Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained left ankle looks, well, more like an ankle than it did after last week’s 14-3 win over the Browns.

The swelling is down. The rainbow of colors that surrounded the mangled joint earlier in the week have been reduced to a little black here, a little blue there.

That doesn’t mean the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is any closer to playing on Monday night against San Francisco.

Roethlisberger sat out his third practice in a row on Thursday, hoping another 24 hours of rest will help him avoid missing his first start due to injury in more than two years.

“The goal is as soon as possible to get in there and get in as much work as I can,” Roethlisberger said.

That might not be until Saturday at the earliest, and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said the team could wait until after warm-ups against the 49ers to make a decision.

Veteran Charlie Batch will get the call if Roethlisberger can’t go, though Roethlisberger is doing everything he can to get ready.

Hot tubs. Cold tubs. Range of motion exercises. Massages. Roethlisberger was even fitted for a custom-made ankle brace on Thursday which he plans to wear whenever he returns.

While he’s no stranger to playing hurt — he’s already dealt with a sprained left foot and a fractured right thumb this year — the problem this time is the inability to execute even the most routine tasks.

“If this was just a matter of pain, I’d be out there, but it’s being physically unable to do certain things,” he said.

Arians acknowledged if Roethlisberger tried to practice on Thursday, he would have to work exclusively out of the shotgun.

Getting under center and taking a snap is something Roethlisberger was able to do during the second half against the Browns, though he chalked it up to the heat of the moment.

“The second half of that game you’re playing off adrenaline, you’re playing off emotion,” he said. “The next couple days after that, I just kind of shook my head because I couldn’t have done it. I don’t know how I did.”

Roethlisberger was at least able to briefly shed the walking boot he’s gingerly hobbled around in for the previous six days.

The doctors told him to walk around but don’t get cute.

“The more I’m out of it, the more I want to move it,” Roethlisberger said. “Movement is good because it gets the fluid out but I also catch myself every once in awhile turning it sideways or doing something and it almost puts me to the ground.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Roethlisberger last missed a start due to injury against Baltimore two years ago, when a concussion forced him to watch Dennis Dixon play in a 20-17 overtime loss.

It will be the 37-year-old Batch, however, who will get the nod if Roethlisberger can’t play. The Steelers went 1-1 with Batch under center last year while Roethlisberger served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Arians stressed the gameplan will not change if Batch starts, though Batch hasn’t topped 200 yards passing in a game since making an emergency start at the end of the 2007 season. Roethlisberger has gone over 200 yards in all but two of his starts this year.

Even if he plays, however, the Steelers are likely to be more conservative and rely on the defense and the running game. The 49ers (10-3) have been one of the league’s biggest surprises but aren’t the kind of team that lights up a scoreboard.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous, and the Steelers could be decidedly short-handed. Roethlisberger is just one of a handful of regulars who may be out. Linebacker James Harrison is still waiting to see if his one-game suspension for a series of illegal hits on defenseless players will be overturned, while center Maurkice Pouncey is nursing his own left ankle sprain and joined Roethlisberger in the training room on Thursday.

Safety Troy Polamalu (hamstring), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (illness) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (right foot) also did not participate in practice though Polamalu and Gilbert are expected to play.

Whether Roethlisberger joins them likely won’t be decided until the team is on the West Coast. Though Arians and head coach Mike Tomlin have said they would like to see their quarterback practice at least once, a good walkthrough may be enough, at least for Roethlisberger.

“If I’m not out there, it’s because they didn’t feel comfortable with me being out there to protect myself,” he said. “They know better than I do. I just tell them whether I can go or not and I think I can go all the time.”

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained left ankle remained in a walking boot on Wednesday, and backups Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon are preparing as if they’ll play on Monday night in San Francisco.

Roethlisberger hasn’t practiced since spraining the ankle in the second quarter of a 14-3 win over Cleveland last Thursday. He declined to talk to reporters before walking out of the team’s facility with a noticeable limp.

Coach Mike Tomlin maintains Roethlisberger is “day to day” and will be evaluated throughout the week before a decision is made. Tomlin believes Roethlisberger doesn’t need to undergo a full practice in order to play against the 49ers.

“He can be ready to play on a limited number of snaps,” Tomlin said. “At the end of the week, when we get into some situational football things, that’s going to require some physical preparation in some form or fashion. But we’re going to take it day by day. We’re always going to be optimistic when it comes to Ben.”

Roethlisberger hasn’t missed a start due to health reasons since a concussion sidelined him against Baltimore in 2009. He sat out the first four games of the 2010 season after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and the Steelers went 3-1 in his absence with Dixon and Batch splitting the snaps.

Both expect to draw on that experience if called upon. The Steelers (10-3) are still hoping to catch Baltimore for the AFC North title and a shot at homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Batch threw two passes, both incomplete, while briefly relieving Roethlisberger against the Browns. Dixon hasn’t taken a regular season snap since tearing the meniscus in his left knee against the Titans last September.

