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Ravens fans can relax: there's not going to be a Kyle Boller reunion.

The Ravens signed quarterback Curtis Painter instead of Boller and Dennis Dixon, according to NFL Network. Painter is expected to compete with Tyrod Taylor to be the team's backup to Joe Flacco.

While Boller isn't returning to Baltimore, there is a reunion taking place. Painter rejoins new Ravens quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, who was the Indianapolis Colts' head coach last season. Painter made eight starts for the injured Peyton Manning last season but did not win a game before being benched.

I thought Painter was the front-runner for the job because of his connection to Caldwell. Based on potential and experience, he should have been last on the list.

It's understandable that the Ravens passed on Boller. Bringing back Boller would've been a public relations nightmare because he flopped as a first-round quarterback.

What I'm scratching my head over is the Ravens not signing Dixon. He's 27 and athletic. He has much more potential than Painter.

In the end, it probably doesn't matter whether it's Dixon or Painter or Taylor. Flacco has yet to miss a start in his NFL career.

The Baltimore Ravens are among three teams interested in Steelers free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Rams and Denver Broncos are also in the running for Dixon, who is not expected to return to Pittsburgh.

The Ravens have been inconsistent in how they've addressed the backup quarterback position recently. In 2010, Baltimore spent $3.8 million on Marc Bulger to have veteran insurance behind Joe Flacco. In 2011, the Ravens went with rookie sixth-round pick Tyrod Taylor.

One reason why the Ravens could go with Bulger in 2010 was the uncapped year, but it's definitely a major philosophical switch to go from a playoff-tested quarterback in Bulger to a raw prospect like Taylor. Of course, Baltimore hasn't needed a backup, because Flacco has never missed a start in his four-year career (64 straight, the third-longest current streak in the NFL). But the Ravens' playoff chances would get decimated if Flacco got hurt, and the team had to turn to Taylor for an extended period.

Dixon, 27, the No. 3 quarterback last season for Pittsburgh, has made three career starts in his four seasons with the Steelers. He has a 2-1 record, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Dixon's first start came against the Ravens in 2009, when his interception in overtime set up the winning field goal.

Here are the backup quarterback situations for the rest of the AFC North:

BENGALS: Cincinnati is set with journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. When Andy Dalton was hurt in last year's season opener, Gradkowski rallied the Bengals to a 27-17 win at Cleveland.

BROWNS: At this point, the Browns are going with Seneca Wallace, the team's backup for the past two seasons. But the depth chart could get moved around if Cleveland drafts a quarterback in the early rounds. If the Browns don't take a quarterback, Wallace won't be competing with Colt McCoy for the starting job, the team said.

STEELERS: Besides Ben Roethlisberger, the only quarterbacks on the roster are Troy Smith and Jerrod Johnson. The Steelers likely will bring back Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch. The favorite to return is Leftwich, who reportedly drew interest from the Colts.

With Peyton Manning coming and Tim Tebow going out, the Broncos still are not settled at the quarterback position.

Who is going to be Manning's backup?

Denver could always opt to keep Tebow, but ESPN has reported the team will try to trade him. They may even release him if they don’t find a trade partner.

The matter of Manning’s backup is significant. Manning passed the Broncos’ physical and he has been cleared to play in 2012 after missing all of last season with a neck injury. But there has to be a backup plan.

There aren’t too many great options out there. The top backup options are Byron Leftwich, Matt Leinart, Charlie Batch Donovan McNabb, Vince Young, Billy Volek, Josh Johnson and Dennis Dixon. Of that group, I think Volek -- who was released by the Chargers last week -- could be the best option. He is a serviceable player in a pinch.

Denver could always draft a quarterback to groom behind Manning. Manning, who turns 36 Saturday, probably has at least three solid seasons remaining in him if his neck holds up.

It might be a little early to draft a quarterback in the early rounds and I think Denver is now out of the Brandon Weeden mix. Denver has closely scouted him, but he will be 29 during the season. There is little chance Denver will take a quarterback who may not be in the position to start until he is well in his 30s.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Denver Broncos

Key free agents: K Matt Prater (franchised), DT Brodrick Bunkley, S Brian Dawkins, TE Daniel Fells, FB Spencer Larsen, WR Eddie Royal, QB Brady Quinn, DT Marcus Thomas, LB Wesley Woodyard, P Britton Colquitt (restricted).

Where they stand: The Broncos will have plenty of salary-cap room. For a team that went from 4-12 with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft to winning the AFC West and a playoff game in John Fox’s first season as coach, the Broncos are in position to improve through free agency. With Prater franchised, the team’s only priority unrestricted free agent is Bunkley.

