The Sports Monitor

Eight. As in eight turnovers. The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense had more turnovers than points (7) in Sunday's brutal-to-watch 20-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The day was better served to prepare for Cyber Monday shopping than enjoying a Steelers game. Charlie Batch looked like, well, Charlie Batch. The running game was 4-for-4, as in four different running backs with four lost fumbles. And despite all of the deficiencies on offense, the Steelers still had a chance to win the game in the closing minutes. I guess that chance existed in theory only. If you turned on the television late in the fourth quarter, you might have clung to the hope of a last-minute touchdown drive. The rest of us knew how it was going to end -- a loss to the lowly Browns. And while I just called them lowly, they are better than their 2-8 record coming into the game indicated. Their problem was closing out games, something they were able to do against the Steelers.   At least the de...

I never understood the Steelers' fascination with their backup quarterbacks. They've had either Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich for what seems like ages now. And when the Steelers really needed a backup, Leftwich couldn't deliver. Leftwich rambled 31 yards for a touchdown Sunday against the Ravens, but other than that burst, the Steelers couldn't do anything on offense in a 13-10 loss that puts them in a bad position in the AFC North. Leftwich, with his long delivery, looks better suited for the Pirates' bullpen than behind center. He went 18-for-39 passing for 201 yards, but couldn't help a Steelers' offense that looks lost right now. The Ravens came into the game with a weak defense. The thought was Leftwich could manage the game, the Steelers could find a running back to rely on and they'd escape with a win. It didn't work out that way. And it looks like we could see Batch at QB this week -- or someone else. The Steelers are wor...

I can't blame the Pittsburgh Steelers for starting a hobbled Ben Roethlisberger against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. A win put them in the driver's seat in the AFC, and Roethlisberger gave the Steelers the best chance to win. It didn't work out. It was obvious that Roethlisberger had trouble and it hurt the Steelers throughout the night. He couldn't scramble, he couldn't follow through on his throws and he couldn't heave the long ball. I can't imagine Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon doing much worse. After all, the Steelers scored just three points. With little chance to win the division, coach Mike Tomlin should rest Roethlisberger the rest of the season. He should give Big Ben a big break, let him heal as much as possible and have him ready for the playoffs. The Baltimore Ravens aren't going to lose in the next two weeks against the Browns and Bengals, which would wrap up the AFC North. That makes these next two games against ...