Super Bowl XLV: Yet Another Prediction...and other Stories

Leading up to the big game, there have been five prevailing storylines emerge.

1. The weather.
Hard to believe that it's been so atrocious down in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. People injured from ice falling off the top of the stadium. Airports temporarily shutdown due to ice on the runways. It's made travel an extreme headache. And those that have hosted radio and/or TV spots during the time there have experienced the adverse conditions.

I'd still rather be there in the cold than not at all.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

2. The saga of a team picture.
The Green Bay Packers were scheduled to have their team picture taken on Tuesday of this past week, media day. The issue became those players that were on IR for Green Bay would not be arriving until Thursday. Some Packers players voiced their frustration over the matter via Twitter (doesn't everybody these days?).

Packers captains Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers addressed the matter with head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers had the taking of the pic moved to Friday to include those players.

But the issue wasn't so quickly over. Someone asked Rodgers of his take (via NFL.com):

"I'll say this, I was on IR back in 2006 and I chose to stick around and finish out the season with my guys and be here every game. Some of those guys didn't," Rodgers said. "Some of the guys who were injured, they still are part of this team, but they didn't choose to stick around."

And he's right. It's like the family member that you really won't want to be in the family pic, but you give in because he/she "is family".

3. Ben and the piano bar.
Much was made when a TMZ report surfaced that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and some of his teammates went out to dinner and then made way to a piano bar. The report also stated that Big Ben missed the midnight curfew. That was quickly blown off by Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (via Boston Herald):

“I am not concerned about that one iota,” Tomlin said when asked about the TMZ report. “It’s normal for guys to eat dinner, believe it or not, every now and then during the course of the week leading up to a game. So, this week is no different than any other.

“I understand that some things may be reported and viewed differently, but that’s not our concern, really. During the course of the season on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, or what have you, believe it or not, guys live lives.”

Case closed. Of course, there are those thast suggested that Roethlisberger not even go out due to his off-field occurrences. That's a load of crap. As Tomlin said, they have lives.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

4. Maurkice Pouncey.
Pouncey was ruled out for playing today due to a high left ankle sprain he suffered against the New York Jets in the AFC Championship. Ponucey was placed on IR and will not even be available for the game. So who would step in to replace the rookie Pro Bowler?

Signs were pointing to Doug Legursky, the same who replaced Pouncey in the Jets game. But I heard an interesting take on this just a couple of hours ago.

Trevor Pryce was on ESPN's First Take and was asked about Legursky and the potential of issues with Packer NT B.J. Raji. Pryce thought that Legursky might not even be the guy to snap the ball. He suggested that since there were two weeks to prepare, the Steelers could move a guard to play center. If that's the case, Legursky would be playing guard, his natural position.

5. Aaron Rodgers.
Has nothing to do with his take on the team pic. He's the hottest commodity in the NFL right now. He has earned it. If the Packers can win today, Brett Favre, still revered by some within the Packers fanbase, will become a smaller dot in the rear view mirror.

So...on with my outlook and prediction for the game.

NFL Divisional Wrapup - Steelers/Ravens

The first game of Saturday had all the makings of defensive struggle. Steelers and Ravens, what more could be expected, right?

Well, it was that despite the final score of 31-24 with the Steelers advancing. The Steelers overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to gain a nod in the AFC Championship game.

The defensive struggle part? It really was. The two teams combined for 389 yards of total offense. The problem was on the Ravens side, offensively. They could only muster 126 yards of offense. And don't forget the five total turnovers as well. All led to points.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The game's first turnover came on a bit of a bizarre set of circumstances. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was being rushed and was hit from behind by Ravens DE Terrell Suggs. The ball hit the ground and evey stopped playing...except DE Cory Redding. Redding scooped up the ball and ran into the endzone. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin challenged the play and was unsuccessful. That left Pittsburgh with no more challenges remaining as Tomlin had already used his first earlier in the quarter.

The second Steelers turnover came at the 10:32 mark of the second quarter. RB Rashard Mendenhall was going into a scrum of linemen when his own teammate, OL Chris Kemoeatu, knocked the ball loose from Mendenhall's arm. On the sixth play following the fumble recovery, the Ravens scored a TD. Ravens 21, Steelers 7. The Ravens converted two turnovers into 14 points.

