The Stats Don't Lie, Week 10: Ben Roethlisberger vs. Carson Palmer

In recent weeks I have made frequent use of stats to try to draw comparisons between Steeler players and the opposing team's defense. So here goes Big Ben against the Bengals pass defense and Carson Palmer against the Steeler's pass defense:

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati Pass Defense

                    Completion %   Att/Gm      Yds        Avg/Comp   20 yds+    Sacks

Cincinnati            62.8%            36         1,933         7.2            27             21

Roethlisberger     70.6%           32.8      2,295         8.8            31            

                      QB Rating    Yds/Gm        Pts/Gm   

Cincinnati            81.6          241.6           16.9

Roethlisberger    104.1          286.9           24.4

and

Carson Palmer vs. Pittsburgh Pass Defense

                    Completion %   Att/Gm      Yds        Avg/Comp   20 yds+    Sacks

Pittsburgh            59.9%            37.1       1,716         6.3           18             23

Palmer                  61.5%            32.5       1,832         7.0            22            

                      QB Rating    Yds/Gm        Pts/Gm   

Pittsburgh            77.2          214.5          17.4

Palmer                   89.5          229             22.5

Now a comparison of the same QB's and the result of like matchups:

Cincinnati has seen the following QBs and these QB's have put up the following numbers:

QB                      Rating     C/ATT    Yds        TD         Int

Orton               100.7           17/28    243           1           0

Rodgers            83.4           21/39    261            1          0

Roethlisberger    95.6         22/31    276             1          1

Anderson           68.8         26/48    269            1            1

Flacco               70.1           22/31    186            1         2

Schaub            124.2          28/40    392             4         1

Cutler                 64.1          26/37    251            1           3

Flacco             48.3             18/32    195            0         2

Pittsburgh has seen the following QBs and these QB's have put up the following numbers:

QB                 Rating     C/ATT    Yds        TD         Int

Collins            81.1       22/35      244           1          1

Cutler           104.7      27/38       236           2            0

Palmer            76.7       20/37      183           1          0

Rivers           107.9       21/36      254           3          0

Culpepper       83.4       23/37       282          1         1

Anderson        51.0        9/24        122          1            1

Favre             76.8         33/50       334          0         1

Orton             43.9         23/38        221           0            3

So here is the comparison of the like QB's against the pass defenses:

Cincinnati

Avg Rating        Completions        Attempts        Yds         TD       Int

Pittsburgh

Avg Rating        Completions        Attempts        Yds         TD       Int      

So who has the upper hand?

I think the Pittsburgh passing game will win this matchup because they are gelling very well and have all their weapons. The Bengal's just lost Chris Henry and I think that will hurt them.

For a running game comparison check out the other stat comparison article: The Stats Don't Lie, Week 10: Rashard Mendenhall vs. Cedric Benson