The Pittsburgh Steelers have the Cincinnati Bengals as their guests this week in their most significant game of the season.  Both teams are 6-2, and technically tied for the division lead — but the Bengals own the tiebreaker, having beaten the Steelers earlier in the season.  However, the Steelers have improved on both sides of the ball over the last few weeks, and dominated Denver on the road in an impressive 28-10 win.  Cincinnati played well against Baltimore to win 17-7, but they have yet to dominate.  It will surprise no one that I’m picking the Steelers to win this game at home, taking the division lead and nullifying the Bengals’ tiebreaker advantage.  I’ll predict a 28-17 win, with at least one defensive or special-teams TD.

By the way, King Banaian will be at that game, and he didn’t even have the decency to scalp me a ticket!  As he well knows, I will be “eating my heart out,” but if he brings me back a Steelers hat, I may forgive him … eventually.  And if you missed it in our headlines earlier this week, be sure to read Tim McNulty’s post about why I’m a Steeler fan.  And hey, Tim … if you can wangle me a press pass for a game this season, I’ll be in Steel City faster than you can say Jack Lambert, and certainly faster than anyone can say Troy Polamalu.

Last week, I put up another 3-3 record, making me 33-14 on the season but only .500 over the last two weeks.  Let’s see if I can’t do better with these picks:

• Detroit at Minnesota — The Vikings come off their bye week, so they may be unprepared — oh, jeez, forget it.  The Vikes only lose this game if they get caught in a freak snowstorm at the 35W-94 split.  34-10, Vikes.
• Philadelphia at San Diego — I gave too much credit last week to the Eagles and not enough to the Chargers.  I’m picking the Bolts at home, but it should be close. 24-21, Chargers.
• Kansas City at Oakland – The Futility Bowl of the Week.  KC barely lost to the Jaguars, and Oakland’s coming off the bye with questions about the head coach’s mental stability.  Well, he did agree to work for Al Davis, didn’t he?  I’ll pick the Raiders in a mild upset, 17-10, but only because they’re at home for this one.
• New England at Indianapolis – I correctly picked the Colts to win last week, and their defense played better than I expected.  The Pats have won three in a row, but against some lousy competition.  Peyton Manning is at home, and that will make the difference.  Colts stay unbeaten, 21-17.
• Jacksonville at the Jets — Jazz Shaw wants me to stop picking the Giants to win, and this week I don’t have a choice, since they’re on their bye week.  So I’ll pick the Jets to win at home instead.  The Jaguars have four wins, all but one of them against cellar-dwellers (Houston being the exception), while the Jets have beaten Houston and New England.  They’re playing at home, too, and the Jags have only one road win.  I’ll call this 27-14 Jets.