After halftime, it was time for the tide to turn in the Steelers favor.

AFC Divisional Battle: Ravens/Steelers

What a game to kick off the NFL playoff games tomorrow. You have most likely the hardest hitting rivalry in the league with the Baltimore Ravens traveling to Heinz Field to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the season, the teams split their two affairs. The Ravens won the first game in week 4 at Pittsburgh 17-14. That was the last game of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger's suspension. The Steelers returned the favor in week 13 by beating the Ravens in Baltimore 13-10. Yes, I expect the same type of games as the first two meetings these two teams had during the regular season.

Game Time: 4:30 PM ET
Network: CBS
Announcers: Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Site: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh

The Steelers get the game at home due to winning the AFC North title and being the #2 seed in the AFC. Will that provide enough for Pittsburgh to advance? We'll see.

When the Steelers have the ball...

	Scoring (Rk)	Total Yds (Rk)	Pass Yds (Rk)	Rush Yds (Rk)
offense	23.4 (12th)	345.3 (14th)	225.1 (14th)	120.2 (11th)
defense	16.9 (3rd)	318.9 (10th)	224.9 (21st)	93.9 (5th)

As I have previously stated, the first time these two teams squared off, Ben Roethlisberger did not play. The Steelers just have a different air about them when he's leading the offense. They seem more confident. They actually are a bit more explosive only because Roethlisberger can take a play that has broken down and achieve positive yardage.

Image: Jeffrey Beall/Flickr

That's created a bit of a change in what was once a primarily rushing team. THey can still pound the ball with Rashard Mendenhall, but now, the Steelers have this ability to throw.

On one side, there's Hines Ward. He's as tested as any receiver in the NFL. For the last couple of seasons, it seems like people want to write him off. All Ward does is go out and compete. Then, you look on the other side and see Mike Wallace.

Wallace had a sensational regular season. He led the Steelers in receptions (60), receiving yards (1,257) , TD receptions (10) and yards per catch (21.0). To say he's a deep threat is an understatement, but Wallace can run with the ball after a catch.

For years, we've heard all the pleasantries about the Ravens defense. And every bit if it is well deserved. The philosophy hasn't changed over the last decade, hit 'em and hit 'em harder. Seems simplistic, but don't be fooled. When your defense can routinely run two certain Hall of Famers out there (Ray Lewis and Ed Reed), you better hope your head is on a swivel. Oh, they have both probably seen every formation this Steelers offense can muster.

If there is one weakness on the Ravens defense, it is defending the pass. Last week against the Chiefs, the Ravens secondary devoured a playoff rookie in Chiefs QB Matt Cassel. Getting pressure on Roethlisberger isn't always a good thing because he is so strong, he can get out of potential sack situations. And there's the added factor of making something out of nothing.

The guy across the line of scrimmage this week is no playoff rookie. He owns a pair of Super Bowl rings. I look for the Steelers to maybe find other ways to utilize Wallace and his speed. Bubble screens and a reverse or two may be just the ting to keep that Ravens D line from over committing.

When the Ravens have the ball...

	Scoring (Rk)	Total Yds (Rk)	Pass Yds (Rk)	Rush Yds (Rk)
offense	22.3 (16th)	322.9 (22nd)	208.4 (20th)	114.4 (14th)
defense	14.5 (1st)	276.8 (2nd)	214.1 (12th)	62.8 (1st)

The Ravens are a running offense. That's the mantra we've been hearing for years. It's true, but the NFL universe is waiting for Joe Flacco to bust out. He performed well aslt week against a decent Kansas City defense. I said decent, not great. That's the task for Flacco this week. Can he duplicate that against the Steelers?

For last week, Flacco posted numbers of 25-34, 265 yards and 2 TD in the Ravens 30-7 stomping of the Chiefs. Considering his last couple of playoff games were anything but good, he did manage to instill a bit of self confidence. Plus, knowing what's across the line will only aid him.