What to expect: Don’t expect a huge spending spree. The Broncos are cash conscious and I think the franchise is still recovering from some undisciplined spending during the Mike Shanahan era that ended in 2008. We will see the Broncos try to add several pieces at lower prices. Denver could address needs at safety, running back, receiver, tight end, linebacker and quarterback. Keep an eye on players such as Washington safety LaRon Landry, Seattle tight end John Carlson, quarterbacks Chad Henne (Miami), Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh) or Josh Johnson (Tampa), running backs Michael Bush (Oakland) and Mike Tolbert (San Diego), and defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene Cincinnati.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key free agents: WR Dwayne Bowe (franchised), CB Brandon Carr, QB Kyle Orton, RB Jackie Battle, LB Jovan Belcher, S Jon McGraw, C Casey Wiegmann, RB Thomas Jones, DE Wallace Gilberry, DT Kelly Gregg

Where they stand: The Chiefs are in great shape on cap space even after signing cornerback Stanford Routt and franchising Bowe. They have already done a nice job in free agency with these two moves and have a good, young roster. Kansas City can become a serious playoff contender with the right moves. It is likely Carr will leave in free agency, but the Chiefs should be able to re-sign most of their other free agents if they wish.

What to expect: I’m not sure we will see the Chiefs break the bank for any of the super-hot free agents, but I expect them to do some significant shopping. I think we could see Kansas City look for help at nose tackle, linebacker, safety, tackle, running back and quarterback. Of course, the intrigue could start if the team gets in on the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. But they could also look at several other quarterbacks, including Orton, Henne, Jason Campbell (Oakland) or even Quinn. They could also be in the mix for Miami nose tackle Paul Soliai, Saints guard Carl Nicks and running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis (New England), Bush and Tolbert.

Oakland Raiders

Key free agents: S Tyvon Branch (franchised), RB Michael Bush, QB Jason Campbell, LB Quentin Groves, C Samson Satele, WR Chaz Schilens, DE Trevor Scott, FB Marcel Reece (restricted).

Where they stand: The Raiders are one of the few teams that must get under the salary cap. Oakland coach Dennis Allen recently acknowledged the team has work to do. The Raiders have some contracts that can be easily restructured, but they also may have to cut some players, particularly on defense. Linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and defensive tackle John Henderson are among the top candidates.

What to expect: The Raiders likely face some limitations once they get under the cap, but they can add two or three starting-quality players under the right circumstances. Their primary needs are on defense, starting at cornerback and linebacker. The offensive line could be upgraded as well. I think they can be in on the second wave of cornerbacks. A player to watch is New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter, who previously played for Allen. There are some solid second-tier cornerbacks Oakland could be interested in other than Porter. There will be some good players available on both sides of the ball after the initial wave of free agency for short-term deals. Expect the Raiders to do some bargain picking during that time. I think Oakland will be interested in signing several of its free agents, but I expect Bush and Campbell will leave.

San Diego Chargers

Key free agents: WR Vincent Jackson, C Nick Hardwick, RB Tolbert, DT Antonio Garay, OT Jared Gaither, FB Jacob Hester.

Where they stand: The Chargers will be in decent shape and they are getting even better after cutting Luis Castillo, the retirement of guard Kris Dielman and the expected release of tackle Marcus McNeill. But San Diego still has a lot of work to do. They have the most priority free agents of any team in the division. Signing Jackson, Hardwick, Gaither, Tolbert and Garay will be a challenge.

What to expect: The Chargers will likely stick to their usual plan and concentrate first on their own free agents. But they also have other needs and they will likely spend more in free agency than they have done before under general manager A.J. Smith. I get the sense from some agents that the Chargers may spend wildy in an attempt to win back the fan base’s trust after the unpopular contract extensions for Smith and coach Norv Turner. The pair were brought back even after missing the playoffs for a second consecutive season. I also get the sense from inside the organization, however, that the Chargers will not act out of desperation. Look for the team to consider pass-rushers, nose tackles, safeties and offensive linemen if Hardwick and Gaither aren’t brought back. A receiver will also become a major need if Jackson goes. The Colts' Reggie Wayne could be an option in that case. A running back such as Cadillac Williams (St. Louis) reportedly will be in the mix if Tolbert walks. Soliai could interest the team as well. Chicago special teams ace Corey Graham may also be a target. If the Chargers want to make a huge splash, they could try to get in on Houston pass-rusher Mario Williams, who is widely considered the best player on the market.

The Steelers signed former Ravens quarterback Troy Smith on Friday, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

This is an interesting addition but not likely a significant one. Even though the Steelers' quarterback group could undergo change, Smith would be fighting for the No. 3 job.

Pittsburgh's top two backups this season, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon, are both free agents. Dixon presumably will go elsewhere and the 37-year-old Batch might not return.

Byron Leftwich, who is also a free agent, is expected to re-sign and become the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger. Leftwich broke his arm in the preseason and spent the entire regular season on injured reserve.

That's why Smith's best shot at sticking with the Steelers is winning the third-string job. Smith, a Heisman Trophy winner who was with the Ravens from 2007 to 2009, spent last season with the United Football League's Omaha Nighthawks. He failed to establish himself as an NFL starting quarterback because he struggles with accuracy.

PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers say they don't plan to alter their defensive style when playing the non-traditional offense run by Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.

