Steelers v. Colts in first Click for Cans playoff

Today the Campbell's Chunky Soup Click for Cans playoffs begin. The Steelers (16-1) are matched up against the Colts (14-3) in the first round. If Pittsburgh advances it will play the winner of the Jaguars v. Bills matchup. Click here to vote for the Steelers to beat the Colts.

Help beat the Jaguars in the Click for Cans contest

Chunky Soup's Click for Cans contest is back this season, albeit with a different format than years past. This season NFL teams "play" each other head-to-head each week, with the matchups corresponding to those on the NFL schedule. The team that receives the most votes in the contest gets the win. Steelers' fans, this is your opportunity to get out the vote. Click here to vote for the Steelers over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Entering this week the Steelers are 4-0 in the standings; the Jaguars are 2-2.

Steelers sign QB Leftwich

Today, Pittsburgh signed QB Byron Leftwich - a former No. 1 pick (seventh overall in 2003) of the Jacksonville Jaguars - to a one-year contract. Leftwich will serve as Ben Roethlisberger's backup for at least the next six weeks, as veteran Charlie Batch is scheduled to have surgery tomorrow to repair the broken right collarbone he suffered during Friday's preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Batch will be out for a minimum of six weeks following the surgery.

Ravens 27, Steelers 21

This afternoon's regular season finale had a decidely pre-season feel. Most disturbing from a Steelers' perspective is that the defense continues to look tired, an ominous sign considering that Pittsburgh is charged with playing a very physical Jacksonville team just six days from now (Sat. Jan. 5, 8pm ET). With the loss "What are the Chances...?" falls to 12-4 on the season and 25-7 overall.

Scout's eye on the Steelers

Yesterday, the online edition of Pro Football Weekly (PFW) featured the Steelers in its "Scout's Eye" column ("Dominant 'D': Pittsburgh defense shines without stars"), an article that is right on target in its analysis (except for the notion that the Steelers will not be tested again until Week 14 versus the New England Patriots). That last part seems like wishful thinking to me. Click here to read the PFW piece.

Meanwhile, today is also the anniversary of the "still chopping wood" ax incident, which occured in the Jacksonville Jaguars' locker room four years ago today. Click here to read about the circumstances surrounding one of the strangest football injuries of all-time.