Image: Keith Allison/Flickr

And Flacco may have helped TE Todd Heap rediscover the Fountain of Youth. Heap caught a Ravens playoff record 10 balls for 108 yards. Heap will need a similar performance (I'm guessing about 7 catches for 70-80 yards would be good) for The Ravens to open the field up a bit for RB Ray Rice.

The Ravens offense is practically built around Rice. Rice is emerging as one of the top duel threat backs in the NFL. Last week, he only rushed for 57 yards and only caught five passes. That may be a good thing. He didn't have to absorb as much punishment as he will this week. He'll be a bit fresher, but not much. The Ravens are operating on one less day.

Like Heap came through last week, add WR Anquan Boldin to the list this week. If a Flacco to Boldin connection can be established, that means two things. One is Flacco is getting protection. Two is that Boldin is muscling his way through a pretty darn good secondary. The pass is one are where the Steelers can be had if executed properly.

With the week off, S Troy Polamalu received a much needed rest. That spells bad news for the Ravens. But the Steelers are much more the the long locked one. LB James Harrison is one of the elite defenders in the NFL. He can rush the passer, stop the running game and defend the pass. The Ravens will have to know where #98 is at all times.

And do not underestimate the Steelers D line. While the Ravens D line grabs a fair amount of press because of Haloti Ngata, these guys: Ziggy Hood, Chris Hoke, Casey Hampton, and Brett Keisel, know their roles and the reason the linebackers get all the glory. A thankless job, but these four are more than willing to accept that.

Overall, it's always hard to go against the home team in a playoff game. We saw how that worked out last week as the home team only won one of the four games (Seattle). And the Ravens can win in Pittsburgh...but not this week.

The extra time for the Steelers and one less day for the Ravens has me sold.

NFL Week 3 Wrap-up

Lots of interesting stuff from this past week.

We've seen this before...

1. Michael Vick
I know people are touting Vick's return and saying he's better than he was while he was a Falcon. It's only 10 quarters of play, so let's curb that a bit. There are noticeable and encouraging differences from his days in the ATL. He's is more patient in the pocket. The fact that Vick is the most sacked QB in the NFL gives you a slight indication that he's more willing to stay in the pocket. He has regained most, if not all, of his explosiveness. And he's got the backing of his whole team. Long way he's come in a short time.

2. Cincinnati Bengals offense
Weren't a lot of experts predicting an outburst from the Bengals offense? Hasn't even materialized in the season's first three games. The Bengals have scored five, count 'em, five TDs. Kicker Mike Nugent, who has been perfect in the kicking department, has more field goals with eight. Nugent is the Bengals offense at this point. Carson Palmer has looked ordinary. Cedric Benson has yet to crack 100 yards in a game. Ochocinco and T.O. have 1 TD between them.

Off the Wall NFL Predictions for the 2010 Season

OK. They may not all be off the wall, but they are a bit out there. It didn't really take me long to come up with this list or the reasons behind them.

I may lose a few friends and I may gain a few with these.

1. The New York Jets will not make the playoffs.
Gutsy, I know, but I'm not alone on this one. Skip Bayless of First Take on ESPN doesn't have the J-E-T-S making the postseason bonanza either. I've heard too much yap out of the Jets ever since the end of their season last January. And how does Antonio Cromartie say the Jets are the "Miami Heat of the NFL"? Wait. They are. All the names and no hardware.

And where do people get this team is so talented? On defense, sure. I completely agree there. The offense is not loaded. You lost your top rusher from last season (Thomas Jones). You lost a Pro-Bowl guard (Alan Faneca) and you're better? Must be that Santonio Holmes deal. And look on the other side. It's Braylon Edwards. Holmes will miss the first four games and Edwards hasn't seen a pass he can't drop. The receiving corps, including the tight end, is serviceable at best. Half the teams in the NFL are better at receiver and end than the Jets.

Then it must be getting LT. Please. LT hasn't done much over the last two seasons. Don't tell me the Jets talented because they're simply aren't. They're just a bunch of hot air.