Pittsburgh believes playing as a team lifted the defense to No. 1 in the NFL and that it will shut down Tebow, who is more of a running back at times than a quarterback.

"We’ve been a solid defense around here for a long time," defensive end Brett Keisel said. "Regardless of who we’re playing, we understand what we’re capable of as a defense. If we all just do our job, we’re pretty good."

Actually, the Steelers' scheme seems to be a bad matchup for the Broncos. Pittsburgh typically plays with eight men in the box with safety Troy Polamalu lurking around the line of scrimmage.

And while some teams have a hard time adjusting to Denver's spread option, the Steelers think they will be fine because of Dennis Dixon. As Pittsburgh's third-string quarterback, Dixon has been running Tebow-like plays for years in Steelers practices after playing in an option-style offense at Oregon.

“We prepare for it during the offseason,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "We’ve been looking at it now for the last several years."

But it looks like other teams have figured out Tebow lately. He has turned the ball over six times in the Broncos' three-game losing streak to end the regular season.

Now, he looks to break his slump against a defense that ranks first in fewest yards, points and passing yards.

"They're really good," Tebow told Denver reporters Wednesday. "Sometimes it looks like it is chaos out there, but they know where they're going."

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 15:

Steelers' backup plan: Ben Roethlisberger's status is uncertain for Monday night's game at San Francisco because of a high ankle sprain, and the Steelers have been preparing Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon to play. If Roethlisberger can't go, here's a word of advice for Batch and Dixon: Be careful with the ball around the 49ers. San Francisco is tied for second in the league in interceptions and has at least one interception in 11 of 13 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The 49ers are the only defense in the NFL to have more than one player with at least five interceptions (Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers). The Steelers quarterbacks who have started in place of Roethlisberger since 2004 have thrown 13 interceptions in 14 games.

Return of Ray: The Ravens expect linebacker Ray Lewis to come back after missing four games with a toe injury. This should bolster the middle of a defense that has been its strong area all season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, no team has allowed fewer yards per rush between the tackles than the Ravens this season (3.4) and Baltimore is the only team not to allow a run of 20 yards or longer up the middle. Baltimore will get challenged by San Diego running back Ryan Mathews, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in three straight games. On runs in between the tackles this season, he is the top five in yards per rush (5.2) and 20-yard gains (seven).

Homesick Browns: Cleveland won its first road game of the season, beating the winless Colts. It has been a disaster away from home ever since. The Browns have lost five straight road games, mainly because of their play in the fourth quarter. Cleveland lost at Cincinnati despite entering the fourth quarter with a three-point lead and fell at Pittsburgh after being within four points of the Steelers for almost the entire final quarter. A loss at Arizona would mark the third straight season with at least six road losses for the Browns.

Run down Rams: Cedric Benson needs eight rushing yards to become the fifth Bengals running back to reach 4,000 for his career. Let's just say the odds are in his favor. The Rams have the NFL's worst run defense, allowing 156.8 yards a game on the ground. St. Louis is the only defense to give up 200-yard rushing games to two backs (Dallas' DeMarco Murray and Arizona's Beanie Wells). That works in Cincinnati's favor. The Bengals are 11-1 when Benson carries the ball at least 25 times.

The James Harrison factor: The key to beating the 49ers is getting pressure on quarterback Alex Smith. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Smith has been sacked 20 times in three losses and only 19 times in 10 wins. The Steelers' pass rush took a major hit when James Harrison was suspended one game for his helmet-to-helmet shot on Browns quarterback Colt McCoy. Over the past five games -- all of the ones that LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) has failed to play or finish -- Harrison has accounted for six of the Steelers' 10 sacks.

The training camp of the Pittsburgh Steelers is filled with early storylines. But one story that hasn't received much attention is the status of quarterback Dennis Dixon, who has been a no-show in camp.

A restricted free agent, Dixon has yet to sign his tender and hasn't reported to the Steelers. On Sunday, the AFC North blog caught up with Dixon's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, who said his client would prefer a chance to compete elsewhere rather than be a backup to two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger this season.

"Dennis would love the opportunity to start," Sperbeck said. "Yes, we would look forward to an opportunity for a trade -- it's a starting opportunity we're looking for."

Dixon has been a backup to Roethlisberger since 2008.

The Steelers put a fifth-round tender on Dixon this offseason, so there is a chance other teams could eventually show interest once the dust settles on unrestricted quarterbacks.

As the confetti fell at the conclusion of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium, a look of despair and disappointment immediately came over the faces of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The newly crowned Green Bay Packers were in full celebration mode, while Pittsburgh felt the sting of falling short of its seventh championship.

History weighs heavily against the Steelers -- seven of the past 10 Super Bowl runners-up have failed to make the playoffs the next year.

How do the Steelers avoid becoming another statistic? It will take some smart moves and solid upgrades in the offseason.

"Our goal is to try to get into [the Super Bowl] again, and just don't be on this side again," Steelers receiver Mike Wallace said. "Just get back in the lab and work harder. That's all."

