Steelers vs 49ers: Predicting Stats for Monday Night Football's Biggest Stars

What do you know—an intriguing Monday Night Football game with extreme playoff implications.

I'm pumped for this matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers, aren't you?

Ben Roethlisberger, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Troy Polamalu, Justin Smith, Lamar Woodley and Antonio Brown.

Talk about star power.

Let's look at how the game's offensive playmakers will fare in this defensive-minded, interconference slugfest. 

Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben is a "game-time decision", but head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic that he'll play. 

Let's face it, guys and girls, Roethlisberger won't miss this game for the world. 

He's the toughest quarterback in football. 

He should have an easier time tonight without Patrick Willis roaming around on the other side of the line of scrimmage, but the 49ers defense is legitimate. 

Forget that fluky game against the Cardinals last week. 

He'll find either Antonio Brown or Mike Wallace on a deep ball and will methodically move the Steelers down the field throughout the evening. 

However, it won't be easy. 

Don't be shocked if he throws an interception, though. Ben forces the ball on occasion. 

Prediction: 17-of-29, 235 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Alex Smith

Smith didn't have his best game of the year on Sunday against the Cardinals, completing fewer than 50 percent of his passes and accumulating only 175 yards through the air in the loss. 

Tonight won't get much easier. 

The Steelers are still the best blitzing team in my mind. 

Dick Labeau seems to make the right call at the right time, and sends guys from the ideal directions that almost always confuse opposing quarterbacks. 

Smith will have a difficult time getting comfortable, but Jim Harbaugh will call many simple-read throws for him while leaning heavily on Frank Gore. 

Prediction: 13-of-25, 190 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT

Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall hasn't exploded with a huge game in quite some time, but he has been a reliable back for the Steelers over the last month. 

He toted the rock 18 times for 76 yards against the Browns last week, and a lot of that yardage came after contact with two or three defenders on his back. 

Expect more of the same tonight against one of the best run defenses in football. 

Prediction: 19 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD 

Frank Gore

Gore carried the ball 10 times for 72 yards and a touchdown in the 49ers' humiliating loss to the Cardinals in Week 14. 

He'll get more than 10 carries tonight. 

Even if the Steelers defensive line stymies Gore at the start, Jim Harbaugh will continue to feed his offensive MVP the football in hopes of wearing Pittsburgh down. 

He won't have a great deal of success, but he is known for breaking a long run or two. 

Keep and eye on him in the screen game, too, especially with the Steelers blitzing often. 

Prediction: 23 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD;  4 catches, 30 yards 

Antonio Brown

Although Mike Wallace has more receiving yards than Brown and is still considered the team's "No. 1" receiver, the second-year pass-catcher out of Central Michigan has really made a name for himself in the second half of the season. 

He caught five passes for 151 yards against the Browns last week, including an electrifying 79-yard catch-and-run that sealed the game late. 

With Carlos Rogers locked-up with Wallace all evening, don't be shocked if Brown has another breakout game. 

Prediction: 6 catches, 103 yards, 1 TD

Michael Crabtree

It has taken Crabtree a little longer than the 49ers would have hoped or expected, but he's emerged as the team's legitimate No. 1 receiver, catching 55 passes for 668 yards this season in a run-first offense. 

He has 11 catches over the last two games and has become a great chain-mover with the ability to break the occasional big play. 

The Steelers' secondary is still one of the best in football and Crabtree could have Troy Polamalu or Ryan Clark frequently over the top. 

Crabtree is physical enough to beat press coverage, but I'm not in love with this matchup for his quarterback, Alex Smith.

Prediction: 5 catches, 48 yards