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Browns coach Pat Shurmur confirmed that he will remain the Browns' playcaller on offense, which is the right decision. Actually, there wasn't really a decision to be made.

New offensive coordinator Brad Childress has only called plays for one season in the NFL. And there was a reason it was for one season. The Minnesota Vikings finished 23rd in yards and 26th in points (17.6 per game) in 2006, which led Childress to pass the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell the next season.

When the subject of play calling was first asked, Shurmur said, "Here we go," because he doesn't understand the fuss over the duties. It shouldn't be a surprise that there's heightened interest in how the Browns will try to turn around an offense that scored the third-fewest points in the NFL last season. Until the Browns come up with some answers, there are going to be constant questions about the starting quarterback and the plays that are called.

So, on game days, Shurmur will call the plays on the field and Childress will sit up in the coaches' box.

"There's constant interaction between the playcaller and the other people on offense," Shurmur told Cleveland reporters Wednesday before heading to the NFL combine. "Every place I've been, that's always been the case. So, yeah, I'll be on the field right now and call [plays], but it's constant communication. People talk about halftime adjustments. Well, there's adjustments going on all the time, and that's why we wear the headsets so that we can communicate."

Shurmur was overwhelmed in his first year as an NFL head coach last season when he ran the offense without a coordinator. The perfect scenario would have been to hand off those duties to an experienced playcaller.

Childress addressed the challenge of having the dual role of head coach and playcaller.

"In my case, I didn't think I could do justice to all the preparation that I spent as an assistant coach doing what I needed to do," Childress said. "Did I have a fundamental knowledge of everything that was going on? Absolutely, but I felt like I wasn't that pinpoint laser. That's just me, and that's why I gave it to Darrell Bevell, who knew exactly how I wanted it and did a great job."

Childress said he has no problems in going from a head coach to coordinator.

"To be a good leader, you've got to have good followers. I do know that," he said. "I know what I'm charged with here and how I'm going to go about doing it. Pat's been real clear about that, and we're not going to have any trouble at all."

While I'm not sold on the Cleveland Browns' hiring of Brad Childress as their offensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid certainly is.

Reid, who had Childress and Browns coach Pat Shurmur on his staff in Philadelphia, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that it's a "great fit" and a "win-win all the way around."

"Pat's a heck of a play-caller, and Brad's a heck of a play-caller, and I think that's a heck of a combination," Reid told the Plain Dealer. "Both of them can bounce things off of each other. That's what Brad did here with me, and that's what Pat did here with me. So, whether I was calling the plays or they were calling the plays, we had an open communication where we could talk and make the best of whatever situation there was."

Whether you endorse the addition of Childress or not, this only addresses a very small part of the Browns' problems offensively. In reality, it wouldn't make much of a difference if the Browns had hired Mike Sherman or the NFL's top offensive genius because of the talent level on the field. There are more questions than answers when it comes to Cleveland's offense.

Who is the starting quarterback? Who is the featured running back? Who is the No. 1 receiver? Colt McCoy has to win a quarterback competition to remain the starter, Peyton Hillis is expected to leave in free agency and Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi look more like No. 2 receivers. The Browns are the only team in the AFC North that isn't set at quarterback, which puts them in a big hole.

A league source told the Plain Dealer that Shurmur is the playcaller for now, although that is not a final decision. But a league source told the Akron Beacon Journal that it hasn't been determined whether Shurmur will call the plays with the hiring of Childress.

The trouble is, the plays will only succeed once the Browns have the players in place to execute them. Until that point, it will continue to be a struggle for Cleveland to score over 17 points per game like last season.

The Browns have hired Brad Childress as their offensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The team has now confirmed the hiring of Childress. He became the front-runner for the job after Mike Sherman decided to join the Miami Dolphins as their offensive coordinator.

Browns head coach Pat Shurmur has a long history with Childress. They spent seven years together on the Eagles' staff under Andy Reid before Childress left to take over as head coach of the Vikings from 2006-10. Childress, 55, has been out of football since being fired by the Vikings in November 2010.