2. The Steelers will go 4-0 in Ben Roethlisberger's absence.
I truly thought Dennis Dixon was a far better option than Byron Leftwich. Dixon proved that last season when he led the Steelers into Baltimore and almost pulled off a win. That was all I needed to see from Dixon. I bet that's all the Ravens wanted to see from him, too.

I think the Steelers will struggle once Big Ben returns because of all the changes that will need to happen.

3. The Cincinnati Bengals will once again go undefeated in the AFC North.
People are chattering about all the weapons the Bengals have on offense, but they are selling the defense short. Way short. They were a top-5 unit in the NFL last year. But how can the guys in stripes go undefeated in the division again. I know I picked the Ravens to win the division. The Bengals have a tougher non-divisional schedule. But Cincy knows they can beat them all again. Confidence.

And that offense isn't too shabby either.

4. Jay Cutler will make the Pro Bowl...legitimately.I know the Bears have no legit #1 receiver. I know Greg Olsen hasn't exactly shown the promise that made him a first round pick. I know Matt Forte, a decent receiving back, fell off last season. Cutler gets there because of Mike Martz. Martz is an offensive genius. Ask him and that's what he'll tell you. I know the Bears offense struggled in the preseason, but that was preseason and having an opener against the Detroit Lions can build confidence. There's that word again.

Cutler has the arm but he's lacked the knowledge. Martz will provide that for Cutler and the Bears QB will have his best season thus far.

5. Anquan Boldin will have a better season than Larry Fitzgerald.
I don't think this limb is too long. Boldin has the up and coming Joe Flacco while Fitz has Derek Anderson. Who would you rather have at QB? Look at the supporting cast for each, too.

Boldin: T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Todd Heap
Fitz: Steve Breaston, Early Doucet, Beanie Wells

See what I mean?

6. Carson Palmer will have a better season than Tony Romo.
People look at the Cowboys and, like the Jets, talk about all the talent. Palmer has the deepest, most talented skill position players since he's been a Bengal. Chad Ochocinco, T.O., Jordan Shipley, Jermaine Greshem, Cedric Benson.

It's as good as what Dallas has. Maybe just a tad better.

7. Reggie Bush will lead the NFL in all-purpose yards.
This whole Heisman thing will spark Bush to have his best season as a pro. Some still label the former Trojan as a bust, but they will eat their words this season...if I'm right, that is.

And I'm going to be right. Starting tonight, Bush will actually make his "arrival" as a top-notch NFL player.

8. Statistical leaders for the 2010 season.

• Rushing Yards: Frank Gore, SF
• Passing Yards: Palmer, CIN
• Receiving Yards: Andre Johnson, HOU
• Sacks: DeMarcus Ware, DAL
• INT: Jonathan Joseph, CIN
• TDs: Gore, SF

Gore plays in a division that has awful defenses (St. Louis, Seattle, Arizona) and he gets six games against those teams. That should translate to almost 900 yards and 10 TD in those games alone.

Johnson is purely the best receiver in the NFL.

Ware is a freak of nature.

Joseph is underrated and should have made the Pro-Bowl last season. Motivation.

And finally...

9. Brett Favre's consecutive game streak will end and NOT because of it being the end of the season.

Favre will miss games (Yes, I said games, plural) due to a concussion and not his ankle. This will end his run...and his season.

There you have it. My bold predictions for the upcoming NFL season.

Agree or not or do you have one. As always, the comments are on and feel free to rant.

AFC North Primer

Last season the Cincinnati Bengals surprised everyone by taking this division with a perfect 6-0 record. While I don't expect that in 2010, it should still be hotly contested.

A welcome sight for Ravens fans...and Joe
Flacco.

Baltimore Ravens
2009 Record: 9-7, 2nd in division
Head coach: John Harbaugh
Key Additions: WR Anquan Boldin, WR Donte' Stallworth, DE Cory Redding, CB Walt Harris, K Shayne Graham
Key Losses: DE Dwan Edwards, CB Samari Rolle

1. How will this defense hold up?
With all the injuries (again) in the secondary, you would think not very well. The Ravens will come at you in any situation, but with an extremely thin secondary, you have to wonder if there will be a slight adjustment. LB Ray Lewis is still Ray Lewis and don't let his age fool you (35). He's still a force. The one guy the Ravens must have healthy is S Ed Reed and that is a huge question mark. Reed is the quarterback of the secondary. His skills and instincts are the best there is at the position. Yes, Steelers fans. Better than Polamalu.

