Something is very rotten in Pittsburgh. There is really no way to explain how the Steelers managed to lose to the Browns last night. The stats are just staggering. They lost to a team that has a quarterback who completed six of 19 passes for 90 yards. The Browns’ leading rusher was Josh Cribbs – a wide receiver. Cribbs only had 87 yards, but he outgained the entire Steelers team by 12 yards. Big Ben was sacked eight times. This was as bad as a legitimate team can possibly play. The offensive line was offensive, the defense didn’t care, receivers were quitting on routes – absolutely nothing went well. The defending Super Bowl champs have now dropped five in a row, and you really have to wonder what Mike Tomlin is going to do about this, and maybe even f he is going to survive it. Injuries – Troy Polamalu chief among them – are a big part of the story, but that’s not an excuse. It could be an excuse for not winning the division, but it’s not an excuse for a five game slide and a loss to the freaking Browns. Now they have nine days to sit and stew in their own misery before their next game. It will be very interesting to watch what goes on in Pittsburgh over the next few weeks.

Unhappy times in Tennessee right now. Vince Young was already struggling with a sore knee after getting banged up during the Indy game last week. He was clearly hurt, but he finished that game. On Thursday, though, he had what is being described as a setback. Hereinjured the knee throwing a pass, and after a doctor looked at it he left practice early with the knee covered in ice. The Titans are on life supports as it is, but I really don’t believe they stand any chance at all of a miracle if they have to rely on Kerry Collins. To make matters worse, stud running back Chris Johnson is nursing a sore ankle and has been limited this week.

Remember when Syracuse lost that preseason game to Le Moyne College, the Division II school no one had ever heard of, and people started asking all sorts of questions about the Orange and their prospects this year? No need to panic as it turns out. Syracuse has stormed out of the gate to a 9-0 record, and last night they demolished 11th ranked Florida to hand the Gators their first loss in nine games. What is truly impressive about this team is their phenomenal depth – six different players have led them in scoring in their nine games. I hadn’t taken this team seriously coming into the season, but the more I see them the more I think I need to.