Here is a preview of what's next for the Steelers:

Where are Pittsburgh’s biggest needs?

Coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the Steelers are in better shape than most teams. But they are by no means perfect.

Three losses this season -- to the Packers, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints -- have provided a blueprint of how to beat the Steelers. It takes a top-flight quarterback and a precise, short and intermediate passing game to put enough points on the board against Pittsburgh's vaunted No. 2 ranked defense.

Forcing the Steelers' offense to play from behind makes the team one-dimensional and susceptible to the pass rush. Pittsburgh's offensive line is one of the weakest areas of the team. Those three losses to Green Bay, New England and New Orleans all played out in similar fashion.

To counter these tough matchups, the Steelers need to improve their roster in several areas.

Pittsburgh's two biggest needs are at cornerback and offensive line. Upgrades to both positions would help the Steelers combat opponents like New England and Green Bay. The Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (304 yards, three touchdowns) beat Pittsburgh's defense by running a lot of three- and four-receiver sets, which exposed the Steelers' lack of depth in the secondary.

Pittsburgh starting cornerback Ike Taylor is solid, but he will be an unrestricted free agent (we will get to that later). After Taylor there is a dropoff to Bryant McFadden and backups William Gay and Anthony Madison. High-powered passing offenses will continue to give Pittsburgh fits unless it addresses this issue. I wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers draft a cornerback in the first two rounds.

The Steelers need to improve at guard and tackle on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Max Starks is solid and returning from a season-ending neck injury. He will replace the inconsistent Jonathan Scott. Right tackle Flozell Adams, 35, is under contract for one more year with Pittsburgh and is uncertain about his future. Guard Chris Kemoeatu and center Maurkice Pouncey are set, but the Steelers could use another starting-caliber guard.

The Steelers traditionally are not big players in free agency, so don't expect a lot of turnover. Most of their needs will be addressed in April's NFL draft.

"I think we still have a core group of players that we can build around and hopefully make another run at it," Steelers president Art Rooney II said after the Super Bowl loss. "I don't think we'll be sitting there saying we're going to make a lot of changes. We'll prepare for the draft and add some players here and there, and be ready to go."

Who are the Steelers' key free agents?

Where Pittsburgh does spend its money is retaining its key free agents. The Steelers have two big ones this year in Taylor and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

Pittsburgh has every intention of retaining Woodley, who was one of the NFL's best bargains after making just $550,000 in the final year of his rookie contract. Including playoffs, Woodley recorded 60 tackles, 13 sacks, two interceptions and got stronger as the season went on.

The Steelers are expected to use their franchise tag on Woodley, 26, while trying to negotiate a long-term deal. The deadline to tag Woodley is Feb. 24. But it will be challenging for Pittsburgh to work out a large extension until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Under the current CBA, the 30-percent rule is a major holdup in working out an extension with Woodley, who is a former second-round pick.

Taylor's situation is more fluid. The unrestricted free agent will be 31 in May and has spent his entire career with Pittsburgh. Returning will be Taylor's first preference, but he will certainly garner interest from other teams. Pittsburgh has to determine what is the right price to try to keep its No. 1 cornerback.

Other free agents of note for Pittsburgh include backup quarterback Dennis Dixon, tailback Mewelde Moore, kicker Shaun Suisham and offensive linemen Willie Colon and Trai Essex.

Can Pittsburgh remain a contender?

As we mentioned earlier, history is not kind to Super Bowl runners-up. Pittsburgh also will have to overcome its own negative history The last two times the current Steelers made the Super Bowl -- both victories -- they missed the playoffs in the following seasons, 2006 and 2009.

The Steelers are usually at their best as underdogs. That was the case this season; most experts wrote off Pittsburgh because of franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's four-game suspension at the beginning of the season. But the Steelers showed they could overcome setbacks and made it to Super Bowl XLV.

Expectations will be high for Pittsburgh next season, because a lot of talent and veteran leadership remain. But is it enough to get to Super Bowl XVLI in Indianapolis?

"I love this group; I think it is a heck of a group," said Steelers linebacker and captain James Farrior. "There is a lot more football left in us. We just have to stay together. Hopefully, everything works out in the offseason and we get back here next season."

