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Bucs visit Steelers in matchup of disappointing teams

Nov 29, 2006 - 12:27 AM Tampa Bay (3-8) at Pittsburgh (4-7) Sunday 4:15 pm EST

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Jon Gruden can feel fellow coach Bill Cowher's pain.

Two of the biggest disappointments meet Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cowher's Steelers are on the verge of becoming the first defending Super Bowl champion to miss the playoffs the following season since Gruden's Buccaneers had a losing record in 2003 after winning the championship the previous year. The Steelers already have surpassed their loss total from last season.

Like the Steelers, the Bucs also made the playoffs last season. But an 0-4 start and the loss of quarterback Chris Simms (splenectomy) all but ended their playoff hopes.

Pro Bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu and wide receiver Hines Ward both will miss this contest for the Steelers with left knee injuries. Polamalu has a sprained MCL, while Ward underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on Monday.

Ben Roethlisberger will be looking for better protection after he was sacked a career-high nine times in the Steelers' 27-0 loss at Baltimore last week.

The Bucs have been off since Thanksgiving when they endured a 38-10 beating at Dallas. Rookie Bruce Gradkowski completed just 10-of-20 passes for 120 yards with two interceptions.