Pittsburgh Steelers: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

The Steelers made it all the way to the Super Bowl last season, despite not having their leader Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the regular season due to a league ordered suspension.

Assuming Roethlisberger stays healthy and the team doesn't suffer from a post-Super Bowl loss hangover as several teams have fallen victim to during the past decade.

How do you think Pittsburgh will do this season in the always competitive AFC?

Let us know after you watch of the better moments from the Steelers 2010-11 season.

A Look Back: Super Bowl 45 Highlights (Packers Vs. Steelers)

By: Tyler Ward

The Packers and Steelers matched up against each other for yet another great Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers won the MVP award, and the Packers won the game 31-25.

Rodgers had one of the best postseasons ever for a quarterback and he successfully brought the Lombardi Trophy, named for their former famed head coach, back to Wisconsin.

This was the Packers first Super Bowl win in fourteen years. Green Bay now has thirteen championships, nine of which were before the Super Bowl era.

The Packers overcame injuries all year and were named the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Early in the game, the Packers built a 21-6 lead, a lead that they would not let go.

Blown Call Costs Miami Dolphins Victory Against Pittsburgh Steelers

By: Stephen Patterson

The Pittsburgh Steelers stole a victory in South Florida over the Miami Dolphins today after a controversial call at the goal-line gave the Steelers a chance to hit the go-ahead field goal in their 23-22 victory over the Dolphins.

On third-and-goal at the two yard line, Ben Roethlisberger rushed the ball, and although the original call was that he had cleared the goal-line with possession for the go-ahead touchdown, it was obvious that was not the case.

Dolphins' FS Chris Clemons laid a hit on Roethlisberger and forced the ball from his hands and into the end-zone about half a yard shy of the goal-line. After pondering whether or not to gamble his final timeout on the challenge, Miami head coach Tony Sparano decided to throw the challenge flag.

After the review, referee Gene Steratore said that replays showed that Roethlisberger fumbled prior to crossing the goal-line. However, he nor his crew had enough evidence as to who recovered the ball, therefore they awarded possession to the Steelers for a chance at the field goal by Jeff Reed that won them the game.

This bothers me for several reasons:

1.) Usually, if there is a loose ball on the field, the referees will check to see who came up with the ball after the pile-up, regardless of how the play is ruled. They do that in case something happens like it did today, where a team decides to make a challenge on a play that involves a loose ball.

Well guess which teams' player came up with the ball? The Miami Dolphins.

2.) While the first person to touch a loose ball often isn't the guy that comes out from under a pile with it, it's extremely hard for me to figure out how the first three players to touch the ball are on the same team, as is the player that comes up with the ball, yet there still isn't enough evidence to make a call as to which team had possession.

3.) What exactly does the league consider "evidence"? If video replays show a Miami player coming out from the pile holding the ball, and the same replays show multiple Dolphins touch the ball first, how can you not give them the ball?

4.) Would that same call have been made if the Pittsburgh Steelers weren't the Pittsburgh Steelers? Believe it or not, the league tends to do what they deem is best for business when they have the chance.

When their is a questionable call in a game involving one of the leagues most popular teams, which team do you think the league would like to get the benefit of that call?

I'm not saying the league calls for specific teams in all or even most situations. But when it is a call like the one that decided the Dolphins-Steelers game, it's hard not to wonder if Steratore would have given a team like the Cleveland Browns or the Buffalo Bills that same call in that exact same situation. I honestly don't know for sure if he would have.

It makes it especially difficult to believe considering the amount of time he spent listening to "the guys upstairs" on the headsets after he was done watching the replay. Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but I'm just not convinced most teams would have gotten that call and a chance for the go-ahead field goal.

Steelers fans might argue that Miami had plenty of time to drive the ball down field and win the game, but it should have never even come down to that. If the correct call had been made, the Dolphins would have taken over possession at their 20-yard line with a little over two minutes remaining.

While Miami would have still needed to get at least one first down to finish off the game, as Pittsburgh still had all three of their timeouts remaining at the time, they would have had a much better chance at stopping the Steelers after a punt (if they couldn't pick the first down) than from inside their own one-yard line.

The fumble, Roethelisbergers' third of the game, should have been much more costly than it turned out to be for the Steelers. I think everyone involved with their franchise understands they were extremely lucky to walk off of the field today with a victory.

While it was the blown call that allowed Pittsburgh to hit the go-ahead field goal, Miami did have plenty of other opportunities to finish off the Steelers.

The Dolphins forced two fumbles within the first four minutes of the game and recovered both in Pittsburgh territory. However, they couldn't capitalize on either turnover with a touchdown, and settled for two of Dan Carpenters' career-high five field goals instead.

If any of those five field goals had been touchdowns, the Steelers would have needed more than a field goal to take the lead when Steratore graciously let them keep possession after Roethlisbergers' third fumble of the game. Considering how poorly the Steelers did on the ground against Miami, 58 yards rushing on 27 attempts, it's no guarantee they would have been able to get the ball into the end-zone on fourth-and-goal.

The loss drops the Dolphins to 3-3 on the season, while the Steelers should be thanking Steratore for their 5-1 record.

