The Pittsburgh Steelers are free-falling in the standings as they have lost four of their last five games and have looked bad doing it.  The Oakland Raiders are feeling full of confidence after winning their first game last week 22-9 against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Steelers offense has finally awoke after sleep-walking for the first 4 weeks of the season.  The Steelers have rolled up 83 points the last two weeks.  Look for the Steelers to run the ball alot this week against a Raider defense that is allowing 132.5 yards rushing per game.  Willie Parker needs to have a good game, as he hasn’t looked like the same running back he was last season.  Ben Roethlisberger has returned to practice and probably will give it a go this week.  Roethlisberger has looked real good the last two weeks after sucking before that.  Charlie Batch has been outstanding at QB, and the Steelers probably wouldn’t miss Roethlisberger too much if Batch had to play.  WR Hines Ward finally decided to do something this season and had a good game against the Falcons.  The Raiders pass defense has been pretty good this season only allowing 140.5 yards passing per game.

The Raiders would prefer to run the football with LaMont Jordan (314 rushing yards) and/or Justin Fargas (230 rushing yards).  Jordan has been bothered by a back problem, so Fargas will probably at least split time with him.  If the Raiders can protect Andrew Walter, the Raiders can have some success throwing against the Steelers vastly over-rated defensive backs.  Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is the only above-average player in the Steeler secondary.  Randy Moss (24 rec, 351 yards) and Ronald Curry could have success down the field in Walter has time.  The Raiders also could take a page out of the Falcons playbook at throw frequently to huge TE Courtney Anderson (11 rec, 162 yards).

The Steelers should win this game easy, but, they have to play a complete football game.  The Raiders will be sky-high at home, and coming off of a victory.