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The St. Louis Rams [1-1] will host the Pittsburgh Steelers [1-1] at the Edwards Jones Dome in Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season. This matchup will mark the 26th time these teams have played, dating back to 1938. The Rams hold the series lead 15-8-2.
The last time these two teams squared off was at Heinz Field on Christmas Eve in 2011. The Pittsburgh Steelers, in the season of giving, gave the Rams a 27-0 drubbing. At the time, these two teams were starting Kellen Clemens and Charlie Batch at quarterback. Steelers’ running backs Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, and John Clay all rushed for scores that day.
Here’s a full list of the Rams vs. Steelers games, via The Football Database:
| Date | Team | Opponent | H/A | Stadium | Result | Attend |
| 12/24/2011 | St. Louis Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 27-0 | 60,081 |
| 12/20/2007 | St. Louis Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Edward Jones Dome (St. Louis, MO) | L 41-24 | 65,705 |
| 10/26/2003 | St. Louis Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Heinz Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | W 33-21 | 62,665 |
| 11/03/1996 | St. Louis Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 42-6 | 58,148 |
| 09/12/1993 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim, CA) | W 27-0 | -- |
| 10/29/1990 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 41-10 | -- |
| 10/11/1987 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim, CA) | W 31-21 | -- |
| 09/16/1984 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 24-14 | -- |
| 11/29/1981 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 24-0 | -- |
| 01/20/1980 * | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA) | L 31-19 | 103,985 |
| 11/12/1978 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 10-7 | -- |
| 12/20/1975 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 10-3 | -- |
| 12/19/1971 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | W 23-14 | -- |
| 09/22/1968 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 45-10 | -- |
| 09/13/1964 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Pitt Stadium (Pittsburgh, PA) | W 26-14 | -- |
| 10/01/1961 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 24-14 | -- |
| 12/02/1956 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Forbes Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | L 30-13 | -- |
| 10/02/1955 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 27-26 | -- |
| 12/14/1952 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 28-14 | -- |
| 11/13/1949 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Forbes Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | T 7-7 | -- |
| 12/12/1948 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Los Angeles, CA) | W 31-14 | -- |
| 09/29/1947 | Los Angeles Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | A | Forbes Field (Pittsburgh, PA) | W 48-7 | -- |
| 09/07/1941 | Cleveland Rams | Pittsburgh Steelers | H | Rubber Bowl (Akron, OH) | W 17-14 | -- |
| 10/29/1939 | Cleveland Rams | Pittsburgh Pirates | H | Cleveland Municipal Stadium (Cleveland, OH) | T 14-14 | -- |
| 12/04/1938 | Cleveland Rams | Pittsburgh Pirates | A | Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, LA) | W 13-7 | -- |
* Super Bowl XIV
As you can see by asterisk at the bottom of the chart, the Rams also played the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV...not the one against the Titans or Patriots. The other one.
This game will be an interesting one for a number of reasons. As you can see from the chart above, these teams are very unfamiliar with one another, having played on three times in the past twelve years. It’ll also be intriguing because we may see two star athletes make their 2015 debuts. Le’Veon Bell will most certainly be returning from his two-game suspension, and the Steelers won’t hesitate to give him a heavy workload, despite the early season success of DeAngelo Williams. And the Rams may very will show off their first round pick from the 2015 draft, Todd Gurley.
St. Louis Rams
* Nick Foles has won his past four starts against AFC opponents, completing 79 of 122 passes [64.8%], totaling 1,183 yards, 11 TDs, three interceptions and a 116.3 rating.
* In his past three games against AFC opponents, Tre Mason has 366 yards from scrimmage [122 per game]. That includes 292 rush yards [97.3 per game] and 3 touchdowns [2 run, 1 receiving].
* Tavon Austin will be looking to rush for a touchdown for the third consecutive time against an AFC opponent.
* Kenny Britt had a 40-yard receiving touchdown last week against the Redskins. He also had a TD vs. the Steelers on 10/11/12, while with the Titans.
* Jared Cook leads the team with ten catches for 132 yards. He’s aiming for his third in a row against the Steelers for a 50+ yard day.
* The Rams’ defense ranks first in the NFC with 8 sacks; led by Aaron Donald [2.5] and Robert Quinn [2.0]. Donald has 0.5+ sacks in 8 of last 9 games, and 10 of past 13. Quinn has 7 sacks and 4 forced fumbles in past five games against AFC opponents.
* Chris Long has 14.5 sacks in his last 16 games against AFC opponents.
* Alec Ogletree is tied for the NFL lead in tackles [23]. He finished last week’s game with 16; also tops in the league.
Pittsburgh Steelers
* Ben Roethlisberger won his 107th game as starter last week, tying Hall-of-Famer Terry Bradshaw for most in the club's history.
* A 300-yard performance from Roethlisberger would make it five in a row vs. NFC opponents. The last time he played against the Rams, he went for 261 yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating.
* In his last five games against NFC opponents, Le’Veon Bell has averaged 153.6 yards from scrimmage, and has four touchdowns.
* Since 2013, Antonio Brown leads the NFL with 257 receptions, and 3,525 receiving yards. He has 7+ catches in 13 consecutive games, which is the longest streak in history. In the past 13 games he’s averaging 8.7 receptions per game and 116.5 ypg, with 10 TD’s.
* Ryan Shazier led the Steelers with 15 tackles, a sack, and forced fumble last week against the 49ers.