Oddly enough, all three of the Dolphins' victories have come on the road, whereas all three of their losses have come at home. With their next game coming Oct. 31 against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road, Miami can only hope that trend holds up for one more week.

NFL Week 7: Top 5 Most Intriguing Match-Ups

By: Stephen Patterson

With several teams entering Week 7 in "All-Out Panic" mode, this could be a make-or-break week for some of the struggling teams in the NFL.

Can the Dallas Cowboys begin the daunting task of turning their season around on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants? Will the struggling San Diego Chargers be able to put a stop to their annual slow start and turn things around at home against the New England Patriots?

Perhaps the biggest question of all surrounding this weekends' match-ups is whether or not Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings can put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season against Favres' former team, the Green Bay Packers. Will Favre be able to lead the Vikings back up in the standings? Or will Green Bay finally get a win against the former face of their franchise?

#5: Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears

The Story: Both teams are coming off losses and will look to regroup when they match-up at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Chicago Bears currently control their own destiny in the NFC North, as they would continue their hold on the division lead with a victory. The Washington Redskins are a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC East, but a victory would keep them close to the top. Look for this to be a hard fought, low-scoring game with several big plays being the difference in this one.

Key to Victory: Defense. The Redskins head into Chicago allowing an NFL-worst 432.5 total yards per game, a number they hope will drop with a strong performance against a struggling Bears' offense. Chicago, on the other hand, is expecting to turn around their offensive misfortunes. However, if their offensive line can't offer any better protection than they have previously this season, it could be a very rough day for Jay Cutler. If the Bears are going to win this game, they need a solid performance by Matt Forte, who has struggled on the ground this season averaging only 92.3 yards per game rushing.

Prediction: Washington Redskins 17, Chicago Bears 14


#4: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins

The Story: The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense will be hungry to show the league they can still knock opponents silly without getting flagged for "devastating hits", and unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, they will be on the receiving end of those hits. Ben Roethlisberger is making his second start of the season after sitting out the first four games due to suspension, and he will look to make another strong impression. The Dolphins are coming off a hard fought overtime win at Lambeau against the Green Bay Packers and they will look to build upon that win.

Key to Victory: Brandon Marshall/Mike Wallace. Both teams have solid defenses, but they are also both better at stopping the run. Both teams will be looking for huge games from their star receivers, and the player that has the biggest game might just be the difference in this one. Look for one or both of these guys making huge plays late in the fourth quarter with the game still on the line. Marshall has had a relatively slow start to the season in Miami, having caught only one touchdown pass so far this year. Look for him to break out of that slump with a big game against the Steelers' secondary.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Miami Dolphins 21


#3: New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers

The Story: This is almost a must-win situation for the San Diego Chargers, as they are once again off to a painfully slow start to the season. Luckily for them, they are playing at home, where they are 2-0 this season. The bad news? They've lost all four games they've played on the road this season and they can't afford to drop a game of this magnitude at home. The New England Patriots will look to continue developing their offensive and adapting to no longer having Randy Moss. Deion Branch had a nice game last week against the Ravens, and the Patriots will need another big game from him to win this game.

Key to Victory: Special teams. The Chargers have been absolutely abysmal on special teams so far this season, and they can't afford to have those kind of lapses in this game. The Patriots destroyed the Miami Dolphins earlier this season because of special teams' gaffes, and if the Chargers want to avoid the same fate, they will need an all-around effort from everyone involved on special teams. If the Chargers can manage the ball and avoid mistakes, they will be in this game until the final whistle. Sadly, I'm not convinced that can happen for this team.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31, San Diego Chargers 21


#2: New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

The Story: If there is a team facing a must-win situation in Week 7, it has to be the Dallas Cowboys. After starting the season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, the Cowboys came out and fell flat on their faces to start the season. Unluckily for them, they are still tumbling and have to find a way to avoid a 1-5 start if they want any chance of even reaching the postseason. The New York Giants started off the season slowly, but they have looked increasingly better over their past three games. If they can knock off the Cowboys in this one, it will make their own run for the postseason a lot easier.

Key to Victory: Pride. The Cowboys must come out and play smart, competitive football for sixty minutes in order to have a chance in this one. If they continue to show poor judgment by celebrating prematurely and getting called for stupid penalties, this game could get out of hand very quickly for Dallas. I think they need to come out early and dominate both sides of the ball if they really want to win this game. If New York strikes first, and the Cowboys get off to a slow start, I think the Giants will be able to control the game and hold off a desperate, late flurry by Dallas.

Prediction: New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 21


#1: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

The Story: What's not to like about this game? Brett Favre will be going all-out against his former team in an effort to show them they made the wrong choice by letting him go. Aaron Rodgers will look to get his first regular-season victory against his former mentor. There are so many storylines surrounding this match-up that you could literally write a book and still probably miss a few of the smaller stories. Considering this a divisional rivalry and both teams are trying to make up ground in the race to catch the first-place Chicago Bears, I'd expect this game to be one of the most entertaining of the weekend.