Though the 37-year-old Batch expects to be the starter if Roethlisberger can’t go, there’s a chance Dixon’s mobility may help him get on the field anyway.

The Steelers have allowed 37 sacks this season, eighth-most in the league. Dixon’s 26-year-old legs could be an asset, and for a player almost certainly in his last season with the Steelers, Dixon would love the chance to showcase his talents.

“I’m ready to prove to this team once again that I am ready to get things done,” Dixon said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Neither player, however, has Roethlisberger’s arm or uncanny ability to make things happen out of the pocket. If Roethlisberger can’t play, it could drastically alter Pittsburgh’s offense.

“Those guys, they’re not Ben,” wide receiver Mike Wallace said. “They’re great players, but Ben is something really special. So you have to change your game to what they do best.”

Wallace’s preference would be to have Roethlisberger play, and he’s shown a capacity to deal with significant pain. He’s started all 13 games this season despite playing with a sprained left foot and a fractured right thumb. He even played the second half against the Browns, throwing for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception while standing in the pocket on basically one leg.

“If he can play he will,” running back Rashard Mendenhall said. “The only way he won’t is if he can’t. Last week with a high ankle sprain you could tell he was struggling but he was out there.”

Center Maurkice Pouncey is also dealing with a sprained left ankle but is hopeful to play. So is linebacker LaMarr Woodley (strained left hamstring) and safety Troy Polamalu (right hamstring).

Polamalu didn’t practice on Wednesday but expects to try later in the week. The long 11-day layoff between games is a bonus this late in the season.

The All-Pro also stressed his right shoulder is fine. TV cameras caught teammate Ryan Clark yanking on Polamalu’s right arm against the Browns trying to get the shoulder back in place.

The only regular almost certainly out against the 49ers is linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended for one game by the league on Tuesday as punishment for his illegal hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy.

Harrison’s appeal was heard by the league on Wednesday, but his teammates don’t expect to see Harrison’s familiar No. 92 until the suspension ends next Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s sprained left ankle remained in a walking boot on Wednesday, and backups Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon are preparing as if they’ll play on Monday night in San Francisco.

Roethlisberger hasn’t practiced since spraining the ankle in the second quarter of a 14-3 win over Cleveland last Thursday. He declined to talk to reporters before walking out of the team’s facility with a noticeable limp.

Coach Mike Tomlin maintains Roethlisberger is “day to day” and will be evaluated throughout the week before a decision is made. Tomlin believes Roethlisberger doesn’t need to undergo a full practice in order to play against the 49ers.

“He can be ready to play on a limited number of snaps,” Tomlin said. “At the end of the week, when we get into some situational football things, that’s going to require some physical preparation in some form or fashion. But we’re going to take it day by day. We’re always going to be optimistic when it comes to Ben.”

Roethlisberger hasn’t missed a start due to health reasons since a concussion sidelined him against Baltimore in 2009. He sat out the first four games of the 2010 season after violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy and the Steelers went 3-1 in his absence with Dixon and Batch splitting the snaps.

Both expect to draw on that experience if called upon. The Steelers (10-3) are still hoping to catch Baltimore for the AFC North title and a shot at homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Batch threw two passes, both incomplete, while briefly relieving Roethlisberger against the Browns. Dixon hasn’t taken a regular season snap since tearing the meniscus in his left knee against the Titans last September.

Though the 37-year-old Batch expects to be the starter if Roethlisberger can’t go, there’s a chance Dixon’s mobility may help him get on the field anyway.

The Steelers have allowed 37 sacks this season, eighth-most in the league. Dixon’s 26-year-old legs could be an asset, and for a player almost certainly in his last season with the Steelers, Dixon would love the chance to showcase his talents.

“I’m ready to prove to this team once again that I am ready to get things done,” Dixon said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Neither player, however, has Roethlisberger’s arm or uncanny ability to make things happen out of the pocket. If Roethlisberger can’t play, it could drastically alter Pittsburgh’s offense.

“Those guys, they’re not Ben,” wide receiver Mike Wallace said. “They’re great players, but Ben is something really special. So you have to change your game to what they do best.”

Wallace’s preference would be to have Roethlisberger play, and he’s shown a capacity to deal with significant pain. He’s started all 13 games this season despite playing with a sprained left foot and a fractured right thumb. He even played the second half against the Browns, throwing for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception while standing in the pocket on basically one leg.

“If he can play he will,” running back Rashard Mendenhall said. “The only way he won’t is if he can’t. Last week with a high ankle sprain you could tell he was struggling but he was out there.”

Center Maurkice Pouncey is also dealing with a sprained left ankle but is hopeful to play. So is linebacker LaMarr Woodley (strained left hamstring) and safety Troy Polamalu (right hamstring).

Polamalu didn’t practice on Wednesday but expects to try later in the week. The long 11-day layoff between games is a bonus this late in the season.