The Browns made the right call when they decided to add an offensive coordinator, and they needed to hire someone with experience.


But hiring Brad Childress -- who was named offensive coordinator, according to a league source -- is not the answer. The Browns really needed to push to get Mike Sherman, who appears to be headed to the Miami Dolphins to be their offensive coordinator.

The problem with Childress is his track record with offenses. In the eight years Childress has been a head coach or offensive coordinator in the NFL, his offenses have ranked in the bottom half of the league five times.

The disturbing part is he's been an NFL playcaller for only one season. The result? The Vikings finished 23rd in yards and 26th in points (17.6 per game) in 2006 before Childress passed those duties over to offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell the next season. Childress didn't call the plays in his three seasons as the Eagles' offensive coordinator (Andy Reid held that role), and he didn't call the plays in his final four seasons with the Vikings.

That résumé doesn't inspire confidence that he will turn around a Browns offense that scored more than 17 points twice last season. Then again, it's hard to imagine any coordinator could really affect an offense that has major question marks at quarterback and running back as well as a void of playmakers at wide receiver.

Hiring Childress isn't the worst move. The team could have simply promoted quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, but that wouldn't have accomplished anything.

Pat Shurmur was overwhelmed in his first season as the Browns' head coach, and he needed to have the responsibility of running the offense taken away. The only way an inexperienced head coach will succeed is if he has experienced coordinators supporting him. The Browns will have veteran voices with Childress and defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

If I were Shurmur, I would rely on Childress' advice but not his play-calling ability.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

A shocked Ben Roethlisberger wants answers from team president Art Rooney II following the "retirement" of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

"When I get back, I'm going to go up to Mr. Rooney's office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that's a viable question for him," Roethlisberger told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review at the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. "He's our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I'd like to tell him where I see us going."

The Steelers announced Arians had retired, but he later said his contract wasn't renewed by the team. Arians had been the only offensive coordinator in coach Mike Tomlin's five seasons as Steelers head coach.

Roethlisberger, who is close with Arians, invited him to Hawaii as his guest for the Pro Bowl, but Arians decided not to go after he was no longer with the team.

Roethlisberger was described as being "miffed" by the timing of the Steelers' move with Arians.

"We feel like we are really close to being an elite offense," Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review. "For your leader to be gone is kind of a shocker for us, but you've got to be ready for it, and whatever the Rooneys and coach Tomlin decide is our next step. I think the [Steelers'] mind was made up, and B.A. was kind of ready to move on as well."

Hensley's slant: Roethlisberger has to be worried about the direction of the offense. Team sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Rooney wants the offense to go back to its blue-collar identity of the past. The trouble is, the Steelers are built to throw the ball with one of the best young and fast receiving groups in the league. You can criticize Arians' play calling. But it's hard to argue that the Steelers should go back to a run-first offense.

BENGALS: Mike Zimmer is returning for his fifth season as the Bengals defensive coordinator, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported, after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hired Rutgers' Greg Schiano as their head coach. Zimmer also had been in the running for the Miami Dolphins job before Joe Philbin was hired. While Zimmer is coming back, defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle is expected to be named the Dolphins' defensive coordinator. Hensley's slant: If the Bengals had their way, this is how it would have played out. Cincinnati didn't want to lose Coyle, but it was more important to keep Zimmer. The Bengals defense will remain a top-10 one under his direction.

BROWNS: Brad Childress is close to becoming the Browns' offensive coordinator, sources told The Plain Dealer. For more, click on the AFC North blog posted last night. Hensley's slant: My take on the probable hiring will be posted shortly.