2. Is Joe Flacco going to improve even more?
Just by trading for Boldin makes Flacco better...a lot. Throw in the stable of tight ends (Todd Heap, rookies Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta) and RB Ray Rice and Flacco has everything around him. The only question will be the O-line and that is solid, too.

3. Can The Ravens make a run at the AFC title?
No doubt about it. Their schedule is a tough one, though. I see four games that they will be highly favored in (2 v. Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Buffalo). They travel to play the New York Jets, New England Patriots (revenge game for Pats), Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers (always a tough place to play). They also host the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

The Ravens are the sexy pick to win this division.

Will the tandem of Ochocinco and T.O.
make the Bengals more pass oriented?

Cincinnati Bengals
2009 Record: 10-6, 1st in division
Head coach: Marvin Lewis
Key Additions: WR Terrell Owens, WR Antonio Bryant, S Gibril Wilson, K Mike Nugent, K Dave Rayner
Key Losses: K Shayne Graham, RB Larry Johnson, WR Laverneous Coles

1. Can this team function with all the "personalities" on the roster?
Ochocinco, T.O., Pacman. They can and it will be up to Marvin Lewis to corral all that. So far, Adam Jones (he doesn't want to be called Pacman anymore and I don't blame him) has been stellar on the attitude front. He realizes this is his last gasp at football. I look for him to give CB Morgan Trent a run as the 3rd corner. Chad and T.O. will be fine. I bristled when I heard Skip Bayless on ESPN's First Take say that the Bengals (most notably Carson Palmer) created a monster in that Palmer targeted Owens so much during the game last night because he's lost confidence in Ochocinco. Not buying that one bit. We all know Bayless has it out for both Chad and T.O.

2. Can the defense duplicate what they accomplished in 2009?
They can and I believe they will. DE Antwaan Odom is back. They drafted DE Carlos Dunlap. The linebackers are outstanding (Dhani Jones, Ray Maualuga and Keith Rivers) and Cincinnati has arguably the best set of corners in the league in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. What's not to like?

3. Repeat as division champs?
Possibly, but we all know when you win your division, your schedule for the next season is tough. Cincy has both Super Bowl teams on their schedule and they have the usual home-and-home games against the Ravens and Steelers. Starting the season on the road at New England is no picnic either. 10-6 may repeat, but it will be a much harder fought 10-6 than last year.

The guys in stripes are every bit as legit can be.

McCoy will learn from one of the best team-
mates in Delhomme.

Cleveland Browns
2009 record: 5-11, 4th in division
Head coach: Eric Mangini
Key Additions: QB Jake Delhomme, QB Seneca Wallace, LB Scott Fujita, T Tony Pashos, TE Benjamin Watson, LB Chris Gocong, CB Sheldon Brown
Key Losses: QB Brady Quinn, QB Derek Anderson, RB Jamal Lewis, WR Donte' Stallworth, S Brodney Pool, G Hank Fraley, G Rex Hadnot

1. Any hope for the offense?
Browns fans, there really is hope for your Browns. Granted, it will be a slow process, but I love what Mike Holmgren is doing. He's bringing in guys he knows can play and play at a higher level than Cleveland showed last season. Delhomme may be long in the tooth and he had a rough go of it the last couple of season, but Jake's always been a team guy. That bodes well for future starter Colt McCoy. If Delhomme goes down, there's the experience of Wallace. We know the Browns can run. They were last in the league in passing last year.

2. What's the strongest position on the roster?
I know there's a nice young stable of running backs, but I'm going with the linebackers. I love this group. Fujita, Gocong, David Bowens, Jason Trusnick, Matt Roth, D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton. If you're not listed here, you might not make the squad.

3. Will last season's finish lift these guys?
The Browns won their last four games and if not for a play here or there, they could have won 6 of their last 7. A lot of the guys on that roster are gone, so the momentum will not be as great if the roster wasn't overhauled like it was. Still, the Browns know they can compete and that's more than half the battle. If anyone takes these guys lightly, they will be beaten.

