This week’s Sunday Night Football game features the 1-2 Pittsburgh Steelers against the 2-1 San Diego Chargers. Since winning the NFL season opener with backup quarterback Charlie Batch, the Steelers have dropped two straight with Big Ben under center. The Steelers came into this season with a 27-4 record with Roethlisberger at quarterback, but Big Ben hasn’t come up very big for the defending Super Bowl champs in 2006. In two starts this season, Roethlisberger has thrown five interceptions and no touchdowns. After Roethlisberger lost two in a row last season to Indianapolis and Cincinnati, he went on to lead the Steelers to eight-straight wins and a Super Bowl championship. Pittsburgh will have its work cut out for itself against the Chargers this Sunday night.

The Chargers defense ranks first in the NFL giving up just 184.3 yards per game and they have only allowed three touchdowns this season. The Steelers defense hasn’t been near as good but Schottenheimer won’t be able to rely on the run as much as he has been this season. Cowher’s experienced defense will make rookie quarterback Phillip Rivers beat them through the air. Schottenheimer has been using a conservative approach to help break Rivers in slowly, but he’ll have to be an integral part of the offense if the Chargers want to be victorious in this one. Currently, the Chargers rank 31st in the NFL in passing averaging just 159 yards per game.

It’s hardly worth mentioning that Pittsburgh has won its last five games against the Chargers. It’s apparent that San Diego is an improved team this season, especially on the defensive side of the football and Pittsburgh still has some hurdles to overcome if it wants to get back in the thick of things in its division. The Sunday Night Football matchup will be a tough egg to crack on your own. Let Jimmy Boyd help you cash in on the biggest NFL game this week as I have the winning side nailed.