RAVENS: In his introductory news conference as the new Colts head coach, former Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano said he went from an all-time low -- the loss in the AFC championship game was his most devastating one ever -- to an all-time high. “As fate would have it, I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought for sure that I was going to be coming to Indy to play for a world championship," Pagano said, via The Indianapolis Star. "That’s what I thought I was going to be coming here for, and certainly not standing before you today as the next head football coach of the Indianapolis Colts." Hensley's slant: Don't be surprised if Pagano takes some Ravens with him. Pagano's first target should be outside linebacker Jarret Johnson, who will be a free agent, because he'll need a leader who can explain the defensive system to the other players. It would be like when Rex Ryan brought Bart Scott along to the New York Jets. Defensive line coach Clarence Brooks could also follow Pagano to Indianapolis.

Brad Childress is the frontrunner to become the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns, a league source told to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.


The Plain Dealer reported that the Browns had narrowed their search to Childress and Mike Sherman, but Sherman is close to becoming the offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. That leaves the Browns with Childress, who would become the first offensive coordinator under head coach Pat Shurmur.

The hiring could happen in a few days, according to the paper. Childress' ties with Shurmur date back to the Philadelphia Eagles, where Childress was the offensive coordinator from 2003 to 2005 and Shurmur was the quarterbacks coach there.

In his first season as the Browns' head coach, Shurmur also served as the offensive coordinator and called his own plays. The Cleveland offense finished 29th in yards per game and 30th in points per game.

Childress, 55, was out of football last season after being fired as the Minnesota Vikings' head coach in November 2010. He guided the Vikings to the NFC championship game in 2009, but he followed that up with a 3-7 season before being removed as coach.

It is unknown whether or not Childress will take over the playcalling, although Childress probably wouldn't take the job if he didn't have that role.

It's interesting to note that Shurmur, Childress and Browns president Mike Holmgren are all represented by agent Bob LaMonte.

I will provide my thoughts on this probable hire in the morning.

While two defensive coordinators from the AFC North (Cincinnati's Mike Zimmer and Baltimore's Chuck Pagano) are being interviewed for head-coaching jobs, it was a disappointing season for those calling the plays for the division's offenses.

That's why the Steelers' Bruce Arians says he was pushed out, why the Browns are adding an offensive coordinator to Pat Shurmur's staff and why the Ravens' Cam Cameron is currently in contract limbo.

There is a chance that three new offensive coordinators could in place by next season. The only one who is safe is the Bengals' Jay Gruden, who signed a three-year, $3.6 million extension.

No AFC North offense ranked in the top 9 in the NFL in total yards, rushing, passing or points scored. There were only two areas where a division offense ranked in the top 10 -- the Ravens' rushing attack and the Steelers' passing game.

The Steelers' search to replace Arians could heat up this week at the Senior Bowl. Pittsburgh, which ranked 12th overall in offense, has a history of promoting from within at this position. That means quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner and offensive line coach Sean Kugler could have the best shot at the job. Running backs coach Kirby Wilson was considered to be next in line, but he was badly burned in a fire at his home and might not return to the team anytime soon.

The Browns are adding an offensive coordinator after first-year head coach Pat Shurmur served that role in 2011 and Cleveland's offense finished 29th. Shurmur is still interviewing candidates and could continue to do so at this week's Senior Bowl, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Two coaches who are considered to be on the Browns' radar -- Mike Sherman and Brad Childress -- could take jobs elsewhere. Sherman is the first candidate to get a second interview for the Tampa Bay head-coaching position and is a candidate to become the Dolphins' offensive coordinator. Childress has been linked to the head-coaching searches in Tampa Bay and Indianapolis.

It's uncertain what the Ravens will do with Cameron after the offense finished 15th overall. Cameron's contract is set to expire and there's no extension on the table, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Sunday. He is one of the highest-paid coordinators in the NFL, making $2 million per season, according to a league source. Ravens coach John Harbaugh hasn't met with reporters since his postgame session following the AFC Championship Game. If Cameron doesn't return, the Ravens would probably consider former Raiders head coach Hue Jackson, who was the Ravens' quarterbacks coach in Joe Flacco's first two seasons in the NFL.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden signed a three-year, $3.6 million extension to remain with the team, a league source confirmed to The Cincinnati Enquirer. The extension was first reported by an Orlando television station.