The All-Pro also stressed his right shoulder is fine. TV cameras caught teammate Ryan Clark yanking on Polamalu’s right arm against the Browns trying to get the shoulder back in place.

The only regular almost certainly out against the 49ers is linebacker James Harrison, who was suspended for one game by the league on Tuesday as punishment for his illegal hit on Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoy.

Harrison’s appeal was heard by the league on Wednesday, but his teammates don’t expect to see Harrison’s familiar No. 92 until the suspension ends next Tuesday.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Chris Hoke’s injured neck will require surgery that could put the reliable veteran’s career in jeopardy.

Hoke is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The 35-year-old visited with doctors on Monday to take a second look at the stinger he sustained against Jacksonville on Oct. 16.

Though the team hasn’t placed Hoke on season-ending injured reserve, several of his teammates said Tuesday they’re preparing to finish the year without him.

“It’s different, but the train rolls on,” defensive end Brett Keisel said.

Hoke is the second longtime member of Pittsburgh’s defensive front to suffer a career-threatening injury this season. Aaron Smith was placed on injured reserve Oct. 22 with neck issues of his own.

Defensive lineman Steve McClendon said he expected to see Hoke in meetings on Tuesday but was told by position coach John Mitchell that Hoke would be out indefinitely. McClendon called Hoke a “big brother.”

“Hokie, he’s a great guy, someone who did everything he could to help me,” McClendon said. “That’s why it’s such a tough loss for me. I probably feel worse about it than he does. He keeps telling me to keep my head up.”

Hoke made the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of BYU in 2001 and spent the last decade as one of the most dependable backups in the league. While he spent most of his career spelling starter Casey Hampton, he played spectacularly in 2004 after Hampton missed the last 10 games with a knee injury. Hoke finished with career highs in tackles (27) and sacks (two) while helping Pittsburgh to a 15-1 record.

The Steelers went 19-1 in the regular season whenever Hoke was forced to start, a record he took great pride in.

“He’d be sure to tell you about it,” Keisel said with a laugh.

Hoke’s work ethic and affability made him one of the most popular players in the locker room and his “Hokey Pokey” jig during warmups provided comic relief. He welcomed taking young players like McClendon under his wing to teach them the finer arts of defensive line play.

“He’s not one of the biggest, strongest or fastest guys, but his technique made him one of the best players on this line,” defensive lineman Ziggy Hood said. “A lot of people didn’t see it like that, but when I look at him I see a guy with a lot of skill.”

FORTE NOT SURE WHEN HE’LL RETURN: Chicago Bears star running back Matt Forte isn’t sure when he’ll return from a sprained right knee.

His status for the rest of the season is in question after he left in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a sprained medial collateral ligament, another major blow for a team trying to land a playoff spot in the NFC. Forte’s injury came two weeks after quarterback Jay Cutler broke his thumb.

The Bears (7-5) have dropped two straight since then after winning five in a row, and although coach Lovie Smith has said he expects both players to return, neither is making any guarantees.

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing so well, even coach
Mike Tomlin is struggling coming up with a list of complaints.

Then again, his team’s 35-7 romp over Cincinnati on Sunday night is hard to
nitpick.

The erratic running game produced 136 yards and two touchdowns. James
Harrison(notes) collected three sacks as the defense held the Bengals to a season-low
point total. And the special teams hit for the trifecta: blocking a field goal
attempt, recovering a fumbled kickoff return and scoring a touchdown on Antonio
Brown’s(notes) 60-yard punt return.

“I was pleased with the effort and energy in all three phases,” Tomlin
said. “We had significant, splash plays, in all three phases.”

The kind the Steelers lacked for long stretches during the first three
months of the season. They’ve managed to stay in the thick of the AFC North race
anyway despite an inability to run the ball, produce turnovers or create big
plays consistently.

Now that they’re starting to come, the Steelers (9-3) believe they’re right
on schedule heading into Thursday night’s game against struggling Cleveland
(4-8).

“These are the games that count,” linebacker James Farrior(notes) said. “These
are the games that are going to put you in place to make your run. We’re just
trying to keep up in the division.”

The Steelers remain tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead, but need to
finish the season ahead of the Ravens to win the division and earn at least one
home playoff game after Baltimore captured both head-to-head meetings.

Pittsburgh can ill-afford a misstep, particularly against the Browns. The
Steelers have dominated the series in recent years, winning 14 of the last 15
meetings. A slip-up could cost them more than regional pride.

“We can’t afford to lose any game,” Farrior said.

The Steelers enter the final quarter of the season as healthy as they’ve
been since opening day. Guard Ramon Foster(notes) is questionable after spraining his
left ankle on Sunday while linebacker LaMarr Woodley(notes) tweaked his tender left
hamstring and sat out the final three quarters.

“Obviously, (Woodley) felt something, and he was mature enough to not do
any further damage to it,” Tomlin said. “We appreciate that. We will see if
that provides an opportunity for us to put him in play this week.”

