Steelers might eschew run game vs. 49ers

The 49ers are in position to set an NFL record for fewest rushing touchdowns allowed in a season. It's a topic the players would rather avoid."We don't like talking about records and stats and stuff like that," 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald said. "We just like go out there on Sunday and play hard."The 49ers will have the same approach on Monday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they look to put the clamps on running back Rashard Mendenhall. He enters the game with 710 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.Pittsburgh might find it easier to try to beat the 49ers over the top. After all, the 49ers have not given up a rushing touchdown in 13 games -- the first team since the 1920 Decatur Staleys to accomplish that feat. The NFL record for fewest TDs allowed rushing in a season is two. It's been done four times, most recently by Minnesota in 1971 during a 14-game regular season.
While the 49ers rank first in the NFL in run defense, the club is 19th in total passing yards allowed (234.5 per game). But they are tied for seventh-best in the league with an opponent passer rating of 76.8, thanks largely to their 18 interceptions. (In comparison, quarterback Alex Smith's passer rating is 91.5.)Last week, Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton had success while beating the 49ers, 21-19. Skelton completed 19 of 28 passes for 282 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.If Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (left ankle) plays Monday night, he will likely try to exploit the 49ers' pass defense with speedy receivers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. The 49ers expect Roethlisberger to play.
After all, it seems unlikely Mendenhall will be able to succeed where so many others have failed this season:Game 1 vs. Seattle: Marshawn Lynch carried 13 times for 33 yards and did not touch the ball in the fourth quarter.Game 2 vs. Dallas: Felix Jones sustained a shoulder injury on linebacker Patrick Willis' tackle in the first quarter. He rushed nine times for 25 yards.Game 3 at Cincinnati: Cedric Benson gained 64 yards on 17 carries and did not touch the ball for the final 10 minutes of the game.Game 4 at Philadelphia: LeSean McCoy was shaken up while trying to pick up Ray McDonald on a blitz. He returned and finished with 18 yards on nine carries, but he did not touch the ball for the final 9:30 of the game.Game 5 vs. Tampa Bay: LaGarrette Blount gained 34 yards on 10 rushing attempts and did not return after sustaining a hamstring injury when safety Dashon Goldson upended him with a third-quarter tackle.Game 6 at Detroit: Jahvid Best gained 37 yards on 12 rushing attempts and did not play in the final 10 minutes of the game after sustaining a concussion.Game 7 vs. Cleveland: Montario Hardesty started and had two carries for 6 yards before leaving the game with a non-contact calf injury.Game 8 at Washington: Rookie Roy Helu carried 10 times for 41 yards in his first career start. He also lost a fumble.Game 9 vs. N.Y. Giants: Brandon Jacobs started and carried 18 times for 55 yards (3.1 average).Game 10 vs. Arizona:: Beanie Wells gained just 33 yards on eight carries. A week later, Wells gained 228 yards on 27 carries against the St. Louis Rams.Game 11 at Baltimore: Ray Rice had 59 yards on 21 rushing attempts.Game 12 vs. St. Louis: Steven Jackson gained 19 yards on 10 carries.Game 13 at Arizona: Although the Cardinals won the game, Wells had even less success against the 49ers than he had three weeks earlier. He gained 27 yards on 15 carries.The starting backs against the 49ers this season have rushed 154 times for 451 yards (2.9 average) and, obviously, no touchdowns. Those same backs in all their other games have carried 1,899 yards for 8,439 yards (4.4 average) and 69 touchdowns.