Once again this week Rashard Mendenhall will get the start at back. Coming off a player of the week win where he ran for over 160 yards, it only makes sense. Troy Polamalu has practiced sparingly this week, but he is being urged my his team mated to maybe wait until after the bye week, since the field in Detroit is known to be rough and hard.

Polamalu said yesterday he wants to play but added it is up to coach Mike Tomlin and Polamalu's doctors. He went through another limited practice wearing his brace without joining the first-team defence and looks like someone trying to shake off the rust for a possible return against Cleveland Oct. 18 at Heinz Field.

Also coming off big weeks were Ben Roethlisberger and Heath Miller. I would look for the balanced attack of the Steelers to continue in a big way this week against a Lions team who may very well be without their quarterback and top receiver. Mendenhall will undoubtedly be looking to prove his performance last week was no fluke.

Prediction: As always I like to leave my prediction. As stated, I look for the Steelers to continue their arial show and accompany that with a sound running attack. The defence has yet to have a monster game, but should this week. Steelers 38 Lions 13

GAME Notes:

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) at Detroit Lions (1-3)

Date: Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009

Kickoff: 1 p.m., ET

Site: Ford Field (64,500) • Detroit, Mich.

Playing Surface: FieldTurf

TV Coverage: CBS (locally KDKA-TV, Channel 2)

Announcers: Dick Enberg (play-by-play) Dan Fouts (color analyst)
Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970)

Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)

Spanish Radio: Grupo Radio Acir (Mexico City) 88.9 FM

A Look at the Coaches

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin

Overall Regular-season Record: 24-12 (.667)/second season

Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 24-12 (.667)/second season

Playoff Record/Years: 3-1/two years

Detroit Lions Head Coach Jim Schwartz

Overall Regular-Season Record: 1-3 (.250)/first season

Regular-Season Record at Detroit: 1-3 (.250)/first season

Playoff Record/Years: n/a

Series History

Series History: Series began in 1934

Overall: Detroit leads 17-15-1

At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 11-3-1

At Detroit: Detroit leads 13-4

Neutral Sites: Detroit leads 1-0

Last Regular-Season Meeting: Jan. 1, 2005 (in Pittsburgh)

Pittsburgh 35, Detroit 21

Postseason Series: Detroit leads 1-0

(postseason record not included in overall series record)

Pittsburgh owns a 15-17-1 all-time mark against the Detroit Lions (including postseason)...Pittsburgh won the most recent matchup between the two teams on Jan. 1, 2006, 35-21, a game which saw former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis score three touchdowns in his final home game...the Steelers have dominated the series of late, winning 10 of their past 12 games against the Lions...this game will be only the Steelers fifth trip to Detroit since 1967...Pittsburgh is 2-2 in their past four games in Detroit after winning only two of their first 11 games in the Motor City...this is also Pittsburgh’s first appearance at Ford Field since defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, on Feb. 5, 2006 in Super Bowl XL...Pittsburgh dropped their most recent trip to Detroit, a controversial 19-16 overtime setback, on Thanksgiving Day 1998...this game will be Pittsburgh’s fifth trip to Ford Field since it opened in 2002, but first in the regular-season (Steelers 1-2 vs. Detroit in preseason and 1-0 in neutral site games at Ford Field).

Polamalu confirmed that it will take between three and six weeks to recover from the sprained MCL in his left knee. He said no surgery is required.

"Regarding an injury to the knee, this is the best-case scenario," Polamalu said in the Steelers locker room this afternoon.

He wore a brace on the injured knee and said the only rehabilitation he will do for now is "just rest."

Polamalu left the game before the half, when his leg was fallen on, trying to retrieve a blocked kick.

There's an outside possibility he could return for the primetime game in week 4 againts the Chargers. In past Polamalu has proven to be a quick healer.

The Pittsburgh Steelers begin their defence tonight as they host the Tennessee Titans. This could turn out to be a real blood bath after the Titans handed the Steelers an embarrassing loss last year; at the same time disgracing the Terrible Towel. The Steelers defence wants redemption and their target…LenDale White.

Opening night! Oh tonight’s gonna a be a good night. Ultimately I look for the Steeler offence to take control of this match early and then turn to the defence to shut it down. Big Ben Roethlisberger will be looking to have an even better year this year in the passing game.

Starter Lawrence Timmons will not stat tonight’s game, as he is still nursing an injury. In his place will be; Keyron Fox, a special teams stand out and a guy who proved he could play this game at a high level in the pre-season. Tonight we also see the return of Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes; who doesn’t want to be forgotten behind new returnee Stefan Logan.

Look for the Steelers to come out flying and if they can get by, what might be the best offensive line in the NFL, it could be a long night for the Titans. My take on the 2009-2010 Steelers is they are even better than last year; tonight begins the quest to proving so. Prediction: Steelers 31 Titans 16.

Kick off time is 8:30 tonight.