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Are you ready for some old-school football?
Monday night's Ravens-Steelers game will offer a version of "three yards and a cloud of dust," but without the yards.
The NFL's top defense faces a limping Pittsburgh offense without running back Willie Parker and a dinged-up Ben Roethlisberger. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall makes his first start against a team that hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher since 2006, a span of 21 games. A daunting task.
Baltimore doesn't have it much better.
With running back Willis McGahee still suffering the effects of last week's alleged Browns eye-gouging, the Ravens will look to goal-line beast Le'Ron McClain. But can clueless rookie QB Joe Flacco direct a drive against the league's No. 2 defense? No. I see a pick-6 in his future.
No country for old men?
This is a senior citizens Sunday for quarterbacks.
Brett Favre, 38, and Kurt Warner, 37, are still doing their thing, and they face off against each other at the Meadowlands. Start both.
The Titans' Kerry Collins, 35, still has a rifle and will lead the surprising Titans to the playoffs. Minnesota provides a tough matchup, but play him if you must.
Trent Green steps in as the Rams bench Marc Bulger (ouch). Can Green bring back the magic he last had in 2004? Perhaps the concussion-prone 38-year-old thinks it's still 2004.
The Chiefs' Damon Huard (35) and the Vikings' Gus Frerotte (37)? They're just seat warmers - always have been, always will be.
Extra pointers
Play all your Browns and Bengals. The only wild card is Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson, but there will be points aplenty if he wakes up. ... For Jason Campbell to prove he's for real, the Redskins quarterback must remain accurate against Dallas. I think he will. ... If you've been crossing your fingers for Kansas City's Larry Johnson and Dwayne Bowe, this week offers an opening against the beleaguered Broncos defense. ... Hibernate your Bears against Philly's furious D.
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(c) 2008, Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.
WV Dave 
