Steelers at Patriots, 11/30

Today, the Steelers, who are 8-3 and a game ahead of the Ravens, take on the Patriots, who are 7-4 and a game behind the Jets. The game has huge importance for both teams.

The Ravens play the Bengals today so they should improve to 8-4. A Steelers loss would put them in a tie. On other hand, a win helps the Steelers keep pace with the Jets for the #2 seed and a potential first-round bye in the playoffs.

Here are the keys to the game for the Steelers according to the Sporting News:

1. Roll Cassel. As he has developed, so has his team's reliance on him to make the offense look as productive as it was last season. Cassel has attempted 94 passes the past two games and thrown for over 400 yards in each, looking a lot like Tom Brady in the process. Shut him down, and the rest of the offense is tame.

2. Boss Moss. The Steelers have done a wonderful job of shutting down just about every top receiver in the league, everyone from Plaxico Burress to Santana Moss to T.J. Houshmandzadeh. And they just don't allow big pass plays. The longest pass against them this season is 65 yards, and that came on a deflection that should have been an interception.

3. Attack deep. The Patriots have had problems applying pressure on the quarterback, although most teams -- aside from the Bengals -- do not seem to have that problem against the Steelers. Roethlisberger should be able to make big plays against a weak Patriots secondary, if he gets the time.

Prediction: Steelers 14, Patriots 13

Willie Parker - Questionable vs Patriots

Willie Parker, swelling in his knee, is questionable for Sunday's game at New England.

Parker has played in 6 games this season and has missed 5 games. If Parker doesn't play Sunday, Mewelde Moore will start in his place.

On the season, Parker has 485 yards and 4 TDs on 126 carries. Moore has 432 yards and 5 TDs on 109 carries.

The Steelers are currently 8-3 and 1 game ahead of the Baltimore Ravens, who are in Cincinnati this weekend.

Steelers vs Chargers, 11/16

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the San Diego Chargers this afternoon. The Steelers are currently tied with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North. The Chargers are 4-5 and a game behind the Broncos, but still have a ton of talent.

Here are the keys to the game for the Steelers according to the Sporting News:

1. Try lightning-quick passes: One of the things Roethlisberger did well against the Colts last week was take shorter drops and convert quicker passes, something he needed to do to take the pressure off the pocket and limit the amount of hits on his sore right shoulder.

2. Prevent the big pass: The Steelers will be without two of their top three cornerbacks, Bryant McFadden (broken forearm) and Deshea Townsend (hamstring), forcing second-year corner William Gay to make his first start and elevating seldom-used Anthony Madison to nickel back. That could create a matchup problem with wide receiver Vincent Jackson.

3. Give Rivers the shivers: Heinz Field sits at the juncture where three rivers meet, but what the Steelers linebackers want to do is meet at Philip Rivers. The Steelers have a league-best 34 sacks, getting a combined 20.5 from outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, and they cannot let Rivers sit in the pocket and wait for his receivers to get open, not against a banged-up secondary.

Game Prediction: Steelers 28, Chargers 20

Steelers vs Colts, 11/9

The Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) host the Indianapolis Colts (4-4) Sunday. On the injury front, Willie Parker is out, but Ben Roethlisberger's status is uncertain.

Here are the keys to the game for the Steelers according to the Sporting News:

1. Pressure Manning. The defense leads the league with 35 sacks, and the biggest reason is OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who have combined for 19.5, the most by any tandem in the league. The Steelers do not want to give Manning time to set up and get comfortable in the pocket and will try to disrupt his timing with blitz pressure.

2. Prevent big plays. Despite missing two starters, the secondary has been very stingy and very effective, not allowing a pass play longer than 35 yards. One of the reasons is CB Ike Taylor, who has shadowed Plaxico Burress and Santana Moss the past two weeks and held them to a combined five catches for 29 yards.

3. Run, run, run. Willie Parker finally returned after missing four games with a sprained knee and, while his numbers were modest against the Redskins (70 yards on 21 carries), he showed no problem cutting and accelerating. The Colts have one of the worst rush defenses in the league, allowing an average of 143.6 yards per game.

Mewelde Moore will have to "run, run, run" as Willie Parker will be out this week.

Game Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Indianapolis Colts 17

Willie Parker out Sunday vs Colts

Willie Parker is out against the Indianapolis Colts Sunday. Mewelde Moore will start in his place. Parker is only expected to miss one game.

Mewelde Moore is averaging 1 more yard per carry than Willie Parker on the season. Moore has 320 yards on 69 carries. Parker has 333 yards on 87 carries.

The Steelers are 3-1 in the games that Parker has played. They are 3-1 in games that he has missed.

Roethlisberger's status unknown for Colts game

As Ben Roethlisberger's replacement last night, Byron Leftwich filled in admirably. Leftwich completed 7/10 for 129 yards and threw a TD and no INTs.

"He made a lot of friends in there," coach Mike Tomlin said.

"He's an experienced player. He's not new to this," running back Willie Parker said. "Nobody was surprised by how well he came out and played. Ben went down and Byron seamlessly came in and did what he had to do."

Roethlisberger had an MRI on his reinjured shoulder today, but his status is still unknown for Sunday's game vs the Colts.

On the season, Roethlisberger has a 79.6 QB Rating and has thrown 10 TDs to 8 INTs.

Steelers vs Redskins, 11/3

After a heart-breaking loss to one NFC East team in primetime, the Steelers get ready to do battle with another on Monday Night Football. The Steelers head into the game at 5-2 in first place in the AFC North while the Washington Redskins are 6-2 and in 2nd-place in the NFC East.

Here are the keys to the game for the Steelers according to the Sporting News:

1. Stop Portis. The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher this season, and only one team has rushed for over 100 yards against them. They also held the Giants' rushing offense, ranked No. 1 in the NFL, to just over half their per-game average. Portis has rushed for more than 120 yards in the past five games.

2. Pressure Campbell. The Redskins quarterback was very efficient and proficient against the Lions, and the Steelers defense, which has 25 sacks, needs to pressure him into poor throws. The Steelers did not have a sack against Eli Manning and he eventually hurt them with key plays.

3. Be the boss of Moss. The Steelers' coverage units -- on punts and kickoffs -- have been very good. Sure, the Giants had a 28-yard punt return against them, the longest Pittsburgh has allowed this season, but Santana Moss is the latest of solid returners the Steelers will attempt to stop.

Prediction: Steelers 21, Redskins 17