The Enquirer reported that the terms of the extension are similar to what defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer received when he stayed with the team two years ago.

This extension comes a day after Gruden declined an interview request from the Rams for their head-coaching position. Gruden made an impact in his first season as the Bengals offensive coordinator with his work with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

Hensley's slant: Perhaps the biggest key in developing a quarterback is continuity. Keeping Gruden means keeping Dalton in the same system with the same coaching. The next step for the Bengals' passing game is finding a more reliable No. 2 wide receiver.

BROWNS: The Browns' timeline for hiring an offensive coordinator could be affected by other teams filling their head-coaching vacancies, according to The Akron Beacon Journal. Cleveland coach Pat Shurmur has been talking to offensive coordinator candidates, but it's unclear whether any formal interviews have occurred. "Candidates with options and deadlines" have been communicating with the organization, a league source told the paper. Hensley's slant: The biggest splash the Browns can make is hiring either Brad Childress or Mike Sherman. But this unaggressive approach suggests the Browns might just promote from within. Quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, a former offensive coordinator at the University of Miami, would be the top candidate currently on staff.

RAVENS: Ed Reed isn't concerned that he finished the regular season with three interceptions, the lowest total for a full season in his 10-year career. “They’re not throwing my way. What do you want me to do?” Reed said, via The Baltimore Sun. “They’re not throwing my way. I can remember two interceptions that really touched my hands, and I didn’t make the play, but I’m not getting action. So this question is for the other teams and the other quarterbacks.” Hensley's slant: Don't be surprised if Reed makes an impact in the playoffs after a quiet regular season. He has seven interceptions in nine postseason games. And remember that two picks were taken away two years ago in Indianapolis by penalty. Reed won't drop a pass thrown at him like Cincinnati's Chris Crocker did last week in Houston.

STEELERS: Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu won his appeal of a $10,000 fine for using a cell phone on the sideline of a game, a league source told the NFL Network. The league fined Polamalu on Oct. 16 because he used his cell phone near the Steelers' bench during a game against Jacksonville. He reportedly made a brief call to his wife after leaving the game with concussion-like symptoms. Hensley's slant: This is no surprise because it was a bad call by the league in the first place. Remember the NFL had fined Polamalu more than Texans defensive end Antonio Smith (who has to pay $7,500 for pulling off the helmet of Ravens guard Andre Gurode) and Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew (who has to pay $7,500 for a chop block). That just didn't make sense.

Every morning, grab a cup of coffee and get your AFC North wake-up call here:

The only AFC North team not in the playoffs will be just as busy as the ones who are. The Cleveland Browns will begin their search for an offensive coordinator as well as start the decision-making process on quarterback Colt McCoy and running back Peyton Hillis.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said he would be willing to give up play-calling duties to the right offensive coordinator candidate. "I want to get the right guy," Shurmur said, via The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "That's a relationship that's very, very important."

Shurmur indicated there will be an open competition for the quarterback job, which means McCoy is going to have to win it if he wants to keep it. "It's critical that he gets better. He'd tell you the same thing," Shurmur said, via The Plain Dealer. "We'll move forward with that in mind and we'll do what we have to do to put the best quarterback on the field for our franchise."

As far as Hillis, Shurmur said he spoke with the running back but remained non-committal about re-signing him. "As we move forward, we're just hopeful it works out for everybody," he said. "But that's one of those questions I really can't answer at this point."

Hensley's slant: My first-blush reaction is Brad Childress will end up being the new offensive coordinator, McCoy won't be the starter in 2012 and Hillis will be running the ball somewhere else. When you finish 29th in yards and 30th in scoring, there's got to be some major changes on offense. If the Browns can't get Childress, quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple could easily be promoted.