Woodley, who has promised to play each week since injuring the hamstring in
an Oct. 30 win over New England, thinks he’ll be good to go.

“I wasn’t going to play the whole game (against the Bengals) and once we
started putting points on the board, (we decided) to let the guys go and take
care of it,” Woodley said.

Tomlin asked his players to be smart during the short four-day turnaround,
something doubly important for a defense littered with 30-somethings that is
starting to play with its usual tenacity.

Harrison led the way against the Bengals, notching his second three-sack day
of the season. Pittsburgh limited Cincinnati rookie quarterback Andy Dalton(notes) to
135 yards passing, his lowest total since early September. Dalton spent final
minutes on the sideline as the Bengals opted to keep him out of danger with the
game decided.

The Steelers would love to get through Thursday night in a similar
situation. Becoming efficient in the red zone certainly helps. The Steelers have
been so-so this year turning long drives into touchdowns. Scoring touchdowns on
half of their trips inside the opponents’ 20. They found the end zone on all
four trips on Sunday as Rashard Mendenhall(notes) pounded it in on a pair of short runs
while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes) connected with Mike Wallace(notes) for two scores.

“When we got down in the red zone, we ended up putting up touchdowns rather
than field goals,” wide receiver Hines Ward(notes) said. “That’s what you have to
start doing in the month of December.”

Something Pittsburgh will have to keep doing if it wants to reach the Super
Bowl for the second straight year. Though the team has pointed to its three road
playoff wins en route to beating Seattle six seasons ago, the Steelers haven’t
been quite so proficient on the road this season, losing decisively to Baltimore
and Houston while having problems against seemingly overmatched Indianapolis and
Kansas City.

The best way to avoid having to play away from Heinz Field in late January
is to win out and hope for a little help. Pittsburgh took one step on Sunday.
They’ll try to take another against their oldest rival on Thursday.

“It’s a big game,” Wallace said. “So we have to get ourselves ready as
fast as we can and be ready to go.”

When the Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) this Sunday in an important divisional battle, both defenses will command tremendous attention. While the Steelers have long been known for great defenses, it’s the Bengals who are led by the more dynamic unit this season. And as much as the talk in the Queen City has been about rookie quarterback Andy Dalton(notes) and his targets, more focus should be paid to what defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has done with a group of no-names and relative afterthoughts.

[ Related: Big Ben says Andy Dalton is rookie of the year ]

With cornerback Leon Hall(notes) out for the season with an Achilles injury, defensive tackle Domata Peko(notes) and linebacker Rey Maualuga(notes) may be the only active marquee Bengals defenders among the NFL cognoscenti. However, two reclamation projects formerly of Bay Area teams, linebackers Manny Lawson(notes) and Thomas Howard(notes), are playing at a high level in Zimmer’s defense. Howard had just 10 tackles in 12 games for the Oakland Raiders last season and played mostly on special teams. But head coach Marvin Lewis knew what the Bengals would be getting if they took a shot on the free agent, who leads the team in tackles (63) through 11 games.

Thomas Howard wraps up Browns RB Peyton Hillis in Week 12.
(Getty Images)

“I’ve never been around a finer athlete at linebacker than what he is,” Lewis recently said of Howard. “He’s learning to fit into spots, and it’s fun to watch him. He really has seized the moment at this point of his career. From the physical aspect to the mental aspect of being prepared and understanding the opponent, he’s embraced it all. He’s been a great addition for his abilities, but also for his mental makeup and what he adds to the team.”

Lawson, the second of the 49ers’ two first-round picks in 2006, signed a one-year deal with Cincinnati after San Francisco’s new regime selected pass rusher Aldon Smith(notes) in last April’s NFL draft. He’s played in every game and ranks second on the team in tackles for loss (5). After years of confusion in undefined hybrid defenses, Lawson has taken to his new strong-side assignment like the proverbial duck to water.

Another former 49er, cornerback Nate Clements(notes), replaced departed free agent Johnathan Joseph(notes) and has thus far escaped the overpaid/underperforming stigma. He has 11 passes defended this season, and he’s fifth on the team with 41 total tackles in a new role that doesn’t force him to take on speed receivers so often. He fits the picture, and he knows his role. It’s an incredibly disciplined pass defense, with just four interference penalties.

That seems to be the secret to this hidden gem of a defense. If you’re assignment-correct, you can find a place here, and you can shine. It’s not a flashy defense, but it’s caught the eye of other teams, and other people who watch a lot of game tape, like Greg Cosell of ESPN and NFL Films.

“Cincinnati’s defense is very good,” Cosell said. “They’re difficult to prepare for because they’re very good at disguising pass pressure, forcing your pass protection to react a certain way and then, either dropping defenders out or bringing other defenders. They don’t blitz with high frequency; you wouldn’t put them in the same category as the New Orleans Saints with Gregg Williams, but they’re really tough to prepare for.”