Here are seven notes and observations from Week 5 in the AFC North:

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/David KohlCarson Palmer is currently on pace for 19 interceptions this season.
• The biggest concern I have about Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is not his health, it's his decision-making. Palmer suddenly and surprisingly doesn't see the field as well as he used to, and that's a huge issue that is difficult to correct. At times, Palmer is reading defenses like an inexperienced quarterback; his three interceptions in Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is further proof. Palmer has thrown six picks in five games and probably had an additional four or five that were easily dropped this season. Palmer is on pace to throw 19 interceptions this year, and his career high is 20 for a season.
• Palmer naturally is going to take a beating for his trio of picks, but the Bengals' coaching staff put Palmer in a bad spot late in the game. Leading by seven with less than three minutes remaining, the Bengals (2-3) faced a third-and-13 at their 38-yard line and Tampa Bay had no timeouts. Cincinnati should have run the ball, punted and pinned Tampa deep in its own territory with two minutes left. Instead, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was overly aggressive and called a pass that turned out to be an interception near midfield. It quickly led to Tampa's tying touchdown and the Bucs later won on a field goal. This was a time the Bengals needed to be conservative.
• Peyton Hillis' thigh injury could be a lingering issue for the Cleveland Browns and fantasy football owners. Hillis has deep bruise in his right quad muscle, something that has plagued him before. I recently talked with ESPN's Stephania Bell, an expert on sports injuries. She told me this type of injury can be tough, because calcification can build underneath the bruise and cause lingering discomfort. Hillis recently had the hot hand but didn't look himself in Sunday's loss to the Atlanta Falcons, gaining just 28 yards on 10 carries. He has been Cleveland (1-4) best offensive player through five games.
• Cleveland Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas had a rare off game against Atlanta. Falcons defensive end John Abraham beat Thomas twice for sacks, including the one that injured Seneca Wallace's ankle and knocked him out of the game. Thomas has raised the standard so high that Browns fans have become accustomed to the blindside being protected every week. But Sunday's game provided a rare view of how Cleveland's offense struggles when Thomas isn't at the top of his game.
• Keep an eye on the topic of pass protection this week with the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1). Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger moves around in the pocket more and holds the ball longer than his backups, Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon. That has led to plenty of big plays but also a lot of sacks. The Steelers' offensive line must hold blocks a little longer now that Roethlisberger is back. Cleveland sacked Roethlisberger eight times in the teams' most recent meeting last December.
• It's not a coincidence that the Baltimore Ravens' offense is hitting its stride at the same time as the offensive line. Baltimore (4-1) has won most of the battles in the trenches the past two weeks against the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh. The Ravens allowed only one sack in each of those two games. They didn't run well against Pittsburgh (who does?), but quarterback Joe Flacco was given time to put together a winning performance. On Sunday, the Ravens had no problem pounding the Broncos into submission, rushing for 233 yards, four touchdowns and averaging 5.0 yards per attempt.
• Lastly, kickers rarely get any love in the Seven-step drop. But Baltimore's Billy Cundiff deserves kudos for his four touchbacks against Denver. Field position is such a big part of Baltimore's game, and Cundiff's kickoffs were booming Sunday. It's hard driving 80 yards against the Ravens' defense. So if Cundiff can keep this up, he could be a nice weapon for an already-stacked team.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck provided insight Wednesday into how newly acquired running back Marshawn Lynch might help the Seattle Seahawks' entire offense, not just its running game.

"I don’t know if we’ve ever had a guy like him," Hasselbeck told reporters, noting that T.J. Duckett was more of a short-yardage specialist than an every-down power back. "This makes it a lot tougher for people to defend us. It gives us a huge opportunity in play-action, it gives us huge opportunities with the naked bootleg and just all kinds of things."

The play-action reference was appropriate. Hasselbeck owns the NFL's lowest passer rating in play-action situations among quarterbacks with at least nine such attempts, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The chart breaks down the 32 qualifying quarterbacks.

"You really get a boost from getting a guy like (Lynch)," Hasselbeck said. "He brings something to our team that we didn’t have: a big, powerful, strong back who loves football, has a good football IQ, and complements Justin (Forsett) and what he does well, and so it’s exciting to have him."

Even when the Seahawks were an elite rushing team, Shaun Alexander wasn't known for breaking tackles or punishing defenses.

After a one-month hiatus, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to work this week. Roethlisberger, who was suspended four games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, will make his 2010 debut Oct. 17 against the Cleveland Browns.

But plenty of issues remain for the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. In anticipation of Roethlisberger's return, here are seven questions and answers before he takes the field:

1. How long will it take Roethlisberger to get in sync with the offense?

Analysis: Not long. This offense was built for and around Roethlisberger by offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Roethlisberger simply has to step back into the driver's seat and run the machine. The Steelers have several factors going for them. They were wise to give Roethlisberger plenty of first-team reps in training camp and work with the starters in the preseason. Roethlisberger also will benefit from the bye week, which gives the Steelers two weeks to shake the rust and work on timing. Roethlisberger has been working out at a Pittsburgh-area high school and says he's thrown more footballs per day than he would in practice. Early reports have been good in practice. If Roethlisberger had his choice, he wouldn't have to wait until Oct. 17.

"I want to play this week. That's the hard part; I want to be out there right away," Roethlisberger said at his news conference this week. "But it's a good thing to have two weeks of practice. But my arm is ready. I'm not worried about my arm."