Key to Victory: Brett Favre. One way or another, the aging Vikings' quarterback will be directly linked to the outcome of this game. Last season, Favre had two memorable victories against his former team, as the Vikings went 2-0 against the Packers. But, Favre was also playing at a much higher level last season as well. If Favre plans to improve his record to 3-0 against his former team, he better be willing to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson often and not try to press his luck against a formidable defense by forcing bad passes. Unluckily for the Vikings, Favre usually doesn't pass up opportunities to throw into coverage and turn the ball over.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 27

Colt McCoy To Start Against Steelers

By: Tyler Ward

It was reported earlier this week that the Cleveland Browns will start rookie QB Colt McCoy against the Steelers on Sunday. The team had not expected starter Jake Delhomme or Seneca Wallace to play this week, thus leading to McCoy's NFL debut. With only one quarterback on the roster, the team signed Brett Ratliff to be McCoy's backup this week against Pittsburgh. 

Earlier this week, coach Eric Mangini said he was leaning towards starting McCoy, although no formal announcement was made. However, Delhomme and Wallace missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, which paved the way for McCoy to start. The former Texas QB has taken first-team reps all week. 

Delhomme, sidelined with an ankle injury, played in the opening game, but missed the next three games. He returned last week against the Falcons, but re-aggravated the injury and has been listed doubtful for their game against the Steelers. Wallace supplanted Delhomme as the starter after the former Panther's injury, but he also injured his ankle against the Falcons last week. McCoy was thought to not see the field during his rookie season, but he will this week. But, even though he will start and play in his first career NFL game, could it have come against a better team? The Steelers currently rank 4th in total defense and have been spectacular against the passing game. So, it will be difficult for McCoy and it may be a forgettable first game for the NCAA's all-time winningest quarterback.

With that being said, what do I predict for McCoy? Hmmmm...

My projected stat line for the QB: 9-23, 87 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT (Browns lose 31-10)

I just don't see him doing that well. The college game is way different from the professional game and it will take time for him to adjust to the speed and precision of the NFL. It just doesn't look too good when you're playing the Steelers. Now, if he was playing the Lions or Bills (sorry fans), his stat line may be a little different. But, it is the Steelers and it just won't end well for him.

Stephen's Week 4 NFL Picks

By: Stephen Patterson

So, I got off to a slow start this season, and sadly never posted my picks for the first three weeks. But luckily, it's never too late to start so beginning this week, I'll be making weekly picks for all games and keep a tally to see just how bad I am at this. Who knows, maybe I'll knock it out of the part for an 85% call rate and become a millionaire next season betting in Vegas. Yeah, I know, that's never going to happen.

But, nevertheless, I'm going to give it a shot and see how well I can do. There's always so many factors when it comes to picking winners. Who's playing at home? Are there any key injuries? Any long-standing streaks between the teams? Is it a rivalry game? There's a lot that goes into making educated picks when it comes to such a unpredictable sport.

Make sure you leave your weekly picks on the comments and if you enough people contribute, we can start keeping a chart for everyone to see the pick champion is at the end of the season. If there are enough people participating, there may even be some sort of small prize for the winner. But, without further ado, here are my Week 4 picks:

San Francisco 49ers 24, Atlanta Falcons 21

The Niners were projected by many people, myself included, to run away with the NFC West division this season, but so far they have been anything but that team. They were decimated by Seattle in the opener, they played a close Monday Night Football game against New Orleans only to have penalties kill their chances, and were embarrassed by a young Kansas City team this past week. If they don't turn their season around now against the Falcons, their season is basically over. The winner of the NFC West will probably be 9-7 at best, but at this rate the Niners will be lucky for six victories. Mike Singletary won't allow his team to keep playing this way. The Falcons have played relatively well this season, with a 2-1 record, falling only to the Steelers in overtime. But unless they play an extraordinary game this weekend, look for them to come up just short against a very desperate San Francisco team.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Frank Gore & Vernon Davis, 49ers

New York Jets 28, Buffalo Bills 10

The New York Jets will be playing their second consecutive game without superstar cornerback Darrelle Revis, but they handled themselves fairly well in their victory over the Miami Dolphins without him last week. Their embarrassing beatdown in Week 1 to the Baltimore Ravens has seemed to light a spark under this team, and with such an easy opponent this week in the Bills, I look for them to pull out another victory without Revis. The real key for the Jets to win is Mark Sanchez not only controlling the ball intelligently, but also not being afraid to move the ball downfield efficiently. The Bills will undoubtedly be better with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their new QB after recently releasing former starter Trent Edwards. And with Fred Jackson and explosive rookie C.J. Spiller in the backfield, the Bills do have a legitimate chance to pull off a major upset here. It's just hard to imagine either back having too much success against such a stacked defense. With Buffalo having many holes in their defense, look for the running and the passing game to both be fairly successful for the Jets in this game.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Mark Sanchez, Jets

Cincinnati Bengals 28, Cleveland Browns 6

The Cleveland Browns were expecting good things this season after finishing last year on a four-game winning streak, but they have looked nothing like that team that finished last season. After acquiring Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, along with drafting Colt McCoy, the Browns thought they had a decent mix of QB's to at least remain competitive this season. So far, they have fallen far short of those expectations with an 0-3 start that very well could drop to 0-4. The Bengals made several big moves in the offseason, including bringing in troubled wide receiver Terrell Owens, who has behaved for the most part since arriving in Cincinnati. Also with the addition of rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham, Carson Palmer has even more targets. If Cedric Benson can have a decent game and open up the field for Palmer, this game is going to be a blowout, perhaps the biggest of the week. The Browns only real chance of winning this game is to completely stop Benson, and force Palmer into making several key mistakes.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Chad Ochocinco, Bengals