BENGALS: Kicker Mike Nugent isn't worried after missing three of nine field-goal attempts the past two games, including two from less than 40 yards. “The past few hits the past couple of games I’ve been happy with how I’ve hit the ball, but I just haven’t been reading it right,” Nugent said, via The Cincinnati Enquirer. Nugent set franchise records for field goals made (33) and points scored (132). Hensley's slant: History says the Bengals will need all the points they can get out of Nugent. Cincinnati has lost by eight or fewer points in five of their six losses to teams that currently have winning records. The Bengals can't afford a postseason repeat of Shayne Graham.

RAVENS: Several reports say keeping personnel executive Eric DeCosta, who is viewed as the heir apparent to general manager Ozzie Newsome, could be getting increasingly difficult. According to The Baltimore Sun, the openings in Chicago and Indianapolis are attractive jobs, and would give DeCosta plenty to think about. DeCosta has been with the team since it moved to Baltimore and has been the team's director of player personnel since 2009. Hensley's slant: It's really going to take a great offer and a great team to pry DeCosta away. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has done everything in his power from a contractual standpoint to keep him as the successor to Newsome. Of course, the Ravens are probably shedding no tears over the firing of Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, who was involved in that draft-day fiasco with Baltimore.

STEELERS: Just like the Steelers in 2005, this year's team likely has to win three road playoff games to reach the Super Bowl. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says this year's team is not the 2005 one and far from it. The 2005 Steelers entered the playoffs on a roll and were healthy. In 2005, the Steelers won their final four regular-season games by 105-33. Hensley's slant: The biggest obstacle for the Steelers isn't playing on the road. It's the health of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. If he remains limited by that high ankle sprain, it will be tough for the Steelers to make a strong run at the Super Bowl.

We have a couple of interesting items to pass along on the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

• First, it appears the Browns have found their guy to lead the defense in Dick Jauron. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports Jauron could finalize a deal soon after he spent his previous stint as secondary coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Browns general manager Tom Heckert was a year ago. Jauron also was a former head coach of the Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears. This experience is key, as Cleveland elected to hire first-time head coach Pat Shurmur this month.
• In Cincinnati, the team website reports head coach Marvin Lewis met with Brad Childress to discuss the offense. Childress is a former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and offensive coordinator with the Eagles. But the report was unclear if this was anything more than a meeting. The Bengals have not announced any changes on their staff, and Bob Bratkowski remains the team's offensive coordinator.

Cleveland still has an opening at offensive coordinator, and it remains to be seen if Cincinnati will make any significant changes in its staff. So stay tuned.

I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend.

Now let's dig into the mailbag.

Theo from Raleigh, N.C., writes: I hate to beat the proverbial "Steelers being targeted" dead horse here. But do you think Ben Roethlisberger's public opinion of him had anything to do with Richard Seymour only getting a fine?

James Walker: Theo, I've seen the argument that if Tom Brady or Peyton Manning were hit in the face, it would have been a bigger deal. Although I agree the penalty could have been stiffer, I don't believe Roethlisberger's reputation had anything to do with the ruling.

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Peter from St Andrews, Scotland, writes: I was wondering what you think was supposed to happen on the Antwaan Randle-El/Roethlisberger flea-flicker last week.

Walker: Interesting question, Peter. The play never had time to develop and wasn't well-executed so I can't say for sure. But I think Roethlisberger ran out as one option. Maybe the Steelers will come back to that play this season.

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Patrick Charles from Columbus, Ohio, writes: Who is the fastest player in the AFC North?

Walker: Steelers receiver Mike Wallace is the fastest player I've seen, Patrick. Wallace is probably top five in the league. But we will never know for certain unless the NFL decides to hold a competition like it did back in the day.

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Matthew Falkler from Daytona Beach, Florida, writes: What is your take on the argument between Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and receiver Derrick Mason?

Walker: Sideline blowups happen, Matthew. I'm actually surprised it took this long for the Ravens, because there are a lot of vocal players on offense this year who want the football. I think winning helps a ton and is part of the reason nothing boiled over until Week 11. But if the Ravens ever have a significant losing streak this season, you would probably hear more bickering from players who feel they could do more to help the team.