2. What kind of changes will the offense make?

Analysis: The first and biggest change is Pittsburgh will be less conservative. There was only one way the Steelers could win consistently without Roethlisberger, and that was to play it safe on offense and be lights out on defense. Pittsburgh executed its plan to near perfection and got off to a 3-1 start. Now Arians can take more chances and open his entire playbook. Roethlisberger said Monday that he doesn't want to throw it "60 times." But throwing it 30 to 35 times is a good number for Pittsburgh. The Steelers are 31st in passing offense through four games. Look for that ranking to improve dramatically with Roethlisberger under center.

3. Will Roethlisberger be accepted by his teammates?

Analysis: Everything looks good so far. Roethlisberger received a warm greeting from teammates when he arrived this week. It's no secret Roethlisberger wasn't Pittsburgh's most popular player in the past. His irresponsibility this offseason also resulted in his captain status being stripped this year. But absence can make the heart grow fonder, and Roethlisberger's effort to improve as a person is being well-received by the team. Everyone knows Roethlisberger is a gamer, and he has always earned his teammates' respect in the locker room with his toughness and football ability. Now he has to work on the personal side and being more responsible, and it appears he's taking steps in the right direction.

"Every single one of the guys I've seen gave me a big hug," Roethlisberger said. "I was just so happy to see that and they were so happy to see me as well."

4. What about the fans?

Analysis: This is the X factor. Roethlisberger was asked about this during a news conference Monday and he said he wasn't sure. Many in Steeler Nation were upset by Roethlisberger's actions. Most stuck with him during the first sexual assault allegation and were turned off that he would put himself in a precarious position twice in less than a year. Getting suspended four games also put the team in jeopardy of having a slow start. But the offseason ire has seemingly worn off. The Steelers are off to a great start and there are good vibes in Pittsburgh about the chances of this year’s team, especially now that Roethlisberger is back. Winning will help, and Roethlisberger knows that. That is why he has worked extremely hard in the interim to stay sharp.

5. Who benefits most from Roethlisberger's return?

Analysis: There are plenty of beneficiaries when a team gets its best offensive player back. But if I had to pick two players who it impacts the most, it would be starting receiver Hines Ward and tight end Heath Miller. Both players sacrificed production and were forced to take reduced roles in the offense. Miller is averaging 2.5 receptions a game and Ward is averaging 3.0 catches. Their biggest contributions so far have been in the running game, as Ward and Miller are among the best blockers at their positions. Their specialty is making tough catches in coverage over the middle, but neither Dennis Dixon nor Charlie Batch took those kinds of risks. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger trusts his arm and will have more freedom to throw over the middle to Ward and Miller and give his playmakers a chance.

6. How much pressure is on Roethlisberger after Pittsburgh's fast start?

Analysis: This is a tricky question because the answer has two sides. In some ways, Roethlisberger's teammates did a great job of taking the pressure off him by not digging an early hole. If the Steelers were 1-3 instead of 3-1, most of the blame would have been put on Roethlisberger's absence, and it would have put immense pressure on him to come in and try to save Pittsburgh's season. Instead, the Steelers are in a great position and Roethlisberger can simply keep the team rolling in the right direction. But with a fast start also come increased expectations. Many prognosticators thought this was an eight- or nine-win team that barely had a chance to make the playoffs. Now the bar is much higher for this season, and it's up to Roethlisberger to help the Steelers meet those increased expectations.

"I think there's a lot of great chemistry on this team right now," Roethlisberger said. "They are playing great football on offense, defense and special teams from what I've been able to watch of the games. I'm not coming to try to be anything more than what I am. I'm just trying to be helpful and do whatever I can to help this team win football games."

7. Are the Steelers really Super Bowl contenders?

Analysis: Yes. The AFC is deep, but Roethlisberger is one of the NFL's top five quarterbacks and one of the few with two Super Bowl rings. He knows how to get it done, and it doesn't hurt that he has a large chip on his shoulder and a lot of making up to do with his teammates and the city. I covered the Steelers during their last Super Bowl run in 2008, and you could sense the chemistry and talent were there to make a run. Barring any significant injuries -- which are always possible -- I'm getting the same feeling about this year's team early on. The Steelers are good enough to make another playoff run as long as Roethlisberger holds up his end.

For weeks, many wondered which two quarterbacks the Pittsburgh Steelers would keep once starter Ben Roethlisberger returned from his four-game suspension.

On Saturday, the Steelers made their decision.

Pittsburgh announced it placed quarterback Dennis Dixon (knee) on injured reserve, which means the team will go with Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich as its three quarterbacks for the remainder of the 2010 season. The Steelers also signed defensive tackle Steve McLendon.

Dixon was hurt in the Steelers' Week 2 win over the Tennessee Titans. His recovery was projected to take about six weeks, which was enough to convince the Steelers (3-0) to move on this year with three healthier quarterbacks.

Batch's recent play also didn't hurt. He threw for three touchdowns in last week's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dixon finished the year throwing for 254 yards and one interception in two starts. A former fifth-round pick, Dixon will be a restricted free agent after this season.

PITTSBURGH -- With future Hall of Famer Brett Favre on a bye week, the NFL's oldest starting quarterback will be wearing black and gold Sunday.