Detroit Lions 17, Green Bay Packers 31

The Lions have been adding the pieces to become very successful over the next few season, but due to an early season injury to Matt Stafford in the opener, the Lions are once again struggling early in the season. Considering they have dropped 22 consecutive road games, winning at Lambeau with a back up QB doesn't seem very likely. Unless Jahvid Best explodes for 3 or 4 TD's, I don't see any chance Detroit is going to be able to slow down or out-score the high octane offense of the Packers. Even without Ryan Grant, who was lost to a season-ending injury in the opener against the Eagles, Aaron Rodgers is more than capable of leading this team to a division title and possibly deep into the postseason. If Michael Vick, although he has been playing remarkably well, can carve up the Lions' defense, I can only imagine the potential numbers Rodgers could put up on them. Expect the Packers to be playing with a little bit of anger after barely falling to the Chicago Bears on Monday night, dropping them to 2-1 on the season. Also, Clay Matthews has been playing out of his mind so far this season and is definitely an early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, becoming potentially the second consecutive Packer to win that title (Charles Woodson, 2009).

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Aaron Rodgers & Clay Matthews, Packers

 Tennessee Titans 24, Denver Broncos 17

The Titans are a very hard team to decipher. One week they will be blowing out opponents and looking like serious playoff contenders, then the next week they look like they don't even deserve to be playoff discussions. But after a strong performance against the Giants this past weekend, I think the Titans will pull it together and put up consecutive victories. As usual with Tennessee, this game largely rides on the legs of Chris Johnson. If he take care of business on the ground against the Broncos, it will definitely help make Vince Young's job a little easier. While the Broncos have some nice pieces on their team, they are still a few players away from being a serious threat. Also, without Knowshon Moreno, Denver is going to have some major issues moving the ball against the Titans defense. Unless Kyle Orton has an amazing day, and Denver's defense can somehow hold Chris Johnson in check, don't expect the Broncos to pull out the win in this one.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Chris Johnson, Titans

Seattle Seahawks 17, St. Louis Rams 14

The Seahawks have been horrible on the road over the past several seasons, but if there was ever a chance to begin turning that it around, it would be this game. Both of these teams are in the worst division in the NFL, and I could honestly see them playing to a 0-0 tie if it weren't for the fact that neither team has a defense. Therefore, one of them has to win, and I'm giving the slight edge in this one to Seattle. With the Niners completely bombing through the first three games, this division is wide open, and this is the perfect opportunity for them to grab a needed win. Sam Bradford has shown signs of being a solid NFL QB, but until the team gets him some more dependable receivers, there's not many teams in the league I could pick the Rams to beat. Sadly, that group includes the Seahawks.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Mike Williams, Seahawks

Carolina Panthers 10, New Orleans 27

I think the loss of Reggie Bush is definitely going to cost the Saints a couple of games during his absence, but there's virtually no chance they are giving up a game to Carolina at home after a heart-breaking loss to Atlanta last week in overtime. There are just too many young and inexperienced players, including Carolina's rookie QB Jimmy Clausen, for them to win in New Orleans. The Panthers are 0-3 so far this season, and with Tampa Bay's every success and signs of growth, Carolina could very well finish last in the NFC South this season. There have been rumors all week surrounding the health of Drew Brees and the brace he was seen wearing on his knee, but even if he was forced to play one leg, I still think they could pull this game out at home.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Drew Brees, Saints

Baltimore Ravens 21, Pittsburgh Steelers 16

When these two teams meet, it is almost always a solid, hard fought game that usually stays close throughout. I'd expect nothing different in this one. The Steelers have surprised many people, including myself, by starting off the season 3-0 without suspended QB Ben Roethlisberger. While three wins is three wins, you can't forget that it took overtime for one of those victories another came against Tampa Bay, a team that has definitely improved, but is still clearly miles away from being on Pittsburgh's level. The Ravens were my preseason Super Bowl pick and in order for that to become a reality, they need to go at least 3-3 in their division. Considering they already dropped one game to division rival Cincinnati, they can't really afford to drop another division game this early. These two teams boast two of the top defenses in the NFL (Ravens lead in yards allowed per game, while Steelers lead in points allowed per game), and I'd definitely expect this to be a fairly low scoring game. With Charlie Batch leading the way against Baltimore's defense, I think there are going to come up a few points short in this one. Luckily for them, however, this is their last game without Roethlisberger, as his suspension ends after the game.