Lewis was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens from 1996 through 2001, and he’s seen some of the greatest defenses of all time. But just as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin can rest easy knowing that defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has a strong handle, Lewis can focus on the entire team, knowing full well that Zimmer has it all under control.

“[Zimmer] has a great feeling for what’s going on in the mind of the guy on the other side of the field,” Lewis recently said. “He’s got an innate knack for play-calling, to know what the other team is going to do and respond to it. He puts our guys in position to win the down, and he makes sure they have the knowledge of what they and the other team are doing. You go into our meetings, and you see everybody taking notes like it’s trigonometry class. And I know when he misses [a play call], he beats himself up unmercifully about it.”

Once thought to be the Cowboys’ head-coach-in-waiting (he was Dallas’ defensive coordinator from 2000 through 2006), Zimmer’s name may be among the top entries for an NFL head-coaching position at season’s end. The Bengals were 27th in Football Outsiders’ opponent-adjusted defensive metrics in 2007 (the last year before Zimmer), and they’ve been much better in every year since. But that’s not where the coach’s mind goes.

[ Related: LeBron James mocks recent end-zone celebration ]

“We look at weird stats,” Zimmer told the team’s official website in October. “First-down defense, yards per play overall,” Zimmer said. “Obviously playing good in the red zone, third downs. It’s nice to get three-and-outs but if it’s four [downs] it’s OK to me. We had two series where we had three-and-outs where they were backed up and had to punt from their own goal line. Those are things we look at more than total stats. Keeping them backed up and punt[ing] out of their own end zone.”

Manny Lawson (right) helps take down Ben Roethlisberger in the teams’ first meeting this season.
(Getty Images)

And in most of those specific regards, the Bengals are batting with a very high average. They rank 14th in FO’s first-down defensive metrics, and though the third-down numbers are generally lower, Zimmer’s defense does a great job of preventing third-down conversions – their 36-percent conversion rate is among the lowest in the league. Only the 49ers are putting their opponents in a bigger hole to start (Bengals opponents begin their drives at their own 25-yard line on average), and only the Texans and Ravens have allowed fewer average yards per drive than Cincinnati’s 23.72. Opponents wind up punting on 52 percent of their drives. Only the Jaguars have a higher percentage.

Last time the Steelers and Bengals faced off, Pittsburgh stole a close one, driving away from Cincinnati in Week 10 with a 24-17 victory. In that game, it was the experience of one Steelers player who helped make the difference. With all the pre-snap looks given by Zimmer’s squad, the more alert pass-blockers, the better.

“An important player in response to that for the Steelers is running back Mewelde Moore(notes), because he’s very good at blitz recognition,” Cosell said of that first game. “He made some key blocks the last time these teams played.”

Still, Ben Roethlisberger(notes) was sacked five times and hit 13 more times. The Steelers were 5-of-12 on third-down conversions and averaged 4.8 yards per play. Hall picked off one pass and defended three more in the first half before suffering his season-ending injury.

It was business as usual for Zimmer’s new defense, but a new experience for the opponent. That’s been the story all year, and if the Bengals keep ascending, his charges will eventually escape from under the radar and find the spotlight.

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Read More: James Harrison (LB – PIT), Troy Polamalu (SS – PIT), LaMarr Woodley (LB – PIT), Stevenson Sylvester (LB – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs

Even coming off of the bye week the Pittsburgh Steelers will have some concern on the defensive front as LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison and Troy Polamalu have been banged up recently. Woodely is likely not going to play against the Chiefs and if he is out it would be Woodely’s third straight missed game. Woodley is listed as a limited participant for practice, but he has been extremely limited in non-contact drills.

Polamalu participated fully in practice on Friday and he is listed as probable with the ribs injury sustained during the Steelers’ Week 10 win over Cincinnati. Harrison was limited in practice and is officially listed probable with a back injury but he is expected to play.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE: Linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (calf, questionable).

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE: Wide receiver Arnaz Battle (hamstring, questionable), linebacker James Harrison (back, probable), linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring, questionable).

FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE: Safety Troy Polamalu (ribs, probable), quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (right thumb, probable), wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (knee, probable).

For more on the Chiefs, head to Arrowhead Pride; for more on the Steelers, visit Behind the Steel Curtain.

Read More: Troy Polamalu (SS – PIT), Arnaz Battle (WR – PIT), LaMarr Woodley (LB – PIT), Emmanuel Sanders (WR – PIT), Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers have ruled linebacker LaMarr Woodley out for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to the team’s injury report. Woodley did not participate in Friday’s practice, nor did wideouts Arnaz Battle and Emmanuel Sanders or safety Troy Polamalu. Woodley, Battle, and Sanders will miss Sunday’s game, but the team lists Polamalu as probable.

Woodley has 36 tackles (24 solo) for the Steelers this season, as well as an AFC-leading nine sacks. His absence means Pittsburgh will have a diminished pass rush to disrupt Bengals rookie quarterback Andy Dalton. As Neal Coolong of Behind the Steel Curtain writes, the return of James Harrison to the lineup against the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday helped mask Woodley’s absence somewhat.

