PRO FOOTBALL — January 3

PITTSBURGH at MIAMI
(Steelers -3, Total 45) — [private] Kudos to Tony Sparano and his staff for keeping the Dolphins in the playoff race for this long with a team short on personnel, and truth be told, there is still a slight chance for them to get to the post-season. But the Steelers are full of incentive because the berth is within their grasp. After consecutive tight wins over Green Bay and Baltimore, this team appears to have gotten some of its “edge” back (and gee, without Troy Polamalu!). Now Miami has lost another key player with Ricky Williams out, and that means Lex Hilliard assumes much of the burden at running back. That means the Wildcat is reduced in its usefulness, and Patrick White (no completions, 54 yards rushing) hasn’t filled the vacuum. Chad Henne has been taking to the air a lot more in the last four contest, with 182 attempts, but with mixed results, with 63% completions and four TD’s, but six interceptions. Ben Roethlisberger is in a groove, throwing for 762 yards and 9.6 yards an attempt in the last two games. Ward and Santonio Holmes have both exceeded 1000 yards. Heath Miller has 71 catches and five TD’s. Rookie Mike Wallace is averaging almost 19 yards a catch. All those guys give Pittsburgh a sizable advantage over what Miami has.

THE PLAY: PITTSBURGH -3 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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