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Rookie QB may beat New York Jets

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looks to pass against the Panthers during a preseason game in Pittsburgh on Sept. 2. Roethlisberger was the first NFL quarterback to win The Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award. PHOTO: AP

The Pittsburgh Steelers (15-1) may be the best team standing. Their operative number is 14, as in 14 straight victories for the team and a 14-0 record for their rookie quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers seem to have the New York Jets' number, too. They have beaten them six straight times and 15 times in 17 meetings. Their defense is aggressive and sound, and if it controls Curtis Martin's running, the Jets must win on the passing of Chad Pennington and his sore throwing shoulder.

In their regular-season meeting, the Steelers intercepted Pennington three times and won. Pennington remembers, saying, "Those questions will be asked again." But his coach, Herm Edwards, told him, "Just throw it and don't worry about it."

The Jets (11-6) beat the Chargers in overtime last week after playing well enough to win and bad enough to lose. Defense got them here, and now that defense must face Roethlisberger and the pounding running of Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis. Coach Bill Cowher won't say which running back will start, but both will carry often.

The Jets will need the pass rushing of defensive end John Abraham, who has missed the last five games with a sprained right knee. His availability will be a game-time decision.

The Jets' other defensive end, Shaun Ellis, spoke confidently of a Jets' victory. That amused Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who responded, "Wow. He's a fortune teller or something?"

St. Louis (9-8) at Atlanta (11-5)

The Rams are puzzling. Their big offense can move the ball, as witness Marc Bulger's passing for 450 and 313 yards in the last two weeks. Their young defense finally seems to have mastered the multiple formations that were introduced this season.

"We have the talent," Bulger said, "but we've made a lot of mistakes this year." And offensive guard Adam Timmerman said, "It's unfortunate it took that urgency for us to get things done, but we're playing our best ball right now."

Even though the Rams upset the Seahawks in the wild-card round last week, their road record this season is only 3-6. Now, they are on the road again against a better team.

The Falcons have thrived behind quarterback Michael Vick's quick and creative scrambling. This season he ran for 902 yards, the third highest ever for a quarterback. He averaged 7.5 yards a carry and, if fatigue ever figured in the equation, he is well rested

As safety Brent Alexander of the Giants put it, "The longer he can scramble, the longer the receiver can run wherever he wants to. All discipline is lost."

Rams coach Mike Martz is wary of Vick: "I know they'll have something different that involves him to a large extent." But if the Rams can keep Vick in the pocket and keep the Falcons out of Bulger's pocket (the Falcons' defense has 48 sacks this year), look for an upset.

Minnesota (9-8) at

Philadelphia (13-3)

The Vikings got here by upsetting the Packers last week, but they have lost seven of their last 11 games, their defense is unsteady, running back Moe Williams has a sprained right ankle and wide receiver Randy Moss leads the league in bad-taste celebrations.

As long as the Vikings have Duante Culpepper to pass to Moss, they are alive. This is the big quarterback's sixth and best season in the NFL. He led the league with 4,717 yards passing, 39 touchdown passes and only 11 interceptions. Against the Packers, he passed for four touchdowns while his defense intercepted Brett Favre four times.

All that pales against the Eagles, by far the class of the National Conference. The Eagles' starters played little in the last two games and then they enjoyed a bye week, so such battered players as running back Brian Westbrook and defensive end Jevon Kearse are healthier.

The Vikings' offense has averaged three touchdowns a game. The Eagles' defense has allowed only 16.3 points a game, the lowest in the conference this season. The secondary that must contain Moss has surrendered only 16 touchdowns in 16 games.

It comes down to the Vikings' offense against the Eagles' defense, and the Eagles should win that battle. As Eagles linebacker Ike Reese said, "We don't get into shootouts with anybody. We don't need our offense to score a lot of points."

Indianapolis (13-4) at

New England (14-2)

This is the gem of the NFL's weekend, a rematch of last year's American Conference championship game. This time, the Colts' passing game is riding high, and the Patriots' pass defense is badly wounded.

In the Colts' rout of the Broncos last week, quarterback Peyton Manning passed for 360 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. He has the league's best receiver corps in Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Brandon Stokley and Marcus Pollard and a superb running back in Edgerrin James. On defense, the Colts improved in the last half of the season, surrendering an average of 18 points a game.

But there are warning flags, too. In Manning's five career games against the Patriots, he is 0-5, with nine touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Of Manning's record 49 touchdown passes this season, 32 were indoors, and this game will be played in the outdoor chill of New England in January.

Still, Manning and friends will face a secondary without Ty Law and Tyrone Poole, the starting cornerbacks, and a defensive line whose best pass rusher, Richard Seymour, is hampered by an injured knee. But the Patriots also have the coaching genius of Bill Belichick and Romeo Crennel, who invariably find innovative solutions on defense.

Although the Patriots are slight favorites, coach Tony Dungy of the Colts said, "It is just football, even if it's the playoffs and New England. We make the big plays, we'll win."
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