Steve Sports Guys' Player of the Game: Ray Rice & Willis McGahee

AFC North Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Baltimore Ravens (Head Coach: John Harbaugh)

Key arrivals: WR Anquan Boldin, WR Donte Stallworth, S Ken Hamlin, QB Marc Bulger, DL Corey Redding, DT Terrence Cody (draft), LB Sergio Kindle (draft), TE Ed Dickson (draft), TE Dennis Pitta (draft)

Key departures: WR Kelley Washington, CB Samari Rolle, DE Dwan Edwards, QB John Beck

Joe Flacco

TW: The Ravens are going to be one of the best teams in the league this season. The addition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin is what sends them over the top. QB Joe Flacco has needed receiving help since he got drafted and with Boldin, Flacco could be due for a huge season. They also added Donte Stallworth, who could give the Ravens a deep threat - with those two additions, the Ravens arguably have the best receiving core in the NFL, consisting of Boldin, Stallworth, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and tight ends Todd Heap, Ed Dickson, and Dennis Pitta. RB Ray Rice could be a sleeper for the MVP award, as he is an all-around threat. Rookie tight end Ed Dickson, in my opinion, was the best tight end in the draft and he could possibly be the replacement to former Pro Bowler Todd Heap. Surprisingly, their defense could hold them down, as Ed Reed has been injury-prone the last few seasons. But, if Reed is not ready for the start of the season, Ken Hamlin could fill in admirably, as he has shown that he is one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the league. Their top two draft picks, NT Terrence Cody and LB Sergio Kindle, will have to play well and stay injury-free if the Ravens want their defense to be at it's finest. Ray Lewis, however, will be ready and still has enough in his tank to be considered one of the best defensive players in the NFL this season. Irregardless if their defense is subpar, the Ravens are definitely one of my favorites to make the Super Bowl.

- TW's Prediction: 13-3

SP: If Baltimore can stay healthy throughout the season, especially towards the end and during the postseason, they are one of my favorites to win it all this year. There defense has been exceptional over the past decade, and even with young new faces Terrence Cody and Sergio Kindle (depending on his status), they are still very dangerous when healthy. The secondary will be a big question mark for the Ravens, as injuries have already plagued Ed Reed (hip), among others. The team will probably bring in help throughout the season to help play at CB because of all the injuries at that position. The offense will be one of the best in the NFL this season. With the addition of Anquan Boldin, Joe Flacco now has enough options to shred almost any defense in the league at will. Ray Rice is also one of the Top 5 running backs in the league and will most likely put up big numbers again this season with defenses spread thinner due to the improved passing game.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

2. Cincinnati Bengals (Head Coach: Marvin Lewis)

Key arrivals: WR Terrell Owens, WR Antonio Bryant, S Gibril Wilson, CB Adam "Pacman" Jones, K Mike Nugent, TE Jermaine Gresham (draft), DE Carlos Dunlap (draft), WR Jordan Shipley (draft), WR Dezmon Briscoe (draft), DT Geno Atkins (draft)

Key departures: WR Laveranues Coles, RB Larry Johnson, OG Bobbie Williams, K Shayne Graham

TW: I like what the Bengals have done, especially in the draft this year. The Bengals, like the Ravens, will have one of the best receiving cores in the NFL. The duo of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco could form one of the best tandems. Carson Palmer, for the first time in his career, actually has an opportunity to have an all-around offense. Their running game has been ressurected with Cedric Benson - the first time since the Rudi Johnson era. Their defense could potentially be one of the best in the league, especially with the additions of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins. Antwan Odom has to play well in his return, as he was a sack machine last season before having a season-ending injury. Other than Odom, their defensive line is questionable. Jonathan Joesph and Leon Hall should play well this season, as they are both Pro Bowl-caliber players. However, they have a hard schedule ahead of them, playing teams like Indianapolis, New Orleans, Baltimore (2x), New York Jets, Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburgh (2x), and San Diego. I think the Bengals will have a tough road ahead of them, but they are definitely a threat to make a postseason run.

Chad Ochocinco & T.O.

- TW's Prediction: 10-6

SP: The Bengals had one of the most active offseasons in the NFL this summer, adding a whole new core of receivers and upgrading several key positions on defense. While the additions of Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens will undoubtedly improve the receiving core for the Bengals, the question remains to be answered if that pair of receivers, along with Chad Ocho Cinco, can all co-exist together on the same team. The health of Carson Palmer is also something Cincinnati must always be concerned about, as he has been injured quite a bit throughout his career. The Bengals are definitely one of those teams that has almost no chance to win games without their star QB. On a different note, look for Jermaine Gresham to have an immediate impact this season and be one of the top rookie TEs. They have a solid defense, which is one of the main reasons they won this division last season, and if anything, it has only improved in the offseason. Unluckily for Cincinnati, even with all of their offseason additions, they will not be able to capture the same success as last season, and will fall slightly short of a second consecutive division title.

- SP's Prediction: 10-6

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Head Coach: Mike Tomlin)

Key arrivals: WR Antwaan Randle El, WR Arnaz Battle, QB Byron Leftwich, S Will Allen, LB Larry Foote, CB Bryant McFadden, OT Flozell Adams, C Maurkice Pouncey (draft)

Key departures: WR Santonio Holmes, RB Willie Parker, CB Deshea Townsend, WR Joey Galloway

James Harrison

TW: Without Ben Roethlisberger for four games, it's going to be hard for the Steelers to get in the groove and win games. They got rid of Santonio Holmes, so they may have difficulty through the air. Although they added Antwaan Randle El and Arnaz Battle, neither are really #2 receivers. Their offensive line seems to be sketchy again this season, especially with their first preseason game last weekend. Flozell Adams, used as a left tackle his whole career, was moved to right tackle after signing with the Steelers this offseason - in the preseason game, Adams looked like he didn't know what he was doing at all. They did, however, add Maurkice Pouncey through the draft, so that should give the line some hope, but it looks like Roethlisberger will have another pressured season. RB Rashard Mendenhall has to remain healthy if the Steelers want to do anything on the ground. They got rid of Willie Parker, who could have played as an excellent #2 running back. Mewelde Moore will now be the backup to Mendenhall, so it's a very questionable ground game, especially if Mendenhall goes down with an injury. Their defense may help them out, as they brought back LB Larry Foote - along with Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, and James Harrison, Pittsburgh should have a great linebacking core. But, I don't think the Steelers will mesh entirely well and they will end up having a subpar season.