Elsewhere on the injury report, Harrison did not practice in full Friday due to a toe injury, but the team lists him as probable. Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery, linebacker James Farrior, guard Doug Legursky, linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, and wide receiver Hines Ward all practiced in full and appear listed as probable.

“To be quite frank with you, it stung as much yesterday as it did on Sunday night, as it should,” Tomlin said. “We lost a very tough, close ballgame, highly contested. … Hopefully we will grow and learn from it. I know those will be our intentions. I truly believe that it will strengthen us moving forward.”

If the Steelers (6-3) want to stay in the playoff picture in the crowded AFC, they don’t really have a choice. A hangover of any kind could be costly, particularly on Sunday against surprising Cincinnati (6-2).

The Bengals have won five straight and typically play Pittsburgh tough no matter how their season is going.

“Really, when you think about it, the last couple of years, the ball has ended up in their hands inside the 10-yard line or so, to win it at the very end,” Tomlin said. “We were fortunate enough to make a play a year ago. We weren’t the year before that.”

The Steelers have been making very few game-changing plays on defense this year. Their four takeaways are tied with woeful Miami for last in the league.

Tomlin would rather his team play smart than take aggressive risks to get the ball and pointed to a pair of missed opportunities in Baltimore’s last drive as to how thin the difference is between getting a takeaway and getting burned.

“I thought we had them moving very early in the drive, in the pocket,” Tomlin said. “We had a swipe at the ball that we missed. We had a third-and-1. We had our hands on the football. We had a fourth-and-1 that the ball just reached the outstretched fingertips of a defensive lineman in the rush lane, and they completed it to Anquan Boldin. To make a long story short, they made all of the necessary plays and we missed a few of them by a hair.”

The defense played relatively well until the final drive. Linebacker James Harrison showed no ill effects of the fractured right orbital bone that kept him out a month, finishing with three sacks and a forced fumble.

Tomlin is hopeful Harrison can be joined on the field by longtime teammates LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior next week. Woodley missed the Baltimore game with a hamstring injury while Farrior sat for the second straight game with a calf problem.

Both players will be evaluated later in the week, though Tomlin was encouraged by replacement Jason Worilds.

“I liked the tempo in which he played with,” Tomlin said. “I thought he was physical. No question there is room for growth. But if you are just looking at his first substantial action as a defensive player, I thought it was a great place to begin.”

Linebacker isn’t the only position with injury problems. Emmanuel Sanders will be out “a couple weeks” after having his knee scoped while Jerricho Cotchery will be limited early in the week with swelling in his knee. Arnaz Battle is dealing with a strained hamstring.

Tomlin expects to have veteran Hines Ward available. Ward left the Baltimore game in the second quarter with concussion-like symptoms following a head shot from Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

“It shouldn’t prohibit him or slow him down in any form or fashion here,” Tomlin said.

If Cotchery, Sanders and Ward can’t go it’s likely the team would activate Tyler Grisham from the practice squad.

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For Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, the evidence still hurt.

Tomlin sat through all 13 plays of misery, watched every last second of tape of Baltimore’s game-winning drive in a 23-20 victory on Sunday night.

“To be quite frank with you, it stung as much yesterday as it did on Sunday night, as it should,” Tomlin said. “We lost a very tough, close ballgame, highly contested. … Hopefully we will grow and learn from it. I know those will be our intentions. I truly believe that it will strengthen us moving forward.”

If the Steelers (6-3) want to stay in the playoff picture in the crowded AFC, they don’t really have a choice. A hangover of any kind could be costly, particularly on Sunday against surprising Cincinnati (6-2).

The Bengals have won five straight and typically play Pittsburgh tough no matter how their season is going.

“Really, when you think about it, the last couple of years, the ball has ended up in their hands inside the 10-yard line or so, to win it at the very end,” Tomlin said. “We were fortunate enough to make a play a year ago. We weren’t the year before that.”

The Steelers have been making very few game-changing plays on defense this year. Their four takeaways are tied with woeful Miami for last in the league.

Tomlin would rather his team play smart than take aggressive risks to get the ball and pointed to a pair of missed opportunities in Baltimore’s last drive as to how thin the difference is between getting a takeaway and getting burned.

“I thought we had them moving very early in the drive, in the pocket,” Tomlin said. “We had a swipe at the ball that we missed. We had a third-and-1. We had our hands on the football. We had a fourth-and-1 that the ball just reached the outstretched fingertips of a defensive lineman in the rush lane, and they completed it to Anquan Boldin. To make a long story short, they made all of the necessary plays and we missed a few of them by a hair.”

The defense played relatively well until the final drive. Linebacker James Harrison showed no ill effects of the fractured right orbital bone that kept him out a month, finishing with three sacks and a forced fumble.

Tomlin is hopeful Harrison can be joined on the field by longtime teammates LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior next week. Woodley missed the Baltimore game with a hamstring injury while Farrior sat for the second straight game with a calf problem.

