outings this season. ... WR Brandon Marshall is 63 yards receiving short of his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season. ... With 138 1/2 career sacks, LB Jason Taylor three short of catching Michael Strahan for fifth on NFL list. Taylor has 22 sacks against Buffalo, his most against any opponent. ... Bills have lost six straight since 5-2 start. It’s longest skid since 0-8 start last year. ... Loss insures Buffalo’s seventh consecutive losing season since 9-7 finish in 2004. ... With Texans clinching playoff berth last week, Bills only AFC team to not reach postseason since 1999. ... QB Ryan Fitzpatrick’s numbers have dropped dramatically. Through first seven games, he had 1,739 yards passing, 14 TDs and seven interceptions. Past six, he has 1,274 yards passing, six TDs and nine interceptions. ... After outscoring opponents 101-76 in first half of first seven games, Bills have been outscored 106-37 in first half of past six. ... Have nine TDs rushing, but only one in past seven games. ... First-round draft pick DT Marcell Dareus has 4 1/2 sacks, most by Bills rookie si nce Aaron Schobel’s 6 1/2 in 2001. ... Only 14 players left on Bills roster when Losman was on team.
Washington (4-9) at N.Y. Giants (7-6)
Time: noon
Line: Giants by 7½
Record vs. spread:: Washington 6-7; New York 6-7
Series record: Giants 92-63-4
Last meeting: Redskins beat Giants 28-14, Sept. 11
Streaks, stats and notes: Rex Grossman has completed 90 of 154 for 1,183 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions and a 94.7 quarterback rating in four games against Giants. ...Roy Helu has rushed for at least 100 yards in last three games. He also leads NFL rookie running backs with 44 receptions. ..Receiver Anthony Armstrong has caught a TD and averaging 20.5 yards in last three games against Giants. ... LB Ryan Kerrigan scored on 9-yard interception return in season opener vs. New York. ...Eli Manning has thrown 14 fourth-quarter TDs this season, tying NFL record. He also has thrown for 400 yards three times this season, tying another league mark. ...Brandon Jacobs rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns starting for benched Ahmad Bradshaw last week. ...Victor Cruz (1,150) and Hakeem Nicks (1,023) are first pair of Giants’ receivers with 1,000 yards in same season. ...DE Jason Pierre-Paul had two sacks, forced fumble, safety and block on game-tying field goal attempt against Dallas, a performance that earned him NFC defensive player of the week. ... Giants have given up 121 points and 1,498 yards in last three games (New Orleans, Green Bay and Dallas).
Detroit (8-5) at Oakland (7-6)
Time: 3:05 p.m.
Line: Pick-em
Record vs. spread:: Detroit 6-6-1; Oakland 7-5-1
Series record: Raiders lead 6-4
Last meeting: Lions beat Raiders 36-21, Sept. 9, 2007
Last week: Lions beat Vikings 34-28; Raiders lost to Packers 46-16
Streaks, stats and notes: Lions and Raiders tied for most personal fouls committed this year with 27 apiece. ... Teams have allowed most yards per rush in NFL this season with Oakland at a league-worst 5.2 and Detroit at 5.1. Only eight teams since 1970 merger have allowed at least 5 yards per carry for a season. ... Detroit DT Ndamukong Suh returns from two-game suspension for stomping on an opponent on Thanksgiving. ... Detroit K Jason Hanson needs three points become sixth player in NFL history with 2,000 in his career and would be first to score that many for one team. ... Lions WR Calvin Johnson had nine TD catches first five games and three the past eight. ... Detroit third in NFL in takeaways with 29. ... Raiders have fallen behind 34-0 past two weeks, first team to do so since 1984 Buffalo Bills. ... Oakland leads NFL with 19 runs of at least 20 yards but has gone 99 straight carries without one. ... Raiders have scored league-high 28 points on drives starting in final 2 minutes of half. ... Oakland QB Carson Palmer coming off second four interception game of career. He followed previous one in 2007 against Arizona with most accurate game of career, going 32 for 38 for 283 yards in 35-6 win over Tennessee.