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Marcus from Baltimore writes: Do you think the Ravens and Steelers will make the playoffs?

Walker: Yes, Marcus, I believe this division gets two playoff teams. One wild card likely will be the loser of Dec. 5 matchup between Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The winner of that game obviously has the inside track to win the AFC North.

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Patrick Ryan from San Antonio, Texas, writes: This year pretty much solidifies that Ed Reed is better than Troy Polamalu.

Walker: You didn't get the memo, Patrick? The correct answer is "Troy Reed" on all matters relating to Ed Reed vs. Troy Polamalu.

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E.J. from Pomona, CA, writes: Who has the better commercials: Ray Lewis or Troy Polamalu?

Walker: "Ray Polamalu." Just kidding, E.J. I like Polamalu's commercials better.

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Josh from Cleveland writes: The Browns are obviously a lot better than the record shows. So will we see a playoff or even a Super Bowl Browns team next season?

Walker: Sloooow down on the Super Bowl talk with Cleveland, Josh. Browns fans tend to get overexcited when they see signs of progress. I take things one year at a time, and this year the Browns aren't going to the playoffs. Their best-case scenario is to try to get seven or eight wins and build in the offseason.

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Joe Marzano from West Middlesex, Pa., writes: Do you think Browns coach Eric Mangini is safe this year, no matter the record?

Walker: Browns president Mike Holmgren hasn't made his decision, Joe. So it's still to be determined. The record won't be everything, but it will be a factor. Mangini can't lose the rest of his games, go 3-13, and keep his post. The Browns have to finish strong and show improvement over last year's 5-11 record.

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Bryan Roberts from Philadelphia writes: With the recent firing of Brad Childress in Minnesota and Wade Phillips in Dallas, when will Mike Brown fire Bengals coach Marvin Lewis?

Walker: Don't look for it, Bryan. Lewis is in his last year and only has five games remaining on his contract. The Bengals are expected to let him coach out the season and probably won't renew his deal.

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Dave from Cincinnati writes: The Bengals have so many needs to be addressed in the upcoming draft. What position should their first pick be on?

Walker: This really depends on what direction the team takes in the offseason, Dave. Do the Bengals keep quarterback Carson Palmer, for instance? If so, then quarterback is not the biggest need, although Cincinnati may want to draft one in the second or third round to mold for the future. If the Bengals release Palmer, it would make sense to use their first-round pick on a quarterback. But one need that's going to be there regardless is an elite pass-rusher. This could come at outside linebacker (move Rey Maualuga inside) or a defensive end. Cincinnati needs to improve that part of the defense in the early rounds.

Comments and complaints department

Here are some comments and complaints this week from our AFC North community.

Rick from Pittsburgh writes: Every time you put up a "look back" blog such as the Cincinnati fans comments about them being awesome, it's probably my favorite reading material ever now that they are terrible this season.

Cupp from Hebron, Ohio, writes: It's been 21 years as a Bengals fan and only three winning seasons. Mike Brown has no idea what he is doing. If they expand the season to 18 games, I will most likely not be a fan of the NFL anymore and just stick to the Buckeyes. Why would I want to see the BUNGALS lose more games next season.

Walker: Rick, everyone liked that post except Bengals fans, who voiced their displeasure in our division inbox. But when we did the same blogs last year when everyone was ripping the Bengals and they won the division, Cincy fans loved it. You can't have it both ways. Cupp, stay strong in your fandom and support your team. Two more games also would be a chance to collect two more wins.

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Noelle from Los Angeles writes: What needs to be clearly defined is what is "roughing" the passer? These football players are not unnecessarily hitting or using violence against the quarterbacks. They are simply doing their jobs as football players and tackling the passer. NFL speak your ground: Let's hear how you define these terms.

Walker: I agree, Noelle. In talking to players throughout the division, I'm not sure there is universal clarity on the subject. Some hits are harder than others, but many of them are being flagged. It's clear the NFL wants to protect its quarterbacks. But how far they're going is what's being questioned.

