NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

Senior writer jclombardi scouts Packers vs Bears afternoon game.

Preview: Teams: Packers (9-6) vs. Bears (11-4). Time: 3:15 p.m. CST. Place: Lambeau Field, Green Bay. Packers injury report: S Atari Bigby (groin), FB Korey Hall (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (calf) and LB Frank Zombo (knee) are out. CB Sam Shields (knee), S Nick Collins (ribs), LB Clay Matthews (shin), DE Ryan Pickett (ankle), CB Charles Woodson (toe), LT Chad Clifton (knees), LB Erik Walden (quadriceps), LB Diyral Briggs (ankle) and C Scott Wells (back) are probable. Line: The Packers are favored by 10 points. THE BREAKDOWN: Things to Watch. Something to play for: A game is about survival for the Packers, who will earn the NFC"s No. 6 playoff seed with a victory over their longtime rivals. The NFC North-champion Bears, meanwhile, have secured the No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye. The odds are against them leapfrogging New Orleans and Atlanta for the No. 1 seed, so they likely will have nothing to play for. Still, coach Lovie Smith insisted all week that his team would "play to win," meaning he wouldn't rest his starters even if Atlanta and New Orleans win, locking the Bears into the No. 2 seed. ESPNChicago.com reported on Friday citing sources that Bears backups were being told to be ready to play. Tampa-2 faced: Brian Urlacher knows the Packers are on to him and the rest of the Bears' defense. While Lovie Smith's Tampa-2 version of the Cover-2 defense has been the basis of much of the Bears' defensive success over the past seven years, they don't play the scheme as often as fans might think. Part of the chessmatch Sunday will be the Packers' ability to know when the Bears are in Tampa-2 and when they aren't. Quarterback Rodgers said the Bears play more single-high safety more than they play Tampa-2, while offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said calling the Bears a Tampa-2 team a "misnomer." "Aside from that second half of the '07 game … they play a lot of other defenses, obviously. They've got a lot of other calls," Philbin explained. Fun with the run: In their past two games, the Packers running backs have gotten 34 and 33 carries, respectively. For a team that has been very much a pass-first operation, that's quite the commitment to the run. That said, the Packers do need more productivity out of their high number of attempts. Their backs had 131 yards against New England on Dec. 19 and 93 yards against the Giants last week. But the elimination of negative runs has given the coaches more confidence in the ground game, even if the production hasn't been high enough. That includes more play-action passes, which the Packers used brilliantly against the Giants, with Rodgers completing 11 of 12 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns (158.3 perfect passer rating) on play-action passes last week. "You have two categories in the way you throw the football, and 50 percent of it is action passing game and the other 50 percent is dropback. Now, that doesn't mean you go out and throw 20 passes and it's 10-10 each week," McCarthy explained. "Play-action is very important. But running the football is important. The attempts in the running game in my opinion is the most important." Flag day: The Packers left their first meeting with the Bears feeling as if they'd given the game away with their penalties – a team single-game record 18 for 152 yards. Since then, though, the Packers have been among the league's most disciplined teams in the penalty department. After leading the NFL in penalties (341) and penalty yards (3,047) from 2007 through '09, the Packers enter the rematch tied for fourth in the NFL for fewest penalties with 74, and with third-fewest penalty yards with 587. Rodgers' neighborhood: Rodgers' return from a concussion, suffered Dec. 12 in Detroit, was breathtaking against the Giants. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements thought it was the smartest game Rodgers has played in his career. It's hard to argue with completing 25 of 37 passes 404 yards (a career regular-season high) with four touchdowns (matching his career best) and no interceptions for a 139.9 passer rating. He is determined to get his team back to the playoffs. He's yet to win a playoff game – he lost his only one, 51-45, to Arizona last January despite a career performance – and intends to change that next week. But first, he must play well in this de facto playoff game to get his team into the tournament.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH: CHANGING OF THE FRONT: In the Week 3 meeting, the Packers had three sacks, three knockdowns and eight hurries against Jay Cutler. On Sunday, the Bears’ offensive line will be different at three positions. “The first time they played, they were running Mike Martz’s offense and the Packers got after their quarterback,” a personnel man for a Bears opponent said. “Now they’ve got Mike Tice running the offense and the protections are better and they’ve got a running game.” DYNAMIC THREAT: “There are times when you hit Hester a great punt and he maybe forces the return and struggles a little bit,” an opposing special-teams coach said. “He’s the most prolific specialist maybe in the history of the NFL and he’s red-hot right now.” Hester also has been returning kickoffs of late. “You try to move the ball around and they end up getting such good field position,” the coach said. “They’ve got the No. 1 starting field position in the NFL (31.5). A lot of it has to do with the fact nobody wants to kick to this guy. They can dominate field position with those return guys.” STEADY AS SHE GOES: “They just sit in that ‘Tampa 2,’?” one scout said. “Lovie (Smith) has said his defense was designed to stop offenses like the Packers’. It’s one of the top defenses in the league. The defensive line is generating so much pressure. They have (Julius) Peppers and (Israel) Idonije, and now Tommie Harris is back playing at a high level. He disappeared in the first half of the season and now they’ve got him back starting. He’s rested and flying around.” FIFTH MEETING: As a Bronco, Cutler was 0-1 against the Packers. As a Bear, he is 1-2. “He’s playing within himself more,” one scout said. “They’re running the ball more. They’ve been smart how they’ve used him and he’s playing pretty good. He’s got a talented arm.” BACK END: One reason the Bears’ opponents have just a 73.6 passer rating is the ability of Chicago’s three cornerbacks to perform adequately. The Bears have gone with LC Tim Jennings, RC Charles Tillman and nickel back D.J. Moore. “They’ve been OK,” one scout said. “They are helped by the front, and they play a lot of Cover 2. Very sound with it.”

