QUICK SNAPS

Wheels of steel

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joked last week that the only throwing he’ll do is in practice.

Well, maybe he was only half-joking.

The Steelers have the league’s second-ranked running game, after all, and they’re playing against a Denver defense that’s worst in the league at stopping the run. The Steelers average 167 yards rushing per game, and the Broncos are giving up about 20 yards more than that.

“They’re susceptible to the run and we run the ball well,” Roethlisberger told reporters, “so I’m sure that’s what we’ll go in featuring.”

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 26 games, the league’s longest streak. Their challenge tonight is to shut down Travis Henry, who has an NFL-high 18 runs of 10 yards or longer.

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Jersey chore

After playing consecutive games at the Meadowlands -- his least favorite stadium -- Philadelphia kicker David Akers is happy to be home. He missed three of seven field-goal attempts against the Jets and Giants and has made only half of his 18 attempts there in his career.

“It would say it’s all coincidental,” Akers said. “But now I’m at the point where I just can’t stand the place.”

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Too-candid camera

Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren was upset last week after NBC showed a close-up shot of his play card. It flashed on the screen for about two seconds, but in an age of TiVo and freeze frames, that’s enough for an eyeful.

“There are not a lot of secrets, but those things they should probably tell you they’re going to try to do that, or ask you,” Holmgren told reporters. “If you say no, they should honor that request. I would rather they wouldn’t do that.”

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On the outs

Atlanta quarterback Joey Harrington might hold on to the football too long, but not his frustration. He let that fly last week when asked about his disappointment about being benched in favor of Byron Leftwich.

“Is it tough? Yeah, it’s awful,” Harrington told reporters. “It’s terrible. Every week I sit here and I pour every ounce of effort I have into this team. And to be sitting here at 1-5 and to be replaced is a difficult thing to deal with. But it’s something I’ve dealt with before.”

Despite the Falcons’ 1-5 record, Harrington has played well at times this season, completing 63.1% of his passes with four touchdowns and four interceptions. His protection has been shoddy too; the Falcons have given up 21 sacks and a league-high 43 quarterback knockdowns.

Harrington said he’s determined not to sulk.

“If I was to create a stink and throw the towel in, I wouldn’t be doing my job for this team and I might miss an opportunity to get back on the field,” he said. “The reality is you’re one play from being in there. I saw that this weekend.”

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Bird brains

Arizona plays at Washington today, and that means Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs will be reunited with two of his former players. Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt was an H-back for him, and assistant Russ Grimm was an offensive lineman.

Gibbs called them “two of the smartest guys I ever coached.”

“I actually thought they were too smart to coach,” he said. “That was my general analysis: These guys should be doing something else.”

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Number to note

From time to time, everyone makes predictions they’d love to have back.

Consider this one: Since Sports Illustrated picked Miami to win the Super Bowl before last season, the Dolphins have gone 6-16.

-- Sam Farmer