RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Steelers won't miss a beat against Vikings
But even the most ardent fans would have been hard-pressed to think Roethlisberger would be leading the NFL in passing yards this season.
Or that Hines Ward would be leading the league in receptions and receiving yards.
Or that Heath Miller would be on pace to catch more than 90 passes.
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
That will be the difference today when the Steelers host the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota has a ferocious front four, one of the best in the league. But the secondary has been mediocre, allowing 248.3 yards passing per game, good for 24th in the league.
And that was with top cornerback Antoine Winfield playing. Winfield suffered a sprained foot in Minnesota's thrilling 33-31 win over Baltimore last week and probably won't play against the Steelers.
That will hurt, particularly against a team throwing the ball as well as the Steelers are.
Pittsburgh is a 51/2-point favorite and though the Steelers are 4-2 this season, they are just 1-5 against the spread.
Most of those spreads have been large. At 6-0, the Vikings are getting respect from the oddsmakers, keeping the spread respectable.
Take Pittsburgh, 27-21
Chicago (plus 1 1/2)
at Cincinnati
Cedric Benson should be inspired to run against the team that released him. Considering Benson has already been running hard this season, that's not a good thing for the Bears.
Take Cincinnati, 24-20
Green Bay (minus 8)
at Cleveland
Half Cleveland's lineup is out with the flu. The other half stinks.
Take Green Bay, 31-13
San Francisco (plus 3)
at Houston
San Francisco's defense is playing well, but not as well as Houston's offense.
Take Houston, 27-20
San Diego (minus 5)
at Kansas City
It's do-or-die time for the Chargers. The Chiefs have pretty much been dead all season.
Take San Diego, 24-10
Indianapolis (minus 13)
at St. Louis
St. Louis can't score. Indianapolis can score in bunches.
Take Indianapolis, 34-6 as the pick of the week
N. England (minus 14 1/2 )
vs. Tampa Bay (London)
The Patriots haven't been welcome in London since thumbing their noses at King George.
Take New England, 31-7
Buffalo (plus 7)
at Carolina
Carolina is starting to run the ball with authority again. Jake Delhomme has been known to throw some interceptions, but not this week.
Take Carolina, 27-17
N.Y. Jets (minus 6)
at Oakland
As Oakland showed Philadelphia last week, it's tough going coast-to-coast.
Take Oakland to cover in a 17-13 loss
Atlanta (plus 4)
at Dallas
Something is not right with this Dallas team.
Atlanta is playing good football.
Take Atlanta, 24-20
New Orleans (minus 6)
at Miami
Can these Saints be stopped?
Not by the Dolphins.
Take New Orleans, 27-16
Arizona (plus 7)
at N.Y. Giants
The Giants will be looking to bounce back from an embarrassing loss last week in New Orleans.
Kurt Warner hasn't played well on the East Coast since joining the Cardinals.
Take the Giants, 30-20
Philadelphia (minus 7)
at Washington
Redskins head coach Jim Zorn was stripped of his play-calling duties this week.
The Eagles should be angry after laying an egg in Oakland.
Take Philadelphia, 27-10
Last Week: 6-8, missed pick of the week
Overall: 51-37, 2-4 in pick of the week