New England (10-3) at Denver (8-5)
Time: 3:15 p.m., CBS Ch. 2
Line: Patriots by 4½
Record vs. spread:: New England 7-6; Denver 7-6
Series record: Broncos lead 27-16
Last meeting: Broncos beat Patriots 20-17, Oct. 11, 2009
Last week: Patriots beat Redskins 34-27; Broncos beat Bears 13-10 OT
Streaks, stats and notes: New England trying to qualify for playoffs for 13th time since Robert Kraft bought team in 1994. Team can clinch AFC East with victory. ... Patriots have won 10 or more games for ninth straight season. ... QB Tom Brady on pace to go over 5,000 yards this season. Dan Marino (5,084 in 1984) and Drew Brees (5,069 in 2008) have done that. Brees and Aaron Rodgers also on pace to top 5,000 yards. ... Punt returner Julian Edelman has highest average (13.1) in team history. ... Rob Gronkowski has 15 TD catches, most by tight end in league history. He needs 87 yards receiving to set team mark for tight end. He has 1,088 yards. ... Both teams enter on winning streaks: New England has won five straight and Denver six in a row. Broncos haven’t won seven straight since 1998. ... Broncos boast top rushing attack in league, averaging 156 yards. ... QB Tim Tebow has 17 scoring drives in fourth quarter or OT over last nine games. ... With 11½ sacks, LB Von Miller is tied with Rulon Jones for most by Broncos rookie. ... K Matt Prater has hit 28 of 29 field goals in fourth quarter or OT during his career. ... Patriots haven’t won in Denver since 2003.
Cleveland (4-9) at Arizona (6-7)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Cardinals by 6 ½
Record vs. spread:: Cleveland 4-8-1; Arizona 7-5-1
Series record: Browns lead 33-12-3
Last meeting: Cardinals beat Browns 27-21, Dec. 2, 2007
Last week: Browns lost to Steelers 14-3, Cardinals beat 49ers 21-19
Streaks, stats and notes: Browns rookie DL Jabaal Sheard’s 5 1-2 forced fumbles third-most in league. ... Cleveland has scored 20 or more points in game twice this season. ... Browns have scored 178 points. Only Kansas City (173) has fewer among AFC teams. ... Cleveland has lost eight of 10 after 2-1 start. ... Browns backup QB Seneca Wallace has thrown two passes all season, completing both for 17 yards. ... Seven backs have rushed for more than 100 yards against Cleveland, topped by 204 by Baltimore’s Ray Rice two weeks ago. ... Cleveland is 1-2 against NFC West and one of two teams to be beaten by Rams. ... Cardinals have defeated consecutive division leaders in Dallas and San Francisco. ... Arizona’s defense has allowed six touchdowns in its last six games: five of them victories: after giving up 20 in first seven games, when they went 1-6. ... Cardinals allowed a season-low 223 yards against San Francisco. ... Arizona has five sacks in each of its past two games. In each game, sacks came from five different players. ... Only Green Bay, Houston and Denver have a better record than Arizona (5-1) in last six games. ... Against 49ers, WR Larry Fitzgerald had 30th career 100-yard receiving game. Since 2005, only Carolina’s Steve Smith (33) and Houston’s Andre Johnson (31) have more.
N.Y. Jets (8-5) at Philadelphia (5-8)
Time: 3:15 p.m.
Line: Eagles by 2
Record vs. spread:: New York 6-7; Philadelphia 5-8
Series record: Eagles lead 8-0
Last meeting: Eagles beat Jets 16-9, Oct. 14, 2007
Last week: Jets beat Chiefs 37-10; Eagles beat Dolphins 26-10
Streaks, stats and notes: Jets have never defeated Eagles in eight regular-season games. Six of those losses have come by eight points or less and two by one point. ... Jets coach Rex Ryan’s father, Buddy Ryan, coached Eagles from 1986-90, leading Philadelphia to three straight playoff appearances. ... In last three weeks, no team has scored more touchdowns (13) than Jets, whose total equals Green Bay, New England and New Orleans. ... Jets QB Mark Sanchez has completed 49 of 88 passes for 526 yards, seven TDs and one interception for a 95.2 rating and two rushing TDs during three-game winning streak. ... Jets lead NFL in red-zone efficiency, scoring TDs on 71.4 percent (30-of-42) of their chances. New York has scored TDs on last 12 possessions inside the 20. ... Offensive line allowed three sacks last week after not allowing any in previous two games. ... WR Plaxico Burress has five TD catches in last four games vs. Eagles. ... Eagles RB LeSean McCoy leads NFL with career-high 17 total TDs. His 14 TDs rushing are one behind Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren’s team record set in 1945. ... Rookie K Alex Henery has hit 11 consecutive field-goal attempts, and is 19 for 22 this season. ... WR DeSean Jackson’s 34-yard TD catch last week was his 21st career TD of 29 that covered at least 30 yards. ... QB Michael Vick has thrown interception in eight of his 10 games, and has 12 total, one short of career-worst. Vick threw six interceptions last year. ... DE Jason Babin has career-high 15 sacks. Reggie White holds team record with 21 sacks in 1987. ... Team seeks second two-game winning streak this season.
