Steelers Showing Mettle on Ground

Times NFL writer Sam Farmer poses--and answers--the league’s burning questions:

Question: How dominant is Pittsburgh’s ground game?

Answer: The league-leading Steelers average 186.4 yards a game--nearly 40 more than No. 2 San Francisco’s 147.9. That said, St. Louis leads the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns.

Q: Where’s Freddie Mitchell?

A: Moving on up. The former UCLA receiver might soon replace Todd Pinkston in Philadelphia’s starting lineup. Mitchell has caught seven passes in the last two games, six for first downs.

Q: There’s no comparison between Doug Flutie and Ryan Leaf, right?

A: Right. Leaf had a 48.7 passer rating with the Chargers. Flutie’s ratings the last two games: 23.2 against Kansas City and 27.7 against Denver.

Q: The Cowboys have started four quarterbacks in eight games. Is there anything positive about that?

A: Sure. Cleveland was the last team to do that, in 1988, and those Browns made the playoffs.

Q: What’s the new nickname for Kansas City’s quarterback, whose passes have been picked off a league-leading 16 times?

A: TrINT Green.