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Preseason Preview: Steelers vs. Giants

by Charles Costello on August 21st, 2010 at 7:17 am

PITTSBURGH COMES TO TOWN AS GIANTS OPEN NEW MEADOWLANDS STADIUM

Eli Manning‘s absence is huge, but the presence of Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will garner most of the headlines when the two teams meet tonight in the Giants’ first home game at the New Meadowlands Stadium. Roethlisberger will take the field at some point (it’s not known if he’ll start), following a tumultuous offseason that led to a six-game suspension (could be reduced to four games) handed down by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Roethlisberger will begin serving his suspension at the beginning of the regular season, though he is able to play in preseason games.

Now, on to tonight’s game. The Steelers beat the Lions, 23-7, in their preseason opener last week. Byron Leftwich, who is expected to start Week 1 though head coach Mike Tomlin said this week that Dennis Dixon is competing for the job, was 6-of-10 for 43 yards. Dixon then took over and was 6-of-7 for 128 yards and a touchdown. Charlie Batch entered late and completed one pass for 10 yards. There is speculation that Roethlisberger may start tonight given the rotation at practice the past couple of days.

On the injury front, the team’s No. 2 pick, outside linebacker Jason Worilds, will play after sitting out the preseason opener with a hamstring injury. Rookie running back Jonathan Dwyer, a fifth-round pick, missed last week’s game and is doubtful for tonight’s because of a shoulder injury. Defensive end Steve McLendon and rookie offensive tackle Chris Scott are also out.
 
The big battle in camp has been in the secondary where veteran Bryant McFadden is in a fight with second-year player Keenan Lewis for the starting left cornerback spot. McFadden was the team’s second-round pick in t2005 and was reacquired this offseason and signed to a three-year contract. Lewis has been impressive in camp.
Tomlin said that he expects to play his starters for about 24 snaps tonight.
 
You know the story for the Giants: Manning is out because of the head laceration he suffered in Monday’s win over the Jets, and backup Jim Sorgi is out with an injured shoulder. Third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar and the recently-signed rookie out of Holy Cross, Dominic Randolph, will be under center. All eyes will be on Victor Cruz, who had six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns Monday night. Linebacker Keith Bullock, who has not played since last December when he tore his ACL, and safety Kenny Phillips, who had microfracture knee surgery less than a year ago, are expected to play.

The Giants have a 13-12 all-time edge in preseason meetings with the Steelers. Pittsburgh won the last meeting, 23-17, in 1993. The teams last met in the regular season in 2008 when the Giants won, 21-14, at Heinz Field.

The game will be broadcast locally on Channel 4 and nationally on the NFL Network. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

For more on the Steelers, check out Sports Illustrated’s Peter King.

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