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Pconti from Colorado (by way of Akron, OH) writes: What do you think about starting the Cleveland Clowns movement? Fans can wear clown outfits to the games until they are over .500.

Walker: Pconti, you would be wearing that suit for the rest of the year, because the Browns probably won't finish 8-8 this season.

AFC North Homer of the Week

We saved this special comment for a while and now it's time to unveil it. Keep in mind, this was written last month by one of our favorite bloggers in our AFC North community.

Zach aka Sportsfan2305 from Columbus, OH, writes: CHALLLENGE FOR JW. I feel special that I was one of your posters on "Remember the offseason" Bengals edition. However, you gotta admit, with the weak first-half schedule there was no reason why the Bengals SHOULDN'T have started off hot and then sputtered against the tougher second-half opponents. Therefore, I have a wager to make you my friend: If the Bengals finish 10-6 or better I would like a retraction that, while I was a bit outspoken with my comment, it wasn't necessarily a homer comment. If they do not then I will never challenge your ruling again and will change my user name to "JW is a Sports Genius" for the entire offseason. What do you think?

Walker: Zach, not only was your offseason comment a homer statement, but you're officially our "Homer of the Week." Wear it proud.

If you have any questions, comments or complaints, feel free to send them to our division inbox or AFC North Twitter.

	US Presswire
	Ben Roethlisberger and the defending champion Steelers will take on Brett Favre and the undefeated Vikings in Week 7.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker and Kevin Seifert

As one of just four undefeated teams, the Minnesota Vikings (6-0) can make a claim as arguably the best team in football.

As defending Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) can also claim they’re the team to beat until someone else holds the Lombardi trophy.

So which team has the advantage when the Vikings meet the Steelers Sunday in Heinz Field?

ESPN.com’s AFC North blogger James Walker and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert debate the most important storylines in this high-profile matchup.

Which quarterback is more important to his team: Minnesota’s Brett Favre or Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger?

Seifert: Favre has already made a huge difference in at least two victories this season. Without his heroics, I think the Vikings lose to San Francisco (Sept. 27) and last week against Baltimore. Other than Favre and receiver Percy Harvin, the Vikings in essence are fielding the same team they had last year. Through six games in 2008, the Vikings were 3-3. I don’t know if a quarterback can have a bigger impact than doubling a team’s win total through six games. Roethlisberger is the cornerstone of the Steelers, but I like their chances with backup Charlie Batch better than the Vikings’ with backup Tarvaris Jackson.

Walker: Last I recall the Vikings were a playoff team in 2008 without Favre, and Jackson was their starting quarterback for the final four games, including the postseason. Favre is a luxury in Minnesota. At 40, he’s is not even the best player on his own offense. That award goes to tailback Adrian Peterson -- the real engine behind the Vikings. Without a doubt Roethlisberger means more to his team. At 27, Big Ben already has twice as many rings (two) as Favre (one), and Roethlisberger is just entering the prime of his career. He’s 55-22 (71.4 percent) as a starter and kept the Steelers afloat when Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu missed four games with a knee injury. But both deserve to be near the top of the MVP conversation. So look for the winning quarterback to make a huge push in that race as we approach the midpoint of the season.

Which defense is more likely to dominate?

Seifert: We’re not exactly at a high point for Minnesota’s defense right now. I’m pretty sure the Steelers will be scouring the tape of last week’s game against Baltimore, which rolled for 302 offensive yards IN THE SECOND HALF. The Ravens scored 21 points in less than five minutes of the fourth quarter and seemed to expose the Vikings’ pass defense. Most of that damage came after Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield left the game with a sprained foot. It’s difficult to replace a No. 1 cornerback, but can the loss of one player really decimate a defense that thoroughly? I like the Steelers’ chances of getting pressure against Favre more than the Vikings’ ability to cope with Winfield’s injury status.