Baltimore (10-3) at San Diego (6-7)
Time: 7:30 p.m., NBC Ch. 5
Line: Ravens by 1
Record vs. spread:: Baltimore 7-5-1; San Diego 4-9
Series record: Ravens lead 4-3
Last meeting: Ravens beat Chargers 31-26, Sept. 20, 2009
Last week: Ravens beat Colts 24-10; Chargers beat Bills 37-10
Streaks, stats and notes: Ravens have won four straight: all without LB Ray Lewis: and tied for best record in AFC with New England, Houston and Pittsburgh. ... Ravens LB Terrell Suggs had three sacks and three forced fumbles in victory against Colts, only such performance in NFL in past three seasons. It was his third three-sack game of season and fourth of career. He has career-best 13 sacks this season. ... Baltimore’s Ray Rice leads NFL with 1,622 yards from scrimmage; fifth in rushing with 1,029 yards. ... Chargers have won two straight after six-game losing streak. ... Three Chargers are closing in on milestones. With 582 career catches, TE Antonio Gates needs five more to supplant Hall of Famer Charlie Joiner as team’s all-time leading receiver. Joiner, Chargers’ wide receivers coach, had 586 catches from 1976-86, final 11 seasons of his 18-year NFL career. QB Philip Rivers needs 255 yards passing for fourth straight 4,000-yard season. He would join Peyton Manning (1999-04 and 2006-10) and former teammate Drew Brees (2006-11) as only QBs in NFL history with at least four-straight 4,000-yard seasons. Second-year pro Ryan Mathews needs 57 yards rushing for first 1,000-yard season. Mathews has gained 100 yards in three straight games for first time. ... San Diego S Eric Weddle tied for NFL lead with seven interceptions
Monday’s game
Pittsburgh (10-3) at San Francisco (10-3)
Time: 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Line: Off
Record vs. spread:: Pittsburgh 6-7; San Francisco 10-2-1
Series record: 49ers lead 10-9
Last meeting: Steelers beat 49ers 37-16, Sept. 23, 2007
Last week: Steelers beat Browns 14-3; 49ers lost to Cardinals 21-19
Streaks, stats and notes: Marks fourth time in Monday Night Football history two teams face off with 10 victories and winning percentage of at least .750: and San Francisco has played in all of them, the last Dec. 15, 1997, with 12-2 49ers vs. 11-3 Broncos. ... It’s 49ers’ top-ranked run defense vs. Steelers’ No. 1 pass defense. ... Since 1980, these two teams have most division titles: 28 combined with San Francisco’s 15 and Pittsburgh’s 13. Franchises also have most playoff games during that stretch: 36 for 49ers, 34 for Steelers. ... San Francisco QB Alex Smith sacked 18 times past three games, five times in last week’s loss at Arizona and nine in last primetime game Thanksgiving night at Baltimore. ... Only fourth meeting between teams since 1999, with three of those in San Francisco. ... This is 49ers’ first Monday Night game this season and their final regular-season home game at Candlestick Park. ... Going back to 1970, 49ers have a 40-25 record on Monday Night Football, 22-11 at home. ... San Francisco will try to improve to 7-1 at Candlestick this year, which would be team’s first time winning at least seven home games since 2001. ... 49ers C Jonathan Goodwin will see big brother Harold, an offensive assistant coach for Steelers. ... This game could be without many key players: Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger (high left ankle sprain) might be Monday game-day decision; 49ers LB Patrick Willis (right hamstring injury) and Steelers LB James Harrison, who will serve a suspension for helmet-to-facemask hit on Browns QB Colt McCoy last Thursday. ... Steelers G Chris Kemoeatu penalized three times vs. Browns and coach Mike Tomlin has challenged him to change technique if he wants to stay on field because “he is playing illegally.”