PREVIEW TODAY'S GAMES

PITTSBURGH (11-5, 1-0)at INDIANAPOLIS (14-2)
Time: 1 p.m., CBS
Opening line: Colts by 8 1/2.
Record vs. spread: Steelers 10-7; Colts 9-7.
Series record: Steelers lead 17-5.
Last meeting: Colts 26, Steelers 7, Nov. 28, 2005 at Indianapolis.
Last week: Steelers beat Bengals 31-17. Colts had bye, beat Cardinals 17-13 in Week 17.
Steelers offense: overall (15t), rush (5), pass (24)
Steelers defense: overall (4), rush (3), pass (16)
Colts offense: overall (3), rush (16), pass (3)
Colts defense: overall (11), rush (16), pass (15)
Key matchup: Pittsburgh secondary vs. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning. Manning enters the postseason with sixth-best career postseason passer rating of 89.1, minimum 150 attempts. In his last two home playoff games, Manning has passed for nine touchdowns with one interception. Manning's nine touchdowns are one less than his incompletion total (10) for those two games. Manning has two 1,000-yard receivers in Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, and a ground game that has given the Colts a more balanced offense. Pittsburgh's secondary got break last week when Carson Palmer went down on first pass play. The Bengals' plan was to go over the top often, something backup Jon Kitna couldn't do. Steelers safety Tyrone Carter tied for team high with seven tackles last week. Safety Troy Polamalu posted team-best nine tackles and an interception on Nov. 28 against Colts. Cornerback Ike Taylor led the club with 25 pass breakups in 2005 and compiled most tackles (96) by Steelers back since Rod Woodson (100) in 1992. All will be busy on Sunday.
Streaks, stats and notes: Pittsburgh is 4-0 vs. Colts in playoffs and is 7-1 in playoff games vs. AFC South teams. ... Coach Bill Cowher is 5-1 all-time vs. Colts. ... Steelers have 7-2 road record. ... In seven road starts this season, including last week, QB Ben Roethlisberger has 10 TDs vs. three INTs, completing 94 of 141 passes (66.7 percent) for 110.5 passer rating. ... Steelers allowed only eight TDs on road during regular season, fewest in NFL. ... Steelers are on a five-game winning streak. ... Joey Porter led NFL LBs with 10 1/2 sacks in 2005, tying career high. ... WR Hines Ward had 11 TD catches, tied for second in AFC. ... Pittsburgh is 25-18 in the postseason. ... Indianapolis defense allowed fewest points (247) in the AFC and was No. 2 in NFL in scoring defense (15.4). ... Colts allowed fewest first downs (16.8 per game) in AFC. ... Indianapolis had fewer punts (52) than touchdowns scored (53) this season. ... Colts are 13-15 in the postseason. ... RB Edgerrin James (1,506) was No. 2 rusher in AFC in 2005. James averages 125.7 yards from scrimmage per game in career. ... Wayne led team with 83 catches (Harrison 82). ... Indianapolis was second in AFC in offense (362.4). ... Colts have a plus-12 turnover margin. ... Defensive end duo Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis accounted for 22 1/2 sacks. ... Coach Tony Dungy played CB for Steelers (1977-78) and was Steelers assistant from 1981-88. He was promoted to club's defensive coordinator in 1984 at age 28. ... Colts are the only team to make the playoffs six of the last seven years.
CAROLINA (11-5, 1-0) at CHICAGO (11-5)
Time: 4:30 p.m., FOX
Opening line: Bears by 3.
Record vs. spread: Panthers 9-7-1; Bears 9-5-1.
Series record: Tied 2-2.
Last meeting: Bears 13, Panthers 3, Nov. 20, 2005 at Chicago.
Last week: Panthers beat Giants 23-0. Bears had bye, lost to Vikings 34-10 in Week 17).
Panthers offense: overall (22), rush (19), pass (17)
Panthers defense: overall (3), rush (4), pass (9)
Bears offense: overall (29), rush (8), pass (31)
Bears defense: overall (2), rush (11), pass (5)
Key matchup: Carolina's defense vs. Chicago's defense. Two of the best defenses in the NFL meet again. Last week, Carolina became the first road team to score a postseason shutout since 1980, holding the NFL's No. 4 offense (361.7, 422 points) to 132 total yards. The Panthers' defense forced five turnovers as they scored their third straight road win in the postseason. Carolina's defense ranked third allowing 41.0 red zone TD percentage (16 TDs, 39 trips) and did not allow red zone possession vs. Giants. Carolina's secondary finished with 23 interceptions this season, fourth in the league. Chicago's defense was ranked second overall (281.8) and fifth against the pass (179.5). The defense led the league, allowing a 32.5 red zone TD percentage (40 possessions, 13 TDs), and tied for second with 24 interceptions. The Bears allowed 61 points at home, the fewest by any club in a season since the 16-game schedule was instituted in 1978. On Nov. 20, Chicago sacked Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme eight times, and Nathan Vasher had two interceptions to set up a touchdown and a field goal.
Streaks, stats and notes: Carolina has a 5-2 playoff record. ... In five career playoff games, Delhomme has 105.1 passer rating, seven TDs vs. one INT and 1,127 yards passing. Delhomme passed for 3,421 yards and tied for the NFC-lead with 24 TD passes. ... RB DeShaun Foster, who rushed for a team playoff mark of 151 yards, last week, averages 5.0 yards per carry in five career playoff games (69-347). ... WR Steve Smith set franchise records with an NFL-best 1,563 yards and 103 receptions, tied for most in league. Smith, who tied for the NFL lead with 12 TDs, caught a team-record 14 passes for 169 yards in the last game against Chicago. ... Panthers have a plus-16 turnover differential. ... WR Ricky Proehl averaged a career-best 17.6 yards per catch in regular season (25-441) and averages 16.6 yards per catch (19-316) in 12 career playoff games. ... DE Julius Peppers posted the third 10-sack (10 1/2) season of his four-year career. ... Chicago is 14-15 in the playoffs, including a 9-6 record at home. ... Lovie Smith, AP Coach of Year, makes playoff head coaching debut. ... QB Rex Grossman makes first career playoff start and has led team to five wins in eight career games. ... RB Thomas Jones rushed for 1,335 yards and joined Walter Payton as only players in team history with 1,300-yard season. ... WR Muhsin Muhammad is Panthers' all-time leader with 578 receptions and 7,751 yards, spending 1996-2004 with Carolina. Muhammad led the Bears in receiving with 64 catches for 750 yards. ... Five Bears defenders were chosen to NFC Pro Bowl team: DT Tommie Harris, LB Lance Briggs, LB Brian Urlacher, CB Nathan Vasher and S Mike Brown. Urlacher was AP NFL Defensive Player of Year.
Associated Press
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