Both players will be evaluated later in the week, though Tomlin was encouraged by replacement Jason Worilds.

“I liked the tempo in which he played with,” Tomlin said. “I thought he was physical. No question there is room for growth. But if you are just looking at his first substantial action as a defensive player, I thought it was a great place to begin.”

Linebacker isn’t the only position with injury problems. Emmanuel Sanders will be out “a couple weeks” after having his knee scoped while Jerricho Cotchery will be limited early in the week with swelling in his knee. Arnaz Battle is dealing with a strained hamstring.

Tomlin expects to have veteran Hines Ward available. Ward left the Baltimore game in the second quarter with concussion-like symptoms following a head shot from Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.

“It shouldn’t prohibit him or slow him down in any form or fashion here,” Tomlin said.

If Cotchery, Sanders and Ward can’t go it’s likely the team would activate Tyler Grisham from the practice squad.

Read More: Ben Roethlisberger (QB – PIT), Tom Brady (QB – NEP), Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams

Week 9 of the NFL Power Rankings brings a little bit of a shakeup, but not a whole lot. Ben Roethlisberger and his Pittsburgh Steelers make a nice jump with a home win over the New England Patriots, while the New Orleans Saints blow a lot of their Week 8 goodwill with a loss to the lowly St. Louis Rams.

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0): The Pack were on a bye, but that’s okay. There doesn’t look like there’s much that will stop the Cheesehead Juggernauts from a repeat visit to the Super Bowl. There should be many more stupid Aaron Rodgers-with-a-pro-wrestling-belt posings to go around.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): The Terrible Towel waves on, unrelenting, even in the face of the elite New England Patriots. Big Ben started out slowly, but he eventually finished with 365 passing yards and two touchdowns on 50 passing attempts. He didn’t exactly outduel Brady (who also had two TDs, but without the interception), but his team snagged a convincing home win against a tough opponent.

3. San Francisco 49ers (6-1): With everyone in the NFC West but the bottom-feeding Rams losing this week, and the Niners easily beating the Cleveland Browns, it’s hard to see the division slipping from their grasp. Frank Gore’s been very helpful, but much-maligned QB Alex Smith is having himself a fine season under new coach Jim Harbaugh.

4. Baltimore Ravens (5-2): Though it took a historic comeback for the Ravens, they showed some guts coming back from 21 down for the win. Again, though, it was in spite of Joe Flacco, who’s season is just a giant slab of crap so far. But if he continues passing to Anquan Boldin (seven catches for 145 yards), that might help.

5. Buffalo Bills (5-2): Fresh from nabbing himself a fat contract extension, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick led his team to a 23-0 drubbing of the Washington Redskins. The win puts them in (technically) sole possession of first place in the AFC East, after the Pats fell to the Steelers.

6. New England Patriots (5-2): Yeah, they lost to the Steelers and that hurts their current standings in their division. However, it would be very surprising if the Bills managed to permanently overtake Tom Brady and the pesky Pats.

7. Detroit Lions (6-2): The Lions made short work of The Savior, Tim Tebow, and his Denver Geldings. Matt Stafford assured a walloping with his three TD passes and 267 airborne yards. Tebow was almost as good as Stafford, except exactly the opposite.

8. New York Giants (5-2): They almost lost to the woeful Miami Dolphins, but then they didn’t. Eli Manning actually had himself a decent game with no turnovers and it paid off. Secretly, though, Dolphins fans are thanking Eli for not completely sucking. Andrew Luck!!!

9. New Orleans Saints (5-3): A week after Brees had himself an awe-inspiring performance against the Colts, he basically pooped the bed against the then-winless Rams, with a 1:2 TD:INT ratio. The Rams get to join the teams with at least one win and the Saints get to sulk in their ineptitude.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2): Everyone’s hesitant to give this team much credit, but their record’s beginning to speak for itself. Newbie Andy Dalton has been mostly just okay; the Bengal’s success has been mostly due to their outstanding defense (that, and the mostly terrible competition they’ve faced).

We’re not going to bother with Power Rankings for the rest of the NFL. If your team isn’t in the top ten, do you really care if they are 13th or 16th? But in local news, the Arizona Cardinals managed to continue to astound with their mediocrity when they blew a 21-point lead to lose their sixth straight. And Kevin Kolb got himself a bit of the turf toe. There’s gotta be a few fans out there, though, that want to see what John Skelton can do.

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), Beanie Wells (RB – ARI), Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals return from their bye week with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coming off of four straight losses prior to the bye week, the Cardinals will look to turn over a new rock and string together some wins.

They get a tough opponent in the Steelers right off the bat. For all the talk this year about the aging Steelers defense (that has several players over the age of 30), Pittsburgh ranks best in the NFL in both overall defense (surrendering only 270.5 yards per contest) and passing defense (surrendering only 157.7 passing yards per game).