"It's a blessing, I feel," Steelers 24-year-old receiver Mike Wallace said of 35-year-old teammate Charlie Batch. "Anytime you can be the oldest guy out there, that means you've been doing this well for a long time. If I was one of the oldest guys, I'd be happy and proud of it."

Coming off a three-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Batch aims to put together an encore performance Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) in the NFL's best rivalry. With franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrapping up his four-game suspension, this will likely be Batch's final start of the season. He wants to make it memorable.

It's been business as usual this week for undefeated Pittsburgh (3-0), the No. 1 team in ESPN.com's latest Power Rankings. Unlike Week 1 when Dixon was the starter, there weren't questions in the locker room about inexperience and how much the offense changes with a new quarterback.

Batch, a 13-year pro who is 4-1 as a starter in Pittsburgh, runs the Steelers' offense how the coaching staff wants. He stays in the pocket, is quick and decisive with the football, and only runs when necessary.

The athletic Dixon had problems with the latter, and even Roethlisberger could learn from Batch about making quicker decisions and not holding onto the football. Batch wasn't sacked last week against Tampa Bay. But he also produced the longest run of his career against the Bucs for 24 yards, which should give Baltimore another thing to worry about.

"I got the wheels," Batch warned while laughing Wednesday. "But I didn't even think about it. It was second nature. I saw things open up and I was trying to get the first down and all of a sudden I felt I could get more yardage. I think it caught [receiver Antwaan] Randle El off guard, because he was still running his route instead of looking at the football, and I passed the line of scrimmage 5 yards ago."

A win always helps, but Steelers teammates say they have a great confidence in Batch, the oldest Steeler and one of the team's bigger jokesters.

"He plays all day, and I can't ever believe anything he says," said Wallace, who caught two of Batch's touchdowns last week. "I have to watch him. He's one of biggest [pranksters] on the team. So I have to watch my back around Chuck."

Playing against the Ravens' defense will be no laughing matter.

Batch, a native of suburban Pittsburgh, faces a Baltimore defense ranked No. 1, allowing just 244.3 yards per game. The Ravens also are No. 1 against the pass at 116.7 yards per game.

Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals could not produce a touchdown against Baltimore. In Week 3, Seneca Wallace and the Cleveland Browns (0-3) had moderate success that Batch could build on. Wallace completed 18 of 24 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown, and Cleveland's running game amassed 173 yards.

Pittsburgh's 31 offensive points under Batch last week were the most the team has scored in 2010. Tailback Rashard Mendenhall (143 yards rushing) was solid against Tampa, and Batch wants to keep that momentum going.

"We felt offensively we were letting this team down," he said. "We were winning in other phases, especially with the defense. But we weren't holding up our end."

Lately, the Ravens have caught a couple breaks in this rivalry.

After losing four straight to Pittsburgh in this series, this will be the second straight game Baltimore faces the Steelers without Roethlisberger. In Week 12 last season, Baltimore beat the Dixon-led Steelers in overtime, 20-17. But the Ravens say they will not overlook Batch on Sunday.

"It's different when you’re going against a backup that might be a young guy or a rookie, like most backups," Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "The fact he's been in the league for a long time, he's a veteran guy, he's got a lot of starts under his belt. So you can't look at him the same as you would a guy out of college or something like that."
PITTSBURGH -- With future Hall of Famer Brett Favre on a bye week, the NFL's oldest starting quarterback will be wearing black and gold Sunday.

"It's a blessing, I feel," Steelers 24-year-old receiver Mike Wallace said of 35-year-old teammate Charlie Batch. "Anytime you can be the oldest guy out there, that means you've been doing this well for a long time. If I was one of the oldest guys, I'd be happy and proud of it."

Coming off a three-touchdown performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Batch aims to put together an encore performance Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens (2-1) in the NFL's best rivalry. With franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wrapping up his four-game suspension, this will likely be Batch's final start of the season. He wants to make it memorable.

It's been business as usual this week for undefeated Pittsburgh (3-0), the No. 1 team in ESPN.com's latest Power Rankings. Unlike Week 1 when Dixon was the starter, there weren't questions in the locker room about inexperience and how much the offense changes with a new quarterback.

Batch, a 13-year pro who is 4-1 as a starter in Pittsburgh, runs the Steelers' offense how the coaching staff wants. He stays in the pocket, is quick and decisive with the football, and only runs when necessary.

The athletic Dixon had problems with the latter, and even Roethlisberger could learn from Batch about making quicker decisions and not holding onto the football. Batch wasn't sacked last week against Tampa Bay. But he also produced the longest run of his career against the Bucs for 24 yards, which should give Baltimore another thing to worry about.

"I got the wheels," Batch warned while laughing Wednesday. "But I didn't even think about it. It was second nature. I saw things open up and I was trying to get the first down and all of a sudden I felt I could get more yardage. I think it caught [receiver Antwaan] Randle El off guard, because he was still running his route instead of looking at the football, and I passed the line of scrimmage 5 yards ago."

