Pittsburgh's bye week came at the right time for the defending NFL champions, losers of two of their first three games. The slow start came with Ben Roethlisberger considered ``rusty,'' not a designation for the official injury list but one used to describe the early-season play of the QB.
Now the Steelers have a trip to San Diego, which lost last week for the first time, allowing the Ravens and Steve McNair a late winning touchdown drive in Baltimore.
The Super Bowl champions are 3{-point underdogs. That's certainly legit given San Diego's defence. Other than the late drive against the Ravens, it hasn't given up much
The Steelers?
``I think you'll see a new team come out of this bye week,'' says Roethlisberger, 0-2 as a starter after missing the opening-night win over Miami recovering from an appendectomy.
Adds coach Bill Cowher: ``I don't think anybody is pushing a panic button. I think there's some sense or urgency in practice. We've got to take that and transfer that onto the field. We knew this first month we would face some pretty good football teams. We're not where we want to be.''
No kidding.
In its last game before the bye, Pittsburgh lost at home to Cincinnati, allowing two TDs within a minute in a game marked by uncharacteristic mistakes.
That could happen against San Diego's defence, too.
On the other hand, it could also happen to the Chargers. Philip Rivers had more difficulty against Baltimore's tough defence than he did in opening wins over the Raiders and Titans.
Helped in part by San Diego's second-half prevent offence, that means ...
STEELERS, 16-14
Dallas (plus 2{) at Philadelphia
The T.O. sideshow, Part II.
Assume Terrell Owens will have a good game. Assume Donovan McNabb will have a great game with help from Brian Westbrook, who probably will play despite a sore knee.
Assume Mike Vanderjagt of Oakville, Ont., will miss an extra point and a last-second field-goal attempt.
EAGLES, 28-27
Baltimore (plus 3{) at Denver (Monday night)
Two very different defences. But two good ones.
BRONCOS, 13-9
Washington (plus 4) at New York Giants
The Giants are 3-14 following bye weeks. And they didn't play very well before last week's bye.
But they're desperate.
GIANTS 31-30.
Buffalo (plus 11) at Chicago
Not as easy for the Bears as it might look. For one, they'll come down after a big prime-time win. For another, Dick Jauron will be motivated to beat the team he once coached.
BEARS, 19-12
Tennessee (plus 18) at Indianapolis
The Colts could have lost to the Giants, Jaguars and Jets. Not the Titans.
COLTS, 45-11
Tampa Bay (plus 6{) at New Orleans
The Saints' storybook season resumes against rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski.
SAINTS, 27-6
Miami (plus 9{) at New England
``Some teams are up to the 35-yard line now. We're at about the 12,'' Nick Saban says of his Dolphins.
PATRIOTS, 24-12
New York Jets (plus 7) at Jacksonville
The Jaguars' defence was uncharacteristically leaky in Washington.
JAGS, 20-7
St. Louis (minus 3) at Green Bay
The Rams have been lucky against dogs like Arizona and Detroit.
They're due to get unlucky against another weak team.
PACKERS, 27-24
Cleveland (plus 8{) at Carolina
The Browns won't come back this week from a 21-3 deficit.
PANTHERS, 21-3
Kansas City (minus 3) at Arizona
Same old Cards, even with Matt Leinart.
CHIEFS, 24-20
Detroit (plus 6{) at Minnesota
Every Vikings game has been decided by five points or less.
VIKINGS 19-16
Oakland (plus 3{) at San Francisco
One of the Raiders' few chances for a win?
Nope.
49ERS, 20-16