Holmgren will build this franchise. Just give him the time.

Ben will sit at least the first four games of
the 2010 season. It could be six.

Pittsburgh Steelers
2009 record: 9-7, 3rd in division
Head coach: Mike Tomlin
Key Additions: S Will Allen, LB Larry Foote, WR Antwaan Randle-El
Key Losses: CB Deshea Townsend, RB Willie Parker

1. How will the Steelers function without Ben Roethlisberger?
With the reception he has received at training camp (fans and teammates), Ben has been forgiven by the locals but is still reviled outside of Steeler Nation. The Steelers will most likely have to rely on a running game that has stumbled since the days of Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker providing that 1-2 punch. Yes, they won the Super Bowl a couple of years ago, but running the ball is no longer a Steeler staple. It has to become a staple again or the Steelers will have a big hole to dig out of. They start the season with Atlanta, at Tennessee, at Tampa Bay and home with Baltimore. Right now, that looks like 1-3...at best.

2. Will the Steelers defense return as a dominant force?
It has to. You can't run on them, but you can pass even with the talented group of linebackers they have. But here's something to keep in mind. In their seven losses in 2009, the Steelers either held a fourth quarter lead or was tied in the fourth in six of those seven games. Enough said.

3. Was it a good move to give head coach Mike Tomlin that extension?
Excellent move. We know the Steelers are the most loyal franchise when it comes to coaches. Despite "falling" to a 9-7 record last year and missing the playoffs after a Super Bowl win, Tomlin is your prototypical Steelers coach. No nonsense. This season will be Tomlin's most telling. Remember when he said Pittsburgh was going to "unleash hell" last year? It never really happened. This year, hell will need to be unleashed to contend with the Ravens and Bengals.

Note: If I owned a team, I'd hire Tomlin in a minute if it took me that long.

Here we go.

1. Baltimore. Schedule is just a tad easier than Cincy's
2. Cincinnati. Could come down to last game of the season in Baltimore.
3. Pittsburgh. No Ben for at least the first four games hurts.
4. Cleveland. Still needs time.

Ben on the Move?

Update (4/21/10): Roethlisberger has been suspended for 6 games, but provided he adheres to guidelines set forth by the commish, it could be lessened to 4 games.

This shouldn't surprise you.

NFL.com is reporting that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had internal discussions on trading quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In the wake of two offseasons with allegations of sexual assault, it easy to understand that the Rooneys are growing tired of having the proud Steelers name dragged through the mud. Now that there has been a release of documentation from the investigation, people, including the Rooney family, are most likely to view Roethlisberger in an even darker light. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette obtained a copy of the documents for a story released today.

Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com writes this:

The Steelers' front office has talked internally about possible trade scenarios that could be feasible and what makes sense for the team. According to a source, if other teams called about Roethlisberger, the Steelers would intently listen.

The Steelers could envision several trade scenarios, but they're skeptical about other teams taking on Roethlisberger, given his baggage. However, they also realize his contract is tradeable in an uncapped year, with the bonuses already paid and Roethlisberger signed for six more years at a manageable salary for a franchise quarterback ($8.05 million in 2010, $11.6 million per year from 2011 to 2014, and $12.1 million in 2015).

Talk about things that make you go "Hmm...".

LaCanfora elaborates even more in that Pittsburgh would consider trading Roethlisberger to the St. Louis Rams for the #1 overall pick in next week's draft. The reason is obvious. The Steelers love Sam Bradford. The Rams are rumored to take Bradford with that #1 pick. Would the Rams be willing to make this move straight up, #1 overall pick for Big Ben? Would the Rams want to take on the baggage of Roethlisberger in light of the released documents?

So, if Ben is moving, where? Who needs a QB?

