Steelers Playoff Update.

From the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

Notebook:

+Tailback Willie Parker finished seventh in the AFC and 12th in the NFL in rushing this season. Parker rushed for 1,202 yards on 255 carries (4.7 average). Entering the season, there were questions about Parker's durability, given he had run the ball just 32 times as a rookie in '04 and had never run it more than 84 times in four years at the University of North Carolina. But he started 15 of 16 games this season (he sat out against the Browns in Week 9 with an ankle injury) and went over the 100-yard mark in each of his final two games. He said he's had no issues with the length of an NFL season. "I feel real good," he said Monday, as he began preparations for Sunday's first-round AFC playoff game at Cincinnati. "I feel great. I take care of my body each and every day. I never had no idea what it would be like (to play a full season). I just know it would be tough and rough on your body. So, you have to stay in that cold tub and got to treat your body like it's a temple."

+The Bengals and Steelers have faced one another 71 times, but Sunday's game is the first postseason matchup between the teams. Several Bengals players are revved up to face their AFC North Division rivals, including quarterback Carson Palmer. "I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it," he said.

+WR Hines Ward finished the season 25 yards shy of 1,000, the first time he's missed that mark in four years. He finished with 69 catches for 975 yards with 11 touchdowns. He was one of only four receivers to finish with 11 or more touchdowns.

+QB Ben Roethlisberger finished as the NFL's third-leading passer with a rating of 98.6. Peyton Manning of Indianapolis led the league with a 104.1 rating and Palmer was second at 101.1. Roethlisberger, who attempted 241 fewer passes than Palmer, led the league in yards per completion at 8.9.

+The Steelers finished fourth in total defense (284.7 yards allowed) and tied for 15th in total offense (321.8 yards gained). They were third in stopping the run and fifth in rushing.

+During the Steelers' three-game losing streak in Weeks 10-12, they averaged 83.6 yards rushing and failed to break 100. During their current four-game winning streak, they're averaging 185 rushing yards with a low of 142 in an 18-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings. "The running game is always going to be important for us," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt said. "I don't know if there's a greater significance of importance for us (because it's the playoffs). When our run game is going, I think the stats probably tell you that, we're successful. We do still have to throw the ball. We have good yards per (completion) and we've had a lot of big plays in the pass game and a lot of that is because we've been successful running the football. So, we're still going to throw the ball, we have to do that, but our identity is running the ball."

+Whisenhunt said he's not sure if this season's offense is better than last year's heading into the playoffs. "I don't know if you can compare them," he said. "I know that we have a lot of confidence right now, our line is playing very well. We have a good mix at running back going, the receivers are making plays when they have to make plays. We feel really good about Ben (Roethlisberger, quarterback) and how he's progressed, so we're really excited about an opportunity to get into the playoffs and have a chance to play."


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