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Packers P Tim Masthay vs. Bears PR Devin Hester. Green Bay special teams coordinator Slocum will have to pick his poison after being burned in Chicago's win in Week 3. He allowed Masthay to kick to Hester in that game, and the league's all-time touchdowns leader on returns scored on a 62-yard runback. Masthay has been better the second half of the season with hang time and ball placement, so the Packers don't figure to tempt fate again by sacrificing some field position in having the first-year punter angle his punts out of bounds. Packers LT Chad Clifton and RT Bryan Bulaga vs. Bears RDE Julius Peppers and LDE Israel Idonije. Clifton and Bulaga had winning performances Sunday in holding the NFL's top sacks tandem of  Umenyiora and Tuck to all of one sack in the Packers' rout of the Giants. Another dynamic duo comes to Lambeau Field with eight sacks apiece for newly anointed Pro Bowl starter Peppers and Idonije who is having a career-best season.

GAME PLAN: Barring the Bears receiving a double dose of good news in the early action Sunday, Chicago will treat this like a preseason game. Never mind that coach Smith says he's not inclined to rest some of his starters. Not having to face the red-hot Cutler and instead having the defense bear down on 39-year-old Collins or third-year Hanie would make Green Bay's pursuit of the win that would ensure it a playoffs berth a lot easier. If Cutler does play for any significant amount of time, the onus will be on defensive coordinator Capers to be more liberal with the pressure packages against a feeble offensive line. Capers dialed that down some in the teams' first meeting and allowed Cutler, who threw only one interception and was sacked just three times, to rally the Bears to victory in the second half with downfield throws. Minus Cutler, the Packers will key in on bottling up Forte if he's allowed to play and/or Taylor in the run game. Depending on what personnel the Bears trot out on defense, running the football effectively could be out of the question for Green Bay's offense. That should mean plenty of pitch-and-catch for Rodgers and his band of receivers after their big outing of 400-plus yards against the Giants. Head coach/play-caller McCarthy will be cognizant of getting Rodgers to the 307 passing yards he needs for a third straight 4,000-yard season.

That's all I keep reading. The NJ Jets ( Please do not correct that, they play in NJ) want to play in Kansas City instead of facing the invincible Peyton Manning.

The Chiefs played a weak schedule. They would rather go against Matt Cassel than Peyton Manning. The Chiefs don't have the "fear factor" the Colts do.

If the Chiefs lose to Oakland, and the Colts win, the Chiefs will drop to the four spot. That will mean the Jets will go to Indianapolis and the Chiefs will host either the Steelers or Ravens. This is, of course, depended upon the Colts beating the Titans and the Jaguars losing. Remember, any given Sunday.

If I were the Jets, that's exactly what I would hope for. Try your best not to come to Arrowhead Stadium for the first round of the playoffs.