- TW's Prediction: 8-8

SP: After a disturbing offseason and yet another off-field distraction for Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers will now have to play without him for at least the first four games of the season. My guess is that the troubled QB will miss the first six games of the season, the maximum he was suspended for, and even upon his return, the team will struggle. When you have someone like Roethlisberger in your locker room, it is a major distraction for everyone else and it causes a small divide as certain players side with or against the troubled star. Also, the loss of Santonio Holmes, who was dumped in the offseason for practically nothing after a nightclub incident, will affect this team on offense a lot more than most people think. Mike Wallace and Hines Ward will still be good, don't get me wrong, but Holmes has been that teams best receiver the past two seasons. And while many scouts, fantasy football experts, and analysts are high on Rashard Mendenhall this year, I personally don't think his numbers will be that impressive. If Pittsburgh is going to have any chance this season at having a respectable record, it will because of their stellar defense led by Troy Polamalu and James Harrison.

- SP's Prediction: 6-10

4. Cleveland Browns (Head Coach: Eric Mangini)

Key arrivals: LB Scott Fujita, TE Ben Watson, QB Jake Delhomme, QB Seneca Wallace, RB Peyton Hillis, LB Chris Gocong, CB Sheldon Brown, OL Tony Pashos, WR Bobby Engram, TE Alex Smith, CB Joe Haden (draft), QB Colt McCoy (draft), RB Montario Hardesty (draft)

Key departures: LB Kamerion Wimbley, QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson, DT Corey Williams, S Brodney Pool, OL Hank Fraley, WR Mike Furrey

TW: Surprise! The Browns are the gutter team in the AFC North! Didn't see that one coming, did ya'll? They added a lot via free agency, but in the end, it just won't work out..at least for this season. I think the Browns could do mildly well in a few years, but not now. Jake Delhomme is on the decline and with the Browns receiving core, the quarterback play could be iffy. Their running game is very underrated, as Jerome Harrison could possibly be a 1,000 yard back. Cleveland also drafted Montario Hardesty, so he should fill in as a decent backup. Mohamed Massaquoi could also have a breakout season, but it depends on how well Delhomme (and potentially Seneca Wallace and Colt McCoy) plays. Their defense will probably be middle of the pack, much better than last season since they acquired Pro Bowler Sheldon Brown and LB Scott Fujita in free agency. They used their #7 pick in this year's draft to select Florida CB Joe Haden, who could be a favorite to take the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. I like what Holmgren has done for the Browns, but I don't think they'll be a .500 team this season. They will struggle this season, but look for them to do much better in the next couple of seasons.

- TW's Prediction: 4-12

Jerome Harrison

SP: Luckily for the Browns, not many people have high expectations for them this season, and even the few people in Cleveland that do expect success won't be too disappointed, as LeBron James has already ripped the hearts out of most of them. Needless to say, it's highly unlikely the Browns will be around fighting late in the season for a postseason berth. It's much more likely that they will be battling for a high draft pick while stacking up losses. While Mangini will likely start the season with Jake Delhomme at QB, I expect Colt McCoy to getting some snaps in before the end of the season. Neither one of those quarterbacks are likely to win a lot of games this season, and they should be applauded just for keeping their team in games and give their RBs a chance to win for them. Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty will probably scoring a majority of Cleveland's touchdowns this season. The defense also has many holes in it, and if they are unable to stop opponents, things could get pretty ugly pretty quick. This is a rebuilding year for the franchise, but most within the organization expect at least moderate improvements in some aspects of the team. Hopefully their goals aren't set too high.

- SP's Prediction: 5-11

Saturday's NFL Preseason Scores (8/14/10)

By: Tyler Ward

There were seven games on Saturday, so we felt that we needed to give ya'll a recap on the scores and top performers.

- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7, Miami Dolphins 10

Top Performers:

- Josh Freeman (TB): 4-4, 53 yards, 1 TD

- Tyler Thigpen (MIA) - 10-19, 145 yards, 0 TD

- Kareem Huggins (TB) - 8 carries, 55 yards

- Chris Brooks (TB) - 3 receptions, 50 yards

- Detroit Lions 7, Pittsburgh Steelers 23

Top Performers:

- Dennis Dixon (PIT) - 6-7, 128 yards, 1 TD, 31 rushing yards

- Isaac Redmon (PIT) - 15 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD

- Antonio Brown (PIT) - 3 receptions, 84 yards, 1 TD

- Shaun Hill (DET) - 8-10, 77 yards, 0 TD

Rodgers

- Cleveland Browns 27, Green Bay Packers 24

Top Performers:

- Aaron Rodgers (GB) - 12-13, 159 yards, 1 TD

- Seneca Wallace (CLE) - 4-8, 72 yards, 2 TD's

- Greg Jennings (GB) - 3 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

- Brandon Underwood (GB) - 6 tackles, 1 INT

- Kregg Lumpkin (GB) - 11 carries, 42 yards

- Minnesota Vikings 28, St. Louis Rams 7

Top Performers:

- Sage Rosenfels (MIN) - 23-34, 310 yards, 3 TD's

- Garrett Mills (MIN) - 4 receptions, 106 yards, 1 TD

- Marko Mitchell (MIN) - 1 reception, 71 yards, 1 TD

- E.J. Henderson (MIN) - 6 tackles, 1 sack

- Houston Texans 16, Arizona Cardinals 19

Top Performers:

- Matt Schaub (HOU) - 5-6, 78 yards, 1 TD

- John Skelton (ARI) - 5-6, 84 yards, 1 TD

- Andre Johnson (HOU) - 3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD

- Daryl Washington (ARI) - 13 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

- Dan Orlovsky (HOU) - 12-21, 159 yards, 0 TD

Whitehurst

- Tennessee Titans 18, Seattle Seahawks 20

Top Performers:

- Charlie Whitehurst (SEA) - 14-22, 214 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

- Mike Williams (SEA) - 1 reception, 51 yards, 1 TD

- Javon Ringer (TEN) - 7 carries, 60 yards

- Josh Wilson (SEA) - 3 tackles, 1 INT

- Quinton Ganther (SEA) - 11 carries, 36 yards

- Chicago Bears 10, San Diego Chargers 25

Top Performers:

- Caleb Hanie (CHI) - 10-17, 148 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

- Ryan Mathews (SD) - 9 carries, 50 yards

- Devin Aromashodu (CHI) - 4 receptions, 78 yards, 1 TD

- Philip Rivers (SD) - 4-6, 62 yards, 1 TD

Steelers Give Mike Tomlin Two-Year Extension

By: Tyler Ward

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced that they have signed head coach Mike Tomlin to a two-year extension that ends after the 2012 season. The contract also has an additional option year. He still remains the third coach of the Steelers since 1969, joining Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher.

"I have been blessed to have the opportunity to be the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers," Tomlin said. "I am excited to have the opportunity to live and work in this great city, and to focus on the true matter at hand, which is winning football games and bringing another Super Bowl title to Pittsburgh."

Tomlin's contract extension was inevitable because he has been very successful since his hiring in early 2007. In the 2008 season, Tomlin led the Steelers to a Super Bowl and became the youngest head coach ever to participate on football's biggest stage. He also became the second African American coach ever to win the big game after the Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23. 

In 2009, the Steelers finised 9-7 on the year, and at one point, losing five in a row to miss out on the playoffs. Not to mention, starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had several off-the-field issues, which has led commisioner Roger Goodell to suspend Big Ben for up to six games this upcoming season. They will have to depend on recently-acquired Byron Leftwich to fill his shoes for the first few games (Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch are also competing for the starting job). Given the circumstances of the situation, the Steelers are due for one roller coaster ride of a season, to say the least.

Full financial terms of the contract hasn't been given to the media, but Tomlin should be scheduled to make more than he did last season, $2.5 million. The owner, Art Rooney II, decided that he deserved the extension and happily told media personnel, "Mike Tomlin has proven to be one of the top head coaches in the National Football League in a relatively short time. His unique ability to lead the team and motivate individuals have been key factors in our success over recent years."

Since taking over for the Steelers, Tomlin has led them to a 31-17 regular season record.

Steelers Give Tomlin 3-Year Extension

By: Stephen Patterson

The Pittsburgh Steelers have decided to extend head coach Mike Tomlin's contract for three years, keeping him with the team until 2014. Since taking over for Bill Cowher, Tomlin has a 35-18 record (including playoffs). They also have won the division twice, never finished below .500, and won Super Bowl XLIII during his tenure with the team.

Tomlin and the Steelers will have a tough task even making the playoffs this season. They will be without starting QB Ben Roethlisberger for at least the first four games and traded away star receiver Santonio Holmes in the offseason. Also, one of their top offensive linemen, Willie Colon, will miss the entire season with an ACL injury. This is going to make it very difficult for the Steelers to put points on the scoreboard, expecially if they suffer any key injuries during the season.

Mike Tomlin is one of only five active head coaches in the NFL with a Super Bowl ring, making him one of the top coaches in the league. Tomlin will be trying to take Pittsburgh back to the postseason after they missed it last season due to a late string of loses to such teams as the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Cleveland Browns. If Roethlisberger can't stay out of trouble, considering he was already reportedly shopped around on the trade market at one point, Tomlin might be stuck in a very poor situation with the Steelers for the next few seasons.

NFL Six Big Questions: AFC

By: Tyler Ward


Q: Are the Raiders on the right track?