Many teams do. Buffalo is one. Some mock drafts have them taking Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen at #9. Cleveland. They hold the #7 pick, but I don't see this due to the perceived rivalry between the organizations. It might be a bit different now that Mike Holmgren is in charge. Oakland. Yes, Oakland. They have the 8th pick and we all know the varied opinions on JaMarcus Russell, shed weight or not. Seattle sits at #6. With Matthew Hasselbeck getting a bit long in the tooth and no clear option after his days are done, Ben is a great pickup for Pete Carroll. With these teams, it could depend if Pittsburgh is as high on Clausen as they are on Bradford. If it's close, it's possible.

There's a few more. San Francisco, Carolina, Denver and Arizona could also be in the "mix". Problem here is that none of the teams would currently have a legit shot at getting Bradford or Clausen. The Broncos pick the earliest of these teams at #11. San Francisco has two picks in the first round at #13 and #17. The Cardinals are at #26. Carolina has no first round pick as they traded that to San Francisco during last year's draft.

But let's be real. It will take more than just a first round pick for any of these teams (or others) to acquire Roethlisberger. The Seahawks and 49ers have an added advantage of having two first round selections in next week's draft (Seattle is at #6 and #14). If either team approaches Pittsburgh and offers both of their first round picks, it would be hard for Pittsburgh to decline. Plus, if a deal is made with either of those teams, Pittsburgh would have three first round picks this year as the currently have #18. That #18 pick and Ben sent packing? Not seeing it, but never say never.

The most likely deal would be for a team to offer the Steelers their first rounder this year and next year.

Then again, Ben can sit back, sit out a rumored two game suspension and stay in Pittsburgh forever.

Provided he behaves.

NFL Monday Night Recap - Steelers/Broncos

28  10

After a rather slow and tedious first half, the Pittsburgh Steelers used their running attack in the second half to separate themselves from the Denver Broncos. The Steelers offense received a second half kickstart from their ground attack and turned the tables on Denver. The win keeps Pittsburgh tied with the Cincinnati Bengals atop the AFC Central at 6-2. Cincy currently owns the tiebreaker due to an earlier victory. Pittsburgh hosts the Bengals this week.

Meanwhile, Denver's second consecutive loss leaves them one game ahead of the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. In two weeks, San Diego will visit Invesco for a crucial divisional matchup. First place could be on the line when they meet. The Broncos are also 6-2 and the Bolts are 5-3 after their win against the New York Giants on Sunday.

Some thoughts on last night's tilt.

1. A tale of two halves to say the least. Denver dominated the first half in every statistical category except the most important stat, the score. In fact, Pittsburgh did not have a single offensive play on the Broncos side of the field during the first half. But Pittsburgh reversed its fortune in the second half primarily on the legs of RB Rashard Mendenhall and his 155 total rushing yards. The Steelers running game had been a bit stagnant as of late but Mendenhall gashed the Broncos defense in the second half.

2. The Broncos were victims of their own mistakes. Broncos QB Kyle Orton tossed 3 INT with one of his picks being returned for a TD by S Tyrone Carter (left) and was the only TD either team scored in the first half. Oddly fact, the Steelers defense had accounted for the last three TDs the Steelers as a team had scored. Another odd thing. Carter was starting at safety due to S Ryan Clark being inactive. As many have heard, during the Steelers last Denver visit, Clark had his gall bladder and spleen removed to do complications of sickle cell trait. The trait is further complicated by altitude.

3. A sort stretch in the third quarter turned the game. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger dropped back to passed and had the ball stripped. Broncos LB Robert Ayers scooped up the ball and ran 54 yards for a Broncos TD. That made the score 10-7, Broncos. Most teams would have wanted to run a few plays just to get their heads back on straight. Not Ben and the Steelers offense. Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh on a 4 play, 80 yard drive that took all of 2:07. That quick scoring drive proved to be the difference in the game as the Steeler defense took over from there allowing only 27 rushing yards for the game.

4. Invesco is known as a difficult place to play. A sea of orange usually drapes the stands. Not last evening. A common phrase used in college sports is "the team travels well". It refers to a visiting team that has a large number of fans that attend their away games. The Steelers "travel well". In fact, it sounded like the crowd was more for Pittsburgh than Denver. I guess that happens when you win a Super Bowl...or six.

Next Monday, The Baltimore Ravens fly into Cleveland to challenge the Browns.