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The Steelers just aren't hungry anymore. I think Roethlisberger is just collecting a paycheck at this point. Charlie Batch cares more about winning than he does. They played up to their level of talent in the season opener, then just disappeared.

I don't think the Vikings are as good as advertised, and they're definitely going to acquire a QB in the offseason. They might sign Matt Schaub, or might pull a wacky draft trade move to get Brohm or Quinn. Given that Rick Spielman is their GM, I'm leaning towards the "wacky" option.

The Jets are playing better than I thought they would. It's either a testament to Mangini or a statement about Edwards that they're 4-4. They are definitely looking for a running back in the draft. Mangini probably has dreams about playing the Dolphins with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

I really want to say the Giants are going to the Super Bowl, but I'm just not sure about Eli Manning. Also, Sean Salisbury changed his Super Bowl pick to Colts-Giants, and I don't want to agree with Salisbury, especially after he drooled over the whole "Manning Bowl Redux in the Super Bowl" thing.

The Steelers just aren't hungry anymore. I think Roethlisberger is just collecting a paycheck at this point. Charlie Batch cares more about winning than he does.

I'm not a doctor and I don't pretend to play one on FR but it seems to me Roethlisberger never fully recovered from his near death experience. Then he's hit with the double whammy of appendicitis. Maybe you've had a near death experience but not me so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for this year.

Excluding the above observation, if I call recall correctly Terry Bradshaw played horribly his first two or three seasons before his success started. Roethlisberger came out of the gate as a success his first two seasons. Now he's having his first down year and everybody's jumping all over him. Give me a break. That's coming from a Cowboy fan.

I don't think it's a lack of hunger by the Steelers, I think it's a lack of focus. Roethlisberger is just plain banged up and shouldn't have started at least 3 more times this year (between the apendectomy and the bye, and after the concussion). When push comes to shove what's hurting the Steelers more than anything is the loss of Randal El, we might have been able to survive losing the extra couple of yards he gets on kick returns, but his replacements can't hold onto the damn ball, fumbled punts gave Cinci a lead they wouldn't relinquish, gave Atlanta their first points in the game, and gave Denver a two score lead the Steelers never overcame. Everybody focuses on the INTs because they all come from the same person but there's been tons of fumbles spread all over the team too.