The strength of the Chiefs schedule has been a topic of conversation all year. It is the weakest of the playoff teams. There is not question about that. Of course, they finished 4-12 last year, and the AFC West played the NFC West this year, so I'm not really sure what they were suppose to do about it.

Like any young team, the Chiefs have gotten better as the year has gone along. To make the assumption that the past is going to be an indicator of what happens in January is a mistake. There are many, many examples to prove the point.

Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks that has ever walked on an NFL football field. The Indianapolis Colts are not one of the greatest teams that ever walked on a field.

I do not mean to indicate the the Kansas City Chiefs are either. I do not expect the Chiefs to be in the Super Bowl this year. They are a young and growing team with an excellent future.

With that said, they are a better defensive team, running team and more efficient passing team the the Colts. There is no dispute in that.

If the Jets would prefer to come to Kansas City, we welcome them. If it turns out to be the Ravens or Steelers, that's fine too.

I just hope the Jets make the mistake of breathing a sigh of relief if they end up in Arrowhead Stadium for a playoff game.

Dear Coach Lovie,

Remember that day 7 years ago when you were introduced as head coach of the greatest sports franchise in the galaxy? You made a bold proclamation that took many Bears fans by surprise when you stated that "our number one priority is to beat Green Bay."

Well, Lovie, I'm proud to say you've accomplished that goal and then some. Your winning record against the Packers (8 wins, 5 losses) is 3 times as many wins as the combined total of the two knuckleheads who preceded you.

Mission accomplished there, Mr. Smith.

This Sunday represents the 181^st chapter of Bears-Packers. As leader of the 2010 Bears, you have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something no other coach in Bears history has done – knock the Packers out of the playoffs…on their home field…on the last game of the season.

With a first-round playoff bye already secured, some 'experts,' prognosticators and even a few die-hard Grabowskis think you should rest your starters – especially since there's very little chance of securing the #1 seed in the NFC…and the home-field advantage that it brings.

I'm not one of those people.

I think you should use this pre-playoff primer to make a statement to the rest of the league, your team, your ownership, past Bears greats, Bear Nation and the state of Wisconsin that the 2010 Bears are for real.

So, please Coach, I'm asking you to play your starters the entire 60 minutes on Sunday. What good will come out of doing so? Let me count the reasons…

1. An extra long layoff sucks. Do you really want your players having two weeks off from any real contact before playing a game that matters? Your QB is in the hottest groove of his career. Your offensive line is gelling at the right time. Your offensive passing game is based on timing. Don't take extra time off to break this momentum.
2. You have the healthiest team in the league. They've made it through 19 games (including the preseason) unscathed. What are the chances anything disastrous will happen this week? And in the rare event that one of your core players goes down, you have my word that you won't hear or read a negative comment from your buds here at Bears Gab.
3. You have the chance to make history. With a win Sunday, the record books would forever show how you completely, utterly dominated your division. You'd finish with 6-0 record against your fiercest rivals. That's something that's never been done in the 9-year history of the NFC North.
4. You have the chance to knock your most hated rival out of the playoffs. Imagine the sight of 70,000 disgusted Cheeseheads making their way to the Lambeau exits while the scoreboard is illuminated with a final score in the Bears favor. As you leave the field, a small, but boisterous crowd of Bears fans cheers you off to the locker room. Can you see it, Coach?

The above reasons aside, there's one other fairly significant reason to take care of business Sunday – do you really want to face these wounded, yet dangerous, cats again in the playoffs?

In the end, I know and respect the fact you're a man of conviction. You'll do what you believe is in the best interests of your team. While I may not agree with it (it wouldn't be the first time, Coach), myself and the rest of the blue-and-orange army will stand proudly behind you during this improbable run to the Super Bowl.

But before that journey begins in earnest in a few weeks, go out there and beat those damn Packers.

Bear Down, Coach Lovie.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Bears Gab

P.S.—If the opportunity presents itself, would you please tell Clay Mathews to cut his hair

Last week was disappointing. The Philadelphia Eagles took a loss to the deflated and eliminated Minnesota Vikings, at home. It's a relief that the Eagles are already locked into the postseason as division winners. So, the last loss to the Vikings did not effect the Eagles in any way, and neither does the next game against the Cowboys.

Who am I kidding? Whenever the Eagles play the Cowboys it matters. No matter what the situation.