A: I wouldn't say they're completely on track, but they're headed in the right direction. Jamarcus Russell was holding the Oakland offense back completely. He was one of the worst draft choices ever in NFL history (see my draft busts post). With the addition of Jason Campbell, they could finally get the offense stable. Also, with the signings of John Henderson and Kamerion Wimbley, the Raiders are slowly building their defense back to the Raider Nation's standards. Henderson and Richard Seymour can supply a formidable defensive line. Wimbley, along with young star Thomas Howard and newcomer Rolando McClain, can also produce a solid, young linebacker corps. The trade for Quentin Groves can provide a valuable back-up at the LB or DE position. Also, the Raiders' hiring of Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson takes pressure off Head Coach Tom Cable, who was forced to call the plays last season. Their only real weak spots include lack of depth at Wide Receiver and the struggles of the offensive line. But, the Raiders could very well be a potential darkhorse this year and could contend at some point in the near future. They have definitely gotten better, but I think they will be competitive when Al Davis finally hands the reins over.


Q: Can Peyton Manning keep up the pace?


A: Of course, since I'm a Colts fan, I say yes. But, realistically, I think Peyton can put up the numbers he always does. Peyton has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in all but two of his NFL seasons. He has won 10 or more games since 2002 and although they may take a dip this year, I think they can still win more than 10 games. I also think that Peyton can pass for over 4,000 yards and 25 TD's this year. With the return of Anthony Gonzalez, Peyton has a nice corps of receivers in Gonzalez, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Pierre Garcon, and Austin Collie. With the receivers that he possesses, they still have a very talented corps. Manning may not have that many years left in the tank, but what he does have will probably still be considered up to the Colts' standards.

Q: Is Tim Tebow the QB of the future for the Broncos?
A: Simply put, no. I don't think he is an NFL caliber player. He had success in college, but it does not translate well into the NFL. Many teams thought that he would be a RB/FB or a TE, so he really didn't even have a natural NFL position until Josh McDaniels took him 25th overall in this year's draft. After an emotional loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, he realized that he would not have a shot at another title. Tebow ended his career with a dominating win against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Sugar Bowl. He entered the draft and was thought to get drafted anywhere from the 2nd-3rd round. But, McDaniels thought he was the best QB in the draft and even said that "Tebow would be the next Tom Brady". He isn't much better than Kyle Orton, but I think Orton can do a better job on the field than Tebow. I think that Tebow will end up being a bust and he will never succeed in the NFL like he did at the NCAA level.

Q: Will the Browns compete sometime soon?
A: They are the Browns, but they may be able to do decent. Mike Holmgren has proven they can lead a team. He led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005, but lost to the Steelers. It was their first Super Bowl appearance ever and only one thus far. Eric Mangini isn't the best coach in the entire world, but he can do better with Holmgren hovering above him. Since they brought the expansion back in 1999, they have only been to the playoffs once (2002) under Butch Davis. They have somewhat solidified the QB position with the acquisition of Jake Delhomme. But, he is getting old and may not do that well on a very young Cleveland team. I think this is the last chance to revive his career because Colt McCoy will almost certainly be given the reins next year. The addition of CB Sheldon Brown also provides depth at that position and could have a formidable duo alongside Eric Wright. The retirement of RB Jamal Lewis hurts the running game slightly, but Jerome Harrison can be a very valuable player and with Peyton Hillis blocking for him, he could have another 1,000 yard season. Benjamin Watson's arrival works out for the passing game, as it was horrendous for Cleveland last year and the re-signing of WR/KR Josh Cribbs is spectacular because he may be the most electrifying player in the NFL. They are definitely a good amount of players away from competing, but when that happens they could be pretty decent. They will probably win 6-7 games this year, but they will not be the worst team in the NFL.


Q: Will the Jets supplant the Patriots as the best team in the division?


A: The Jets have slowly gotten better and better and I think they can possibly run the Patriots out of the AFC East lead. Mark Sanchez doesn't have a great arm, but he is solid enough to lead the franchise. With receivers like Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery, and Dustin Keller, Sanchez can supply a good offense. And with the addition of LaDainian Tomlinson at RB, he can back up the underrated Shonn Greene. Jason Taylor also came over to help out one of the best defenses in the league last year. This is a very talented team, who could very well have had the best offseason than any other franchise. I think they can take over the East and beat out the older Patriots. New England has run the division since the beginning of the decade, but their time is running short. Miami is even getting better and could challenge both teams this upcoming year. Even though I wouldn't go as far to say the Jets will definitely make the Super Bowl, but I think they can go 12-4 or 13-3. I can say that they are my lock to win the division and this may be the year the Patriots finally take a downward spiral in the division.


Q: Is Roethlisberger's absence the end of the Steelers' season?

A: Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for the first 6 games by Commissioner Roger Goodell earlier this year for his off-the-field incidents. This leaves the Steelers with underachieving QB Byron Leftwich and incumbents Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch at that position. The first six opponents for the Steelers include Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Miami. They could very well lose 4 of those first 6 and almost fall out of playoff contention. The rest of their games don't get much better as they have tough games against New Orleans, Cincinnati (2x), New England, Baltimore, and the New York Jets. They may win 2 or 3 of those games behind Roethlisberger, but they will probably garner an 8-8 or 9-7 record. And with that, they will probably not make the playoffs. So, with the Steelers possibly starting off 1-5 or 2-4, they may not recover and miss the playoffs like last season.