PRO FOOTBALL / NFL PLAYOFF REPORT : AFC : Steelers’ O’Donnell Is Much Improved

Quarterback Neil O’Donnell, sidelined three weeks because of a broken bone in his right leg, moved closer to regaining his starting job for the playoffs as the Pittsburgh Steelers returned to practice Thursday.

O’Donnell, who has not played since Dec. 6, split the snaps with Bubby Brister and said his still-healing leg feels much better than a week ago.

“The difference is like night and day,” O’Donnell said.

Coach Bill Cowher said O’Donnell will start the Steelers’ first-round AFC playoff game Jan. 9 against Kansas City, Buffalo or Houston--if he is sound. O’Donnell still has pain but expects to be close to 100% by early next week.

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No man can be an island against Derrick Thomas, but there was San Diego left tackle Harry Swayne, alone against the Kansas City Chiefs’ pass-rushing linebacker.

The results were predictable. If Thomas can break a double-team, Swayne was not going to be a match. Thomas ran past Swayne to sack Stan Humphries four times and cause two fumbles that led to 10 points in the first half of the Chiefs’ 16-14 victory on Nov. 8 at Kansas City.

That was San Diego’s only loss since a 0-4 start. The AFC West champion Chargers (11-5) get a third chance to stop Thomas when they play host to the Chiefs (10-6) in a first-round playoff game Saturday. This time, the Chargers will be trying to protect Humphries’ non-throwing left shoulder, which was dislocated last Sunday at Seattle.

“We’ll change up,” Charger Coach Bobby Ross said. “We’re not stupid. I mean the guy’s a great rusher. But on the other side is a guy who’s just as good (left end Neil Smith) who’s had just as many sacks (14 1/2). We’ve just got to give ourselves some help as best we can.”

Although Humphries is listed as questionable, there are indications that he will play. After watching Humphries throw in his return to practice, Ross said: “I think the test will come Saturday in the sense of how he’s handling it mentally and being hit and that sort of thing.”

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The Houston Oilers defeated the Buffalo Bills, 27-3, last Sunday with quarterback Jim Kelly sidelined most of the game because of a knee injury. But they never really stopped running back Thurman Thomas, who gained 97 yards, narrowly missing his sixth consecutive 100-yard game.

Stopping Thomas, the NFL’s all-purpose yardage leader for a record four seasons in a row, will take on increased importance in Sunday’s rematch in a first-round playoff game.

“They had us reeling on that first drive,” Oiler defensive end William Fuller said. “We stopped some of their drives, but it’s not like we dominated them.

“Thurman has been their go-to guy all year, and they’ll go to him again. I’d do the same thing.”

Kelly will miss the game because of a strained ligament in his right knee, leaving Frank Reich as the starting quarterback.

“Kelly and Thomas are their two main guys, but they’re very talented,” defensive tackle Jeff Alm said. “It will be our job to slow down Thurman like we did last week.”