The Eagles enter the game with a (10-5) record, and as stated before they are already in the playoffs. This means that this next game against Dallas is strictly for rivalry purposes and it's kind of a laid back game. Even thought the Eagles have come off that tough loss, there should be no love lost against a rival like Dallas.

The Cowboy come into the game with a (5-10) record, and fresh off of a heartbreaking loss at the hands of the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas. Dallas has totally turned their season around and have been able to pull some impressive wins. However, they could not quite pull the win out from the Eagles in the first meeting in Dallas.

The Eagles look to sweep two of their NFC East rivals, as the Cowboys look to win one in Philadelphia and avoid the sweep.

Here are five keys to the Eagles beating the Cowboys:

5. Get Pressure on Jon Kitna

Jon Kitna had a good game against the Eagles in their first meeting. He had plenty of time to throw the ball and usually found the open receiver. More so than ever on third and longs, and that killed the Eagles' defense all game.

It may be Kitna, and he is a back up QB, but he was able to tear apart the Eagles' secondary. Tearing apart the Eagles secondary to the tune of 242 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys receivers are good, and that is a lot of the reason Kitna is having so much success as he is stepping in for Tony Romo. When a defense gives Kitna time to throw, the Boys' receivers back him up and make big catches.

There is one fast way to stop the Cowboys passing game. Force Kitna to make poor throws and don't allow him time to find that open man. The Eagles' defense has had some great success with this so far this season, and it shouldn't be a problem against a weak Cowboys offensive line.

Let's get some pressure on Kitna. This Eagles defensive line is just too good not to have a few sacks and some forced throws on Kitna.

4. Get The Crowd Involved

In the Eagles Tuesday Night Football game it seemed like the Philadelphia crowd was asleep the entire game, and had on effect on the game. This is rare in Philadelphia. For any sport and for any reason.

Maybe everyone was just off because it was on Tuesday and not Sunday?

Either way, the Eagles need some support. This is a division rival and they can make some big plays on offense and on defense. Whether or not a Dallas running back breaks free for a 70 yard touchdown run shouldn't matter.

This a home game. Against the Dallas Cowboys.

Philadelphia- We need to live up to our reputation. Everyone knows the Eagles have some of the loudest and most distracting fans in the NFL.

Another game like the Minnesota one, we could lose this reputation.

3. Take Some Chances

Throughout the entire Vikings vs. Eagles game, the offense was playing incredibly conservatively. There were way too many plays that were run that gained little yardage. If it wasn't a two or three yard completion it was a passing play that was short of the first down.

Andy Reid is and Marty Mornhinweg have been playing this season with Michael Vick as a high risk and high reward type of offense. It has worked almost flawlessly.

It seems like they just dropped that game plan.

I'm not sure why any coach in the NFL would change an offense that was working so effectively, to something that just does not work. The Eagles offense is much more explosive and fast paced than what they were running against the Vikings.

Dallas' defense is too quick to get away with short yardage and non-agressive play calls. There will be no points on the board if the Eagles offense doesn't play like they have in previous games.

2. Don't Allow The Cowboys To Establish The Running Game

Felix Jones is a beast.

He has the speed to race with a European sports car.

He has the elusiveness of a magician.

He has the down field vision of an air traffic controller.

I have nothing but praise for Jones. I think he is one of the best young running backs in the entire NFL and he is one of the best weapons. The only reason I bring this up is because of how Adrian Peterson just exploded in the second half, and basically won the Vikings the game.

If the Eagles rushing defense allows Jones and the rest of the Boys' backfield to get moving it could be an easy game for Dallas to win. The NFL may have a pass first mentality, but it's easy to win games with a good rushing attack.

1. Bench Valuable Starters and Play The Back-Ups

With the Eagles losing their last game to Minnesota, there is now no way that they can secure a first round bye. That makes this game essentially meaningless to the Eagles success for the regular season and into the postseason.

This means that there is no reason to be playing starters. As much as every Eagles fan would love to see Michael Vick and the rest of the squad hang a 100 on the Boys', Reid knows that postseason success comes first.

This means not allowing starters to get injured in a game that has no meaning.

Rival or not, I would rather have the Eagles make a Super Bowl run than pull a win over the Cowboys.

This is Kevin Kolb's chance to raise his trade value and show that he is a starting QB.

Prediction

This is another great NFC East throw down.