Walker: I like the physicality of both defenses. But with home-field advantage, Winfield’s status uncertain and the return of Polamalu, the advantage goes to Pittsburgh. The Steelers have the NFL’s third-ranked defense, and that’s with Polamalu missing four games. Now everyone on Pittsburgh’s defense can revert back to their normal roles. Minnesota’s defense is underachieving this year at No. 18. Pittsburgh will be the toughest defense the Vikings have faced so far. The Steelers have the talent to match up with Minnesota’s offense and keep the game manageable. But with four turnovers last week, Pittsburgh's biggest concern should be taking care of the football and not giving the Vikings a short field.

	Rich Gabrielson/Icon SMI
	Adrian Peterson, the NFL's leading rusher, has had his best games against AFC North teams this season.

Who is the biggest playmaker in this game?

Seifert: You have to point out that two of the NFL’s four highest-rated quarterbacks are playing in this game. You have to give credit to any receiver, Pittsburgh’s Santonio Holmes included, who has made a Super Bowl-winning catch. But this game will feature a fascinating matchup between the NFL’s leading rusher (Minnesota's Peterson ) and its second-best rush defense (Pittsburgh). Peterson made quick work of the Ravens last week, rushing for 143 yards. But the Steelers are allowing only 74.5 rushing yards per game, and have given up only one rushing touchdown all year. If anyone can slice through the Steelers, it’s Peterson. But it will be a challenge.

Walker: With 10 combined wins, you can’t help but have a lot of playmakers in this game. For me, it’s a close race between Peterson and Roethlisberger. I believe these two players will most determine the outcome of Sunday's game. Peterson had his two biggest performances this season -- a combined 323 rushing yards -- against AFC North teams in the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns. Usually the Steelers have success against big, physical backs, but Peterson is special. If he runs wild Sunday, Minnesota has the advantage. On the flip side, Roethlisberger is just as capable -- and perhaps more capable -- of putting up numbers similar to Joe Flacco's (385 yards) last week. So I like Roethlisberger’s chances of controlling the game more, especially with Minnesota hurting at cornerback.

Brad Childress and Mike Tomlin, former colleagues in Minnesota, usually rely on defense and power running. Whose roots will show more clearly in this game?

Seifert: My guess is that Childress would love to follow his roots, relying on Peterson and the defense to win it. But as we’ve discussed above, this game doesn’t seem to set up that way. Whether he likes it or not, Childress is going to have to rely on Favre and the passing game in its most significant test yet this season. This year’s version of the Steelers doesn’t seem to get beat by the running game, and the Vikings' defense might not be suited to take on the pass-happy Steelers. This isn’t likely to be a Childress-like game.

Walker: This is an interesting question, because I think one of Tomlin’s biggest strengths is the ability to be fluid during games. Tomlin is a defensive coach, but he’s not afraid to let Roethlisberger chuck it 35 to 40 times if necessary. Tomlin’s also not afraid to go for it on fourth down at times most coaches would not. Tomlin rarely coaches tight, and the same cannot be said for Childress, who tightened up last week in the fourth quarter against Baltimore. But it’s hard to argue with Childress’ 6-0 record. I think this game will see a little bit of everything, not just smashmouth football and good defense.

Posted by ESPN.com’s James Walker

Earlier Monday, we wondered if the Minnesota Vikings really cared that Cleveland Browns wouldn't name a starting quarterback this week between Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

It turns out the Vikings don’t.

Here is a snippet from Minnesota coach Brad Childress’ Monday press conference:

Q: How does it impact your game planning with the Browns’ starting quarterback battle not being settled?

“It doesn’t. You just schematically look at what you’ve seen. You are going to go back and look at Jets tape and see what you’ve seen. I know, as do our guys, there are going to be unscouted looks. I mean, they certainly haven’t showed their whole hand offensively or defensively (in the preseason). But you are just going back and looking at, formation-wise, where they are putting people, and what kind of players they are. It will be more about us deploying than about what they do.”

Browns coach Eric Mangini contends the quarterback mystery will create confusion for Minnesota’s defense. Childress says it won't.

Only one coach will be correct on Sunday.