A win always helps, but Steelers teammates say they have a great confidence in Batch, the oldest Steeler and one of the team's bigger jokesters.

"He plays all day, and I can't ever believe anything he says," said Wallace, who caught two of Batch's touchdowns last week. "I have to watch him. He's one of biggest [pranksters] on the team. So I have to watch my back around Chuck."

Playing against the Ravens' defense will be no laughing matter.

Batch, a native of suburban Pittsburgh, faces a Baltimore defense ranked No. 1, allowing just 244.3 yards per game. The Ravens also are No. 1 against the pass at 116.7 yards per game.

Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets and Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals could not produce a touchdown against Baltimore. In Week 3, Seneca Wallace and the Cleveland Browns (0-3) had moderate success that Batch could build on. Wallace completed 18 of 24 passes for 141 yards and one touchdown, and Cleveland's running game amassed 173 yards.

Pittsburgh's 31 offensive points under Batch last week were the most the team has scored in 2010. Tailback Rashard Mendenhall (143 yards rushing) was solid against Tampa, and Batch wants to keep that momentum going.

"We felt offensively we were letting this team down," he said. "We were winning in other phases, especially with the defense. But we weren't holding up our end."

Lately, the Ravens have caught a couple breaks in this rivalry.

After losing three straight to Pittsburgh in this series, this will be the second time in three games Baltimore faces the Steelers without Roethlisberger. In Week 12 last season, Baltimore beat the Dixon-led Steelers in overtime, 20-17. But the Ravens say they will not overlook Batch on Sunday.

"It's different when you’re going against a backup that might be a young guy or a rookie, like most backups," Baltimore linebacker Jarret Johnson said. "The fact he's been in the league for a long time, he's a veteran guy, he's got a lot of starts under his belt. So you can't look at him the same as you would a guy out of college or something like that."

TAMPA, Fla. -- Charlie Batch is like an old, dependable car that collects dust in your garage -- it's rarely used, but it's good to know it's there whenever you need it.

Sometimes you start it up and take the car around the block for old-time's sake, like the Steelers did with Batch in the preseason. Other times, the luxury vehicle (Ben Roethlisberger) and second (Byron Leftwich) and third cars (Dennis Dixon) must go in the shop for unexpected repairs.

But there's always Batch, the Pittsburgh-area product who's been through the ups and downs and runs the offense well when you hand him the keys.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh turned the ignition and revved up the 35-year-old quarterback once again, and he responded with his best performance as a Steeler. Batch completed 12 of 17 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-13 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Batch was the only healthy quarterback on Pittsburgh's roster and improved to 4-1 as a starter for the Steelers. Batch also threw two interceptions but helped Pittsburgh improve to 3-0 without Roethlisberger.

"Hats off to a lot of people, but you really got to tip a hat to Charlie Batch," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "What he was able to do for us today, he played like a veteran and the guy hasn't had many opportunities, not only in recent years, but recent days, weeks or months."

Batch was mostly an afterthought with Tomlin and Pittsburgh's coaching this offseason. With Roethlisberger due to serve a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy, Leftwich and Dixon competed for the starting job and took the majority of repetitions in minicamp, training camp and preseason. Roethlisberger also needed playing time to prepare for his eventual return.

According to Batch, he understood it was a unique situation. So he did a lot of individual work on the sideline and after practice to get time with receivers that he couldn't get time with in practice. Batch said he was "absolutely" disappointed he was never included in the quarterback derby, but he didn't say anything to the team.

"I always wanted to put my hat in the ring," Batch said candidly. "For me, I didn't get that opportunity early ... But things happened and here I am with that opportunity, and I had to make the most of it."

Steelers veteran Hines Ward, who caught one of Batch's touchdown throws, was impressed with all the things the quarterback has had to overcome.

"It's just amazing," Ward said. "I'm just happy for him, and I think he got a game ball. He came in and finally got a week's worth of preparation with the guys."

Batch has always played well in short stints in Pittsburgh, which begs the question: Why didn't he get a chance to compete in the first place?

Tomlin, with his team sitting at 3-0, said now isn't the time to second-guess.

"I don't get do-overs; I don't live in that world," Tomlin said bluntly. "I will let you guys (the media) talk about that."

When it comes to Batch, Tomlin added that "good things usually happen to those kind of people." Batch did things the Steeler way: He worked hard, never complained, and was ready when it was time to step up.

With Leftwich still working his way back from a knee injury and Batch playing well, Batch shouldn't get overlooked a second time. He deserves to start for Pittsburgh in a big rivalry game next week against the Baltimore Ravens (2-1).

"One thing I wanted to do is go out here and put it on tape to put the pressure on Coach Tomlin to make a tough decision for next week," Batch said. "Because I still want to be out there again, even though Byron is going to be healthy. I felt that I kind of made my case."

Eventually, the Steelers will go back to driving their luxury car Oct. 17 when Roethlisberger returns. But the 35-year old classic will be waiting in the garage, ready to perform.