Unfortunately, with the Eagles locked into the playoffs, and the Cowboys thoroughly eliminated, the game will not be as intense as usual. I would compare this to a preseason game, where everyone is trying to prove their worth and move up as a starter.

This will be a great chance for Reid to analyze his backups and see where there are some weaknesses in depth. If the Eagles don't happen to start their offensive line, Kolb may have a long day trying to avoid taking hits.

The Cowboys, even with a rejuvenated team, are still the Cowboys. The Eagles, even with backups playing, are still the Eagles.

The combination of the Cowboys being eliminated from the postseason, and that Philadelphia is going to be playing backups, is just going to be to much for the Eagles. The Eagles almost lost to Dallas, and that was with all of their starters in the game.

Dallas is just too much this time around.

My Prediction: Dallas-31 Eagles-24

There’s no question that one college coach that will be wooed by NFL teams is Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Put the 49ers at the top of the list of teams that want to put on the press to get Harbaugh in San Fran to coach the team in 2011 and beyond.

According to David White of the San Francisco Chronicle, the 49ers plan on speaking to Harbaugh once Stanford plays in the Orange Bowl on Monday.
Team president and CEO Jed York said the next general manager will pick the coach to replace Mike Singletary, who was fired Sunday when the 5-10 49ers were eliminated from the NFC West race.

Harbaugh has been a fixture in NFL and college coaching rumor mills the past two years. Some speculate he’s headed to his alma mater if Michigan fires its coach. Other NFL teams with vacancies are expected to show interest.

If Harbaugh doesn’t pick the 49ers, the team would move to a Plan B lineup. Team and league sources anticipate they would consider former Ravens coach Brian Billick, Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, among others.

With the season coming to an end for the Redskins Sunday, reports say that DL Albert Haynesworth will report to the team on Monday and join the team for meetings at the teams complex.

??Haynesworth has been sitting on the sideline, suspended without pay for the final four games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team. The Players Association has filed an appeal on behalf of the nine-year veteran, he is still under contract and the suspension ends after Sunday's season finale against the New York Giants at FedEx Field.

Defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday, who also serves as the team's union representative, also expects Haynesworth to show up to take his exit physical.

"It's important to show up for that and get that exit exam and get that paperwork," Holliday said Friday. "I expect if it's not Monday or Sunday, sometime during the next 72 hours, he'll be around."

By Redskins Columnist L. Michelle Baker

For the final week of the 2010 season, the Skins will be facing a familiar opponent. The New York Giants are a division rival that we see twice a season, with mixed results. And while it would be nice to end a 6-9 season with a win against an NFC East team, the odds are definitely stacked against us.

For starters, we don't have many—players, that is. Donovan McNabb remains relegated to third in line. Grossman will get the majority of the snaps under center, although if Shanahan truly intends to see what his quarterbacks are made of, we might see some action from John Beck. Yes, John Beck, the fourth season quarterback, who has played in 5 games and fumbled 7 times.

While decisions for Orakpo, Rogers, and Macho Harris will have to wait until later in the week, we know that all of the following are out with injury: Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Philip Daniels, Kareem Moore, LaRon Landry, Clinton Portis. And of course, Albert Haynesworth remains on suspension.

I'd run through the list of players who will actually be in the game, but I don't know any of them. We're scrambling to grab these kids from the practice squad—and not just our own. We've started raiding other teams now, like the deal we made for Reggie Jones, a cornerback we picked up from the Saints' practice squad to replace Kareem Moore.

And the Giants aren't going to make it easy on us. Eli Manning had a rough week against the Packers, getting intercepted 4 times against Green Bay's defense. And rumors are swirling that Coughlin's job isn't entirely secure. Unfortunately, none of that helps us. It only makes this team come to DC with a chip on its shoulder.

We might stand a chance if we can blitz Manning and get him rattled. Then if we can stuff the run and force him to throw, DeAngelo Hall will have his chance to prove that he earned that ProBowl berth.

We also need to capitalize on our home field advantage. FedEx field is the league's premiere stadium. Fans need to get out there and make some noise. Force a false start, and keep the Giants' offense discombobulated.

Most importantly, forget about everything else that's happened this season. And remember that a win is a win. It's all about the game—for players and fans alike. So let's get out there on Sunday and bring home a Redskins victory.

It is starting to sound like the Bills will have Brian Brohm under center Sunday when the team wraps up the 2010 season against the New York Jets. Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News reports that Brohm may get the call after taking the first team snaps a third straight day Friday.