Those numbers present a challenge to Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, who is feeling the pressure amidst the team’s 1-4 start. He will have to dissect the Steelers secondary and approach his 256.2 passing yards per game average to help his teammates out and give Arizona a good chance at winning the game.

The Cardinals will have to rely on running back Beanie Wells, who will have a more favorable match-up against the Steelers run defense. Pittsburgh ranks 15th in the league against the run, allowing 112.8 yards per game. Wells, who is averaging 95.24 rushing yards per contest, needs to be efficient with his carries. Breaking off a few big runs could go a long ways in helping out Kolb against the unyielding Steelers secondary.

If Arizona can establish a running game behind Wells, they will create offensive opportunities and give themselves a chance to stay in the game. A big outing by Wells could help the Cardinals right the ship after the team’s ugly 1-4 start and get a much-needed victory against the Steelers. 

A few film notes from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 38-14 Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans…

Tennessee Titans

– Tennessee’s offensive line did an outstanding job of blocking the Steelers’ front seven and providing an escort for running back Chris Johnson, who rushed for 51 yards on just 14 carries. The Titans couldn’t keep the ground attack going because they fell behind, but that doesn’t negate the efforts of their line. They used slide protection to get the Steelers’ line going one way, and Johnson would then either hit the gap to that side or read the cutback and go opposite. Left guard Leroy Harris(notes) and center Eugene Amano(notes) are dynamic upfield blockers who know how to tag a linebacker and create extra space in the running game. Harris is also very good at pulling right and sealing the edge for Johnson and the Titans’ other running backs — he stoned LaMarr Woodley(notes) with one outstanding first-quarter pull-block, and that’s no small achievement.

The Titans’ line is best at establishing power at the point of attack, and then spreading its force to create other opportunities. You can definitely see the influence of head coach Mike Munchak, the team’s former O-line coach and a Hall of Fame offensive lineman himself.

– The Titans’ defensive linemen really seemed to struggle with certain assignments. When ends Derrick Morgan(notes) and Dave Ball(notes) were asked to flare out in coverage on zone blitzes, they weren’t able to do much but provide stationary targets for Ben Roethlisberger(notes) to avoid. And on Heath Miller’s(notes) first-quarter touchdown, tackle Karl Klug(notes) had Miller in his vicinity, but stayed home while Miller advanced to the goal line. Sending a bunch of zone blitzes at Roethlisberger might not be the best idea — Big Ben’s defensive coordinator is Dick LeBeau, who pretty much invented the concept. You imagine that he might see zone blitzes at a pretty high level through the week.

The Titans’ D-linemen didn’t do much better staying at home at times, either; Jonathan Dwyer’s(notes) long second-quarter run was a beautifully executed example of (take it away, Vince Lombardi): “A seal here, a seal here, and we run it IN THE ALLEY!” Left guard Doug Legursky(notes) (pulling right) and right tackle Marcus Gilbert(notes) did an incredible job of blocking out the lane for Dwyer’s first run of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

– Generally speaking, the Titans present an interesting set of defensive problems in that they’re multiple in their schemes, but they disguise their diversity very well by looking pretty vanilla (a lot of 4-3 or 4-2 nickel) and then, spreading out into different coverages after the snap. Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians put together a brilliant gameplan to counter this — he used a lot of pre-snap motion by receivers from side to side, sweeps and end-arounds to force the defense to pull one way, and quick throws in spread-style formations to get under what Tennessee was doing. The zone blitzes previously discussed aside, Roethlisberger also read Tennessee’s standard blitzes very well — it also helps that he’s conditioned himself to be unafraid of the blitz because his offensive lines have been so poor for so long.

The Steelers also used a lot of influence motion in their running plays — little half-motion sets by Hines Ward(notes) to draw a linebacker in and out. And as they generally are, the Steelers were very successful when they ran out of bunch formations — the formation/play they run more consistently than any other team. It’s important to note that with injuries on both sides of the ball, and facing a very good defense, Arians helped his team win as much as any player on the field.

– There were certain points where outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley absolutely took over this game — he certainly seemed to recognize the importance of his play with battery-mate James Harrison(notes) out with a fractured orbital bone (yikes). One play that really stood out was his sack of Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) with 9:39 left in the first quarter. The Titans had second-and-goal from the Pittsburgh 7-yard line, and Woodley rushed in from the defensive left side as tight end Daniel Graham(notes) released into the end zone. Fullback Ahmard Hall(notes) stayed in to block Woodley, but it didn’t matter, because Woodley just pushed Hall a good 2 yards back with his initial attack, and when Hall regained his footing, Woodley pushed Hall back into Hasselbeck and got the sack.

Woodley can do a number of things — tackle the run very well, cover in space as well as any 3-4 outside linebacker, and speed-rush around the edge — but his sheer power is the extra element that makes him a true force.

Related: , Doug Legursky, LaMarr Woodley, Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison, Matt Hasselbeck, Hines Ward, Marcus Gilbert, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, What The Tape Saw