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Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Let’s dig into the weekend mailbag.

Allen from Pittsburgh wants to know when the Steelers’ defense will step up and finish games.

James Walker: Allen, I think you’re going to see a breakout game by the Steelers’ defense on Sunday. Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu will return against the struggling offense of the Cleveland Browns, and I think he’s going to be a huge boost. The Steelers are playing well on defense for about three quarters without Polamalu. But he's the closer the team has missed.

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Ryan from Pittsburgh writes: We all have heard your thoughts on Troy Reed. How do you think Travis "Ziggy" Eason will perform in place of Aaron Smith?

James Walker: Travis "Ziggy" Eason! I like it. What’s funny is this is kind of an actual player for Pittsburgh as the team will use a combination of these three to fill in for the season-ending loss of Smith (shoulder). Short term, the trio will be fine. I don’t think you’re going to see much difference this week against Cleveland. Pittsburgh has enough good players on the front seven to step up against the run. But long-term, Smith’s absence will be missed, especially when they play against tougher competition.

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Rich from Columbus, Ohio, wants to know if the Bengals will go to an up-tempo, no-huddle offense more often after their recent late-game success.

James Walker: Good question, Rich. It’s been discussed in Cincinnati. The Bengals have the personnel and, most importantly, the quarterback to run it. Eventually the wrinkle could be added more to the offense but certainly not on a full-time basis. Things are going too well as it is.

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Joe Monte writes: James, wouldn't it have been a good reference point for the Cincinnati story to mention despite Cleveland’s awful team and record they are still easily selling out?

James Walker: That would’ve been unnecessary, Joe. The Bengals’ blackout story was a news article for ESPN.com, not a blog item. The goal was just to get the facts out.

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Charlie from Kentucky writes: JW, are you a Bengals' believer yet?

James Walker: Where have you been, Charlie? I was talking up the Bengals this offseason before anybody else in the national media.

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Mark Granieri wants to know whether he should start Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco against the Minnesota Vikings or Matt Schaub of the Houston Texans against Cincinnati this week?

James Walker: That’s a toss-up, Mark. I’m not sure either player will have a huge day. But go with Schaub. He does have Andre Johnson on his team, and Johnson potentially could have a big game.

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Isaac from Baltimore wants to know if Samari Rolle will return to help the Ravens’ pass defense.

James Walker: Rolle is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list after the weekend's game. The team hasn’t ruled out a return, but if I were guessing right now, I would say Rolle plays it safe and doesn’t return this season. Neck injuries are serious, especially when they require major surgery. The Ravens could really use Rolle, but long-term health is always more important.

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Neil Parikh from Sydney, Australia, wonders why the Ravens always seem to be on the short end of big calls.

James Walker: Thanks for checking in from Australia, Neil. I’m not a big refs-cost-us-the-game type of guy. But I will admit, in the nearly two seasons of covering the Ravens closely, they seem to be on the short end of a lot of judgment calls. Former Raven Bart Scott once told me Baltimore is a team that, for whatever reason, never gets help. At the time I kind of brushed it off. But it’s proven to be a pretty accurate statement.

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Kenneth Yamini from DeKalb, Ill., wants to know why the Ravens didn’t make a trade for former Browns receiver Braylon Edwards.

James Walker: The Browns, like most teams, have no interest in trading a former Pro Bowler within the division. It would be a double negative because it hurts the team to lose a talented receiver, while at the same time helps a division rival get better. That’s bad for business.