Usual starter Ryan Fitzpatrick watched from the sidelines, as he continues to nurse a sore knee. Fitzpatrick still was holding out hope that he will be able to play, saying he will test his knee in warm-ups before the game. If he feels good, Fitzpatrick said he will play.

Brohm, a former second-round draft choice, is in his third NFL season, his second with the Bills. “No matter what happens, I’ll be ready to go,” Brohm said. “If it’s to go in and start, I’ll be ready for that. If I have to go in during the course of the game, I’ll be ready for that also.”

The QB has thrown a pass in just one game since coming out of Louisville in 2008. Brohm started the second-last game of last season for the Bills, at Atlanta. He completed 17 of 29 passes in a 31-3 loss. That game came just five weeks after the Bills plucked him off Green Bay’s practice squad. Brohm got roughly one-third of the practice snaps in the offseason and feels much more ready to perform than he did last year.

Brohm has been the No. 2 to Fitzpatrick ever since Week Three of the season. On normal practice days, the Bills have three sets of nine or 12 plays during the 11-on-11 portion of the workout, and the No. 2 QB typically gets two or three of those snaps in each session.

If you put stock in a recent report from Judd Zulgad at Access Vikings, then you will be believing that Leslie Frazier will likely become the Vikings full time coach some time shortly after Sunday's game in Detroit.

Zulgad reports that they are "hearing" that the Vikings are in "serious discussion" with Frazier's representation which, if true, is a good sign that the Wilfs have made up their mind and Frazier will be their guy moving forward.

Zulgad goes out of his way to emphasize that he is not reporting a deal is done.

If Frazier is hired, that likely means that Rick Spielman and Rob Brzeznski will retain their roles in the "triangle of authority."  In retaining the same organizational structure, and some general continuity in the coaching staff, the amount of deconstruction and rebuilding of this team could be minimal compared to alternative scenarios.

With a victory over Detroit next week, Frazier would be 4-2 as a head coach, with the two losses coming during games that had to be relocated as a result of the Metrodome's roof collapsing.

The finale of the 2010 season for the regular season is here, and with it the Steelers are headed for the postseason. But, that does not mean that the finale in Cleveland does not have its strong meaning. The Steelers can clinch the AFC North for the 3rd time in four years with the win, and also can have plenty of rest before their first playoff game with a win. A loss and the team may very well have to go on the road to either Indy or KC next weekend. So make no mistake, the Steelers are out to win in Cleveland Sunday against the 5-win Browns.

1. Control the Line – Pretty simple tactic, be the more physical team, and control the line of scrimmage. Cleveland has been crushed on the ground the past few weeks, allowing 541 yards rushing over the past three weeks. You have a workhorse back in Rashard Mendenhall, and the last time the Steelers played the Browns, they ran for 121 yards. If would be a letdown if they didn’t go for at least 150 on the ground in this game, with Mendy, Moore and Redmen all getting lots of touches.

2. Contain Cribbs – It’s sounding more and more like Peyton Hills will not play due to an injury to his ribs, meaning that it’s up to Josh Cribbs to be about the only real offensive and special teams playmaker Cleveland has. The Steelers knew this last December, yet allowed him to run for 87 yards and also to have a 55-yard punt return. Kick away from him, and anytime he’s in the game lined up at QB, play him with 9-10 in the box, because this year he’s thrown two passes for 19 yards, and that probably isn’t going to change much Sunday.

3. Play Up on McCoy – Browns rookie QB Colt McCoy isn’t going to make anyone forget about John Elway or Randall Cunningham anytime soon. In other words, don’t worry about the deep ball. The Browns are one of those teams that make a living on short passes, and trying to break a tackle or two. Take into account that McCoy’s longest pass is 47 yards, and his yards per pass is just 7.6. He has been pretty accurate, but at the same time, he’s nothing more than a “dink and dunk” QB that has yet to show he can throw the deep ball.

Prediction – I realize it sucked when it happened, but losing last December in Cleveland may be the best thing that has happened to the Steelers in sometime. It should be MORE than enough medicine to refocus them for this game, and with the Browns wondering if they will have a new coach Monday, and likely without Peyton Hillis, it would be hard to see the Steelers not jumping on the Browns and taking care of business here in a big way. Pittsburgh 31 Cleveland 13